Texas Linemen at The Opening 2016
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Walker Little at The Opening. (Justin Wells/T)[/caption]
I tuned in to ESPNU this weekend excited to see multiple hours of The Opening coverage. I even made a podcast about how to watch the “campetition,” that’s how eager I was for football fans at large to seize the opportunity. It’s not often in the dead of the summer something resembling actual football appears on television. If nothing else, an event like this whets the appetite for August and early September.
I turned on the TV both Saturday and Sunday to find ESPN covering the “7-on” competition only. This disappointed me. I wasn’t disappointed Nike left out of extra “7” at the end of “7-on-7.” They can do whatever they like with they’re branding and annual profits prove they’re on point. I was disappointed the big boys, the linemen, weren’t highlighted amidst the whole program.
ESPN did a couple of cutaways that showed the “Final 5 Linemen” competition. The Final 5 is like the Elite 11, except it’s for offensive and defensive linemen rather than quarterbacks. I know the excitement is usually with skill players so it makes sense to focus on whatever they’re doing. Television is a ratings game; if linemen are confusing and boring to watch ESPN definitely shouldn’t broadcast them competing.
However, after scouring the inter-webs for all The Opening coverage I could find I made a discovery: the Final 5 Linemen competition was the most exciting part. I know I’m biased, but of the footage I found it wasn’t even close.
I love playing touch football (in epic Nike gear given freely to me) as much as the next guy. But, I can’t say I absolutely love watching other people do it. At the end of the day, 7-on-7 is a beneficial football exercise that’s not all that much like actual football. I’m glad high schools, colleges, and professional teams practice 7-on-7 as it helps QB and WR timing among other things. Still, there’s no hitting. 7-on-7 is basketball on grass.
The intensity we’re used to witnessing in football was all to be found among the big boys (see Walker Little’s video below). If nothing else, the linemen actually had pads on and we’re doing drills in which players could get physically dominated and embarrassed. No one wants to become a meme (in the very worst way) against the best of the best on national television. The truth is, when you’re competing against the best you’re bound to lose a few reps at some point. The stakes are high.
I’ve curated the clips below to give you a taste of what was happening beyond ESPN’s reach, but, I’ve only included linemen the Longhorns are targeting. If you’re an Inside Texas subscriber you’re already well aware of who these players are and where they stand in terms of playing in burnt orange. I’ve also included a few personal notes on technique, where some placed in the Final 5, etc. Enjoy.
Marvin Wilson
Marvin is the 5-star defensive tackle out of Bellaire Episcopal in Houston, and as some expected he took home the defensive line MVP of the entire camp. Below is a good example of his strength as he bull rushes an offensive lineman into the QB dummy. What I can’t figure out is why the offensive lineman was celebrating after the play… Giving your QB less than three seconds of protection while getting bulldozed into his lap is nothing to brag about. Advantage: Marvin.
K’
K' Lavon Chaisson
K’Lavon is a defensive end/OLB from Galena Park North Shore I hope you saw play in the state championship last season. His stats say he secured 21 sacks in 16 games; enough said. Texas QB pledge, Sam Ehlinger, said he's the best football player he's ever gone up against.
Below you can watch him work a spin move he was coached to use and do so effectively. He also gets beat on the second rep by a powerful punch from the offensive tackle. Like I said before, against great players and especially in drill like these — it happens.
X
Xavier Newman Though one of the smallest OL at The Opening, Longhorn commit (for now) Xavier Newman does a good job leveraging the defender’s off-balance weight against him and wins the rep in the first clip. In the second clip, the Desoto OL is playing center and gets walked directly into the QB. Marvin Wilson is a load. That kind of player can be especially hard to stop at center where you begin the play essentially blocking with one hand. Xavier ends up on top of Marvin at the end of the play but it’s neither a pancake or anything to be excited about. In a game, that rush would have ended with the QB buried under 600+ pounds of man.
Walker Little at The Opening. (Justin Wells/T)[/caption]
I tuned in to ESPNU this weekend excited to see multiple hours of The Opening coverage. I even made a podcast about how to watch the “campetition,” that’s how eager I was for football fans at large to seize the opportunity. It’s not often in the dead of the summer something resembling actual football appears on television. If nothing else, an event like this whets the appetite for August and early September.
I turned on the TV both Saturday and Sunday to find ESPN covering the “7-on” competition only. This disappointed me. I wasn’t disappointed Nike left out of extra “7” at the end of “7-on-7.” They can do whatever they like with they’re branding and annual profits prove they’re on point. I was disappointed the big boys, the linemen, weren’t highlighted amidst the whole program.
