On Texas Football: Observations on defensive line, offensive position terminology explained
On the latest video episode of On Texas Football’s Sunday Roundup, Inside Texas’ Bobby Burton and Ian Boyd discuss a number of key observations after the first week of preseason camp as well as a rundown of offensive glossary terms used by the Longhorns.
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Burton and Boyd detailed the projected depth at defensive line after the former spent time in Austin watching the Longhorns practice this week. Boyd asked Burton about the progress of Jaray Bledsoe at the EDGE position and if he would be an integral part of the rotation for Texas this season.
“Well, I think Bledsoe is quick enough and athletic enough – he’s more athletic than Barryn Sorrell and I think his body type is going to be bigger than Sorrell,” Burton said. “I think he can be an EDGE. And the question, the better question there is one that you started with…does he need more time in the oven? That’s the key with him, and I think he does.
“They’ll play Bledsoe this year – don’t get me wrong. I just feel like he needs more time to bake. Physically, you can tell he’s he had some bad weight coming into Texas a year ago but that’s totally gone and his body is redefined.
“I would say this, for the record – Bledsoe has as much talent as anybody on the roster at that position. My concern is, is he going to go the way of Alfred Collins and never really maximize that ability? Because he’s not in tune to that singular position and learning it? Or is he going to break out?”
As far as the interior defensive line, the two discussed the backups at nose guard and defensive tackle to projected starters T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy.
“Trill Carter I think plays behind Byron Murphy at the nose,” Boyd opined. “I think Collins can be disruptive. But in terms of ‘put a guy at three technique, let the other team double and they’re not getting anywhere,’ is there anyone else on the roster that can do that?”
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Burton said true freshman Sydir Mitchell could be the answer.
“Mitchell is younger, clearly, but I’m telling you, he’s huge,” Burton said. “As long as he plays with effort, he’s the guy that’s going to be hard to move, period. That’s why you don’t want to play him more than 15-20 snaps a game right now because you need that consistent effort for him. Otherwise, he’s just he’s gonna get blocked into people. Which is Vernon Broughton’s problem right? He plays so high that he doesn’t really anchor well.
“I just think I think more and more the addition of Trill Carter this offseason was vitally important because of that.”
Burton asked Boyd, Inside Texas’ X’s and O’s expert, to explain some of the terminology in Texas coach Steve Sarkisian’s offense and how it differs (especially at wide receiver) from that of former coach Tom Herman.
“Let’s try to give people an understanding of exactly what’s the Sarkisian means by some of the positional pieces when we talk about a certain receiver being the ‘X’ receiver versus the ‘Y’ receiver, etc.,” Burton said.
There’s plenty more to catch up on in the video, so go check it out in its entirety.
