More questions about who were the best?

[doc longhorn]

Some time ago I posed the question about who the two best payers were for UT.

Today, I will ask who you consider the best by the following and I will give my selections as well.  I have omitted interior linemen.  You can only give the name of one player:

Running back 1:    Earl Campbell

Running back 2:   Rickey Williams

Quarterback:         Vince Young

Wide receiver 1:     Jordan Shipley

Wide receiver 2:    Cotton Speyer

Tight end:              David Thomas

Defensive end 1:    Corey Redding

Defensive end 2:   Brian Orakpo

Linebacker 1:         Tommy Nobis

Linebacker 2:        Derrick Johnson

Defensive back 1; Jerry Gray

Defensive back 2: Aaron Ross

Defensive back 3: Earl Thomas

Defensive back 4: Michael Huff

Toughest player:  Tommy Ford

Best heart:            James Street

Top winner:           James Street

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Some time ago I posed the question about who the two best payers were for UT.

Today, I will ask who you consider the best by the following and I will give my selections as well.  I have omitted interior linemen.  You can only give the name of one player:

Running back 1:    Earl Campbell

Running back 2:   Rickey Williams

Hon Mention: Rosie Leaks

Quarterback:         Vince Young

Wide receiver 1:     Jordan Shipley

Wide receiver 2:    Cotton Speyer

WR#3: Mike Adams or Quan Cosby

Tight end:              David Thomas

Defensive end 1:    Corey Redding

Defensive end 2:   Brian Orakpo

DT 1: Casey Hampton

DT2: Shawn Rogers

Linebacker 1:         Tommy Nobis

Linebacker 2:        Derrick Johnson

LB3: Malik Jefferson

Defensive back 1; Jerry Gray

Defensive back 2: Bryant Westbrook

Defensive back 3: Earl Thomas

Defensive back 4: Michael Huff

Toughest player:  Tommy Ford

Best heart:            James Street, Colt McCoy

Top winner:           James Street, Colt McCoy

I added mine in bold, but didn't change but one of yours because I agreed with them. You were just short on positions.

 

[tejasrulz]

Top Winner:  James Street, VY, Colt

JS did go 22-0 as the starter so 100% winning percentage will never be beat, only tied. 2nd would have to go to VY then Colt. 

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Colt carried that offense on his back. Neither JS nor VY had to do that, although VY did anyway much of the time.

 

[MikeV73]

Roy Williams?  Great WR, but maybe not top 2?  Thoughts?

 

[oldhorn2]

I am sorry, but Malik does not deserve to be near that group. How about Bret Hager?

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Roy Williams?  Great WR, but maybe not top 2?  Thoughts?

I don't think Roy is in the top 2. He was great, but probably in the 5th-6th range.

Oldhorn – I have seldom seen LB play like I saw from Malik last year. The combination of speed to the gap and power when he got there was something to behold. Bret Hager had a big old cow heart and played like a crazed banshee, but I never saw him play like MJ did last year. There were moments last year when MJ made me think of Lawrence Taylor.

 

[DBut82]

Roy Williams?  Great WR, but maybe not top 2?  Thoughts?

I think you guys have forgotten how prolific Roy Williams was...he's the best WR to ever come thru here.  And I say that unapologetically...

 

[oldhorn2]

My problem with Roy Williams is the same as my problem with Malik ....they were good, but had the talent to be so much better. Had Malik played like a banshee with his hair on fire who knows how good he could have been. He always had trouble shedding blocks and looked like he simply took plays off. Nobis never took a play off, not even in practice. Derrik Johnson never took a play off. Malik was very good.....so damned much talent, but when you are talking about the best, you need to play like you want to be remembered as being one of the best.

I guess what I wanted from Malik was what Malcom brown did. ...play like a beast even without the great cast around you.

 

[dillohorn]

My problem with Roy Williams is the same as my problem with Malik ....they were good, but had the talent to be so much better. Had Malik played like a banshee with his hair on fire who knows how good he could have been. He always had trouble shedding blocks and looked like he simply took plays off. Nobis never took a play off, not even in practice. Derrik Johnson never took a play off. Malik was very good.....so damned much talent, but when you are talking about the best, you need to play like you want to be remembered as being one of the best.

I guess what I wanted from Malik was what Malcom brown did. ...play like a beast even without the great cast around you.

Malik was a big disappointment.

 

[doc longhorn]

Malik was a big disappointment.

I agree.  The kid had worlds of talent and was extremely fast for a big man.  But he was not physical - an absolute requirement for playing middle linebacker.  While he played MLB, there were way too many runs gashed up the middle as Malik wouldn't or couldn't stick his head in there.

 

[doc longhorn]

I added mine in bold, but didn't change but one of yours because I agreed with them. You were just short on positions.

You will note that I said I didn't include interior linemen.  Mostly because it is such a tough position to identify.  There were some great All Americans I could have named - even Studdard.

Yeah, I considered Leaks - Koy and Saxton as well.  Don't forget Chris Gilbert.  At the time the most prolific RB in the nation.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Yeah, I considered Leaks - Koy and Saxton as well.  Don't forget Chris Gilbert.  At the time the most prolific RB in the nation.

or Wooster

 

[Sirhornsalot]

I agree.  The kid had worlds of talent and was extremely fast for a big man.  But he was not physical - an absolute requirement for playing middle linebacker.  While he played MLB, there were way too many runs gashed up the middle as Malik wouldn't or couldn't stick his head in there.

But he was never a MLB. He was just made to play there.

When Orlando came aboard, all that changed. And MJ's play benefited in a big way.

 

[oldhorn2]

I remember Chris Gilberts first game.....I had never heard of him. We were all waiting to see Bill Bradley in his debut. Bradley was so anticipated as a certain super star that he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated before he ever played a down......so....we all sat down to watch Bradley begin his star studded career. Chris Gilbert ran for somewhere between 130 and 150 yards that game. It seemed like every time he got the ball he just went off untouched.

I might have been  somewhat somewhat cloudy on my recollection as I had smuggled in a bota filled with bourbon, but I am sure it went exactly as I remember....

 

[doc longhorn]

But he was never a MLB. He was just made to play there.

When Orlando came aboard, all that changed. And MJ's play benefited in a big way.

Oh, no doubt he was miscast as an MLB.  But he had the size and speed to be fearsome.  I don't think anyone would call him fearsome.  The pros will put him outside, where he should be.  And they will test him on his physicality.

 

[HookEm59]

Not many would argue that Malik didn't have more talent, but he only really showed it one year.  Britt Hager was a beast. On potential it's Malik all day, but on results give me Hager.

 

[doc longhorn]

Not many would argue that Malik didn't have more talent, but he only really showed it one year.  Britt Hager was a beast. On potential it's Malik all day, but on results give me Hager.

It sounds as if I am anti-Malik.  Far from it, I just think Malik was the equivalent to Super Bill Bradly - who never lived up to his potential as a QB.   But found his niche as a safety.  IMO, Maliki was either a huge DB or an outside LB.  He should NEVER have been played as a MLB.   The coaches of UT did him no favors.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

It sounds as if I am anti-Malik.  Far from it, I just think Malik was the equivalent to Super Bill Bradly - who never lived up to his potential as a QB.   But found his niche as a safety.  IMO, Maliki was either a huge DB or an outside LB.  He should NEVER have been played as a MLB.   The coaches of UT did him no favors.

I agree. I just think Malik, in that one year, was a better LB than we've had at Texas in some time.

Bradly was out of position coming out of HS until finally UT figured out what he was. Malik was made to play out of position due to necessity until finally being able to play "his" position his last year.