Offensive Line Shakeup? | Looming Starter Questions | Texas Longhorn Football | State of the Program

welcome to on Texas football I'm Bobby Burton your host joined by CJ vogle and Jerry Hamilton we are three days away uh from the start of college football season for the Longhorns uh the Longhorns take on Colorado State at DKR at 2:30 on Saturday afternoon we'll be there uh obviously as many of you will be as well uh or watching on TV whatever you can uh this week's state of the program uh brought to you by Adam Loy and the Loy Law Firm we're going to talk a little bit about uh that our predictions so to speak for uh this game but before we get there guys there's some pressing issues we want to talk about uh in this week uh as we look forward to this very first game Steve sarkeesian came out on Monday and CJ you were at the press conference uh and said that look we don't really have a starter right now it's more we're looking at our two deep and everybody's going to play and we're going to try to figure out who deserves what okay we've all heard that before Sark May mean that at a couple of positions this year that we're hearing number one the three that I want to talk about the platooning situation potentially at wide receiver what the latest is on the offensive line because we're hearing both Cole Hudson and NATO umio Zulu are making runs there and then what's going on in the secondary CJ I'm going to start with you and I'm going to ask you about what you heard from SAR that kind of made you really feel like he's not just this isn't just lip service that he's giving to the starters SL backups this year yeah of course he he talked about you know kind of the week one opener against rice and how he was able to get 32 or 33 different bodies on the field early in that game that's great right you're expected to see those type of guys filter in keep your legs fresh in a hot environment but on top of that there's another comment Bobby that made me think oh maybe uh some spots are still up for grabs and that was essentially uh these guys are fighting for reps on the field and we're going to go with the hot hand at a number of spots we're going to find ways uh to get the guys that are playing well and succeeding on the field to stay on the field and be larger parts of our defense and of course you can look to a number of positions right now in which there might be a number of bodies fighting for reps or fighting for snaps at certain spots we'll get to them obviously Edge defensive back corner whatever it might be there are plenty of them but sarkeesian base saying we're going to use this first game Michigan and the next two to kind of get ourselves an idea of who we can rely on who we can trust and who our Playmakers are to go into SEC play it's all going to be a setup for conference play whenever it all arrives all right let let's start uh Jerry I'm gonna start with you the offensive line situation uh one of the uh key topics here has always been well is DJ Campbell ever La a year ago this time is DJ Campell going to step up and beat out Cole Hudson right although Cole was coming off an injury this year it's whether or not Cole or NATO are going to step up and beat out DJ camel uh correct uh so what are your thoughts there Jerry yeah I think if we just go back to last year in Tuscaloosa DJ Campbell was a starter and when Cole Hudson was healthy Cole Hudson played more snaps in that game so I think we lindin Cole Hudson got injured again and we've been talking that Texas is going to play a more guys on the interior of the offensive line this year I don't know if you call it a rotation in air quotes right if you're listening on the podcast or not but there's definitely going to be a rotation at offensive guard this year now it could be depending on who you play uh your opponent and player strengths and weaknesses on the offensive line H but I do think we're going to see more of Cole Hudson and more of Netto this year um and because obviously Cole Hudson was going to end up playing starter reps whether he was a starter or not at times last season uh so I think we're going to see that again I think this is an older offensive line your tackles are set that's not happen at tackle Jake Major's a set at Center that's not happening at Center we're looking at left guard and Right Guard and maybe even more Right Guard than left guard head in the season because DJ Campbell may not have had taken the next big step in Fall practice we'll see if that changes in the games but expect to see Cole Hudson expect to see Netto at guards and I do think this is going to play out on the field starting let me ask you let me ask both of you guys this I mean are we is it really possible that we may be talking about a different starting lineup to start the season CJ I mean you have any thoughts on that yeah I think so and you know whether it be from week one to week two to week three and Beyond I think that there is a opportunity uh for this offensive line to look a little bit different than what we've known it to be dating back to the spring of course there's four guys all vying for two spots and uh for the most part three of them have had a lot of experience right NATO kind of being that one guy who's yet to really crack consistently onto the field but what we've heard dating back to the spring is this is a pretty tight race Bobby there's been times all the way dating back to the beginning of fall camp where you'll see that first team unit offensively kind of have different pieces at the at the guard spot whether it be a NATO at Right Guard or Cole Hudson at left or vice versa they've plugged and placed uh you know all four pieces interchangeably almost the entirety of fall Camp so far so I don't think it's out of the