The NFL is now littered with former Texas players from the Mack Brown era. It seems like every game involves a Longhorn in the starting lineup. The biggest impacts appear to be on both lines and in the secondary while linebacker is without a doubt the weakest position. Injuries affected a few of the players 2008 season, but the program should be proud of what these guys are accomplishing.
Justin Blalock – The Atlanta Falcon’s made the playoffs behind a great running game and solid quarterback play. The unsung unit on the team was the offensive line. Blalock has cemented himself as a starter on an upcoming team by starting all 16 games after playing in 14 last season. At Texas, Blalock played tackle, but in the NFL he has been able to slide back to his natural position of tackle. Blalock was even able to score a touchdown on a fumble recovery.
Tarell Brown – The forgotten member of the 2005 secondary has become a solid nickel corner in the NFL for the 49ers. Brown played in 15 games and started in one. He recorded 30 tackles and two interceptions.
Cedric Benson – The beginning of the season didn’t appear good for Benson. After being cut by the Bears it appeared no one would request his services. The Cincinnati Bengals fell apart and came calling four games into the season. Benson started 10 games, gained over 700 yards, and scored two touchdowns on the ground. He also added 20 receptions. “EL Ced” finished with two huge games; making the chance he is offered a longer deal by the Bengals a real possibility.
Tim Crowder – Crowder struggled with injuries and the depth chart all season. He played in six games, starting zero, and recording one tackle on the whole year.
Jamaal Charles – Charles had a rookie season that has to be seen as a success. Charles sits behind Larry Johnson on the depth chart, but made plays when given the opportunity. The speedster averaged 5.3 yards per carry and added 27 receptions. His only touchdown of the season came on a reception. If Johnson isn’t retained by the Chiefs, Charles may get a look as an every down back.
Leonard Davis – The offensive line for the Cowboys underachieved this season. Davis will go to another Pro Bowl but o-line selections are based on reputation more times than not. It was not all Davis’ fault but he did not perform at the level he did the previous year.
Phil Dawson - Dawson was once again a lone bright spot for the Cleveland Browns franchise. He went 30/36 with a long of 56. He was perfect on extra point, but the 18 attempts magnify the struggles of the Browns offense.
Derrick Dockery – Dockery is one of the higher paid linemen in the league, but is never as dominant as his salary would warrant.
Jermichael Finley – Finley had a hard time getting started this season. He ended up playing in 14 games while starting one of them. The rookie finished with 6 receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown on the season.
Cedric Griffin – Griffin has turned into a solid starting cornerback for the Vikings. He gets a lot of action playing opposite of Pro-Bowler Antoine Winfield but holds his own pretty well. Griffin plays with excellent enthusiasm and competitiveness which makes him an eager corner in run support. He played in all 16 games for the second straight season and recorded 91 tackles and a pick.
Mike Griffin – Michael Griffin had the type of year that have made many hail him as the best defensive back to come out of the 2005 group. Griffin is a Pro-Bowl alternate after recording seven interceptions and a sack on the year. He is quickly becoming one of the best safeties in the league. His play has allowed the Titan defense to become one of the best in the league. Griffin also returns kicks for the #1 seeded Titans.
Ahmard Hall – The former Marine has established himself as one of the last true fullbacks in the game. The Tennessee running game is one of the best in the league behind the duo of Chris Johnson and Lendale White. The two split carries with mirrored success, and the one constant is the presence of Hall. He has also become a weapon in the flat out of the backfield, recording two touchdown receptions this year.
Casey Hampton – Hampton had a tough season as he struggled to get on the field with health and conditioning problems. When Hampton can play he remains the best 3-4 nose tackle in the game. He recorded one sack in 13 games that he was rarely able to make it all the way through.
Michael Huff – The Thorpe award winner hasn’t lived up to his draft status so far in his career, but it is still early. Huff lost his starting job and didn’t record a sack, interception, or forced fumble on the year.
Quentin Jammer – Jammer had another great year in San Diego. He is one of the most physical corners in the league and continually gets matched up with the opposing team’s biggest and best receiver. Jammer recorded 88 tackles, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles for the playoff bound Chargers. It has been amazing to watch the turnaround of Jammer’s play after struggling for the first few years in the NFL. The pressure of being a high pick has subsided and Jammer’s play has risen.
Derrick Johnson – DJ has moved inside and performed well for the Chiefs. The knock on the former Texas star coming out was his unwillingness to take on blocks, and after a few years as a pro the criticism still exist. When playing in space he excels, but at the point of attack he has remained a liability. Johnson has been up and down, but has shown flashes of potential. He ended the year with 85 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one interception, and four forced fumbles. If/when the light turns on for DJ the sky is the limit.
Frank Okam – Okam may have earned himself a roster spot for next year with his play down the stretch. He lacks the motor and intensity most coaches want out of an interior defensive lineman, but he has the tools to become a solid player in the league if he ever turns it on.
Cory Redding – I feel bad for Cory Redding. I feel bad for any player, coach, trainer, and journalist (except Rob Parker) in Detroit. Redding was the heart and soul of their defense (if that is possible), and if he ever gets out of Detroit he may have a chance to make some noise. Until then, he’ll be rich in Detroit. He got three sacks on the year.
Brian Robison – Robison plays behind Jerod Allen so his snaps are limited. When he is on the field he shows up and makes plays. He managed 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 15 games.
Shaun Rogers – Shaun Rogers is the most disruptive interior lineman in football today. The guy is just huge and unstoppable when his motor is turned on. He took over games at points this season in spite of double and triple teams. Rogers will be in the Pro-Bowl again after turning in 76 tackles and 4.5 sacks. He has Hall of Fame type talent when it is all clicking for Rogers.
Aaron Ross – He may not be the best athlete in his marriage, but the Thorpe award winner has become a better than average cornerback in a tough place to play. Ross started in every game he played, 15, and grabbed 3 interceptions, including one that he returned for a touchdown. Ross has the ability to be a shutdown corner as his technique and confidence continue to grow.
Bo Scaife – Scaife has emerged as a very productive tight end even in the face of losing his quarterback and his team bringing in a big name free agent in Alge Crumpler. There were a few games where Kerry Collins completely forgot about Scaife, but he finished with 58 receptions and two touchdowns. Scaife has also become better as a blocker which allows him to stay on the field in all situations.
