Texas Longhorns Football: Lamarr Houston and the Other DTs

The Texas Longhorns need all-conference level play at DT from Lamarr Houston. 

He’s fully capable of it.  He’s a naturally strong guy who doesn’t get moved around in there, but that was also playing three technique.  If we ask him to to play some offset nose, he’ll need to draw on some different skills.

The other DT spot will be a tag team of several guys: Kheeston Randall and some incoming freshmen. 

I’m less than optimistic about Ben Alexander giving us quality reps as he has never shown us anything tangible.  Perhaps he’s on a Brian Cushing plan and will surprise me.

Randall is a big kid with great athletic ability, but he’s tall and plays high.  Until he can learn to control his pad level, high-quality competition will give him fits. 

I hope his spring and summer are spent in a chute going against Mason Walters and that his offseason is heavy in hip and flexibility work. 

Ha ha. That was funny. I actually believed that for a moment as I wrote it.  He’ll bench a lot, though. He has to come through to some degree or we’re just doomed.

Calvin Howell looks the part, but counting on an impact true freshman in the interior DL is folly.

As for Derek Johnson, see Howell.  He’s also incredibly raw, having played his high school career as a stand-up edge rusher.  High school coaches can be cute, can’t they? %^#% right they can be.

Kyle Kriegel—check back in 2012.

Tray Allen?  I'm not typically sanguine on O-linemen switching sides.

Jarvis Humphrey was a mystery and now is gone.

You’ll also see us bring a DE inside in certain situations against teams that can’t punish us in the running game for doing so.  Eddie Jones is a strong enough guy to hold up in there.  There are great advantages to this in creating pass rush and increasing team speed, but it will get ugly when and if we face a competent running team.

This article was written by Scipio Tex of Barking Carnival.

Follow Barking Carnival on Twitter: @BarkingCarnival