picture at all to see a a brand new starting five come week one uh on Saturday that maybe we weren't expecting a few weeks ago and I want to add I want to add this communication on the right side is big for me Cameron Williams is making his he's a firsttime starter he started one game against Kansas State when Christian Jones was injured but this is his first year as a starter last year DJ Campbell could look to his left and see Jake major look to his right and see Christian Jones this year cam Williams me looking in and is DJ Campbell is he strong in communication from Jake major to him to cam Williams because it's not like cam Williams can ask Jake Majors a question okay this thing there's a line of communication on the offensive line and I think we talk about that we may not talk about that enough I think that's going to be a key on the offensive line on the right side this year because you're not preparing so much for Colorado State you're preparing for what's going to happen in an arbor and the and then the other thing I'll say what makes the guards interesting is DJ Campbell and Netto are your best run blockers Hayden Connor maybe your better best best in pass pro at the guard position Cole Hudson maybe is the best mix of both in all actual in all actuality so how do those parts fit together and when do they fit together look I I think Texas has uh pieces to the puzzle they got to figure out what what the actual puzzle looks like uh you know and and make sure that they're they're putting the best guys out there they're going to use this week to try to figure that out I just wonder I me just from hearing things behind the scenes I wonder whether or not we're gonna see somebody other than DJ Campbell start not saying I'm I'm for sure about that just there's Rumblings and so we'll see what happens on Saturday all right let's uh talk next about the secondary before we get into uh the wide receiver in the secondary guys uh what are y'all's thoughts on what Texas is trying to do do here with Jaylen Gilbo um and Jade Baron I mean they they've both seen so many starters reps they've added Andre makuba we hear Gavin Holmes has had a good fall Camp CJ I I'll start with you what what do you think Texas is really attempting to do is it just about versatility or is it about getting the best 11 on the field at a time maybe I think in a sense it is the the the lad of that Bobby get the best 11 on the field but also Al the guys that Texas is trying to get on the field a bit more in my eyes Jaylen Gilbo and find a spot for J Baron right that provides you the opportunity to have guys who are very capable of making plays on the ball and that's been the constant for J Baron his entire time on the field at Texas and what we've heard from Jaylen Gilbo since returning back from injury right going back to the spring if you will there was probably no more impactful football player you know maybe Sans Anthony Hill then Jaylen Gilbo and some of those scrimmages he was the MVP of a few of them and we know that to be the case because he was so close to the football and so impactful there if you're able to have a guy like him and a guy like J Baron on the field at the same time plus an Andrew mcuber Derrick Williams or Michael Taff guys who are all able to go after the football in that secondary that's huge for the tech Texas defense which is looking to become more opportunistic as we've talked about so far this fall so I I think it's more about finding the right combination of guys who can go out there and make plays on the football create turnovers create negative plays and do such in in that manner Gavin Holmes to his credit though hasn't gone quietly and you're going to see a lot of them on Saturday as a result of another strong Camp uh this this uh last month or so so whatever the combination is I I do wonder and I I don't have uh Clarity on this right now I do wonder if there's a look in the red zone that they give out a little bit different in a Personnel package maybe not week one against Colorado State but maybe against Michigan you see a different defensive back package in that Rec in that red zone secondary area uh you know and when that gets tight Texas moves maybe more to a zone or man whatever the strengths might be of that that Personnel grouping just to get J Jaylen Manny all on the field together whereas that kind of fits their personnel and their strengths a little bit more so than you know in between the 20s hey Jerry I gotta ask you about the actual safety situation because what what CJ was really describing was the star position VV the cornerbacks and who would be the starter there what about Andrew makuba Michael Taff and Derek Williams those appear to be the top three safeties galani McDonald Steve sarkeesian mentioned him uh earlier this week as having a a good go at it uh but those top three safeties is makuba the guy back there that you have to have on the Fielder is that Taff who is kind of a lot of people think he's a little bit of the sole of that defense right now what what what are your thoughts on on the safety position it's wild but it almost goes back to the offensive line for me it's the communication I think Derek Williams uh really good player is the communication is strong from that standpoint if he's called upon to be the communicator versus a makuba and a Michael Taff I think that's the question that's going to have to be answered what's interesting about that is Dereck Williams the first day that they wore the headsets uh defensively uh in in practice he was one of the three guys so but we've also heard that maybe that strong voice in communication may not be where he's at right now we'll see uh when the season begins so with Derrick Williams the two things I've been looking