Spring To-Do List

Sticky notes are useful to me. I write my to-do list down on one of them almost every morning.

Heading into the first day of spring practice, here's probably what some of the Texas coaches to-do lists look like.

Major Applewhite - co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
- Install up-tempo offense
- Continue to groom David Ash and make him comfortable as the leader in new offensive style
- Develop younger quarterbacks
- Find, define and hone an offensive strength that even the best opponents may not be able to stop when executed properly

Larry Porter - running backs
- Get to know your players
- Find out their strengths and weaknesses
- Improve pass protection of every single running back

Darrell Wyatt - co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers
- Install new up-tempo system with Applewhite
- Develop and hone the skills Kendall Sanders, a possible difference maker
- Decide on a third and fourth receiver
- Get multiple receivers on same page as Ash
- Determine which receivers he can rely on and which ones he can't

Bruce Chambers - tight ends
- Develop variety of styles for new offensive emphasis
- Develop flex tight end; develop in-line tight end; cross-train H-back
- Identify strengths and weakness of new player (Geoff Swaim)
- Develop M.J. McFarland and Greg Daniels
- Determine if you can count on Miles Onyegbule

Stacy Searels - offensive line
- Improve stamina and quickness to the ball in up-tempo offense
- Tinker with the OL by moving players into various positions to find the best mix and develop versatility before return of Trey Hopkins and entry of Desmond Harrison
- Develop meaningful depth at center, which means Garrett Porter must either improve dramatically or be bypassed
- Stay on top of development of Sedrick Flowers, Curtis Riser and Kennedy Estelle; all very important for future of Texas OL this time next year

Bo Davis - defensive tackles
- Determine a defensive tackle rotation he's comfortable with heading into the fall
- Coax the most out of his two most talented players - Malcom Brown and Hassan Ridgeway
- Get the most out of Ashton Dorsey and Chris Whaley, two seniors in their last year
- Improve Desmond Jackson's ability to anchor against the run

Oscar Giles - defensive ends
- Develop youth, including Shiro Davis, Bryce Cottrell and Caleb Bluiett, and make them into more complete players
- Get Cedric Reed to take the next step
- Get something more out of Reggie Wilson
- Improve use of hands against the run and pass of all players

Manny Diaz - defensive coordinator/linebackers
- Find an answer to zone runs; whether that's scheme, coaching or a mix of the two - it has to be no. 1 goal of the defense
- Teach more zone concepts of linebackers and secondary to protect against explosive plays
- Practice run fits and determine who is reliable and understands the responsibilities given the play call
- Teach proper leverage in the hole
- Find the right mix of athleticism, strength and speed among the group of linebackers
- Use spring to focus on defensive fundamentals, not exotic blitz schemes

Duane Akina - secondary
- Determine a preferred replacement for Kenny Vaccaro
- Develop Duke Thomas, Sheroid Evans and Mykkele Thompson
- Improve zone coverage of secondary
- Focus on small things that will create more turnovers in scoring league
- Continue development of Adrian Colbert, Bryson Echols and Kevin Vaccaro

Mack Brown
- Place-kicking game must improve by large amount
- Make sure he identifies the best players - his most explosive ones - and make sure his coaches get them ready to play
- Develop team chemistry
- Quicker starts out of the gate on both offense and defense
- Pay close attention to small defensive tweaks to get more stops
- Find ways to develop a home-field advantage