The Texas All-Decade Team: Football

We’ve just passed the typical point where the “All Decade” teams are assembled on the blogs and major sports media sites so it seems like common sense to put up my own take on the All-decade team for the Texas Longhorn football program. If there is any sport in any decade that I’m qualified to assemble the all-decade team for it just might be Texas football however beyond just my memory I’ve also examined stats, context, and overall aura of greatness.

I also found it most useful to steal Bill Simmons technique in “the Book of Basketball” when he chooses his wine cellar team. The premise is this, if highly skilled Martians came and challenged the earth to a basketball game for the fate of humanity and you could assemble a team by using a time machine and picking players from their best seasons who would you select. In the case of college football, many stars only have 1 or 2 seasons as upperclassmen and developed starters. I’ve chosen the best seasons by Longhorns that I’m aware of for this squad. If one player had a 3 year span of excellence but couldn’t surpass a single season of elite play from a player at the same position he was left off. The goal here is to win a single season championship (or single game against the Martians), longevity isn’t weighed.

Offense: We’re running the Vince Young zone-read offense although we might be a little more aggressive in the passing game than Texas in 04 or 05 given the depth of receivers to work with. Vince was hitting a lot of guys standing still, we’ll try and get them on the move.

QB: Vince Young 05’
Vince Young’s national championship season. Perhaps the greatest offense in college football history was built entirely around Vince’s running skills, improvisational skills, and leadership. No one else on that offensive squad, besides the O-line and David Thomas, could really be described at that point in their career as more than a role player. Vince was an absolute force in 2005 and the best defense in college football that year couldn’t stop him at home with an intensely hostile crowd. Even if Colt should win the championship with a heroic effort this season he won’t have had a single season like Vince in 2005.

RB’s: Cedric Benson 04’, Jamaal Charles 07’
We are platooning Benson and Charles here. Benson in 2004 thrived in the zone-read offense with Vince even though he preferred the I-Formation sets he started in with Chris Simms at QB. He was the ultimate “move the chains” running back who wore down defenses with 4 yards, 5 yards, 6 yards, 17 yards, 3 yards, and so on. Little Ricky minus-2.

Jamaal Charles had a slow start in 2007 that somehow resulted in 1665 rushing yards at 6.3 yards per carry. Texas has probably never had a bigger home-run threat at running back. I would prefer if Charles were a better 3rd down back to run flares, screens and draws but he didn’t excel there in 2007. Regardless, he is the ultimate change of pace runner for Benson’s bruising style.

TE: David Thomas 05’
Texas has had several good and potentially good tight ends this decade. Bo Scaife was a great weapon for Simms and Vince, JerMichael Finley was perhaps the most athletic and underutilized, Blaine Irby could have been the best before he blew out his knee. As it stands, the ultimate safety-valve receiver gets the nod here. Thomas, recently waived by the Patriots, now spends time playing halfback, fullback, tight end, and slot receiver for the Saints offensive machine. Simply the best.

Split End: Roy Williams 02’
Roy Williams was a large and powerful man who once dragged the entire Oklahoma State secondary 10 yards and on another occasion ran a reverse against LSU where his acceleration completely overwhelmed the defense. He’s your best big outside receiver of the decade. Maybe Sweed could have surpassed him if not for a broken wrist in 2007.

LT: Mike Williams 01’
A huge and imposing man who became a top 5 draft pick. He’s physically the best left tackle Texas has started, although he actually started at Right Tackle with Leonard Davis at Left tackle. However, on the right side he protected Simms’ blindside (left-handed thrower). Given Davis’ move to guard at the NFL level I think Williams fits best at the all-important pass-protecting spot. If I’m wrong Vince will make up for it.

LG: Kasey Studdard 06’
Studdard earned his way onto the Houston Texan’s starting offensive line as a 6th round draft choice. He wasn’t one of the more athletically gifted players but simply one of the most effective. As a run blocker, pass blocker, zone-blocker and on the field enforcer he can’t be matched.