at are making more plays on the ball and being the strong communicator and and that comes in time with time with different guys so is makuba we know ta strength is there you know makuba had to at least be pretty good in that regard based on how CL played him and used him right that's one of the things you heard is the P the system the communication was strong because I keep going back to that first open that the First Media window practice where we were there for an hour it's normally 20 minutes so we got to the point where Johnny nanson was out there running things in the secondary and all the communication went through nanson out to that secondary and Rod baber sat there and is kind of te looking at that and kind of commment and how many different packages they played in the secondary at Arizona under Johnny nanson so who can communicate all that on the field for Johnny nanson I think that's going to hold a lot of the cards at the safety position in terms of snaps I I think that's a good point and I I will add this I mean who do y'all think opens up with the helmet communication on a defense I mean is it Taff is it makuba is it Anthony Hill is it Derek Williams is it heck is it J Baron or Jaylen Gilbo I mean do we know I mean I I think we would be guessing right now and furthermore I think that the what we also talked about is it could be different for different teams yeah I mean it might be someone in the secondary when you're playing a air raid type system like Colorado State whereas it might be Anthony Hill come Michigan time when they're going to maybe give you a three tight end look half the game that's a great point it's a great Point Bobby because if John nanson is making defensive back calls and against the Colorado State then you could you could see a a defensive back having a headset in that game all right before we before we talk uh to talk about the receiver position and the what we think's going on there right now or actually what we know a little bit about what's going on um I want to say thank you to our sponsor that's Adam Loy over at the lowy law firm give him a shout if you would uh if you have been in a car wreck truck C automobile accident of any kind including ATV golf cart what have you and you think you might be due compensation uh visit him at loaw firm.com that's ly lawfirm.com he and his team will give you a free consultation no strings attached Loy lawfirm.com Adam thank you for sponsoring coffee and football as well as each week's state of the program all right guys uh let's let's keep going here here's what we know at at least at this point about uh what it's looking like at wide receiver we are hearing it's going to be a platoon situation at least at the outset not perfect uh we don't know if it's going to continue into the second half but what we're hearing is it maybe phase one and phase two and try to figure out who makes plays and then let's go to let's go to Ann Arbor with the guys that we think are the ones that are going to help us win and then either goes stays at six or seven in the rotation and it may get trimmed down to five it may get trimmed down to four you just never know based on uh exactly what transpires in football games uh so CJ I'll let you start uh what do you think about the idea of a platoon at wide receiver yeah it's interesting right I know that there's a lot of uh different personalities and different you know uh strengths for the wide receiver position that this group brings but we've heard it consistent recently from Steve S this fall uh it's not just finding the best three or four wide receivers it's about finding the best combination of wide receivers on the field together so if you feel good about the platoon and maybe a Silas Balden working well with a Ryan Wingo or a jonte cook and Isaiah Bond on the field together then hey I think that plays well to what you can do offensively with those guys and those pairings on the field together of course that's up to sarkeesian and Chris Jackson to kind of finalize and see what worked but it's also up to Quin ERS which groupings does he work best with is there a wide receiver that he goes to more who does he look to on a third and four a third and seven a third and long I think that's going to be pretty telling a year ago we knew what he was able to do with an Xavier worthy and AD Mitchell but on some of those key third Downs what did he look to do he looked to go over the middle to a Jordan Whittington or a jatavian Sanders that was kind of his safety blanket is there a guy right now that kind of takes that step as a safety blanket for him we heard in the spring and I hate going back to the spring because it was so long ago but it's one of those weird things that I think carries over through the summer and into the fall Matthew golden was a guy that he leaned on pretty heavily for those kind of we need to convert now kind of situations so where he is on that field and what kind of group he's in I think will kind of give you an idea of where Quinn will go as well in those muston convert situations but it'll be interesting to see what kind of success comes as a result of that uh platoon system if Quinn finds rhythm with one or the other or one player in particular uh first time we've seen this under sarkeesian so it'll be a learning curve just as much for us as it will be for them in my eyes to see what actually works and what doesn't I I I can tell you I think the biggest thing Bobby is Route recognition period like full stop type of thing who does Sark and Quinn trust to be to run the route correctly with the correct timing I mean that if not it throws everything off and I know DeAndre Moore has been one of those guys am I saying he's going to be the starter the most targets no