ESPN did a couple of cutaways that showed the “Final 5 Linemen” competition. The Final 5 is like the Elite 11, except it’s for offensive and defensive linemen rather than quarterbacks. I know the excitement is usually with skill players so it makes sense to focus on whatever they’re doing. Television is a ratings game; if linemen are confusing and boring to watch ESPN definitely shouldn’t broadcast them competing.
However, after scouring the inter-webs for all The Opening coverage I could find I made a discovery: the Final 5 Linemen competition was the most exciting part. I know I’m biased, but of the footage I found it wasn’t even close.
I love playing touch football (in epic Nike gear given freely to me) as much as the next guy. But, I can’t say I absolutely love watching other people do it. At the end of the day, 7-on-7 is a beneficial football exercise that’s not all that much like actual football. I’m glad high schools, colleges, and professional teams practice 7-on-7 as it helps QB and WR timing among other things. Still, there’s no hitting. 7-on-7 is basketball on grass.
The intensity we’re used to witnessing in football was all to be found among the big boys (see Walker Little’s video below). If nothing else, the linemen actually had pads on and we’re doing drills in which players could get physically dominated and embarrassed. No one wants to become a meme (in the very worst way) against the best of the best on national television. The truth is, when you’re competing against the best you’re bound to lose a few reps at some point. The stakes are high.
I’ve curated the clips below to give you a taste of what was happening beyond ESPN’s reach, but, I’ve only included linemen the Longhorns are targeting. If you’re an Inside Texas subscriber you’re already well aware of who these players are and where they stand in terms of playing in burnt orange. I’ve also included a few personal notes on technique, where some placed in the Final 5, etc. Enjoy.
Marvin Wilson
Marvin is the 5-star defensive tackle out of Bellaire Episcopal in Houston, and as some expected he took home the defensive line MVP of the entire camp. Below is a good example of his strength as he bull rushes an offensive lineman into the QB dummy. What I can’t figure out is why the offensive lineman was celebrating after the play… Giving your QB less than three seconds of protection while getting bulldozed into his lap is nothing to brag about. Advantage: Marvin.
K’
K' Lavon Chaisson
K’Lavon is a defensive end/OLB from Galena Park North Shore I hope you saw play in the state championship last season. His stats say he secured 21 sacks in 16 games; enough said. Texas QB pledge, Sam Ehlinger, said he's the best football player he's ever gone up against.
Below you can watch him work a spin move he was coached to use and do so effectively. He also gets beat on the second rep by a powerful punch from the offensive tackle. Like I said before, against great players and especially in drill like these — it happens.
X
Xavier Newman Though one of the smallest OL at The Opening, Longhorn commit (for now) Xavier Newman does a good job leveraging the defender’s off-balance weight against him and wins the rep in the first clip. In the second clip, the Desoto OL is playing center and gets walked directly into the QB. Marvin Wilson is a load. That kind of player can be especially hard to stop at center where you begin the play essentially blocking with one hand. Xavier ends up on top of Marvin at the end of the play but it’s neither a pancake or anything to be excited about. In a game, that rush would have ended with the QB buried under 600+ pounds of man.
Texas commit @XavierNewman55 gets him a W here. pic.twitter.com/7SiVTx2vkc — Daniel Seahorn (@CoachSeahorn) July 10, 2016
Jack Andersen I’m becoming a big fan of Texas Tech commit, Jack Andersen. I know the Frisco, Texas native is committed to Kliff Kingsbury’s Red Raiders, but watching him pass protect here made me hope Texas is still interested and might make a late run at him. I have zero inside information — see Justin and Eric on things like that — I just like the way the big man performed. See two impressive reps below. W Walker Little I saved the best for last: Walker Little (also from Bellaire Episcopal) plays every bit the 6-foot-7 300-pound viking he is in the clips below. Catch the intensity building in these three consecutive reps; these are modern day gladiators battling it out. Walker played well enough all camp to finish among the Final 5 for The Opening’s offensive linemen. I’m excited to see what becomes of Walker Little — this young man impressed me, and I hope he ends up playing in Austin.Xavier Newman v. Marvin Wilson. pic.twitter.com/0W2vUWquQ7
— Daniel Seahorn (@CoachSeahorn) July 9, 2016
Wow, OT Walker Little (@walkerlittle45) and DE Drew Jordan (@End2Endzone) just went to war in #Final5 at #TheOpening pic.twitter.com/hGBvF3Ajew — Tyler Donohue (@TDsTake) July 10, 2016