Lyle Sendlein – People tend to forget about Sendlein when discussing the better offensive lineman Mack Brown has put into the NFL. Sendein has started every game of the season for a playoff team. Not too bad.
Chris Simms – Simms is the number three quarterback on Tennessee’s roster.
Kasey Studdard – Studdard remains a reserve lineman for the Houston Texans. He hasn’t been able to crack the starting lineup.
Limas Sweed – Sweed is listed as the 4th receiver on the Steeler roster. One would think Sweed will contribute more after a full off season.
David Thomas – The Patriots use a lot of tight ends in their offense, so none of them have numbers that are going to blow you away. Despite that Thomas has been able to get on the field a lot so far in his career. He pulled in nine receptions for 93 yards, but was never able to reach the end zone.
Nathan Vasher – Injuries rendered the 2008 season a wasted one for Vasher. He played in eight games, recording one interception, before being placed on injured reserve.
Ricky Williams – The former Heisman trophy winner and league pariah has made his comeback has a productive back in the Miami system. He was one of the many bright spots on a team full of them this year. Williams is able to make plays without being relied on to carry the full load because of the presence of Ronnie Brown. Ricky scored four touchdowns on 659 yards rushing. He may have made his biggest impact as a receiver out of the backfield where he averaged over seven yards a catch on 29 receptions.
Roy Williams – The losing ways of the Lions followed Williams from Detroit to Dallas. Roy was never able to make an impact for the Cowboys for reasons that still remain unclear. He has proven to have the ability which leaves work ethic and injury as the two other reasons for his lack of production. Williams has unfortunately been criticized for both a lack of work ethic and inability to stay healthy in his career. He will need to have a huge year next year to justify the trade and contract Jerry Jones awarded him.
Selvin Young – Young was another Longhorn that struggled with injury. Denver is notorious for alternating backs, and with the addition of injuries Young was never able to stay on the field. When he was healthy he produced so it will be interesting to see what the new coach in Denver decides to do with Selvin.
Vince Young – 2008 was not a good year for VY. The greatest player in Longhorn history lost his job after one game and a knee injury, and never was even given the chance to win it back. It now appears Jeff Fisher made the right choice as Tennessee earned the #1 seed in the AFC. While they did it with defense and running the ball, Collins has done a good job in a Trent Dilfer type role. This season may end up being the best thing that has ever happened to Vince as a professional if he uses the experience in the right way.
Ricky Williams rushed for a season-high 105 yards
The former Longhorns were led by Ricky Williams and Bo Scaife this week. The group in Tennessee keep on winning while the guys in Kansas City, Detroit, and Oakland are already looking forward to the offseason.
Tarell Brown - Brown played a good game at cornerback against one of the best receiving core in the NFL on Monday night against the Cardinals. Brown played on nickel situations, which there were plenty of. He finished with tackles on the night.
Jamaal Charles - Last week the rookie running back posted his first career 100 yard game and this week Charles got rewarded with the start. Unlike last week Charles was never able to get anything going after being injured on his first carry. He was able to come back into the game, but remained largely ineffective. Charles has suffered through ankle injuries before, so hope it is an isolated incident. He gained only eight yards on three carries in the game.
Phil Dawson - Dawson had another good game going three for three with a long of 52. He was also perfect on his extra points. The veteran is now 17 of 19 on the year.
Cedric Griffin - Cedric has become a consistent player in this league. He plays with an attitude and is becoming a better tackler. Griffin has a great player opposite him to learn from in Antoine Winfield. Griffin finished with three tackles against the Packers.
Michael Griffin - The Titans keep winning and Griffin keeps playing well. He ended up with five tackles on the night, but was all over the field on defense and in special teams in the win over the Bears. Tennessee remains the only undefeated team left in the NFL and they’re doing it with solid defense.
Ahmard Hall - The fullback and ex-Marine didn’t have his best ball game even though his team won. Hall fumbled a carry on the goal line that would have put the Titans on the board first. The Tennessee run game was not up to their standards but they still came away with the victory.
Michael Huff - Huff didn’t get many chances in the game against Carolina because both passing offenses were inept. The former Thorpe award winner only registered one tackle on the game that saw Steve Smith only catch one pass and Jake Delhomme only completed seven total.
Quentin Jammer - Jammer’s Chargers squeaked by the Chiefs on Sunday to save their season. Jammer has come into his own on the season. Teams are avoiding his side when they can, but the physical corner still recorded three pass defenses and four tackles. Jammer is playing the best out of all the corners from Texas in the NFL.
Frank Okam - The big rookie got some playing time in the blowout loss to the Ravens. He didn’t disappoint, recording three tackles in the game. Okam had only made one tackle on the season prior to this game. If Okam stays in shape he should become a player in the NFL.
Cory Redding - The Lions are awful. That may not do it justice. Redding has been a bright spot on the team when he has been healthy. On Sunday the defensive tackle was credited with three tackles. Did I mention the Lions are awful?
Brian Robison - Robison got some playing time and rewarded the team with a sack. He is in a tough spot backing up Jared Allen, but Robison has shown flashes and should start to produce once his opportunities increase.
Shaun Rogers - I’ve never seen more people assigned to one nose tackle in my life. There were times when Denver triple teamed Rogers with a running back coming in to chip him on his way out of the backfield. Rogers still recorded two tackles on the game, but his main contribution was freeing up other defenders. The Browns gave another game away on Thursday night.
Aaron Ross - Ross gave up a touchdown in the win against the Eagles but played pretty good after it. His future wife, Sonya Richards, gave the Texas football team a pep talk before the game against Baylor this past weekend too. Ross finished with two tackles and one pass breakup.
Bo Scaife - Scaife had a huge game for the Titans with 10 catches for 78 yards and a touchdown. When Tennessee picked up Alge Crumpler many thought Scaife’s roll would be reduced, but it has been the opposite. Even with Vince Young on the bench, the Titans have looked for Scaife on third down and near the goal line. That is the biggest sign of what the Titan staff thinks of the former Texas tight end.
Nathan Vasher - It is clear watching Vasher on Sunday that he is not 100 percent yet. He gave up an easy touchdown on a simple slant patter early in the loss against the Titans. When he is healthy Vasher is one of the more dangerous corners in the league, but when he is hobbled he is no better than average.
