Final Review of TAMU


Well....boys here it is.

The last blog before the 2007 season kicks off. I think this will be a better season than the '06 season. Other than the Fiesta Bowl... we weren't left w/ a great taste. Michigan stunk it up in the Rose Bowl. OSU proved to be stoppable. Florida, while clearly not the best team, won the right games at the right times, Texas sputtered it's last few games and barely beat a not good Iowa team, the Big XII took a collective crap in it's bowl games (A&M, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Mizzou, KState), while the winningBig XII teams all struggled against inferior opponents (UT vs. Iowa, OSU vs. Alabama, Tech vs. Minnesota), the ACC in general just sucked... mad props to Georgia Tech and Wake Forrest for giving an exciting season on their end. The exciting part of the season was Boise State's rise, and Rutgers, Louisville, and West Virginia duking it out.


I gotta get jet pretty quick so here's my review of A&M



Texas A&M

I was pretty happy w/ the season last year. Obviously the Ags proved they could play anybody in the Big XII. When you're literally 25 points from a 12-0 record and a 4-8 record it's hard to gauge a lot!

I think if the Ags have a year to get it done this is it. Next year will still have a lot of srs. coming back but a lot of the offensive and defensive lines won't be.... which sucks.

Much is made of both groups... some say the A&M line is the best in the nation... I won't go that far... but they're good no doubt.

The year really hinges on whether or not they learned to be a road team last year... They were 5-0 on the road (if you include Army @ San Antonio) and pulled out some good ones while there.


Offense

QB

I love Steven McGee. Can I just say that again? I love Steven McGee.

Like unhealthily.

When I saw him get the ever living crap knocked out of him by Latimer on the option against OU 2 years ago... I thought he was creamed for the game. Latimer kinda lingered over him, probably talking smack. McGee popped up and got in his face. You saw his team come swarming to him and you saw him run it again the next play. Right at Latimer. Awesome.

Next game he's the starter versus UT. Option to the right. He gets stood up and hammered by 3 UT players. Hops up and tells the defender what he thought of that cheap shot. And is pulled off by his players. Outstanding. Next play... Same option different side for a TD. Awesome. I just started loving that kid right then.

Since then he has proven to be the leader we have been missing for a while. While fast... he's not blazing.... while strong... he's not a beast... good arm... not incredible. He's actually very average in a lot of things he does. But it's how he does it.

RB
This is the area to get the most excited about. And this is all I will say about them


Also to boot is Chris Alexander who is one of if not THE best blocking back in the nation.
Watch his blocks on several of those runs (#24)

WR

The weakest spot on the team. The TE's are great. While Mizzou's Coffman and Rucker get all the fame (mainly because they are used as WRs), these 2 are some of the best blocking TE's in the nation.

Gone is the recent stars of Schroeder, Carter, and Murphy.. but we do have Ervin Taylor, Kerry Franks, Pierre, Brown, and Howard Morrow... who all have a bit of experience. I'm excited moreso by the McCoy brothers and the possibility of putting backup RB E.J. Shankle out wide. If the Ags can get this area going... awesomeness.

OL

Considered by some to be the most experienced in the nation. A large group that has a good history.

Clark, Elder, Babaloba, Wallace, and Yoder should anchor the majority of the time. The problem w/ that is that 1 of them is a Jr. and the rest are Srs. A&M needs to get the younger guys to get some mopup time for next year or they could be in for a world of hurt.

Defense

What was expected to be a tough year for the one proud wrecking crew turned out alright. The shift to a 4-2-5 worked surprisingly well. The area that needs improvement is CB and Safety physical play.

Line

Here lies the strength of the defense. Red Bryant is not dominant, but he is very solid at run-stopping. Kellen Heard will probably take the other starter position before the year is out. He is big and mean. And he didn't see that Dodge was down on that interception. I don't care what you say. And Colt was walking towards the A&M Sideline... not his own.

Michael Bennett and Chris Harrington bring the pass rush here. I look for Harrington to be All Big XII by the year's end. Bennett (Martellus' brother) wasn't starting all season but I think his late season performance will have him her more than Obiozer or Smith.

LB
My favorite group. Dodge and Tupe will be the starters but expect Anthony Lewis and Matt Featherton to get involved here. I like the idea of moving Featherton to the Whip position which is similar to a free roaming safety/lb hybrid. he hits big and hard.

