RJ Esq
Prick Since 1974
Notebook: Key Longhorns on the mend
By John Bridges, Suzane Halliburton and Alan Trubow
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Injury update
Signs are pretty good that some of the ailing Longhorns will return for Kansas.
Star defensive end Brian Orakpo, who sprained a knee against Texas Tech, met with the media Monday. That's something injured players generally don't do.
Orakpo said he is hoping to play. "Me, personally, I'm good," Orakpo said. "It's up to the coaches, a higher authority — the training staff — to let me loose."
Orakpo did not work out all last week. He is hoping to be cleared for workouts today.
Meanwhile, offensive tackle Adam Ulatoski also attended Monday's media luncheon. He left the Baylor game with an injury to his elbow. After the game, he was wearing a splint. He didn't have it on Monday.
"We're pretty positive that I'll be able to do everything come Tuesday," Ulatoski said.
Quarterback Colt McCoy is banged up as well. He said he's taking antibiotics to treat an infected cut on his lower lip. He suffered the cut in the Texas Tech loss.
Defensive tackle Lamarr Houston was not available to the media Monday. He left the Baylor game early in the first quarter after aggravating a foot injury. He will be watched through week. It is unclear whether he'll be able to practice.
Bailey or Lawrence: Who'll kick against Kansas?
Coach Mack Brown said that Longhorn coaches will track Ryan Bailey and Hunter Lawrence closely this week to see who gets the nod to kick Texas' field goals this week against Kansas.
Lawrence moved in and claimed the starting job when Bailey was hampered by injury during preseason camp in August. On Saturday, Bailey returned the favor.
Texas coaches said Monday that Lawrence was nursing a sore leg last week, but he still got the first shot at field goals against Baylor. Lawrence ended up missing two attempts, his first misses of the season, although he made all six extra points.
Bailey's 30-yard field goal ended Texas' scoring for the day.
Wintry forecast
For whoever kicks, weather promises to be a factor Saturday.The forecast for Lawrence, Kan., calls for a high wind warning with temperatures reaching a high in the low 40s.
Coaches impressed with tailback Whittaker's play
Saturday's team-leading 77-yard performance may be the breakout that redshirt freshman tailback Fozzy Whittaker has been looking for. At least, it impressed his coaches.
"Everybody now is seeing the vision and the burst that we saw in August," said Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis.
But since August and early September, Whittaker has battled with sprains to both knees, limiting him to appearances in just four games this season.
Coaches are also no longer concerned about Whittaker's ability to pick up pass rushers and protect quarterback Colt McCoy.
"He needs to get stronger," Brown said of the Pearland product. "These big linebackers, it's hard for him at his size. High school backs do not pass protect a lot. So, he knows what to do now, he just needs to get stronger so he can handle them all. He got ran over once on Saturday protecting, but he gave his body up and Colt still got the pass off. \u2026
"He's in playing shape now. After his knee, it was really hard to hit him because he wasn't well. Now, he seems to be getting it all. We think he can really help us here at the end. I really think Vondrell played better, as well."
Whittaker has had 21 carries the past two games, splitting time with Vondrell McGee. Chris Ogbonnaya, who started four straight games, was limited by an ankle sprain against Baylor.
Reesing ailing
Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing, who starred for Lake Travis High School, took a beating in the Jayhawks 45-35 loss to Nebraska.
"He's fine," Jayhawks coach Mark Mangino said Monday. "He's just banged up a little bit, but nothing that'll slow him down in any way."
Reesing is coming off his season-worst performance in terms of completion percentage, connecting on 15 of his 30 passes. He still threw for 304 yards, his sixth 300-yard game this season.
Mangino said that he'll gladly trade completion percentage for productivity.
"He's making plays. That's the bottom line," Mangino said. "You'd like to see the completion percentage higher, but in this case, it doesn't speak to his productivity."
Muschamp not talking jobs
Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp's name has been linked to every major job opening in the country. However, he said Monday he's not thinking of future employment opportunities.
When a reporter asked whether Muschamp and Brown had some type of understanding about when it would be appropriate for Muschamp to weigh the various jobs he's been linked to, the coach replied curtly, "We're not talking about any other jobs."
