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The 2012 Longhorns: Dominic Espinosa

  • http://texas.247sports.com/Article/The-12-Longhorns-Dominic-Espinosa-76081

    Leading up to the season Hookem.com will spotlight 30 of the most important players on the Texas roster. Next up is one of the biggest question marks on the 2012 roster.

    This post was edited by Dave Behr on 6/4/2012 at 2:04 PM

    Lead Writer Hookem.com___EMAIL:atrubow@statesman.com___TWITTER: http://twitter.com/#!/aTrubow

    Alan Trubow


  • The single most terrifying returning starter on the roster, including Ash. I hope he's ready to make a huge jump up the learning curve.

    close to jumping

  • close to jumping said...

    The single most terrifying returning starter on the roster, including Ash. I hope he's ready to make a huge jump up the learning curve.

    Is it the learning curve or the strength curve?

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    GetHooked ●

  • Word is that he has gaine some weight and he will obviously be stronger. Would be interested in knowing what he is currently carrying.

    horn4life1

  • He was listed at 295 coming out of high school and 298 after his redshirt year.

    Lead Writer Hookem.com___EMAIL:atrubow@statesman.com___TWITTER: http://twitter.com/#!/aTrubow

    Alan Trubow

  • horn4life1 said...

    Word is that he has gaine some weight and he will obviously be stronger. Would be interested in knowing what he is currently carrying.

    Expect small steps forward as he does not have the frame to carrie the type of mass which would make him develop into what us fans would love to see. Now he will make the right reads and not screw up a snap, we have seen guys be multi-year starters for those skills while Mack has been here.

    BoomFC

  • close to jumping said...

    The single most terrifying returning starter on the roster, including Ash. I hope he's ready to make a huge jump up the learning curve.

    His progression is probably the most important from the end of 2011 to the start of 2012. If he can fix the issues from last year, the OL has a chance to be much improved. If he doesn't and Searels is forced to switch things up, I think the OL can still be good, but it won't be as good as it could be.

    Dave Behr

  • Seems like if you want to put the 5 best on the field you substitute Flowers for Espinosa and move either Walters or Hopkins to center. Those are the best players imo. Espinosa then provides depth.

    This post was edited by 81horn on 6/4/2012 at 3:18 PM

    81horn ●

  • BoomFC said...

    Expect small steps forward as he does not have the frame to carrie the type of mass which would make him develop into what us fans would love to see. Now he will make the right reads and not screw up a snap, we have seen guys be multi-year starters for those skills while Mack has been here.

    At 6'3"/6'4" he has the frame to add 15-20 easily if that is part of building his strenght. Centers are really ranging 310/320 these days.Depends on how S&C sees it I guess. Pouncey played at 315/320.

    horn4life1

  • 81horn said...

    Seems like if you want to put the 5 best on the field you substitute Flowers for Espinosa and move either Walters or Hopkins to center. Those are the best players imo. Espinosa then provides depth.

    I think Espinosa offers a lot from the mental side of the game. He has always been good at making the right call at the line.

    From a spring report we had a few months back:

    According to the source, Espinosa is the best center when the team is facing anyone other than Brandon Moore as a defensive tackle. But when Moore is in, that's when Porter appears to be better.

    But Porter really has issues with Chris Whaley and Desmond Jackson, more so than Espinosa has with Moore.

    Just pointing out that it may not be that black and white.

    Scrimmage Report: Offense

    Wes scrimmage.

    texas.247sports.com

    Dave Behr

  • 81horn said...

    Seems like if you want to put the 5 best on the field you substitute Flowers for Espinosa and move either Walters or Hopkins to center. Those are the best players imo. Espinosa then provides depth.

    Right, but does Espinosa fit in as well at guard or tackle. I don't think so. So does he really provide depth?

    Lead Writer Hookem.com___EMAIL:atrubow@statesman.com___TWITTER: http://twitter.com/#!/aTrubow

    Alan Trubow

  • Alan Trubow said...