C: Lyle Sendlein 06’
Studdard’s partner in crime on the interior line is now a starter for the Arizona Cardinals after being undrafted. He was a two time all-conference center and by and far the most competent one Texas has had this decade.

RG: Derrick Dockery 02’
Dockery was a freshman starter and All-American in 2002. Umm, alright Mr. Dockery take your place.

RT: Justin Blalock 06’
Another All-American and 4 year starter. Blalock was a force to behold, routinely flattening multiple defenders while paving the way for Texas runners. He’s a guard at the Pro-level but a menace anywhere in the college level. Let the record show that his man was never getting to Vince, Colt, or any other quarterback.

Sub B: Jordan Shipley 09’
The Slot receiver. If Shipley could be paired with Colt on a ticket they would win best tandem of the year and perhaps the decade. I’m not sure what to say here, he’s had 2 1,000 yard seasons including 09’ in which he has posted 1363 despite being heavily targeted by defenses along with 11 touchdowns. He’s a mortal lock to be the next Wes Welker or Stokley at the Pro-level and very likely surpass them. Those were white guys with great skill inside, Shipley is an elite talent at receiver as a football player, not just a white man.

Flanker: Quan Cosby 08’
You could play Cosby or Shipley at any of the receiving positions and they would produce. Since Roy has unmatched size and athleticism he’s going outside against the press-coverage while Cosby goes here. Quan provided downfield blocking, screen blocking, deep receptions, short receptions and anything else you might conceivably ask of a wide receiver. In terms of production and value, he and Shipley are the best to play this position this decade at Texas.

Defense
RE: Orakpo 08’
Defensive line was probably the most hotly contested place on the All-Decade team. The role of blindside rusher was never in any doubt. Orakpo’s 08 season had more sacks (11.5) than any other season by a texas defender to go along with 30 quarterback hurries, 4 Forced fumbles, and 19 tackles for loss. No one exploded around the edge like Brian Orakpo in the 2000s.

NT: Marcus Tubbs 03’
Casey Hampton and Shaun Rogers I disqualified since they only played one season in this decade, and quite simply they make it too easy. Marcus Tubbs was in close competition with Roy Miller with similar numbers but Tubbs was an all-around more productive player adding 2 forced fumbles and 2 blocked kicks to his resume. He learned from Hampton and Rogers and so he learned from the best. Derek Lokey is third-team.

T: Lamarr Houston 09’
Rodrique Wright has generall been considered the best 3-tech tackle Texas has had this decade. His 2003 season was dominant with 80 tackles, 12 for loss, 7.5 sacks, 30 hurries, and 3 forced fumbles. Okam looked to maybe surpass him but couldn’t stay healthy or light enough. Lamarr Houston, in his 2nd season playing the position alongside a redshirt freshman teammate put up 58 tackles, 20 for loss, 7 sacks, and 28 hurries. Wright was playing next to Marcus Tubbs for his season.

LE: Cory Redding 02’
Sergio Kindle was the competition here although Kindle has been used in a variety of places including Orakpo’s spot, a linebacker lining up like a Left End, and straight up as the left end. As dominant a player as Kindle has been, Cory Redding was a monster. In 02 he had 24 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 37 quarterback hurries, 2 fumble recoveries and 4 forced fumbles. 37 quarterback hurries! Redding was in the backfield all day long. Ultimately his 02 campaign was the most dominant season by a defensive lineman this decade for Texas.

WLB: Derrick Johnson 04’
DJ had 3 seasons with a least 120 tackles. His senior year he mastered the ball punching move and forced 9 fumbles. He is one of the best linebackers Texas has ever had and would likely start at Weakside linebacker for the All time Texas team. After reviewing his numbers I felt stupid for even thinking that Muckelroy might have been comparable.