I think Silas Balin and Matthew golden may end up being the leading receivers as far as catches on this team that's my prediction on a prediction show but I think Silas Balon factors in heavily heavily whether he starts or not it's like Ser Jabari rice on the Texas Elite eight basketball team sometimes it doesn't matter who's in the game when it counts that is what matters and then critical downs and critical situations but I think the route recognition who is re we've heard Ryan Wingo is about 40 45% of the Playbook there was about 33% after the first scrimmage so 40 45% of the Playbook only playing X um so that is a guy that you're going to bring along probably more slowly that mean he's not going to make too big plays against Colorado state but I do think the the experienced guys look the way football works out a lot of times is experienced guys get the first shot especially in a Colorado State game a DeAndre Moore and a jonte cook they've invested they get an opportunity right but if they crack the door if the doors cracked open there's a lot of experienced really talented players there at their position you know Isaiah bond is going to be a big part of this offense because even if he's a decoy his ability to stretch the field and what he's done in his career and I'm not saying he's a decoy I mean he could have catches for 650 yards and be a decoy at times down the field open the middle of the field up on a vertical route uh but I think route recognition is going to be huge who do Sark and Quinn trust I think we're going to start to see that in game one and I think that carries over the game two but I do think this conversation we're have is going to be completely different by the Oklahoma game yep I I I look at it and what we're what we're really uh trying to decipher here uh is who's the best mix and match you know with the the whole thing I I want to say this um another thing that that I think is important when you talk about route recognition just to give people some color and example of what that is you know if the if the if it's a Zone and your guy is actually running a a man pattern he doesn't adjust to run a Zone and sit down in his Zone that's what you're talking about and that's experience that's something that frankly silus Balden has more than anybody on the team probably right then you have Isaiah Bond and uh Matthew golden next followed by Jon cook DeAndre Moore uh and then lastly Ryan Wingo so route recognition is not just experience it's also application of it and cook Balin have caught the most passes excuse me Balden and uh uh Bond have caught the most passes uh so they've probably seen it more than anybody else golden obviously a two-year starter at the University of Houston as well so we we'll see how it all winds up my thought on it is I want to see everybody get the ball in their hands in game one to see who the playmaker is because I think they're going to have good players all of those guys are good players but which one's your playmaker which one is going to score touchdowns for you all of them can score touchdowns we know that they wouldn't be at Texas in the first place but who makes the who makes the play that everybody else can't make right um and gives your chance a better give you gives your team a better chance of winning the ball game all right uh that's that's going to be that section we talked about the the main uh positions we think are going to be up for grabs of sorts uh let's talk about our prediction uh for this weekend I think it's time we've been going at this a lot we're going to have other shows later this this week and and talking about different things but uh in this state of the program uh the question is Texas favored currently I think by 31 a half uh according uh to a lot of the money lines out there uh that you know shelves out to about a 43 uh 12 4313 4413 kind of game uh for Texas in this uh scenario uh y'all taking the over on that are are y'all taking the points or not this isn't simply about whether or not Texas should win right I mean we think Texas should absolutely win based on uh what we know but is Colorado State maybe a little bit better on offense than people are giving them credit for and maybe with all these you know older guys on defense a little bit better and and going to be more stingy than than perhaps they were a year ago I mean I I I've got questions both ways and then you you're sitting there looking at Texas and so many new faces on offense for Texas in the skill position it's hard it's hard to to gauge this one I I'm I have Texas covering but uh I want to say this I would not be surprised if Colorado State somehow some way puts 21 points on the board yeah I was going Texas has to go big yeah I was going I'm thinking 5621 5217 in that area code for a cut for a few reasons One S when s brought up in the press conference Monday CJ we I want to see a better start to the season we had against rice he's putting a lot of emphasis on that um here so there's that point I think Colorado state if they C their offensive tackles again where when rice came to Houston last year what was rice accustomed to the heat and humidity that was an even playing field in terms of the M the weather this is not an even playing field on now if the rain comes and that that could change the whole thing it could be it could be 30 to 14 I mean who knows right so let's we're staying away from that uh but the the weather was even last year in the opener Texas had a bunch of false starts just a bunch of shoot yourself in the foot type of penalties last year Sark wants a cleaner game he expects a cleaner game I expect he'll get a cleaner game on your front of your offensive front that I think is where his emphasis is Colorado state if they can't