Things IT is watching for during Wednesday's open Texas practice (plus updates)
The Texas Longhorns will hold practice No. 11 at Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium on Wednesday night. The event is open to the public. Gates open at 6 p.m. with practice beginning at 6:45.
They’re even selling beer, so they’re expecting a decent weeknight crowd to show up for the first practice open to the general public since Charlie Strong was head coach.
Inside Texas will cover the event live and post updates in this post, but here are a few different things we’re keeping an eye on tonight.
–Where does Alfred Collins practice? – During Tuesday’s media viewing session, the sophomore defensive lineman was working out with the edge players as opposed to the tackles. That continued outside of the media window, too. Collins is thought to have as much upside as any of the defensive linemen, but Texas’ deepest position on defense might be at tackle. Is moving Collins to the edge a way to get three of the best from Bo Davis’ group on the field? Or just some mid-camp tinkering?
–Linebacker behind Overshown and Brockermeyer – DeMarvion Overshown has a strong hold on the Will linebacker spot, and Luke Brockermeyer continues to make plays at Mike for the defense during practice. These two lead the way at the middle linebacker roles, but there’s spirited competition for the spots behind them. David Gbenda definitely will factor, but what other linebackers will join him in contention? Jaylan Ford? Devin Richardson? Ayodele Adeoye? Marcus Tillman Jr.?
–What does the backup OL look like? – More and more first-string units are coming into form, but the competition for some of the backup jobs are yet to be resolved. This holds true on the offensive line. Andrej Karic seems to be offensive lineman No. 6 right now, likely good enough to start but unable to unseat Christian Jones or Derek Kerstetter. Who joins him in that category? The sixth-year senior, Tope Imade? The true freshman, Hayden Conner? Former blue-chipper, Tyler Johnson?
–How do the quarterbacks look, and how are reps split? – The leading storyline of UT camp. Hudson Card has taken the majority of the snaps with the first team in the two practices since the first scrimmage. Will that continue with fans in the stands? Or will Casey Thompson receive additional reps compared to the last two days ahead of Saturday’s scrimmage?
–Personnel groupings – It’s a given that Texas will run a significant amount of 11 and 12 personnel this year, but the volume of other groupings featuring two running backs Steve Sarkisian shows in Wednesday’s practice should be noted. Running back may be the offense’s strongest and deepest position, and Sarkisian may try to put more of them on the field at once.
–Do the receivers get it together? – This has not been the best camp for the Longhorn wide receivers. Do they bounce back on Wednesday and show something with fans looking on? It sounds as if there is nowhere to go but up for the group.
–Cameron Dicker at both spots? – In every media viewing session, Dicker the Kicker has also been first string at punter, ahead of the two ProKick Australia products. Dicker punted eight times last year during Ryan Bujcevski’s injury absence, averaging 43.6 yards per punt. Will he hold onto that job? Going forward, can he hold onto it for an entire season?
Justin Wells contributed to this story. Cover photo by Will Gallagher for Inside Texas.
UPDATEs, via Inside Texas beat writer Joe Cook…
6:36 pm: Just grabbed my spot in the north end zone, great night and weather for this event. I’d say the attendance is approaching 1000.
Kelvontay Dixon is at practice, though he is currently throwing off to the side with another receiver with a wrap around his leg.
No sign of Brayden Liebrock either.
Steve Sarkisian and the rest of the coaches are on the field. The stretch period is about to begin.
6:49 pm: Before period one, the offense and defense each ran a few plays against air. On the offensive side, Hudson Card and Bijan Robinson took the backfield, joined on the field by Cade Brewer, Jared Wiley, Joshua Moore, and Jordan Whittington. When one of the two tight ends jogged off, Marcus Washington jumped in his place.
The second group included Casey Thompson with Roschon Johnson. They were joined by Ja’Tavion Sanders and Gunnar Helm, who rotated with Juan Davis. Al’vonte Woodard and Troy Omeire were the two wide receivers, joined by Kai Money when a tight end left the field.
Thompson then led a series with the rest of the group that group, and Card led a series with most of the second group.
6:52 pm: No bulky brace for Troy Omeire.
I don’t see orange No. 8, Xavier Worthy, suited up for practice.
7:00 pm: Starting things out like they have for almost every practice we’ve been able to watch, with ball security drills. WRs vs. DBs. LBs vs. RBs and TEs.
Then, as usual, tackle angle drills in one on one situations.
7:05 pm: As usual, punt. Isaac Pearson gets the first crack. However, keep in mind Cameron Dicker is on a bit of a pitch count this year, as Jeff Banks explained earlier today. Pearson, then Ryan Bujcevski.
Jamison on return. Then Joshua Moore. Then Kitan Crawford. Then Jamison, who dropped this chance.
Punts. Punts. Punts. Lots of skill guys getting a return chance, including Whittington and Schooler in addition to Jamison, Johnson, and Moore.
7:11 pm: RBs and QBs working on handoff footwork. O-line working to the side with Kyle Flood, doing individual drills with pads. LBs and DEs working tackling. DBs working on pursuit angles. TEs working on blocking.