Ricky Williams - Ricky recorded his first 100 yard game since his return to the NFL. He gained half of it on one touchdown run of 51 yards. He finished with 105 yards on 12 carries. The Heisman voter carried the ball one less time this week than his last two weeks combined.
Jamaal Charles had a big game for the Chiefs
It was a good week for Texas running backs and for the former Horns that play for the Tennessee Titans. This week’s group was led by Cedric Benson on offense and the continued dominance of Shaun Rogers on defense.
Cedric Benson - Benson had his first 100 yard game as a Bengal this week against the Jaguars. It looks like Cedric is playing motivated football since his return after being cut by the Bears for charges that were eventually dropped. Benson had 104 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.
Justin Blalock - The Falcons keep winning and their offense keeps on putting up points. Atlanta beat up the Raiders in every phase of the game on Sunday. The offensive line play is allowing rookie quarterback Matt Ryan to have a big year.
Jamaal Charles - The rookie running back had his best game of his young career as he went over the century mark on the ground for the first time. Charles got his chance because Larry Johnson is still suspended by the team and backup Kolby Smith went down with an injury. The speedster didn’t disappoint gaining 106 yards on 18 carries.
Leonard Davis - The Cowboys keep stinking it up and a lot of it has to do with the play of the offensive line. Dallas has suffered injuries no doubt, but the running game is hurting and the quarterbacks have had no time to throw.
Phil Dawson - The best kicker in recent Longhorn history went two for two with a long of 52 yards in a Cleveland loss.
Cedric Griffin - Cedric Griffin had a decent day against the Texans recording four tackles. Houston struggled to get their offense going on the day as the secondary for the Vikings did a decent job.
Michael Griffin - The Tennessee Titans are the best team in football right now, and they’re led by a group of former Longhorns. Griffin is the current standout of those former Horns because of his steady play in the back of the Titan defense. Griffin had six tackles in the overtime win over the Packers.
Ahmard Hall - The Titan offense is not explosive in the passing game, but they get it done in the running game behind the lead blocking of the former Marine. Hall has become one of the premier true fullbacks in the NFL. He was even given a carry that he took for three yards.
Casey Hampton - Hampton had a big game in the middle Monday night in a win over the Redskins. The big man has struggled with injuries and did have to come out of the game on occasion.
Michael Huff - It wasn’t a good day for the Raiders or Michael Huff. The Falcons did whatever they wanted to do on Sunday through the air and on the ground. Huff finished with three tackles on the day.
Derrick Johnson - It was a slow day for DJ as he finished the game with only four tackles. It appeared the Chiefs were going to win a game, but as bad teams are knows to do they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
Cory Redding - The Lions are awful. They are the Los Angeles Clippers of the NFL. After controlling the game against the Bears they managed to give it away at the end. I feel so bad for Redding who finished with four tackles and a sack in the loss.
Brian Robison - Robison recorded two tackles in the win over the Texans. He continues to only get snaps when the starters need a break.
Shaun Rogers - Rogers is a monster. He has been dominating teams lately including nine tackles and a sack in the loss to Baltimore. Rogers will end up in Hawaii at the end of this season.
Bo Scaife - Another Longhorn on the only undefeated team in the NFL. Scaife has become one of the most consistent targets in the league finishing the game against the Packers with four receptions for 26 yards in a game where first downs were few and far between.
David Thomas - Thomas got the start against the Colts on Sunday night. He finished the game with three receptions for 29 yards in the loss.
Ricky Williams - The former Heisman winner finished with 16 yards for the third straight week. Ronnie Brown has become the clear go to back in Miami with Ricky getting touches when the Dolphins go to their “Wild Cat” formation. He has made an impact in the passing game as he made his third catch for over 20 yards in two games.
Roy Williams - Williams has not made the impact some thought he would coming to the Cowboys in a mid season trade. If anything the lack of production for Roy shows why there are so little trades made in pro football. In the loss, he caught one ball for 28 yards.
Shaun Rogers had his best game as a Brown
Roy Williams caught his first touchdown with Dallas and Shaun Rogers had a huge game for Cleveland. Read below to see how all the former Horns did this week:
Tarell Brown - Brown had a quiet night in a loss to the Seahawks. Brown had two tackles in the game.
Cedric Benson - The Bengals are awful, but Benson has been a bright spot in his short time there. Benson ran the ball well in the first half before being taken out of the game plan because of the deficit his team faced. He finished the game with 13 carries for 49 yards and two receptions for 20 yards.
Jamaal Charles - Charles had his best rushing day of his young career on Sunday averaging nine yards on five carries including a long thirty yard run. Starting running back Larry Johnson continues to miss time because of off the field issues, so the rookie’s role should continue to grow.
Leonard Davis - The Cowboys got back on the win column, but it had little to do with the play of the offense. Dallas has suffered a lot of injuries but the play of the offensive line has to be disappointing.
Phil Dawson - Dawson continues to play well going three for three with a long of 42 in the Cleveland win of Jacksonville.
Michael Griffin - The Titans made a statement on Monday night in a win over the Colts. Griffin was all over the field finishing the game with eight tackles.
Ahmard Hall - The Titan running game changes focal points throughout the game with the combination of Chris Johnson and Lendale White, but the one constant is the consistent blocking ability of Ahmard Hall. Hall played well again as the Titans remain undefeated.
Casey Hampton - Hampton got back in the stat column after struggling with injuries throughout the year. The big defensive tackle recorded six tackles while controlling the middle of the line.
Michael Huff - The Raiders and Michael Huff continue to struggle. The former Thorpe Award winner was credited with two tackles and no pass breakups in the loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Quentin Jammer - Jammer went all the way to London to get hurt. He finished the game with six tackles before he left the game with a minor leg injury. The game was not good for either team’s secondary. Jammer gets a week off to heal up.
Derrick Johnson - DJ had a chance to be a hero against Brett Favre and the Jets but he dropped a potential interception that hit him right in the numbers. He finished with six tackles in the loss.
Cory Redding - Redding recorded five tackles and a half sack in another Detroit loss. I feel bad for anyone playing in Detroit, Roy Williams got out, now we need Redding to follow.
Shaun Rogers - Rogers was dominant for the second straight week. When Rogers plays all out he could be the best interior lineman in the game. In the win against the Jaguars the nose tackle recorded nine tackles and a sack.
