Texas O-Line needs Espinosa's Leadership

[Aaron Carrara]

Photo: Matthew Emmons, USA Today Sports Images

Football season is almost here so it's time to start talking football.  Let's start with a returning David Ash to the QB position and what he needs to be successful - or, at minimum, to maintain his health and avoid taking the big hits.

Offensively the Longhorns bring back 6 starters (that number is more realistic at 5, since it is doubtful that WR Kendall Sanders will be starting for Texas this season).  On the offensive line, the only starter returning is center Dominic Espinosa - he started all 39 games over the last 3 seasons. The 'Horns lost LT Donald Hawkins, LG Trey Hopkins, RG Mason Walters and RT Josh Cochran on the line and Espinosa will need to exercise leadership and pull the new starters in and get them on the same page for Ash to have success.  Kent Perkins and Sedrick Flowers most likely have strongholds on the right and left guard spots, respectively, and then you would assume Kennedy Estelle owns the RT spot and Desmond Harrison staking a claim at LT.  Of the guys mentioned other than Espinosa, Estelle is the next experienced player in terms of games played (he took over for Josh Cochran who injured his shoulder in the K-State game last year and played each game since).  Flowers and Perkins each started one game last year.

Charlie Strong has had some tough decisions to make with respect to players and depending on how the summer shakes out, he could very well have more to make.  Espinosa's play will dictate the tone of the offensive line and Texas could need guys like Camrhon Hughes, Darius James, Rami Hammad, Alex Anderson and Curtis Riser to be ready to go, if needed.

The line play for the offense will be one of the most important stories for Texas this season.

 

[Matt Cotcher]

OL play is hugely important to this team (understatement, I know), so you pointing out Dom's role is a good angle. He's a guy that's gotten steadily better each season he's been on campus.

Obviously you'd prefer to have the same 5-man unit playing together, but if that's not possible, then having a Senior be the one that's making the reads & calls when they're on the field is a solid trade-off.

Espinosa looked fit and seemed relaxed last week - just like a 4th year guy should.

 

[BudreauReye]

OL play is hugely important to this team (understatement, I know), so you pointing out Dom's role is a good angle. He's a guy that's gotten steadily better each season he's been on campus.

Obviously you'd prefer to have the same 5-man unit playing together, but if that's not possible, then having a Senior be the one that's making the reads & calls when they're on the field is a solid trade-off.

Espinosa looked fit and seemed relaxed last week - just like a 4th year guy should.

Of course, people have complained about him since he got here, but I gotta tell you that he would not have started all of those games if he were not a very smart player.  Those smarts are going to have to pay dividends this year.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

OL depth is razor thin. We gotta get solid play out of everyone to compete in the Big12.  I expect break-out years for Harrison and Estelle if they're still eligible after summer classes.

If not, we're gonna be in for a long season!

 

[Coleman Feeley]

"There are no bad play calls... just bad blocking."

Espinoza NEEDS to communicate effectively with WHATEVER system they choose. The line... especially this O-Line... has to have all five players on the same page to be successful. Four TEXTBOOK blocks can be negated by one bad block.

Concerning depth... I'd expect to hear the term "Crosstraining" a WHOLE LOT this upcoming fall camp.