7:16 pm: Omeire and Moore go first in drills some passing drills. Then Washington and Akkihal. Then Woodard and Estell. Then Cain and a walk-on. There’s a semblance of a pecking order there.
Whittington and Brewer paired up. Money and Wiley. Alexis and Helm. Harrison and Sanders. A walk-on and Davis.
Someone didn’t run a route properly. Sarkisian reminded him, “18 f***ing yards!”
7:22 pm: Once again, Alfred Collins is working with the defensive edge players.
7:25 pm: Some deep routes being thrown. Good enough deep throws from every quarterback, Card and Thompson included. Cared hit Omeire on a deep route, Thompson was accurate on his attempts, too.
7:29 pm: Went to go check on the OL and TEs. Walked up on OTs and TEs working on combo blocks, with the TE chipping on the defender engaged with the OT and moving up to the next level.
11 on a loose skeleton crew, offering looks and reads:
1st
Moore – Washington/Wiley – Whittington – Brewer
Robinson – Thompson
Jones – Okafor – Majors – Angilau – Kerstetter
Includes a TD toss to Whittington.
2nd
Omeire/Woodard – Money – Alexis – Helm/Davis
Card – R. Johnson
Hookfin – Conner – Parr – Imade – Karic
Then Card gets a crack with the ones.
7:43 pm: A look at some of the guys filtering through on the second defense
S: Owens and Adimora
NB: Jer. Thompson
DL: Oghoufo – Broughton – Sweat – Collins
LB: Jaylan Ford and David Gbenda, followed by Ayodele Adeoye and Devin Richardson during inside run.
Water break.
7:58 pm: After some punt, some 7on7 on both sides of the field. Upper part of the depth chart on one side, lower end on the other.
Wright tried a slot fade to Harrison, incomplete.
Jamison recorded an interception on a Card deep ball.
Wright checkdown to Cain.
Card stick route to Moore.
Wright stick route to Davis.
Card stick route to Wiley. Offense and defense switch.
8:02 pm:
Ballard to Estell.
Thompson short pass to Alexis.
Ballard checkdown to Harrison.
Thompson dig route to Brewer, broken up by Dunn.
Thompson over the middle to Helm on his 2nd or 3rd read.
Ballard does the exact same thing with Davis.
8:04 pm: In an attempt to go for a deep ball, Troy Omeire must have landed awkwardly and was slow to get up. He walked off under his own power, but is going back to the locker room with a trainer after a discussion with Andre Coleman.
8:08 pm: During 7on7, Josh Thompson made a great play to break up a back pylon pass intended for Jordan Whittington.
8:11 pm: 11 on 11, and the first defense comes out in the previously reported lineup but with Oghoufo at SAM against 12 personnel. Bijan with a nifty run for a handful of yards to start. Thompson at QB, btw.
-Play action completion to Moore on an out route.
-Cook replaces Ovie when the offense goes to nickel. Whittington moved to slot to make room for Washington. Wiley still on the field. 2nd down made it 3rd and short, but Thompson overthrows a receiver who had gotten bodied.
8:15 pm: Card with the second team, on third and long from an empty set, goes deep for Money but he was well-covered by Javier Johnson.
Third offense’s chance, this time with Charles Wright leading the way.
8:21 pm: Card’s chance with the ones. Completion to Washington on a slant RPO it appeared. Short dump-off to Bijan to make it third down. Completion to Washington again, but might not have been enough for the first. Casey Thompson’s turn with the twos. Logan Parr is the second center, Ghirmai is the third center.
8:25 pm: Xavier Worthy missed practice due to illness, per UT.
Running red zone, the first possession ends on the first carry. Bijan Robinson rushes home.
Second series, he makes it to the five, then Card tries to find a WR for a slant and a TD. Can’t connect.
Third and goal… Marcus Washington drops a TD on the run.
Fourth: Made field goal by Bert Auburn. Card is holding.
8:27: Casey’s series with the twos. First and goal from the 25… completion to Woodard on a comeback route for six yards. Second down… Roschon rushes up the middle for a few yards And the first.
1st and goal… D-line gets a stuff. 2nd and goal… Thompson finds Helm in the end zone with a nice throw just over the hands of a defender.
8:30 pm: Bijan easily bounces a run outside, something he’s done plenty.
3rd and goal… Overshown with a sack.
Bert Auburn’s kick is… good from 34.
8:33 pm: Casey running this series with the twos. Completes a screen to Money, but the turf monster gets him after four yards. Second down.. Sweat with a sack. 3rd and long… checkdown to Jonathon Brooks as a lightning strike goes off in the distance.
Bert Auburn again with Ryan Bujcevski holding… 35 again….no good.
8:37 pm: Card with another first team offense red zone series. Hits Joshua Moore in the hands in the end zone but Josh Thompson makes another great play to break it up.
A couple of plays later, Roschon Johnson makes a nice run for a few yards.
3rd and medium from the 10… Roschon with a short run to make it 4th and short… first down with a Roschon run.
One more play is a touchdown pass to Joshua Moore from Card to end it. Thompson quickly goes over to Card to give him a pat on the helmet.
And that will do it.