Bo Scaife - The Titans are the best team in the league right now and everywhere you look a former Longhorn standout is making a contribution. Scaife looks to be the best tight end on the squad even with the addition of Alge Crumpler. On Monday night Scaife had five catches for 44 yards.
David Thomas - Thomas caught a ball after going a week without one. The Patriots won the game and Thomas is one of many tight ends New England uses.
Ricky Williams - Williams scored a touchdown but was held to 16 yards on seven carries in the upset win over the Bills. He did have a 47 yard reception in the game but gave a fumble that set up a score for Buffalo.
Roy Williams - Roy Williams scored his first touchdown as a Cowboy on a two yard fade in what ended up being the only touchdown of the game. Williams wasted no time pleasing his Texas fans by putting up a “Hook em’ Horns” sign in the air for the world to see.
Vince Young - Vince Young remains the man on the Titan sideline
Roy Williams saw limited action in his Cowboy debut
Tarell Brown - Tarell had a decent day at nickel back for the San Francisco 49ers. He ended the day with four tackles and no pass breakups.
Cedric Benson - Benson got his first start since he left the Chicago Bears. He had a solid day, carrying the ball 14 times for 52 yards. Benson recorded his first reception of the year but has failed to reach the end zone. The highlight of the day came when he blew up Steelers safety Troy Polamalu.
Jamaal Charles - With starting running back Larry Johnson “suspended” by his team Jamaal received more playing time but the rookie running back and his team failed to get anything going against the Titans. Charles finished with three carries for 17 yards and four receptions for 26. He may be the starter next week.
Tim Crowder - Crowder provided pressure that forced an interception by Matt Cassell on Monday Night Football, but his team got crushed on national TV. Crowder has yet to record any stats but continues to get snaps in a backup role.
Leonard Davis - The Cowboys are hitting rock bottom and the offensive line has had a lot to do with it. Tony Romo is out because of a pinkie injury he suffered because pressure had gotten to him. New quarterback Brad Johnson had little time to do anything in the loss to the Rams.
Phil Dawson - Dawson made one of the two field goals he attempted in the loss to the Redskins. He is nine for 11 on the season.
Derrick Dockery - Buffalo has become one of the better teams in the league because of a strong running game. Dockery is earning his huge contract with big play up front.
Cedric Griffin - It was a tough day for the Vikings defense. The group gave up 48 points in a loss to the Bears. Opposing teams continue to attack Griffin in order to avoid Antoine Winfield’s side of the field. Griffin had nine tackles and a pass breakup in the game.
Michael Griffin - Michael Griffin recorded seven tackles in his team’s destruction of the Chiefs. Griffin is becoming one of the better players on arguably the best defense in the league. It is only a matter of time before he is a Pro-Bowl type player.
Ahmard Hall - The Titans are one of the only teams left that use a true fullback and it is because of how well Hall has played. The tailbacks he leads the way for combined for over 300 yards in the game on Sunday. The Titans gave him a carry towards the end of the game which he got six yards on.
Michael Huff - Huff had two tackles and two pass breakups in the overtime win over the Jets. The Raiders defense played much better this week than they did last week against the Saints.
Quentin Jammer - The Bills avoided Jammer’s side of the field for most of the day. Lee Evans did make an incredible catch over Jammer for a touchdown. After a rough start to his career, Jammer is becoming one of the better corners in the league.
Derrick Johnson - It was a bad day for D.J. and his defense. The Chiefs gave up over 300 yards rushing to the Titans. Johnson continues to struggle taking on blocks in the run game. He is great in space, but gets manhandled too often in the trenches. He finished the game with six tackles.
Cory Redding - Redding has been banged up all year, but is without question the leader for the Lion defensive front. That may not be a good thing. He recorded five tackles and a sack in the loss to the Texans.
Shaun Rogers - When Rogers is healthy and into the game there may not be a better player at defensive tackle. The big man had seven tackles and a sack in a defensively dominated game.
Bo Scaife - Scaife is still putting up numbers with Vince Young on the sideline as the backup. The Titans did not have to pass much in the blow out win but Scaife finished with three catches for 48 yards.
David Thomas - Thomas didn’t record any receptions but continues to get playing time as the second or third tight end and on special teams for the Patriots.
Nathan Vasher - Vasher missed another game with an injury.
Ricky Williams - The Heisman Trophy winner had his least productive day of the year. He only carried the ball four times for 16 yards with no receptions. The Ravens did a great job stopping the run and it forced the Dolphins out of their game plan. Ronnie Brown is the clear number one in Miami.
Roy Williams - Roy Williams thought he was making a huge step up by being traded from the Lions to the Cowboys. Not so fast. The Cowboys played horrible and Roy never got involved in the game recording no catches.
Former Texas running back Jamaal Charles may get his first NFL start this Sunday for the Kansas City Chiefs when they face off against the Tennessee Titans. The Chiefs have suspended Pro Bowl RB Larry Johnson after being charged with assault earlier in the week for a February incident in which he allegedly shoved a woman at a nightclub. Either Charles or Kolby Smith will get the start in his place.
Officially, Johnson was “deactivated” and not suspended by the team:
Running back Larry Johnson will not be active this week when the Chiefs meet the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium. Johnson has not been “suspended,” head coach Herm Edwards said today, and his deactivation is not related in any way to Johnson’s pending court case. He won’t be active for the game because “he broke team rules and the consequences are he won’t play this weekend,” Edwards made clear.
“Larry Johnson is not suspended,” Edwards said, “for if you know suspension he can’t be at the facility and he can’t practice. Larry practiced yesterday, he practiced today.” Edwards said Johnson will return to the field next week.
Charles hasn’t gotten a ton of carries this season (21 for 98 yards) but he is averaging a healthy 4.7 yards per carry and has also caught 12 passes for 68 yards. Possibly getting your first start (and for sure getting a bunch of carries) against a tough Titans’ defense isn’t ideal, but it is a good chance for Jamaal to show he should be getting more than six touches per game. The Titans and Chiefs play Sunday at noon on CBS, but the game is not being shown on TV in this area.
Cedric Benson made his debut for the Bengals
Another good week for Michael Griffin and a big day for Cedric Griffin but the biggest news was a couple of former Horns returning to the field. Titans’ QB Vince Young returned to the practice field and RB Cedric Benson hit the field for the Cincinnati Bengals for the first time since his signing earlier in the week.