By John Bridges, Suzane Halliburton and Alan Trubow
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Injury update
Signs are pretty good that some of the ailing Longhorns will return for Kansas.
Star defensive end Brian Orakpo, who sprained a knee against Texas Tech, met with the media Monday. That's something injured players generally don't do.
Orakpo said he is hoping to play. "Me, personally, I'm good," Orakpo said. "It's up to the coaches, a higher authority — the training staff — to let me loose."
Orakpo did not work out all last week. He is hoping to be cleared for workouts today.
Meanwhile, offensive tackle Adam Ulatoski also attended Monday's media luncheon. He left the Baylor game with an injury to his elbow. After the game, he was wearing a splint. He didn't have it on Monday.
"We're pretty positive that I'll be able to do everything come Tuesday," Ulatoski said.
Quarterback Colt McCoy is banged up as well. He said he's taking antibiotics to treat an infected cut on his lower lip. He suffered the cut in the Texas Tech loss.
Defensive tackle Lamarr Houston was not available to the media Monday. He left the Baylor game early in the first quarter after aggravating a foot injury. He will be watched through week. It is unclear whether he'll be able to practice.
Bailey or Lawrence: Who'll kick against Kansas?
Coach Mack Brown said that Longhorn coaches will track Ryan Bailey and Hunter Lawrence closely this week to see who gets the nod to kick Texas' field goals this week against Kansas.
Lawrence moved in and claimed the starting job when Bailey was hampered by injury during preseason camp in August. On Saturday, Bailey returned the favor.
Texas coaches said Monday that Lawrence was nursing a sore leg last week, but he still got the first shot at field goals against Baylor. Lawrence ended up missing two attempts, his first misses of the season, although he made all six extra points.
Bailey's 30-yard field goal ended Texas' scoring for the day.
Wintry forecast
For whoever kicks, weather promises to be a factor Saturday.The forecast for Lawrence, Kan., calls for a high wind warning with temperatures reaching a high in the low 40s.
Coaches impressed with tailback Whittaker's play
Saturday's team-leading 77-yard performance may be the breakout that redshirt freshman tailback Fozzy Whittaker has been looking for. At least, it impressed his coaches.
"Everybody now is seeing the vision and the burst that we saw in August," said Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis.
But since August and early September, Whittaker has battled with sprains to both knees, limiting him to appearances in just four games this season.
Coaches are also no longer concerned about Whittaker's ability to pick up pass rushers and protect quarterback Colt McCoy.
"He needs to get stronger," Brown said of the Pearland product. "These big linebackers, it's hard for him at his size. High school backs do not pass protect a lot. So, he knows what to do now, he just needs to get stronger so he can handle them all. He got ran over once on Saturday protecting, but he gave his body up and Colt still got the pass off. \u2026
"He's in playing shape now. After his knee, it was really hard to hit him because he wasn't well. Now, he seems to be getting it all. We think he can really help us here at the end. I really think Vondrell played better, as well."
Whittaker has had 21 carries the past two games, splitting time with Vondrell McGee. Chris Ogbonnaya, who started four straight games, was limited by an ankle sprain against Baylor.
Reesing ailing
Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing, who starred for Lake Travis High School, took a beating in the Jayhawks 45-35 loss to Nebraska.
"He's fine," Jayhawks coach Mark Mangino said Monday. "He's just banged up a little bit, but nothing that'll slow him down in any way."
Reesing is coming off his season-worst performance in terms of completion percentage, connecting on 15 of his 30 passes. He still threw for 304 yards, his sixth 300-yard game this season.
Mangino said that he'll gladly trade completion percentage for productivity.
"He's making plays. That's the bottom line," Mangino said. "You'd like to see the completion percentage higher, but in this case, it doesn't speak to his productivity."
Muschamp not talking jobs
Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp's name has been linked to every major job opening in the country. However, he said Monday he's not thinking of future employment opportunities.
When a reporter asked whether Muschamp and Brown had some type of understanding about when it would be appropriate for Muschamp to weigh the various jobs he's been linked to, the coach replied curtly, "We're not talking about any other jobs."