Chris Whaley was a much better college player than I realized

[xwalker]

Wow, he was a much better college player than I realized.

If he was healthy and was in the 2015 draft I think he would be 3rd round pick and maybe higher.

He is very light on his feet and was often able to get good penetration in the backfield. There were a significant number of snaps were he was double teamed and Malcom Brown was single blocked.

Whaley was 215 pounds as a freshman but was reported to get up as high as 297 at some point.

Physically, he definitely appears to have NFL ability. The things he needed work on were all things that can be coached or improved with time. He showed good lower body anchor but appeared to need more upper body strength. His hand usage and awareness were inconsistent.

 

[Galian Beast]

It's time to stop getting super excited about these journeymen linemen who may or may not even make the team.

That includes Gardener. I would be great, but let's stop banking on it.

 

[LatinMind]

It's time to stop getting super excited about these journeymen linemen who may or may not even make the team.

That includes Gardener. I would be great, but let's stop banking on it.

journey men? they were rookies in 2014. Imagine if the Cowboys gave up on that guy romo

 

[BIGWAY]

Yes, and just like Melton he started off as a running back. He was very impressive his last year in Texas especially since he gained all that weight and switched from offense to defense.

 

[tm1119]

I liked him a lot in the draft and thought we would use a 7th on him. He's basically Melton 2.0, went to Texas as a big RB and ended up as a DT. If he's healthy and spent the past year developing himself he has a real shot to make the roster I think.

 

[Nightman]

It's time to stop getting super excited about these journeymen linemen who may or may not even make the team.

That includes Gardener. I would be great, but let's stop banking on it.

Who is banking on them? Let them come to camp and see what they have. No harm no foul.

 

[jimmy40]

Wow, he was a much better college player than I realized.

If he was healthy and was in the 2015 draft I think he would be 3rd round pick and maybe higher.

He is very light on his feet and was often able to get good penetration in the backfield. There were a significant number of snaps were he was double teamed and Malcom Brown was single blocked.

Whaley was 215 pounds as a freshman but was reported to get up as high as 297 at some point.

Physically, he definitely appears to have NFL ability. The things he needed work on were all things that can be coached or improved with time. He showed good lower body anchor but appeared to need more upper body strength. His hand usage and awareness were inconsistent.

Chris Whaley hasn't weighed 215 pounds since junior high.

 

[xwalker]

Chris Whaley hasn't weighed 215 pounds since junior high.

You know he was recruited as a RB, right?

From NFLDS:
A four-star running back recruit out of high school, Christopher ?Chris? Whaley committed to Texas as a bruising ballcarrier, but never actually recorded a carry for the Longhorns, redshirting in 2009 and riding the bench in 2010. He was 215-pounds when he arrived in Austin, but gradually ballooned north of 250-pounds and practiced at tight end and fullback before moving to the defensive side of the ball prior to the 2011 season. Whaley was a part-time starter at defensive tackle as a junior in 2012 and emerged as an impact senior captain in 2013, recording 5.0 tackles for loss and three turnovers, two returned for scores. His college career ended after a serious knee injury in Nov. 2013 and kept him from working out at the NFL Combine. He will undoubtedly be compared to Henry Melton, both being former Texas running backs who made the not-so-common transition from the backfield to interior defensive line, and the comparison isn?t too far off ? both have athletic feet to be upfield gap penetrators. Whaley showed flashes the past few seasons, but needs time to develop at the position and is worth a day three investment with his best football likely ahead of him as long as his knee recovers as expected.

 

[RS12]

Whaley was 215 pounds as a freshman but was reported to get up as high as 297 at some point.

.

Thats the kind of thing that makes me wonder how he managed that.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

It's time to stop getting super excited about these journeymen linemen who may or may not even make the team.

That includes Gardener. I would be great, but let's stop banking on it.

Excited? If you want to ignore developmental prospects because you cannot keep an even keel then fine but just because you need that ethic does not mean everyone does.

This team over the past decade has been very good at finding players like this and turning them into quality starters. That is not to say that this particular prospect will achieve that but our player development has been outstanding.

Barry Church, Ronald Leary, and Tony Romo are all examples of this.

 

[xwalker]

Thats the kind of thing that makes me wonder how he managed that.

Well, he was a red-shirt Senior when he entered the draft so he was in college 5 years.

Having said that, he was only 269 at the time draft which makes you wonder why his weight was that low if it had been near 300 at one point.

 

[Nightman]

Thats the kind of thing that makes me wonder how he managed that.

When I was in college it was from beer and all you can eat cafeterias

 

[jazzcat22]

Anyone know the latest report on Whaley and his recovery.
I am really pulling for him to become a factor in this defense.

 

[Biggems]

Wow, he was a much better college player than I realized.

If he was healthy and was in the 2015 draft I think he would be 3rd round pick and maybe higher.

He is very light on his feet and was often able to get good penetration in the backfield. There were a significant number of snaps were he was double teamed and Malcom Brown was single blocked.

Whaley was 215 pounds as a freshman but was reported to get up as high as 297 at some point.

Physically, he definitely appears to have NFL ability. The things he needed work on were all things that can be coached or improved with time. He showed good lower body anchor but appeared to need more upper body strength. His hand usage and awareness were inconsistent.

He was a RB at the Army All American game.....If I am not mistaken, he was around 235 then. He was a better RB than Houston and Melton. Still, I believe his days as a RB helped to make him a more nimble and agile DL, once he added the weight.

I know I am a Horns homer, but I am a huge Whaley fan. If he is fully healthy, I believe he can not only compete for a roster spot, but for a starting spot along the DL.

 

[brymatt94]

 

[xwalker]

They had him drop in coverage more than any DT I can remember.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Overall the defensive line moved forward a step in 2014 (remember I posted "overall")... It'll take another step forward in the 2015 season.

 

[Oh_Canada]

It's time to stop getting super excited about these journeymen linemen who may or may not even make the team.

That includes Gardener. I would be great, but let's stop banking on it.

He's making an observation, it didn't seem over the top.

 

[jimmy40]

You know he was recruited as a RB, right?

yea I know.

 

[bodi]

let him PROVE he's a player in camp

I mean come on X