http://www.mystatesman.com/news/sports/college-football/wickline-no-pity-party-for-longhorns-rebuilt-offen/nhkhS/?icmp=mystatesman_internallink_megamenu_link#afb997c9.3703420.735524
Wickline: 'No pity-party' for Longhorns' rebuilt offensive line
Posted: 10:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, 2014
By Brian Davis - American-Statesman Staff

"........ “I’m going to make this very clear. I learned a long time ago you never worry abut the ones that aren’t here,†Wickline said. “I don’t really think about 40 starts. I worry about who’s next. And sometimes, that’s kind of cold.
“They’ll say, ‘Hey, what about me?,’†the 32-year coaching veteran said. “Well, yeah, go get your degree, Dom. Hopefully you play in the NFL, and what a great guy he is, but … As a group and a staff, what’s it going to take for us to get better each week?â€
* * *
Tackles Marcus Hutchins and Darius James and guards Sedrick Flowers and Kent Perkins have played most of the season. Raulerson started four games in Espinosa’s place, but Taylor Doyle of Lake Travis was plugged in at center against Oklahoma.
That’s a total of six players for what’s normally an eight-man job — playing a 60-minute football game.
“Sometimes they’ll get tired and want to tap out,†Wickline said. “And I’ll just stand there on the sideline and waive back at them — well, either me or (strength coach) Pat Moorer.â€
* * *
Wickline leaned back in his oversized leather chair to discuss how things went so wrong, so fast at Texas. Espinosa was lost, as were two projected starting tackles. Kennedy Estelle was dismissed from the team prior to the BYU game, and Desmond Harrison has been suspended all season.
As for those remaining, “In a nutshell, they’ve been through a lot and it’s been a shock to their system,†Wickline said in the only interview he’s given since early August.
“Now, the other side of this is that nobody cares,†he added. “We all signed up for the mission here, and we all have a job to do. So we try to point that out. There’s no crying party or pity-party for us. Each week, we prepare to be the best we can be.â€
Wickline can discuss each member of his rotation with precision. Flowers, who has made seven consecutive starts dating back to the Alamo Bowl, is “locked down there at left guard.â€
At 6-foot-5, 350 pounds, Perkins better suited for an inside position, Wickline said. He needs to lose more weight, but “he’s got long arms, he’s all in. He’s a really nice player.â€
Hutchins was an offensive linemen in 2012 and then a defensive tackle in 2013. The current staff pulled him back over to the offensive side in August to shore up depth.
“As a staff, in some ways we’re thankful for his unselfishness,†Wickline said, “but in other ways, I say, ‘Hell, that’s what you’re here for.’ Whether you’re a holder or lineman, that’s your job. You’re supposed to help the football team.â€
James, a redshirt freshman, played guard, tackle and defensive tackle and end in high school. “He’s a guy that has a lot of potential, but he’s real young. He hasn’t played. It’s all new to him,†Wickline said.
As for Doyle, “I consider him a first-team guard,†Wickline said. Raulerson (6-foot-5, 281 pounds) has struggled against bigger, more physical players. Doyle will stay at center, and Raulerson might play spot duty at multiple positions.
All six players are improving collectively, Wickline said. “That still leaves us about 12 or 13 years from getting us to where we need to get,†he added.
* * *
“I don’t mean to sound corny, but nobody ever said it would easy. And nobody ever said this would be fair,†Wickline said. “We’re on this mission, and we’re going to get there.â€
----- LOTS MORE AT THE LINK ------
Wickline: 'No pity-party' for Longhorns' rebuilt offensive line
Posted: 10:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, 2014
By Brian Davis - American-Statesman Staff

"........ “I’m going to make this very clear. I learned a long time ago you never worry abut the ones that aren’t here,†Wickline said. “I don’t really think about 40 starts. I worry about who’s next. And sometimes, that’s kind of cold.
“They’ll say, ‘Hey, what about me?,’†the 32-year coaching veteran said. “Well, yeah, go get your degree, Dom. Hopefully you play in the NFL, and what a great guy he is, but … As a group and a staff, what’s it going to take for us to get better each week?â€
* * *
Tackles Marcus Hutchins and Darius James and guards Sedrick Flowers and Kent Perkins have played most of the season. Raulerson started four games in Espinosa’s place, but Taylor Doyle of Lake Travis was plugged in at center against Oklahoma.
That’s a total of six players for what’s normally an eight-man job — playing a 60-minute football game.
“Sometimes they’ll get tired and want to tap out,†Wickline said. “And I’ll just stand there on the sideline and waive back at them — well, either me or (strength coach) Pat Moorer.â€
* * *
Wickline leaned back in his oversized leather chair to discuss how things went so wrong, so fast at Texas. Espinosa was lost, as were two projected starting tackles. Kennedy Estelle was dismissed from the team prior to the BYU game, and Desmond Harrison has been suspended all season.
As for those remaining, “In a nutshell, they’ve been through a lot and it’s been a shock to their system,†Wickline said in the only interview he’s given since early August.
“Now, the other side of this is that nobody cares,†he added. “We all signed up for the mission here, and we all have a job to do. So we try to point that out. There’s no crying party or pity-party for us. Each week, we prepare to be the best we can be.â€
Wickline can discuss each member of his rotation with precision. Flowers, who has made seven consecutive starts dating back to the Alamo Bowl, is “locked down there at left guard.â€
At 6-foot-5, 350 pounds, Perkins better suited for an inside position, Wickline said. He needs to lose more weight, but “he’s got long arms, he’s all in. He’s a really nice player.â€
Hutchins was an offensive linemen in 2012 and then a defensive tackle in 2013. The current staff pulled him back over to the offensive side in August to shore up depth.
“As a staff, in some ways we’re thankful for his unselfishness,†Wickline said, “but in other ways, I say, ‘Hell, that’s what you’re here for.’ Whether you’re a holder or lineman, that’s your job. You’re supposed to help the football team.â€
James, a redshirt freshman, played guard, tackle and defensive tackle and end in high school. “He’s a guy that has a lot of potential, but he’s real young. He hasn’t played. It’s all new to him,†Wickline said.
As for Doyle, “I consider him a first-team guard,†Wickline said. Raulerson (6-foot-5, 281 pounds) has struggled against bigger, more physical players. Doyle will stay at center, and Raulerson might play spot duty at multiple positions.
All six players are improving collectively, Wickline said. “That still leaves us about 12 or 13 years from getting us to where we need to get,†he added.
* * *
“I don’t mean to sound corny, but nobody ever said it would easy. And nobody ever said this would be fair,†Wickline said. “We’re on this mission, and we’re going to get there.â€
----- LOTS MORE AT THE LINK ------
Last edited by a moderator:
