Tear Down This Wall
1/9/2009, 03:36 AM
Candidly, I've often called for the firing of Chris Wilson and moving Bobby Jack Wright back to DE coach, then hiring a secondary coach.
After this game, I feel differently. It's been coming on all season actually.
When you look at how inexperienced our defense was coming into the 2008 season, and then pile up the injuries we endured there...the season we had was pretty amazing on that side of the ball as well.
At defensive end:
-Jeremy Beal was beginning his first season as a full time starter. He was forced into starting at the end of last season. This was just his sophomore season.
-Auston English was injured much of the year, but freshman Frank Alexander stepped in and performed very well.
At defensive tackle:
-Gerald McCoy was only a sophomore this year, but drew constant double teams and will only be better next year.
-The other DT spot was supposed to be filled by Demarcus Granger, but injuries forced Adrian Taylor into a starting role. Taylor performed well all year. Like, McCoy, he was only a sophomore this year.
DEFENSIVE LINE WRAP
We went into 2008 with new two full time starters at DE (Beal) and DT (Granger). Injuries to Granger and English made this a line of three newcomers, plus sophomore McCoy. Folks, they're all back next year. This excellent line will be even better.
At linebacker:
Everyone was new. Yes, Ryan Reynolds had started before, but not every game. And, his injuries ensured that we'd play the majority of the 2008 season with three guys who weren't starters in 2007.
In short, we had a good corp with a freshman in Travis Lewis, a converted safey in Keenan Clayton, and freshman Autin Box. Box's injuries kept him out of many games, and JUCO Mike Balogun filled in.
This, again, is a young corp that will only be better in 2009. Lewis and Box were freshmen. Clayton and Balogun are junior who will both return.
FRONT SEVEN
Hey guys - they return in 2009! All of them!
Secondary
We entered 2008 with two new cornerbacks, sophomore Dominique Franks and junior Brian Jackson, they will both return. At safety, we lose both Lendy Holmes and Nic Harris. Junior Quinton Carter got some good playing time this year and will return.
So, that defense that had us in the national championship game tied 14-14 in the fourth quarter? Nine out of 11 return next year.
There's alot of talk about who is leaving on the offensive side of the ball. It doesn't matter. As we saw yet again tonight, it's defense that wins championships. And, this young, injury-riddled defense just delivered us a Big 12 title...and did enough to have given us a national title.
Whether or not Sam Bradford or Jermaine Gresham leave, this will be a team to contend for the Big 12 and national title again in 2009.
On a night when I should be upset that we lost, I actually see a very bright future with a very 2000-, 2001-type defense in store for 2009
After this game, I feel differently. It's been coming on all season actually.
When you look at how inexperienced our defense was coming into the 2008 season, and then pile up the injuries we endured there...the season we had was pretty amazing on that side of the ball as well.
At defensive end:
-Jeremy Beal was beginning his first season as a full time starter. He was forced into starting at the end of last season. This was just his sophomore season.
-Auston English was injured much of the year, but freshman Frank Alexander stepped in and performed very well.
At defensive tackle:
-Gerald McCoy was only a sophomore this year, but drew constant double teams and will only be better next year.
-The other DT spot was supposed to be filled by Demarcus Granger, but injuries forced Adrian Taylor into a starting role. Taylor performed well all year. Like, McCoy, he was only a sophomore this year.
DEFENSIVE LINE WRAP
We went into 2008 with new two full time starters at DE (Beal) and DT (Granger). Injuries to Granger and English made this a line of three newcomers, plus sophomore McCoy. Folks, they're all back next year. This excellent line will be even better.
At linebacker:
Everyone was new. Yes, Ryan Reynolds had started before, but not every game. And, his injuries ensured that we'd play the majority of the 2008 season with three guys who weren't starters in 2007.
In short, we had a good corp with a freshman in Travis Lewis, a converted safey in Keenan Clayton, and freshman Autin Box. Box's injuries kept him out of many games, and JUCO Mike Balogun filled in.
This, again, is a young corp that will only be better in 2009. Lewis and Box were freshmen. Clayton and Balogun are junior who will both return.
FRONT SEVEN
Hey guys - they return in 2009! All of them!
Secondary
We entered 2008 with two new cornerbacks, sophomore Dominique Franks and junior Brian Jackson, they will both return. At safety, we lose both Lendy Holmes and Nic Harris. Junior Quinton Carter got some good playing time this year and will return.
So, that defense that had us in the national championship game tied 14-14 in the fourth quarter? Nine out of 11 return next year.
There's alot of talk about who is leaving on the offensive side of the ball. It doesn't matter. As we saw yet again tonight, it's defense that wins championships. And, this young, injury-riddled defense just delivered us a Big 12 title...and did enough to have given us a national title.
Whether or not Sam Bradford or Jermaine Gresham leave, this will be a team to contend for the Big 12 and national title again in 2009.
On a night when I should be upset that we lost, I actually see a very bright future with a very 2000-, 2001-type defense in store for 2009