Read on to see how the Texas Exes performed this Sunday:
Cedric Benson - Benson made his Cincinnati Bengal debut this weekend verse the Cowboys. His first run went for seven yards, but he didn’t get much done after that finishing the day with 30 yards on 10 carries.
Justin Blalock - Blalock is going to become one of the better inside lineman in the NFL. His Atlanta Falcons pulled an upset over Green Bay, and the offensive line play has been a good surprise for the up and coming team.
Jamaal Charles - The rookie played well when he got the chance but the combination of playing behind Larry Johnson and his team being down big limited his snaps. He had four carries and four receptions for a total of 40 yards.
Leonard Davis - It appears getting out of Arizona was just what the big man needed. He is not alone in that regard. Davis is still the biggest man I’ve ever met in person, and appears to engulf most defensive players unfortunate enough to lock up with him.
Cedric Griffin - Griffin played his best game of the season in the victory over New Orleans on Monday Night Football compiling 10 tackles. The highlight of the game came when Griffin laid out a Saints tight end late in the game.
Michael Griffin - Michael Griffin had an interception in the Titans win over the Ravens. His play has helped Tennessee move to 5-0 on the young season.
Ahmard Hall - Ahmard is playing at a high level even though the Titans struggled on the ground against a stout Baltimore defense. Tennessee even gave him a touch on an eight yard reception.
Quentin Jammer - Jammer had a quiet day as his Chargers lost to the Dolphins. Teams seem to be avoiding his side of the field which is a huge compliment in the NFL. He recorded four tackles on the day.
Derrick Johnson - The light has finally come on for DJ in the NFL. He backed up last week’s stellar performance with a nine tackle day. His team is awful and I hope he doesn’t have to play there his whole career because it will be a waste.
Brian Robison - Robison didn’t record any stats Monday night, but was on the field more than he had been in previous weeks. He is stuck behind All-Pro Jared Allen.
Bo Scaife - Scaife finally seems to be getting on the same page as new quarterback Kerry Collins. Scaife had a huge day, catching seven balls for 72 yards in a Titan win.
Ricky Williams - Ricky is now the clear number two back in Miami behind Ronnie Brown. The Heisman trophy winner finished the game with 39 yards on 13 carries.
Roy Williams - Roy had a good day when it comes to stats, catching a team high seven passes for 96 yards. However, his antics on the sideline rubbed a few fans and teammates the wrong way. Williams could be acting out to help get out of Detroit and avoid the franchise tag in the off season. If that is the case, I say God bless him. Would you want to play anything in Detroit?
Selvin Young - Selvin finished the game with 38 yards on 10 carries, adding one reception. The Broncos play musical chairs with their tailbacks so it is no surprise Young’s production has dropped each week.
Vince Young - Back at practice but still not full strength and not starting. He was the backup to Kerry Collins in Sunday’s game against Baltimore.
Derrick Johnson forces a fumble
A few players on bye weeks plus a few more injured made it a slow week for the ex Texas Longhorns in the NFL. The biggest performance this week came from Kansas City linebacker Derrick Johnson who did a little of everything in the Chiefs win over the Broncos. Here is a look at how those who played faired:
Justin Blalock - The former Texas tackle has been a fixture for the Atlanta Falcons this year at left guard. Running back Michael Turner continues to be very impressive this year, and a lot of his runs come behind the ex UT star.
Jamaal Charles - The rookie continues to be a third down back for the Chiefs. Charles had 7 yards on 2 carries while adding 2 receptions for only a yard. His team won their first game of the season.
Phil Dawson - The Browns kicker helped win them win their first game by going 2 for 2 on field goals and extra points.
Cedric Griffin - Cedric got picked on all night by a weak Tennessee Titan wide receiver group. Offenses have continued to choose to pick on Cedric every week and will continue to until he makes some plays.
Michael Griffin - Michael is quickly becoming the best player out of the great secondary on UT’s 2005 championship team. Griffin’s defense continues to be one of the best in the league. He contributed 3 tackles and a pass break up in the Titan win over the Vikings.
Ahmard Hall - One of the only true fullbacks left in the league. The ex Marine had a great block on a touchdown run by rookie Chris Johnson.
Quentin Jammer - Jammer had 3 tackles and 2 pass breakups against a weak Oakland passing attack.
Derrick Johnson - The former Longhorn star was the defensive MVP for the Chiefs adding 6 tackles and interception while being all over the field. As he did frequently while at Texas he also had a forced fumble that led to a one-play scoring drive for KC’s first win of the season.
Brian Robison - In his second game back, Robison recorded 2 tackles in a reserve role.
Shaun Rogers - Rogers was at his all pro level on Sunday, compiling a sack and clogging up the middle in a Cleveland win.
Bo Scaife - Scaife has been slow to build chemistry with replacement quarterback Kerry Collins. He had 3 catches for only 17 yards in the game.
Nathan Vasher - “ESPN” 3 had three tackles and three pass breakups in the Bears big win over the Eagles.
Selvin Young - Selvin had an average day, rushing 11 times for 49 yards. The Broncos never got anything going in the upset loss to the Chiefs.
Great week for Duane Akina’s former proteges in the NFL as Tarell Brown, Michael Griffin, and Nathan Vasher all had interceptions in week three. Ricky Williams also had his best performance of the year as he and backfield mate Ronnie Brown ran all over the New England Patriots. Meanwhile wide receiver Limas Sweed is still waiting to see the field for the first time as a pro out in Pittsburgh. Read on to see how the rest of the Longhorns in the NFL performed last week:
Tarell Brown - Two tackles and an interception in the loss to the Chargers.
Jamaal Charles - Seven carries for 38 yards rushing plus three catches for 24 yards. Jamaal also had his first NFL kickoff return for 21 yards.
Phil Dawson - 1/1 on field goals and on extra points.
Jermichael Finley - Finally saw the field for the Packers against the Cowboys but had no catches. He got in on special teams and managed to pick up an unsportsmanlike penalty in a brush with Martellus Bennett.
Cedric Griffin - Two tackles against Carolina.
Michael Griffin - Big game against the Texans with two interceptions. Also added two tackles.
Ahmard Hall - One carry for one yard.
Casey Hampton - No stats against Philly. Will miss the next game against Baltimore with an injured groin.
Michael Huff - Three tackles, two of them solos, against Buffalo.
