Scatter Shot
Stealing a page from Blackie Sherrod I’m scattering shooting while wondering what ever happened to Jitter Fields.
Excuse me if I don’t think this whole game manager thing will work out very well against West Virginia, Oklahoma St., Oklahoma, Kansas St. or Baylor. Speaking of our game manager I wonder if Mack Brown and Brian Harsin will continue to baby David Ash against New Mexico. If he can’t run big boy plays against the Lobos who can he run them against? And speaking of New Mexico can the Horns really score enough points to cover the 38 point spread?
While I’m on a rant here lets move on to my most over-hyped category.
- The Texas defense. I don’t care about their #2 ranking in total defense in 2011. I saw the Oklahoma, Oklahoma St. and Baylor games last year and I saw the defense give up 276 passing yards to Wyoming last week. I’ll start believing if they can make key stops against Oklahoma St. and West Virginia. Or… to coin when one of my favorite sports quotes that I’m not sure who said originally but my best guess is Dan Jenkins, “tell your statistics to shut up.”
- Quandre Diggs. AKA the little engine that could often looked befuddled—as did the rest of the Texas Secondary—against Wyoming last week. He also was inept on his one kick off return and couldn’t escape a one on one tackle in the open field on a punt return.
Before I go on let me remind readers that the category is over-hyped not—not any good.
- Alex Okafor. He’s a solid starting defensive end. He had zero sacks against pass happy Wyoming. Until he shows more he’s simply a solid starter and maybe an honorable mention All Big 12.
- Last and not least or maybe least depending upon how you look at it. The offensive line. As 95% of the American male population and all sports talk radio show hosts can’t say enough, “really?” This is the unit that’s going to remind us of the Alabama Offensive line of the last three years? “Really?”
Before Homer Mark strokes out let me move on to the Texas players who impressed me in week one.
- Malcolm Brown. I guess it’s pretty obvious but he is quite good. The thing is, unless he rolls up huge numbers, he’ll always be under-rated because he makes 7-20 yard runs look so ho hum and he may never beat out Joe Bergeron as the fan favorite. Also keep in mind that he’s running behind an average at best (see #4 of over-hyped) offensive line. He’s possesses running back instincts that are as good as they get. I would say they’re rare but Cedric Benson was here not that long ago and he had them too but he was a power runner as Brown is more of a finesse guy.
- D.J. Monroe. He’s been in the dog house since his DWI a couple of years ago. Lets hope they let him out because for god-sakes he has a career 7.1 yard per rushing average. And he’s not just a sprinter he’s a real running back who knows how and when to cut it up field. He showed desire and toughness on his touch-down run last week when he lowered his shoulder and bounced off a tackler near the goal line. Just one more thing. Don’t forget that he returned a kick-off for a touchdown a couple of years ago. Or was it two?
One more thing before you go. I’ve decided to replace Mike Leech with Texas State on the Watch list (soon to be updated) after the Bobcats spanked Houston last week in the greatest upset in history measured by Las Vegas points spreads. They host Texas Tech Saturday night in what has to be the most anticipated night in San Marcos since I dated a Southwest Texas St. Co-Ed, courtesy of Andy Garrod and his girlfriend Megan, for about a week and a half in 1975.
HooK eM,
W.E.
Over Under Contest
[contact-form 3 “Pre Game New Mexico”]
