Chalk Talk - Patchwork (By: Coleman Feeley)

[Coleman Feeley]

There’s no argument that the Longhorns are having their share of growing pains. Win-loss record aside, Texas has lost their starting quarterback, left tackle, center, and a talented wideout for the season and that’s just offensively (not to mention that injuries have side-lined valuable players like Daje Johnson for multiple games). All that, compounded by a fan base that demands wins from a new coaching staff, has put the Texas Longhorns in a real bind this season.

Going into their ninth game, the Horns possess a mediocre record of 3-5 and sit at 72nd nationally. That’s not to say that Texas’ losses have been to inferior teams; in fact, they have been to some pretty good ones - three of the five defeats are to teams that are ranked in the Top 25, and UCLA is ranked 28th. However, with only four more opportunities this season, Texas must win three of the four to even be considered for post season play.

This team has been a patchwork group to say the least, and no other unit has been more affected than the offensive line. So far this season, Texas has had five different starting offensive lines and played four additional combinations of personnel. Dominic Espinosa was pegged as the anchor of the offensive line, hut he was injured in the first game of the season and had season-ending surgery. In game one, excluding Espinosa, the offensive line had only ten total starts among four players. The majority of those starts were claimed by Kennedy Estelle (who has since been dismissed from the team). For game two of the season Texas was forced to start an entirely new offensive line (fig1).

In that second game the offensive line had only a combined five starts! Texas’ combined starts literally declined after game one.

Unlike other position groups on the field, the offensive line, which is composed of five different players, is often referred to as one position (or, at least is judged as one position). This perception only emphasizes the importance of continuity and communication among the five players.

As most of the Hornsports faithful that read Chalk Talk know, of all the positions on the offensive line, none is more important to the overall success than the Center. Texas has started three different players at the center position so far this season. Dominic Espinosa was, as mentioned, the original anchor of this offensive line. He had a combined 36 starts and was the only multiple year starter on the O-Line. Espinosa had high expectations and a lot of responsibility resting on his shoulders before the season. Unfortunately for Dominic, he didn’t even finish game one (football is an unforgiving sport). Jake Raulerson, the center after Espinosa, was a redshirt freshman whose first start was only the second game he played in for the Longhorns. Taylor Doyle, who now holds the starting job at center, had never played the position before! The first time Taylor Doyle snapped the ball and started to block someone was the week of practice before his first start.

It’s easy sometimes to quickly judge a group of players as poor or unsuccessful, but given the circumstances, I’d have to say this offensive line is playing fairly decently. Texas averages over 100 yards rushing per game and has currently allowed only fifteen sacks. I understand that most fans find fifteen sacks in eight games unacceptable (at least I would if I was coaching), but with a mobile quarterback sacks are common – failed scrambles, draws, and zone reads count as sacks when the quarterback is tackled. So, with an increased chance of your QB scrambling, you have an increased chance of giving up sacks.

Even one of the most talented offensive lines Texas has seen, the 2005 National Champions, gave up 15 sacks that season. This offensive line also has no seniors playing and the position coach could be dealing with a possible lawsuit from his former school. Texas’ offensive line has been considered a real issue for this team and is constantly under scrutiny (particularly from this reporter). However, considering all factors, this year may be a disguised blessing for the OL. This could be the year that makes this unit; and practicing against Malcolm Brown and Hassan Ridgeway will only help. “As iron sharpens iron, so too does a man sharpen another man.†

 

[Matt Cotcher]

As most of the Hornsports faithful that....

My mind auto-replaced "faithful", with "stalwarts".

Will penicillin clear that up? 

 

[Aaron Carrara]

My mind auto-replaced "faithful", with "stalwarts".

Will penicillin clear that up? 

Whoa!

 

[Shannon Kelley]

As usual, Cole has nailed it. As goes your O-Line, so goes the team! Not having a consistent group with which to build uniformity, makes for uncertain play.

As Cole will tell you, the O-line makes so many calls before the ball is snapped, and if your Center is the guy that makes the calls and he hasn't had much seat time, it makes for a long day. You have the ID that the O-line will need to know so they understand which 5 they will be blocking and leave the rest to the back. You have  double team calls, Fan calls, Ollie calls, Slide, Slip, Chip, Laser, Rocket, Gang it, Bring it, Ray, Wall, Gate, Duece calls, trey calls, Ace calls, Combo's, Base, Down, Ram it, and on and on....It gets to be quite crazy, but IF you have a bunch of guys that have not done much of this WHILE THE BULLETS ARE FLYING, it makes it really tough on these guys.

What I will say, is that given what Texas has had to deal with thus far, it will pay huge dividends in years to come. These guys will be fire tested an will only get better. Gaining a bunch of game time reps, only sharpens their craft. Time is on their side!

 

[CCausey11]

As usual, Cole has nailed it. As goes your O-Line, so goes the team! Not having a consistent group with which to build uniformity, makes for uncertain play.

As Cole will tell you, the O-line makes so many calls before the ball is snapped, and if your Center is the guy that makes the calls and he hasn't had much seat time, it makes for a long day. You have the ID that the O-line will need to know so they understand which 5 they will be blocking and leave the rest to the back. You have  double team calls, Fan calls, Ollie calls, Slide, Slip, Chip, Laser, Rocket, Gang it, Bring it, Ray, Wall, Gate, Duece calls, trey calls, Ace calls, Combo's, Base, Down, Ram it, and on and on....It gets to be quite crazy, but IF you have a bunch of guys that have not done much of this WHILE THE BULLETS ARE FLYING, it makes it really tough on these guys.

What I will say, is that given what Texas has had to deal with thus far, it will pay huge dividends in years to come. These guys will be fire tested an will only get better. Gaining a bunch of game time reps, only sharpens their craft. Time is on their side!

So nice to hear knowledgeable responses from you and Coleman.  Perhaps those that don't really understand and just want to call out players would do well to read this thread.  Thanks!

 

[chilly52]

Nice article again Coleman and a great add from Shannon. You two should write the "Fan's Guide to Horns Play Calling" together!

 

[joeywa]

Coleman, I think the patchwork angle is not known by the general public.  Unless you're really a very attentive Texas football fan/follower, you don't know how depleted we are at key positions.  I don't live in Texas, but I cannot tell you how often I have to answer the following two questions from people up this way, (as they know I'm a Longhorn,)

1. What's wrong with Texas this year?
2. Will this new coach be OK with your team struggling so much this year?

The discussion usually covers exactly what you wrote above.  Nice job of breaking it down.  I wish more folks would pay attention to this type of thing, but OL is just not sexy or popular enough for mainstream media to devote much time.

 

[Matt Cotcher]

By my count, Texas has had 5 different lines start this year. That's ridiculous.