Quentin Jammer - Recovered a fumble and returned it 23 yards, broke up two passes, and added three tackles in the Chargers blowout of the Fightin’ Brett Favres.
Derrick Johnson - One tackle in what may be one of 16 losses this season for the Chiefs.
Cory Redding - Two solo tackles for the lowly Lions against the 48ers.
Shaun Rogers - Had a solid game against Baltimore posting four tackles.
Aaron Ross - Five solo tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage.
Bo Scaife - Three catches for 26 yards including a touchdown.
Limas Sweed - Still no playing time.
David Thomas - One catch for four yards in what will hopefully be one of many losses for the Patriots.
Nathan Vasher - Good performance for Nate versus Tampa Bay. Three passes defended including an interception, with four solo tackles added on.
Ricky Williams - Great game for Ricky and his counterpart Ronnie Brown as the Dolphins went back to the college game to get a little offensive firepower. He had 16 carries for 98 yards (6.1 average) and two catches for 21 more yards.
Roy Williams - Two catches for 18 yards in a loss to San Francisco. Roy has to be frustrated and already looking forward to 2009 somewhere other than Detroit.
Selvin Young - Very efficient game against New Orleans with 11 carries for 65 yards.
With Vince Young injured it wasn’t a very exciting week for ex-Longhorns in the NFL. Quentin Jammer and Selvin Young probably had the best weeks, while the complete absence of Jermichael Finley and Limas Sweed continues. Here’s how all the former Horns did in week two of the NFL season:
Jamaal Charles - Less busy after a good week one, only three carries for seven yards. The Chiefs only rushed the ball 19 times all game as a team. Charles also had a 15 yard catch and hurt Larry Johnson’s feelings.
Phil Dawson - Two of two on field goals with a long of 38 yards in a loss.
Jermichael Finley - Still looking for his first career catch. I’m not sure if he’s getting any snaps at all.
Cedric Griffin - Six tackles and one pass breakup against Peyton Manning and the Colts.
Michael Griffin - Picked up his first interception of the year off a tipped pass. Also added six tackles from his safety spot.
Ahmard Hall - Three carries for nine yards.
Casey Hampton - One tackle.
Michael Huff - Four tackles against KC and two passes defended.
Quentin Jammer - Posted 11 tackles and had a forced fumble in the Chargers’ controversial loss to the Broncos.
Derrick Johnson - Eight tackles, seven of them solo.
Cullen Loeffler - Inspired me to teach my kids to deep snap.
Cory Redding - Three solo tackles against the Packers.
Shaun Rogers - First sack of the 2008 season and added six tackles.
Aaron Ross - Four tackles.
Bo Scaife - Without Vince Young, just one catch for six yards.
Limas Sweed - Still no catches in his NFL career. Like Finley, looking at his game logs it appears he’s not even playing.
David Thomas - Picked up his first catch of the year against the Jets, a 14-yarder from Matt Cassel.
Nathan Vasher - Returned punts for the first time in a long while. Had three returns for a total of 21 yards. Added two tackles.
Ricky Williams - After an exciting preseason another ho hum game for Ricky. He had 11 rushes for 28 yards in the Dolphins’ blowout loss to Arizona.
Roy Williams - Just about the same performance as week one: three catches for 48 yards. Looks like Calvin Johnson has become the clear number one target in Detroit, maybe Roy can head down to Tennessee next year as a free agent.
Selvin Young - Was the Broncos’ leading rusher with eight carries for 78 yards, including a big 49-yarder. Also added one catch for eight yards.
Topps held a photo shoot recently to get shots of all the NFL rookies in their new uniforms. Former Longhorn running back Jamaal Charles was one of the players on hand. It’s the first time I’ve seen Jamaal in a Kansas City Chiefs jersey.
They’ve posted a ton of interviews from the event on YouTube, many of which are disappointingly uninteresting. This age group just didn’t collect cards like mine did, plus football cards were never as popular as baseball.
Watch the interview with JC below:
Topps 2008 NFL Rookie Photo Shoot with Jamaal Charles from YouTube.com
Jamaal still isn’t exactly the world’s best public speaker but he’s gotten much more comfortable in interviews than when he first came to Texas.
Those can’t be regular sized shoulder pads by the way. He looks tiny.
ESPN is ranking the top running backs in the NFL and three former Longhorns made their list. Unfortunately, all three made it on the third tier of rankings of 41-64. Cedric Benson was backed up by Selvin Young who was backed up by Jamaal Charles, and they’re all now playing in the league. All three guys will have a chance to prove themselves this season and move up in the rankings.
47. Cedric Benson, Chicago Bears
Superpower - Benson has the physical size and athletic ability to be a productive starter. He has good vision combined with good pad level and good balance for running inside. He can read blocks and show patience, then accelerate with good burst for his size. He also is a capable receiver out of the backfield.
Kryptonite - He has not produced up to his potential during his first three seasons, and he has failed to prove to management and his teammates that he can be “the guy.” His overall passion for the game and desire to be a dominant player have been questioned.
My Thoughts - The comments on Benson are not far off. Though he hasn’t reached his potential I think in the right atmosphere he could excel, but that may not be in Chicago. The most laughable part of their rankings is that they have rookie Matt Forte six spots higher than Benson.
60. Selvin Young, Denver Broncos
Superpower - He is coming off an impressive rookie season in which he provided excellent depth in the Broncos’ backfield. Young was a pleasant surprise for the Denver staff after being acquired as a college free agent in 2007. He showed deceptive power for his size, as he runs with conviction and great body lean. He has excellent vision and instincts with the lateral quickness and agility to find a crease.
Kryptonite - Young has had durability concerns in the past, and it remains to be seen how well he can handle the pounding with more playing time. He lacks great elusiveness in space and is more of a straight-line runner. He will need to develop in the passing game, especially in blitz-pickup situations.
My Thoughts - There’s some scrubs ranked higher than Selvin that don’t deserve to be but he’s going to have to do it for more than one season to be moved any higher. With the release of Travis Henry he’ll get that chance this year and could have a great season if he stays healthy for 16 games.
64. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs
Superpower - He will be coming into the league to complement the Chiefs’ featured running back. He is a good combination of athleticism and instincts. He has excellent speed and burst both as a runner and receiver out of the backfield. He is football player who has outstanding track speed. He should give the Chiefs an explosive threat on the perimeter as well as after the catch.