Dodge and Tupe are nothing outstanding... but they both cover very well and are good run stoppers. Dodge had some key interceptions and stops towards the end of the year (Nebraska INT, Melton Stop, Texas INT) that really made him a star.

Tupe is just an all-around good player. Good nose for the ball as well as blitzing.


DB's
Here's where the question mark lies. People made Peterson look worse than he was. He was obviously physical... but beat out by Senior receivers with 4-5 inches and 4 years on him on some big plays. I think his mistakes have taught him well. And the kid hussles



Gorrer is the only other real stud potential... He's fast and can cover well. I hope he steps up and starts physically manhandling some receivers this year.

Gregg and Pugh have done some moving around and I'm curious to see how this goes for them


Overall

Thi ;fkj This is the best team the Aggies have had since the teams of the 90's the only thing lying in their way is the schedule and it's daunting...

At Tech, Miami, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. I don't think a top 10 team could make that one unscathed.

here's my picks

W Montana State - easy win W Fresno State - not so easy win. Pat Hill has the Bulldogs competitive again this year W Louisiana-Monroe - I've actually cheated a bit... I watched them last night. Good running team... unfortunately... that's it. semi-easy win
W Miami - I think this won't be a high scoring game at all... but as physical as Miami is... Lane runs them over and Goodson runs around something like 17-14
W Baylor - still baylor. and they are replacing a lot Push Oklahoma State - I still don't know what to do w/ these guys... tons of offensive power... but the defense is questionable to me. I think this will be a shootout
W Texas Tech - enough is enough.
L Nebraska - Sam Keller is just the right QB to get the Ags roughed up in the passing game. I don't think the Ags will pull this one out in Lincoln
W Kansas - fairly easy win. Low score though
W Oklahoma - Fran says to heck w/ you and the visor you wore in Stoops. Ags get it done
Push Mizzou - Defense lost a lot which the ags struggled w/ a bit last year... and A&M just got lucky stopping their offense at points
W Texas - there I said it. I think the ags continue to run the option on UT and it still works. This is the first year in a LONG time that I look at these 2 teams and say.... A&M's starters are as good as UT's in a lot of spots. The talent level has been missing for some time... but I think while Fran doesn't bring in 5 star recruits like Mack does... the gap is shrinking.

10-2 is my honest to goodness prediction.


Thanks for reading and commenting on these guys. I wish the best of luck and health to all of our respective teams...



unless they're playing the aggies... but just luck. they can keep the health.



I love this season.

ERON. SLADE. RYAN. BLAKE. ADAM. JAY...

You must all come to my house to play my new game!

Holy schnikies.

The season's literally a week out from tonight and I haven't started my last 2 reviews. Get with it Moore. Seriously.

My best darn review of TU!
(TU is used for rhyming purposes... not a knock on the school)

'06 was a good season for the Horns. Obviously not what the faithful wanted... but it got the job done.


QB
The MNC team in '05-'06 was fairly identical to last year's team except for one position. Vince Young was just absolutely the deal breaker for that team. I think if any other QB (in the world) were there they wouldn't have won that championship. He just brought the perfect balance to that team's running and passing game.

The longhorns had some balance last year... but when you have Limus Sweed, Billy Pittman, Jordan Shipley, Quan Cosby, and Jermichael Finley out there.... you're going to throw the ball a lot. I could look good w/ that corps of receivers.

I think Colt will continue to improve but I'm curious to see what will happen this year. 2 of texas' losses last year came from blitzing in-your-face defenses (yes... i am talking about A&M for a change.) OSU just had the D to stop a Freshman QB in his second game. A&M got in his face and aggressive the entire game ( he obviously wasn't at 100% that game... but McGee wasn't a 100% all season... so go kiss a pig if you think that's an excuse)

I think he'll put up good numbers because he is a decent QB with one of the best receiving corps in the country. He has yet to prove that he is great... but I can't argue w/ the numbers he puts up. I think he'll probably be a top 5 heisman candidate before the season is over.

RB's
The reason Texas had some struggles last year were that w/out Vince's dual threat abilities the run game was somewhat stifled. We expected HUGE things out of Jamal Charles. Not that he had a bad performance... his season just wasn't what was expected. 800 yds and 7 TD's isn't spectacular.