establish the run their offensive tackles are in for a long game I also think SEC Midway through the third quarter and to finish the game I think Texas could cover there if they if they have it beforehand because Colorado State's going to be a tired team I there is no doubt I don't care um you can say oh it's been a warm summer call you can say whatever you want but it's different it's just it's just different the humidity the heat the combination especially if it rains before the game so I just think sarc is pushing his guys to have a really big game to have a different mindset than the rice game last year because obviously I think we we know Texas was probably looking ahead at BAM a little bit I don't think that's going to be the case with this team this year I think that's a year older team and I I'll add the third piece to this what what we haven't talked about yet is you know 12 teams are going to try to get into a college football playoff and I don't want to say you don't you have to run it up I think people we haven't talked about that well style points are out because it's 12 team playoff I don't know style points may be more in I don't think Arch is g to come into the game and hand it off I think they got to get Arch ready to play I think if you can put beat them 56117 you got to do it um because what if you're coming down it comes down to the wire and you don't know what's going to happen if it's you and three other teams to get in a couple of playoff spots I mean look I I I hate to say you run it up on people but I do think style points still count guys Fair Point CJ yeah it's gonna be interesting I'm with you Jerry I think if the Heat's there the score gets out of hand late in fact I think if the heat is what we think it is and what it has been this summer Colorado State probably doesn't score in the second half because of that rotation of bodies Texas has and in which they plan on using them I was looking at the numbers of bodies Texas used week one against rice again and I'll talk about the first half here in a bit but the rotation of bodies they used 36 players defensively week one versus 22 against Alabama so they're they have an idea of who those guys are going to be but they want to see that whole unit work to uh and kind of showcase itself before kind of tightening things down against that Marquee match up week two offensively he went from 29 bodies to 20 obviously late against rice a week one a year ago things got you know to where you wanted it to be score-wise a little bit later uh but the starts have to be better and I say that again as we've seen against rice and Wyoming a year ago right it was 10 to 10 entering the fourth quarter before Xavier worthy took a screen pass and and found a slip down the end zone and found a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter I think people kind of forget that it was 16 to3 against rice in which Texas kicked three field goals in the second quarter alone and you're sitting there frustrated as hell at halftime sweating like crazy wondering why can't this team find The End Zone little said we know that was going to be a precursor for the rest of the season so what I want to see against Colorado state is execution once you get past the other 40 right find ways to get that ball into the end zone I think that they've been working on that all year in fact I know that as a result I think that they find success early against Colorado State as a result the score I wrote down was 48 to10 originally and I'm going to stick with it I just think Texas has had such an emphasis on secondary such an emphasis on scoring in the red zone that those are the issues that they come out and solve right away way week one this year now if I'm wrong then hey maybe they still got to go back to the lad or maybe they just haven't shown what they want to show going into the SEC and saving that for conference play but that's kind of where my mind is leading me right now is that all offseason we've heard secondary we've heard pass rush and we've heard Red Zone scoring it's going to be an emphasis start out strong and let that heat work to your advantage 48 to 10 I'm punching it in Bobby uh don't take that for gambling advice at all because I don't think I want a week zero at all so but that's how I'm feeling right now well that that all makes sense uh look we're all we I think everybody that listens this hope hopefully they do realize look you gotta week one is the hardest week of the year in my opinion to decipher because there are so many unknowns especially now with a transfer portal man I look I mean how many different how many new faces come from the transfer portal and you just don't know how they're going to mix I mean what's Texas going to do with this defensive line rotation is it going to be successful or or not uh just a lot of different pieces to the puzzle that I think we have to all be cognizant of as we look forward to it I am extraordinarily excited though again uh the game starts 2:30 on Saturday at DKR against Colorado State just three days away 72 hours in fact probably by the time you're watching this show so uh we will see soon uh what exactly the Longhorn sa store for Colorado State hopefully it's uh open up a can of you know what on the Colorado State Ram all right for CJ vogle and Jerry Hamilton as well as our producer Matt Hutchinson thank you also to Adam Loy of the Loy Law Firm he and his firm have uh sponsored on Texas football state of the program for quite some time make sure you give them a call uh or reach out to them at Loy Law Firm if you have any need uh for or in a wreck where you need some level of help and representation again Loy lawfirm.com Jerry uh CJ until next time uh and everyone else until next time hook up