Kryptonite - He doesn’t have great power as an inside runner. He needs to gain weight and strength to become a complete back. Charles isn’t always a patient runner and needs to mature as a between-the-tackles ball carrier. Charles also needs to improve his blitz-pickup and develop his route running. He is somewhat of a one-dimensional player, lacking inside, short-yardage and goal-line effectiveness.
My Thoughts - I think Charles is an underrated inside runner. They’re right that he’s often impatient but he’s not afraid to run inside and if he sees a small crease he’ll take it. Also has better power than he’s given credit for and rarely goes down on first contact.
Posted April 28th, 2008 by Brian
Filed under: Draft, Football, Quick Hits
Jamaal Charles in the 3rd round was one of Peter King’s favorite draft selections. Thinks he’s a great fit in Kansas City.
Texas running back Jamaal Charles has been selected with the 10th pick of the 3rd round (73rd overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs. A decent place for Jamaal, he’ll have a chance to back up Larry Johnson and provide a gamebreaking threat for the Chiefs. The Chiefs need to relieve some of Johnson’s workload to keep him healthy, so there should be carries available.
Congrats to Jamaal and good luck with the Chiefs. We’ll be watching you and Derrick Johnson on Sundays.
Update: The official Chiefs’ website has a Q&A up with Jamaal.
Most NFL mock drafts only include a round or maybe two, but just like last year ESPN’s Todd McShay has released his seven-round mock draft for your perusal (if you’re an ESPN Insider.) Getting one round is tough enough, but McShay actually did a decent job last year and even nailed Justin Blalock to Atlanta and Brian Robison to Minnesota last year.
Below is where McShay believes the Longhorns in the draft will go followed by my my thoughts on the picks:
Round 1
24. Tennessee Titans - Limas Sweed
This is best possible scenario for Texas fans. Titans need wide receiver help desperately and Sweed may be the best one in the draft. Getting him at #24 would be great for the Titans VY.
Round 2
43. Carolina Panthers - Jamaal Charles
Charles is the first running back taken in the second round. He’d actually have a chance to start for Carolina to, only has to beat out DeAngelo Williams.
Round 3
115. Philadelphia Eagles - Marcus Griffin
Nice spot for Marcus, interesting to see him going so high. I’ll be surprised if Griffin goes before Finley and Hills, simply because I believe those two have much higher ceilings. Great to see a former walk-on work his way into a mid-round NFL Draft pick.
127. Indianapolis Colts - Jermichael Finley
Jermichael might be a little disappointed by how far he falls but he’d be ecstatic to be picked up by the Colts. Pretty much the perfect situation for him. They use their tight end a lot, Peyton Manning to throw him the ball, they split the tight end out wide frequently, and most importantly the Colts throw work out of the shotgun a ton and Finley wouldn’t be asked to be down on the line run blocking much.
129. New England Patriots - Tony Hills
Another good situation. Hills would be given time with New England to develop and wouldn’t be asked to start right away. At the same time, there’s no young, highly regarded tackles on their roster so he’s got a chance to compete by year two.
Round 5
154. Washington Redskins - Frank Okam
Much lower slot than people expected out of Okam a few years ago but McShay may actually have him higher than the current opinion. I’m not sure what I think, I have a feeling he might go as early the fourth round if a team makes a pick based on potential but then I wouldn’t be shocked to see him go undrafted either.
Round 7
215. Baltimore Ravens - Derek Lokey
Imagine if Lokey had Okam’s build, the kid would be a first round pick. But he’s 6-foot-1 and a light 290 pounds which is considered very undersized for an NFL defensive tackle. I’d love to see Derek go to a team and be utilized as a goal line fullback and deep snapper as well as a defensive tackle who can give 15 - 20 snaps a game.
Posted April 24th, 2008 by Brian
Filed under: Draft, Football, Quick Hits
Longhorn pipeline may continue to flow for Titans. I’d love to see them pick up Sweed in the first and Charles and the second or third.
Position: Running Back
Height: 5-11
Weight: 200 pounds
Hometown: Port Arthur, TX
Strengths: Good quickness and incredible speed. Football player with track star speed. Runs well inside the tackles, doesn’t go down on first contact, and can take it to the house if he gets the edge. Charles is a big play waiting to happen. Never had a ton of receptions as a Longhorn but catches the ball well out of the backfield and is dangerous once he has it in his hands.
Weaknesses: Durability and ball security are Charles’ two biggest issues affecting where he’ll be picked. He never had a serious injury but he also never seemed to be at 100%. Because of his size and his history, NFL teams will be concerned about if he can stay on the field for 16 games per year. Jamaal’s fumbling issues limited his carries for a stretch during the 2007 season, that is another huge red flag that will scare off some teams in a deep draft for running backs.
Projection: 2nd or 3rd round
Related Links
Posted April 19th, 2008 by Brian
Filed under: Draft, Football, Quick Hits
Rick Gosselin’s latest NFL mock draft (4/18) has Jamaal Charles going incredibly high at #20. Also has Limas Sweed in the first round.
Posted March 30th, 2008 by Brian
Filed under: Football, Quick Hits, Spring Football
Battle to replace RB Charles highlights Texas’ spring practice. I thought Fozzy Whittaker looked great going against the other twos.
Pro day, or pro timing day, is an NFL Draft prospect’s chance to show scouts what he’s got in a comfortable environment. They’re on their own campus, in their own gym, working out with their teammates and coaches. It also is a chance for the guys who weren’t invited to the NFL Combine to show their stuff. At Texas’ pro day Wednesday, sixteen players were weighed, measured, timed, and did position drills for 75 NFL personnel people.
Most of this information is cribbed from NFL.com, Orangebloods, and the Austin-American Statesman blog post on UT’s pro day. The numbers are inconsistent because they always are, everybody gets their times from a different source. Here’s how some of the Horns performed:
- Cornerback Brandon Foster - 5-7 5/8, 185, 10-8 broadjump. Ran a blazing 4.28 time in the 40-yard dash. He also showed athleticism with a 38-inch vertical jump. His performance might offset the fact that Foster was measured at 5-7.
- Running back Jamaal Charles - 5-11, 199 pounds. Elected not to run, allowing his 4.38 time that he posted at the combine to stand. Ran position workouts and looked good catching the football.