Texas has been blessed w/ power and speed in Cederic Benson and Ricky Williams since the late 90's. The '05 season had power (Melton), speed (s. young and charles), and the moves (romance taylor) to keep the ball moving between the 4 backs. Young is gone. Melton is on defense now. J Charles has put on some meat according the the reports I've read which is really what he needed. I love the type of back that Benson and Williams were. Speedy. Bruising. Quick between the tackles. Agile. Jamal has the speed and agility. he just needs to prove he can take some hits and deliver them.

I look for McGee and Ogbonnaya, to play back up... but good backups. McGee

WR

This crew is scary and doesn't need a lot of analysis. They're fast, big, and they have good hands

Sweed is a tall beast. Jermichael is a tall monster. You can throw it anywhere around them and they're going to make the catch.

I look for Shipley and Cosby to step up this year now that have had a complete year in the system. And here's hoping that Pittman gets better from his shoulder injury.

OL
This is the only part of the offense I have a little bit a question mark on. Texas OL strength is cyclical. Mac keeps good ones coming in. Studard and Blalock are gone.

Dockery is the only coming back w/ a lot of experience. I think there will be a bit of struggle at first but the new guys will pick up as time goes on.

Defense
Gone is Chizick. the man who coached two of the best defenses in the land from '04-'06. I don't think Duane Akina will change too much.

I really think too much was made of Texas' secondary last year. You can't be that bad when you have 3 of your starters taken in the draft (2 first rounders). I think the fact that their run D was so good made the secondary look worse than it was. If I know I'm going to be absolutely stymied by a D line and punishing linebackers... I'm going to throw it a little. I don't think the were ever bad... it's just that everybody threw it on them except for A&M and it made it look worse than it was. KState ran so many goofy pass trick plays that the statistics of that game were skewed.

DL
Texas has Lokey and Okam to rely on here. Strong strong strong guys who you don't push around at all. If you're going to run... do it on the outside. After Dre Jones gets back from his 3 game suspension he'll make an impact if he's not redshirted.

LB
Babino, Killebrew, Kindle. Tough guys. It'll be hard to run and do any sort of short pass slants.

DB
Probably the most untested group of the bunch. Marcus Griffin is the lone returning starter on a backfield that did give up some yardage despite the talent. Foster and Beasley will have to step up to fill the holes left.















Overall...

Tough year. Could be a national champion... could drop 3-4 games

W Ark State - Easy win
Push TCU - I dunno. TCU is tough. Not easy to give this one to texas. I have a strong feeling Tommy Blake will be seeing more of Colt after their appearance on the cover of DCTF
W UCF - Easy win
W Rice - not as easy win. Rice is improving.
W Kansas State - Revenge for last years embarrassment due to trick plays.
W Oklahoma - I'm not sold on Oklahoma yet. No solid QB and an unproven
W ISU - Chizick doesn't have the cyclones there yet. Yet.
W Baylor - Still Baylor. Sorry.

Here start's the murder's row for Texas. Not as bad as others... but...

W Nebraska- was not happy about how the last one ended... I think this will be a tough one but the Horns take care of business in Austin
L Oklahoma State - OSU always seems to have Texas' number at some point. I think this year their offense puts the secondary on the ropes enough to open up Reid and Savage for the running game
W Texas Tech - Tech always puts up their best for Texas... and comes up short.
L Texas A&M - I don't think Texas is quick enough on Defense to stop the option still. That's been a huge problem the last 2 years. McGee can outrun all the linemen and linebackers. Lane will run over your Linebackers and secondary... and Goodson will run around, to the left, right and circles behind most anybody. I also look for A&M's passing game to improve significantly as McGee looks to be 100% this year from the gate unlike last year.

10-2.... maybe BCS. maybe.


Have at it.

Interesting Question.


My good friend Eron ( who doesn't have faith in my blogging but rightfully so) has asked a question of me.



Should unbaptized believers partake of the Lord's Supper?


Very interesting.

My first thought is... no biggy. of course they should be able. But then I thought well... why do i say that. Why do we even say that you are saved w/out baptism ( i believe you can be)?

The main instance we turn to is when Jesus talks with the thieves hanging with him on the cross in Luke 23. The first thief tells Christ to save himself and them, because he is the messiah.