    Right, but does Espinosa fit in as well at guard or tackle. I don't think so. So does he really provide depth?

    At center. Yes.

    horn4life1

  • Alan Trubow said...

    Right, but does Espinosa fit in as well at guard or tackle. I don't think so. So does he really provide depth?

    Hypothetically...if he's a backup and Walters or Hopkins is at center...if one of the guards needs a break, you can slide Walters to guard and bring in DE. Granted that does hurt continuity at the center position but there is good backup due to positional flexibility elsewhere.

    81horn ●

  • Dudes, I have full confidence that Rufus will bring Bill and Ted's time machine so that Dom can beef up and rock the center position this season, bringing peace and prosperity to all horns.weights

    Be excellent to each other.

    Certainty is the enemy. I think.......

    Togominefield

  • Dave Behr said...

    I think Espinosa offers a lot from the mental side of the game. He has always been good at making the right call at the line.

    From a spring report we had a few months back:

    According to the source, Espinosa is the best center when the team is facing anyone other than Brandon Moore as a defensive tackle. But when Moore is in, that's when Porter appears to be better.

    But Porter really has issues with Chris Whaley and Desmond Jackson, more so than Espinosa has with Moore.

    Just pointing out that it may not be that black and white.

    Then why not rotate Porter against giant NTs, and Espinosa against the others?

    Also, he doesn't need to gain weight. 295 is big enough is he doesn't get overpowered. Some assignments require him to move out on second level defenders, and against Cal, the NT was running past him to blow up plays.

    detly wepun

  • Togominefield said...

    Dudes, I have full confidence that Rufus will bring Bill and Ted's time machine so that Dom can beef up and rock the center position this season, bringing peace and prosperity to all horns.weights

    Be excellent to each other.

    Wyld Stallyns!

    "Pavlov was this scientist guy, you know, and every time this dog would ring a bell, Pavlov would eat."

    Kelso

  • Kelso said...

    Wyld Stallyns!

    I said plum.

    Lead Writer Hookem.com___EMAIL:atrubow@statesman.com___TWITTER: http://twitter.com/#!/aTrubow

    Alan Trubow

  • 81horn said...

    Hypothetically...if he's a backup and Walters or Hopkins is at center...if one of the guards needs a break, you can slide Walters to guard and bring in DE. Granted that does hurt continuity at the center position but there is good backup due to positional flexibility elsewhere.

    Yeah. I just question things when you have to switch around multiple positions to add depth.

    I'm not saying one way is better than the other. If your starting five is significantly better with Walters or Hopkins at center I agree with making the switch. If it's just a marginal increase, I'm not sure it's worth the shuffling.

    Lead Writer Hookem.com___EMAIL:atrubow@statesman.com___TWITTER: http://twitter.com/#!/aTrubow

    Alan Trubow

  • detly wepun said...

    Then why not rotate Porter against giant NTs, and Espinosa against the others?

    Also, he doesn't need to gain weight. 295 is big enough is he doesn't get overpowered. Some assignments require him to move out on second level defenders, and against Cal, the NT was running past him to blow up plays.

    I personally wouldn't be a fan of switching out centers every other week, but if it's something Searels thinks would give his guys the best opportunity to protect the QB/open holes for the RBs then it may be worth considering.

    Dave Behr

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    E-mail: jeffwhowe@gmail.com Twitter: @JeffHowe247

    Jeff Howe

  • Wasn't Espinosa the kid who has been injured the past 2 off-seasons, preventing him from putting in enough time in the weight room?

    Sessamoid

  • I think the swing guys are going to be from guard to tackle rather than guard to center. Espy and Porter are probably it for this year. 2013 may be different. JMO

    churchill

  • Yes, he missed last offseason after recovering from shoulder surgery. It'll be interesting to see what he looks like in the fall.

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    E-mail: jeffwhowe@gmail.com Twitter: @JeffHowe247

    Jeff Howe

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