- Receiver Limas Sweed - 6-4 1/8, 210, 37 vertical. Ran a 4.40, shaving nearly a tenth of a second off of the time he ran at the NFL combine last month. 4.33 short shuttle, 7.14 cone drill. Ran position drills and looked good catching the ball.
- Tight end Jermichael Finley - 6-4 3/4, 240 pounds. Ran a 4.62, dropping his time from the combine by .24. His time is now the second fastest run by a tight end in workouts leading up to next month’s draft.
- Backup safety Drew Kelson - 6-0 1/2, 216, 10-9 broad jump. Posted a 41.5-inch vertical jump and ran a 4.45. We’re checking to see if any other player in the country has jumped higher in draft workouts.
- Defensive tackle Derek Lokey - 6-1 3/8, 293, 33.5 vert. Did 38 reps on the 225-pound bench press. He also worked out at fullback and deep snapper. 9-foot, 4-inch long jump, 4.37 short shuttle, 7.57 cone drill, 38 reps in the bench press, and ran position drills.
- Linebacker Scott Derry - 6-2 1/2, 221
- Tackle Tony Hills - 6-5, 307 lbs. 24 reps in the bench press, but could not run or do other drills due to an injury.
- Defensive tackle Frank Okam - 6-4 7/8, 27.5 vertical. Dropped 12 pounds since his weigh-in at the combine. He is weighing 335 right now.
- Safety Marcus Griffin - 5-10, 196, 37.5 vert. Ran a 4.5 40.
- Wide receiver Billy Pittman - 5-11, 195. Ran a 4.56.
- Also participated: safety Erick Jackson, wide receiver Nate Jones, linebacker Robert Killebrew, defensive tackle Thomas Marshall, punter Justin Moore, and former Longhorn safety Lee Jackson.
Related Links
Posted March 19th, 2008 by Brian
Filed under: Football, Quick Hits, Spring Football
Biggest question for the Texas offense is who will replace Charles. Vondrell McGee, Fozzy Whittaker and Chris Ogbonnaya are main options.
Posted January 21st, 2008 by Brian
Filed under: Draft, Football, Quick Hits
Replacing The 2008 NFL Draft Early Entries. Vondrell McGee replaces Charles and Blaine Irby has to step up for Finley.
Texas junior running back Jamaal Charles announced today he will skip his senior season and enter the NFL Draft.
This isn’t surprising news but it is definitely disappointing. I was looking for a huge season out of Jamaal next year and thought he might break out as a Heisman contender. It looked like he (and just as importantly Greg Davis) had finally figured things out late in the season and he was really tearing it up. Charles finished with 897 yards and 10 touchdowns in the Longhorns’ final five games.
In just three seasons, including two in which he split time with Selvin Young, Charles was able to climb into the top 5 all time in both career rushing and career TDs. His big play ability will be sorely missed next season.
From his official statement:
“I can’t thank Coach Brown, Coach Rucker, everyone at UT and all of the fans enough,” Charles said. “They gave me a great opportunity and supported me so much. UT is a wonderful place and everyone has been so good to me. But playing in the NFL has always been my dream and when the NFL report came back I was happy with the grade and felt like it was best for me to enter the draft.”
“I had fun playing with a lot of great players and winning a bunch of games. I have so many friends at UT and everyone is close, like a family, so it’s really hard to leave. But, after finishing the season strong, I think I’m ready. I’ve worked really hard and the coaches have done a great job preparing me. I had a lot of success this year but I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish anything if it wasn’t for the great job the offensive line and all of the coaches did. We got better every game and it showed in how we played so I can’t thank them, especially my O-line, enough.”
“Now, it’s my job to get ready for all of the NFL workouts and make everyone proud. I may be going to the NFL but I’ll always be a Longhorn. I’m definitely going to continue working towards my degree. Finishing school is really important to me because I want to have a good life after football.”
Charles’ draft prospects probably couldn’t get much higher than they are now. The NFL Draft is all about potential and forty times and Jamaal is off the charts in both those categories. After Arkansas‘ Darren McFadden this isn’t a particularly deep draft for running backs and in my opinion Charles is easily one of the top five guys available. Depending on team needs and what other underclassmen declare I can’t see him falling further than the middle of the second round.
Looking forward to next year for the Horns, young Vondrell McGee will have to grow up fast. He showed potential this year in limited time but he’s going to be expected to carry the load next year and we haven’t seen enough yet to know if he can do it. Maybe the newly wide open running back depth chart will entice 5-star Darrell Scott to come to Austin and show his stuff?
Loading ...It featured one of the wildest and weirdest plays in recent memory, but the 2007 Holiday Bowl ended up being an easier Texas win than anyone expected. The Horns came out fired up and got up on the Arizona State early before finishing with a 52-34 victory.
Here’s how the team did with my keys for the game:
1. Pressure Rudy Carpenter.
The Longhorns not only pressured Carpenter but they eventually knocked him out of the game. Carpenter was rattled early and did not perform well when the Horns were able to hurry him. The team finished the night with four sacks but more importantly was in the quarterback’s face all game long. Defensive coordinator Duane Akina brought blitzes from every direction and every position. Defensive end Brian Orakpo had a heck of a game (two sacks, tons of pressure) was named the game’s defensive MVP. Verdict: Passed.
2. Don’t turn the ball over.
Colt McCoy didn’t throw any interceptions but did put the ball on the turf with alarming frequency. McCoy fumbled the football four times, but only lost a critical one on a boneheaded play at the end of the first half that could have cost Texas dearly. He also botched two snaps and was bailed out big time (after a great long scramble) when Jermichael Finley fell on his fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. The Horns didn’t protect the football very well but they only turned it over once, so… Verdict: Passed.
3. Don’t forget about the run game.
I don’t think the coaches gave the ball enough to Jamaal Charles early in the game, but as the game wore on he ended up getting more than his share of touches. Thanks to the big second half lead Charles finished the game with 27 carries and 161 yards. Colt McCoy did what he’s been doing this season, finding a way to make big plays with his feet. The team also went to freshman quarterback John Chiles early to spark the offense and he carried the ran the ball very successfully. Overall the team ran the ball 54 times for a whopping 300 yards in the game. Verdict: Passed.
Posted December 29th, 2007 by Brian
Filed under: Draft, Football, Quick Hits
After Holiday Bowl, Jamaal Charles reiterates that he plans to be back next season. I’m sure he believes that now, let’s hope he sticks to it.