MLB: Roddrick Muckelroy 09’
Muckelroy is really a weakside linebacker. The role of the WLB is typically to be a fast cleanup player who reaches the play on pursuit and can run from sideline to sideline. That’s where Muck will play in the pros. In 2009 after Jared Norton went down with injury Muck was moved to Middle Linebacker and proceeded to still have his best season as a Longhorn. He took Beanie Wells out of the 2009 fiesta bowl and probably has similar designs for Heisman winner Mark Ingram.

SLB: (Reed Boyd) Texas has not fielded an all-conference caliber Strongside linebacker this decade so we are going nickel full-time. Emmanuel Acho has little competition from the past in becoming the best Mack Brown SLB, all his competition will be in practice. Reed Boyd had some nice seasons but got moved to Middle linebacker.

Since Muschamp (of course) is our defensive coordinator we are using his “big nickel, little nickel” packages based on opponent and situation. The little nickel is better for pass defense and vice versa. Either would really just dominate anything anyone trotted out against it.

Big Nickel:
Nickel: Earl Thomas 09’
Earl is small but it pays to have him close to the line because he can force a fumble, jump a short route and is fearless in run support (a common theme here). He is one of the better playmakers Texas has fielded in the secondary over the whole decade while only a sophomore.

Corner: Nathan Vasher 03’
Vasher had seasons with 7, 4 and 6 interceptions. He was another one of those mean little guys that blew up unsuspecting skill players and simply got his hands on the football routinely.

Free Safety: Michael Griffin 06’
Michael Griffin is one the stronger tacklers in the history of the Texas secondary while also a rangy pass defender. In 2006 Griffin took on a little more than he could chew due to the schemes of Chizik but still had a massively productive season. In 05 and 06 combined he had 6 blocked kicks and 5 forced fumbles. Like Vasher and Earl he played mean, only with size and strength to really punish.

Strong Safety: Michael Huff 05’
Thorpe Award winner and all around menace, Huff took on the task of spying Reggie Bush in the 2006 Rose Bowl with not a trace of fear. He never put up big interception numbers but he was an excellent tackler and could force the ball out and make explosive breaks on the ball. If this team simply manned up the receivers and let Griffin and Huff play over the top there would never be any big plays. Teams avoided Huff like the plague and challenging him and Griffin deep was a poor idea that led to disastrous results for Matt Leinart in the Rose Bowl.

Corner: Aaron Ross 06’
Always one of the more athletic of the group of mid 00 defensive backs Ross finally got his chance in 06. He won the Thorpe award and had big game winning plays against Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Iowa. His 6 interceptions, 19 pass breakups and 3 forced fumbles are just a big picture illustration of the way he consistently foiled attempts to defeat the Freshman Colt-led Longhorns over the course of 2006.

Small Nickel:
Corner: Quentin Jammer
We add Jammer for the small nickel and move Vasher inside where he can blow up runners overlooking his sub-6 foot frame and we add the best physical press-coverage man of the decade. Many would put Cedric Griffin here and perhaps Curtis Brown, Chykie Brown or Aaron Williams will overtake them both but no one frustrated attempts to get the ball to the best receiver like Jammer. He had 44 pass breakups over 00 and 01 while simply physically overmatching receivers and “jamming” them off their routes into the sidelines. He only misses the first team for Vasher’s ability to take away the ball.

Free Safety: Earl Thomas: 09’
Strong Safety: Michael Huff 05’
Nickel corner: Nathan Vasher 03’
Corner: Aaron Ross 06’

So, we have an offense that will run the ball on everyone while taking easy shots over the middle to Thomas, Cosby or Shipley or the occasion deep shot to Roy Williams. No team is covering all those guys against Vince. To give him that kind of time and weapons at the college level would mean at least 50 points every game. The defense, meanwhile, is perfectly assembled to simply blow up anything the offense might try to do from the outset of the play while still being backed by likely the best All-decade secondary of any team in the nation.
Any thoughts on unfair omissions or anything else?

We’ll do a basketball one next and eventually get to Muschamp’s plan to beat his old boss.