Texas Depth Chart for Cal

[Harrison Wier]

Yesterday, Texas released their depth chart for the California game. Although nothing much has changed, there are some notable things to discuss. All of the Longhorns' injured players appear to be healed and ready to go for Saturday. Dylan Haines will start at safety. The offensive line will be healthy again. D'onta Foreman will be good to go along side Chris Warren III and Kyle Porter. In case the link is not sufficient, I will list the starters at each position. 

QB: Shane Buechele

RB: D'onta Foreman

OWR: John Burt

IWR: Jake Oliver

IWR: Jacorey Warrick

OWR: Armanti Foreman

TE: Caleb Bluiett

LT: Connor WIlliams

LG: Patrick Vahe

C: Zack Shackelford

RG: Kent Perkins

RT: Brandon Hodges

SDE: Charles Omenihu

NT: Paul Boyette

DT: Poona Ford

FOX: Naashon Hughes

SLB: Edwin Freeman

MLB: Malik Jefferson

WLB: Anthony Wheeler

CB: Davante Davis/Sheroid Evans

FS: Jason Hall

SS: Dylan Haines

NB: PJ Locke

NOTES: 

Do not worry about Holton Hill. He will be fine. Sheroid Evans has earned his spot, and although many saw Davis' weak performance against ND, the coaching staff sees him as more talented than Holton IMO. Jason Hall has not done anything to lose his spot at FS yet, but Cal will be a big test for him. You will see all three of Hughes, Hager and Roach at FOX. The 18-wheeler package should produce tons of yardage against a poor Cal rush defense. Jake Oliver is listed as a started at inside receiver, but you'll see a ton of Jerrod Heard. If I were Sterlin Gilbert, I would use Buechele's deep ball touch to my advantage. John Burt and Armanti Foreman could have big days outside. 

What are your thoughts/concerns heading into Cal? 

 

[RunRickyRun]

Our secondary concerns me.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

I see Shack as a starter. Is he 100%? With 2 ankle injuries back to back, is there any concern that he may not be fully recovered?

 

[Harrison Wier]

Our secondary concerns me.

The secondary will be tested. Davis Webb is no slouch at QB. They run tons of intermediate routes and screens, which is not a dynamic Texas is good at defending.

 

[Harrison Wier]

I see Shack as a starter. Is he 100%? With 2 ankle injuries back to back, is there any concern that he may not be fully recovered?

The injiry he had in the UTEP game was his same ankle he hurt before. Just re-aggravated. I don't know if he's 100%, but he's healthy enough to where Charlie Strong does not want to rely on a backup. I don't blame him after how that group played against UTEP

 

[83Dee]

Hodges, Hager and Roach are three highly productive players listed at the same position.  Any way they will find a way to get them on the field together..... in other words, might there be a position change in one of their futures? 

 

[Harrison Wier]

Hodges, Hager and Roach are three highly productive players listed at the same position. Any way they will find a way to get them on the field together..... in other words, might there be a position change in one of their futures?

That's interesting. I saw someone say they could see Roach being a beast at linebacker. I don't know how accurate that is, but it's not impossible IMO. Other than that, they probably have packages where Roach and Hager are on the field at the same time. I don't mention Hughes since this is his last year.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

I don't think we'll have to pass too much. Cal's defense is very accommodating to a ground game. Our two big backs are going to have a field day.

I think our success on the ground will let us play around a bit with some people who haven't seen much action so far, most notably Devurney. 

I think we'll have at least one defensive score and perhaps one special teams score.

Our defense is just too fast for their O. IMO, their key to success is the short passing game and then try over the top from time to time.

 

[texbound]

Saw a post or tweet or a report saying that two freshman the coaching staff are trying to get on the field are Fowler and Hudson. According to the report, Hudson would've played last week if it wasn't for a minor injury. Even getting Fowler on ST is something the staff wants. Those two guys must be doing something right in practice.

 

[Harrison Wier]

I don't think we'll have to pass too much. Cal's defense is very accommodating to a ground game. Our two big backs are going to have a field day.

I think our success on the ground will let us play around a bit with some people who haven't seen much action so far, most notably Devurney. 

I think we'll have at least one defensive score and perhaps one special teams score.

Our defense is just too fast for their O. IMO, their key to success is the short passing game and then try over the top from time to time.

Cal's offense is very quick. The Texas defense has had multiple issues on intermediate routes and WR screens, which is what Cal thrives on. The defense is not going to have an easy time on Saturday. They must generate a pass rush and force Webb to make bad decisions. 

 

[Sparky82]

Harrison, what makes you say the coaches have decided D Davis is more talented than Holton?. Holton looks great out there to me.

 

[Harrison Wier]

Harrison, what makes you say the coaches have decided D Davis is more talented than Holton?. Holton looks great out there to me.

Out of the two last year, Davis was clearly the better corner in my mind. This year, Sheroid Evans came back healthy and took a spot. The only thing that I can see that could have happened is that those two in Davis/Evans are the best duo on the team or that Hill got lazy and let his job slip away from him while Evans worked his tail off in fall camp. Again, just my two cents. Holton will be fine. Evans has played great and Davis will have a short leash IMO

 

[Sparky82]

Yeah, if Holton's losing playing time, it speaks volumes about the growth of the talent pool among the DBs. Nice problem to have, once again.

 

[Harrison Wier]

Yeah, if Holton's losing playing time, it speaks volumes about the growth of the talent pool among the DBs. Nice problem to have, once again.

Absolutely. In this game, all DB's will play. So everyone gets their opportunity for redemption or to prove themselves

 

[Bevostuntdouble]

THIS!

Our secondary concerns me.

 

[Duke C #11]

Why is the 2015 roster still on the site and the next game listed is Notre Dame?

 

[Harrison Wier]

Why is the 2015 roster still on the site and the next game listed is Notre Dame?

Are you talking about on HornSports? I've seen the Cal countdown the past couple of days if you're referring to that.

 

[Duke C #11]

Under the Football heading on the home page, click on Roster.

 

[Harrison Wier]

Under the Football heading on the home page, click on Roster.

I'll relay that. Thanks for the heads up.