The second thief rebukes him saying they are just for their suffering, where Christ is being punished unjustly and asks Jesus to remember him in his kingdom. You can call this a deathbed conversion. Obviously the first criminal simply wanted to be freed. The second realized his state (a sinner) and realized that Christ was being punished for nothing. Obviously neither of these men were Christ followers. I think that the second man was face to face with Jesus, realized his sin, saw the sinlessness of Christ, saw his need for repentance, and cried out for God to remember him in paradise. I don't necessarily believe this is a basis for the believe that baptism is not necessary for salvation... but then again maybe it is. We know that baptism is important and is a sign of commitment and a new life.

There are several and I mean several passages that deal w/ new believers needing to be baptized. Paul and Peter specifically tell people to repent and be baptized (1 Pet 3:21, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, Romans 6 :4, Gal 3:27)

To my knowledge there is nothing that the Bible speaks to specifically for the Lord's Supper involving this. We are told not to eat with out discerning ourselves. Much of our instruction involving this comes from 1 Corinthians 11.

27

Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. ¹²

28

A person should examine himself, ¹³ and so eat the bread and drink the cup.

29

For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment ¹⁴ on himself.

30

That is why many among you are ill and infirm, and a considerable number are dying.

Don't partake w/out confessing sin and not having a pure heart. We need to take our sin to the cross before we partake.

31

If we discerned ourselves, we would not be under judgment;

32

but since we are judged by (the) Lord, we are being disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

33

Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

Eat together w/ believers.

34

If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that your meetings may not result in judgment. The other matters I shall set in order when I come.

Don't partake out of hunger.



I don't see anything that doesn't qualify a nonbaptized believer here.

But let's cut to the heart of the matter. What is baptism?

An outward showing of an inward working.

We get baptized to show to the world the washing away of our sins and rebirth into Christ. What the heart of this question is (to me and me alone), is whether or not a nonbaptized believer has the freedom a baptized believer does.

I don't know.

I don't see anything that says they shouldn't... but I definitely see scripture of our Apostles telling new converts to get baptized and do it quick.

But here's a thought. The apostle's also speak of circumcision almost as fervently. But it's clearly a circumcision of the heart. Is baptism also of the heart? I believe it is. It's definitely a lot easier to do if you get saved at a later age.

Nobody argues that one.

I think they can partake of the Lord's supper. I don't think it's in sin and I don't think it being abusive of their freedom.

But I also think they should get baptized soon after conversion. No reason not to.

Thoughts, questions, ideas, or calvinistic disagreements???

Good Job Mack.
si.com AP News

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Texas defensive end Henry Melton and linebacker Sergio Kindle will miss the first three games of the 2007 season after being charged in separate DWI cases over the summer.

Kindle and Melton will miss games against Arkansas State, TCU and Central Florida as punishment for being arrested over the summer. The announcement came from coach Mack Brown as the Longhorns reported to training camp Sunday.

The players will also be held out of the first couple of days of practice when they will visit with an unidentified woman whose child was crippled by a drunk driver, Brown said. The players must perform some form of community service on behalf of the team before they will be allowed to play.

"I think we've got to send a message, and kids have to learn," Brown said. "It is a good opportunity for our football team to step up and talk about how serious we feel about drinking and driving."

Dre Jones in happier times, when he committed to UT. An arrest warrant was issued for Jones in connection with a robbery.

Mack needs to act

by Cedric Golden

Tough discipline, changes in recruiting needed after rash of Longhorn arrests.

Friday, August 03, 2007

The Texas Longhorns are no longer the fair-haired boys of college football.

"We are Texas"? How about: "Which Texas is this"?

Not the Texas that coach Mack Brown molded into a national power with high-character recruits who rarely ran afoul of the law. Not the Texas that steered clear of serious off-the-field offenses.

The second arrest of former UT safety Robert Joseph, this time on aggravated robbery charges, was a head shaker. For the Longhorn Nation, the allegation that freshman defensive tackle Dre Jones participated in the robbery, too, was like running headfirst into a tackling dummy. Without a helmet.

We can't keep saying "another black eye for the program" because the eyes of Texas are rapidly becoming slits. No amount of makeup can cover up these scars. Hook 'em is fast becoming Book 'em.

Since Mack and Vince Young led the program to a fourth national championship on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006, there have been 10 — count 'em, 10 — arrests of players involved with the Texas program. Five have come in the last two months.

