The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
06.09.2015 | Football
Replacing an All-America defensive tackle, seeing the Red River Showdown from the other side and making the transition from high school to college coaching
Tracking the Longhorns: Assistant coaches media session | Video: Get to know Brick Haley | Video: Get to know Jeff Traylor | Video: Get to know Jay Norvell
Replacing an All-American by Committee
A key task for first-year defensive line coach Brick Haley will be replacing All-American Malcom Brown, who was selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. But Haley has a knack for producing NFL level talent. In his six years coaching at LSU, 10 of his defensive linemen were drafted, including two top 15 picks.
"Tradition doesn't graduate and the next man will be up, whoever that man may be," said Haley. "We have to be smart enough to put the guys in the right position and that's what I'm here for – to make sure the right guy is in the right spot."
Brown was a consensus first-team All-America defensive tackle, as well as a finalist for both the Nagurski Trophy and Outland Trophy, last season when he led the team in tackles for loss (15) and sacks (6.5).
Desmond Jackson, who ended up missing all but the first three games with a foot injury, joined Brown at the starting defensive tackles last season. Hassan Ridgeway was inserted into the starting lineup for the final 10 games and produced 11 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks, the second-best total on the team.
Along with Jackson, who will be back for his fifth season, and Ridgeway, sophomore Poona Ford, juniors Paul Boyette Jr. and Alex Norman, are veterans who figure into the defensive tackle rotation.
While the loss of a first-round pick hurts, Haley is looking for a group effort from his defensive line unit that also lost two-time All-Big 12 end Cedric Reed.
"What we want to focus on in our room is not being individuals but being a unit," Haley said. "I think one is no better than the other if we aren't working together. To single guys out would not be something I would want to do or want the players to do. I want to grow as a unit and become a team."
New Perspective on the Red River Showdown
Wide receivers coach Jay Norvell has been involved in his share of rivalry games during his nearly 30 years of coaching experience. Not only was Norvell an Oklahoma assistant the last seven years to see the Red River Showdown first hand, but he also played at Iowa and later coached at Iowa State. He also coached in the Super Bowl with Oakland and was on staff in 2007 at UCLA, which annually plays crosstown rival USC.
Now Novell gets to wear burnt orange for the first time in the annual AT&T Red River Showdown, which is set for Oct. 10 at the Cotton Bowl.
"It's an awesome game; it's such a unique game," Norvell said. "There is so much history with the rivalry. I was in the NFL for six years and played in playoff games and played in the Super Bowl, but there is nothing like that game. It is so unique playing in the state fair grounds and having half of your fan base on each side. It's such a unique rivalry."
The Time was Right
It was clear that a spot on the Texas coaching staff was an excellent opportunity, but it was still not easy for tight ends/special teams coach Jeff Traylor to make the decision to come to Austin, especially since his wife and children will remain in Gilmer, Texas, until his son [Jake] graduates high school in the spring of 2016. However, after speaking with Coach Charlie Strong and his family, he knew it was an opening that he could not pass up.
"I was a Texas high school football player, I was a Texas high school coach and then I get the chance to coach at the University of Texas," Traylor said. "That was big. I wanted to see if Coach Strong's core values were really true, so I called everybody including his college roommates and they said Coach Strong has always been that guy. So, when it was Coach Strong, The University of Texas and a dream I've always had I thought I had to give it a shot."
Traylor had a distinguished high school coaching career. He spent the last 15 years as head coach at Gilmer High School where he amassed a 175-26 record, guiding the Buckeyes to state titles in 2004, 2009 and 2014.
Longhorns Acclimate to NFL
The Longhorns had 10 players from last season's squad either selected or sign as free agents following the 2015 NFL Draft. Each participated in mandated rookie camps and organized team activities in recent weeks.
Links to some recent interviews with the Longhorns are listed below. Click here to view the 2015 NFL Draft Index.
- Diggs on fitting into the Detroit defense [June 6, 2015]
- Thompson discusses youth of NY Giants safeties [May 22, 2015]
- Reed tries to learn from Buffalo veterans [May 21, 2015]
- Hicks discusses Philadelphia rookie camp [May 18, 2015]
- One-on-one with DT Brown [May 13, 2015]
- Cowboys TE Swaim talks unexpected dream come true [May 11, 2015]