What is going on here?

Accountability is everything, and Mack must take the hit here. He won a national title and returned this program to top-five prominence. Now he must re-evaluate his recruiting practices before his program disintegrates into something ugly, or uglier.

Brown has a problem in his football family, and he must face that fact. Instead of taking responsibility, he chided the media this week when he said, "It's very interesting that when you have 130 kids, and 128 of them do everything right, if one gets in trouble, you stir it up about one or two."

I like Mack. He's a good, family man who could charm the rattles off a Texas rattlesnake, but the time has come to take another approach in determining what type of kids he's bringing in here. I know there are background checks conducted on recruits every year. Incoming freshmen in orientation are cautioned to avoid drinking, late nights and to pick their friends wisely.

It's worked for the most part, but changes are obviously needed. What changes are up to Mack. That's why he makes over $2 million a year, to make those tough decisions.

If eight current and/or former players are arrested within an 18-month period, it puts a damper on the clean standing of the other 78 players. Bad news travels fast.

This is not the time for coaches or fans to make excuses. Be angry, not apathetic.

One or two arrests a year? Happens in most every major football program in America. But 10 in a year and a half? Now you're venturing into the seedy era of the camouflage-wearing Miami Hurricanes of yesteryear. We saw what Joe Paterno did when six of his Penn State players were arrested for a fight on campus. In addition to any legal punishment the offenders must face, he ordered the entire team to clean the football stadium after each home game.

Like it or not, it's called accountability. Accountability not only as a football player but as a football program.

Brown can't be everywhere his players go. But they hang out with one another. If a team member knew about guns or robberies, they should have intervened.

In the Texas football media guide, Jones is described as a Parade high school All-American, an honor roll student who graduated from Andress High School in El Paso early so he could join his future college teammates for spring football.

Jones grew up dreaming of being in the UT starting lineup one day, not the photo lineup in which he was identified. Now he will join Joseph in jail, in a different shade of orange uniform.

Which brings us to the easiest decision Mack Brown has faced since he offered Vince Young a scholarship. The lawbreakers must go.

Haven't these kids learned anything from Michael Vick? This dude was a $100 million industry unto himself and now there are sewer rats who wouldn't trade places with him. The lesson is you're only as good as your associations. If you lie down with dogs, you will soon wake up with fleas. So If you want to follow your buddy to the penitentiary, go ahead. But you shouldn't be allowed to do it under the guise of being a law-abiding student-athlete for a college reputed to recruit solid citizens.

How many times have we heard coach Brown say: "He's a good kid from a good family."? Well, it's time to find some better kids. More Kelsons and McCoys. Fewer thugs.

cgolden@statesman.com; 912-5944

_________________________________________________________________

My thoughts here...

I love Mack Brown. I think he's a good guy and a great coach. I think he has an outstanding eye for talent and can pick some of the best of them.

Above that... He's a GREAT recruiter.

And herein lies the problem. Mack is a buddy to his players. He's always been depicted as such a nice guy (which he is) and a player's advocate. When he speaks I can tell he really cares about his players and sees them as his extended family. Two years ago when he went forward to the media and says that Texas deserved a BCS bid I truly believe he did that because he thought his players deserved it.

Here's the problem though. You can't be their coach and their friends. You just can't. You need to know that in this situation you are their coach and not their best friend.

I would like to compare him to Franchione but that is not possible. Obviously Mack has a better record, gets better recruits, and is liked more. Fran is all business, not overly personable, not the greatest recruiter, and isn't very well liked in general.

But here's the difference. Fran does not put up w/ crap in his regime. Players under him say that he is a good coach but not likeable in practice or game situations. He is not tolerant of much and distances himself from players. You see pictures of Mack in practice and you find him much more involved with his players smiling. I can listen to Mack Brown talk all day... he just has that persona and charm that the media loves. Fran does not. Fran kinda drives me a little nuts to be honest. Not much personality in there and doesn't seem to enjoy the spotlight.


Which is better? That depends on your view. I think in the long run Mack will always be considered a better coach than Fran. But I respect Fran a lot more for his program's respectability and integrity. Maybe Fran's just lucky in this. Maybe Mack's just unlucky. But most of the problems that have plagued A&M in the past w/ legal trouble seems to have faded under Fran... and picked up a bit for Texas under Mack.