Profiles in Y’allism: Sergio Kindle
Sergio Kindle: Cool name, better player| Name | Sergio Kindle |
|---|---|
| Year | Junior |
| Number | 2 |
| Position | LB/DPR1 |
| Size | 6-4/239 |
Texas linebacker Sergio Kindle gives hope to every program with a former high school all-American struggling for playing time early on in their career (slightly looking your way, Connor Smith).
After arriving in Austin accompanied by considerable (earned) hype, he was unable to crack the starting lineup his first two years and was officially in the "fighting for a starting spot" category heading into this season. Just a few short months after making life hell on opposing offenses, he’s an all-Big 12 selection and one of the Longhorns the Buckeyes must account for on every snap Monday night.
Kindle matriculated to Texas after a standout career at Woodrow Wilson high school in Dallas2. There, he was nothing short of dominant. Rivals thought enough of him to name him the nation’s top linebacker prospect in 2005, while Texas football recruitniks considered him to be the best recruit out of the Dallas area this decade. He toted the rock on offense as well, accumulating 5,000+ yards and 86 TDs in three seasons. His senior season he earned Parade All-American, USA Today All-American, several national "ironman" awards and just for good measure, he was the only player in the state of Texas to earn all-state honors on both sides of the ball.
So, you can imagine why Longhorn fans felt some frustration when Kindle failed to make a splash on his arrival. An injury kept him out of the first couple of games of his freshman season and then he had one huge game followed by several middling efforts. Burnt Orange Nation went so far as to name him the 4th biggest disappointment of 2006 season:
Normally, disappointment is reserved for kids who’ve been in the program for more than one season, but the expectations surrounding Kindle were far from normal, and by all accounts, appropriately so.
Kindle was arrested for DWI the following summer and as a result, was held out of the first three games of his sophomore season. He didn’t really do much to distinguish himself the rest of the season and many Horns fans were wondering if he’d exit town a bust.
Thankfully for Kindle, there’s always a next year in sports and he used his next year to put on an audition for the first round of the NFL draft3. Though not quite the pure tackler that fellow linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy is, Kindle typically lined up at end and created havoc. He finished with 9 sacks and 13 TFLs on the season. The sack number is good enough for 22nd nationally and 3rd-best among listed linebackers. That, in and of itself is great, but when you consider that offenses must often first worry about Orakpo, Kindle gets scary quick.
Kindle is often substituted for on likely running downs and his run-stopping skill may be the one weakness he has right now. As a result, he’s lined up more and more on the edge as the season progressed. Against the pass-happy Big 12, however, he did just fine.
Despite any perceived run-stopping weaknesses, Kindle will be a part of the group of Longhorns tasked with stopping Beanie Wells. Though he didn’t see the field when the teams met in 2006, he does have experience tackling Wells. In 2006, Kindle was part of the West defense in the Army All-American Bowl that ultimately yielded three TDs to Beanie on his way to game MVP honors.
Highlights from the Kindle File (Source)
During pregame, I like to: Listen to krunk music and bounce around
Favorite music artist: Rick Ross
Nobody knows I can: Rap
1 Designated Pass Rusher
2 Woodrow as it is known in Dallas, is considered one of the best high schools in the city and notable alumni include two former Heisman winners in Davey O’Brien and Tim Brown. The dude that coined the term Gangster of Love also attended.
3 Kindle is most certainly and edge rusher at the next level and thought to be a first round selection. In mid-September, the word was that he was leaning towards leaving, so this very well could be his last game as a Longhorn.
Testing posting via blackberry. I didn’t know Beanie scored 3 TDs in the AA game… What a beast.
Awesome, it worked.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_D
Forget Steve Miller, this is the real gangster of love.
HAHA! You damn right, iball! Willie Dee is a legend. Controversy has to be a top 15 rap album of all-time. My “Sittin on Dubs” playlist is filled with his classics.
What, no love for Bushwick Bill?
Chuckwick is no joke!!
My mind might be playin tricks on me, but I think Ohio State is on the other level!!! lol
Alright, that was gay.
Let’s say Northwestern blows up Missouri? Does the Fiesta Bowl spread drop like a rock?
Northwestern should get a huge boost from Sutton coming back, but you saw them against us.
If Mizzou wants to play, it’s over by half time.
If you’re a conference-strength goomba, you’re liking the Alamo bowl so far.
NU is looking tough out of the gate. Pretty hard to root against Pat Fitzgerald.
Why on earth would you root against Pat Fitzgerald? I hate Mizzou.
I don’t. Just a figure of speech (perhaps poorly constructed).
Makes you wonder what Fitzgerald would do at Michigan…
It sure does make you wonder. Fitzgerald screams “michigan man” if you ask me.
Fitzgerald is doing his best Bielama impression. Or at least I think so. His offensive coordinator is addicted to Bacher. One could ask why when Sutton is clearly superior to anything Missouri has ever seen.
I stand corrected, punt to Maclin. Good call.
That was pretty clutch. I miss Teddy Ginn.
That felt like a backbreaker to me.
Maclin is real good.
Heard Tressel recruited the shit out of him.
Kafka > Bacher
Sorry, but this Missouri team is making NW look like Texas or Oklahoma. I hope the Texas offense shows up like NW’s, because our defense won’t be allowing any quick slants or draws or short-change plays the way the Wildcats are moving the ball. I’m rooting for the boys in purple, no doubt, and doing so whole-heartedly. But those Buckeyes better come out ready to annihilate. Wisconsin shouldn’t even have been in a bowl. GO BUCKEYES!!! LET’S FRICKIN’ DO THIS NEXT WEEK!
Chase Daniel is obviously drunk. I hope McCoy caves as easily.
Guh, this reminds me of Iowa-Texas in ‘06 and BC-MSU last year: Big Ten team competing with a team it has no business being on the same field with, only to lose late. Hope the last part doesn’t come true.
FUCT.
NU is getting no love from the Zebras. Still, this is a team the Buckeyes waxed, so hopefully Longhorn fans won’t be taking anything for granted Monday night (though the temptation is there to do so).
NU just gave the game away. 1st and 10, they run off tackle…???? WTF????? Way to put yourself in an obvious passing situation for the next 2 downs. Then the facemask seals the deal.
D-U-M-B.
Jim Bollman approves of NW’s last offensive series. The lack of the use of a timeout by NW earlier was positively Andy Reidesque
Hell yea, he missed it.
Beautiful. Don’t blow this one nerds.
nerds…nerds…Nerds…Nerds…NERDS…NERDS!!!!
I cannot f-ing believe it. The most accurate kicker in NCAA history missed a bunny (for him) 44 yard FG from straight away. Maybe NU will get lucky in OT.
Missouri should give them the game, you know, because NW deserves it. Missouri, does not.
That extra point would have been nice.
NW wins the toss, Missouri should just kneel it out 4 times.
That extra point would have been nice.
No doubt. That was unreal.
Mizzou’s offense is tough to defend, but there are really just three guys you have to worry about: Maclin, Coffman, and Daniel. The rest are just bit players.
And as I say this, Maclin scores. Groan.
You guys think NW can answer after thinking about their last possession in regulation?
no?
Uh oh, running the QB. Call Craig Krenzel.
Everytime I hear Peterman’s name called I think of Elaine’s boss from Seinfeld.
Wow. A QB draw. Way to exploit the weakness in the secondary, fellas.
4th and ridiculous. This one’s over, barring the miracle of miracles.
Bacher choked.
DAMMIT, NERDS!!</b
Bacher got no help from his offensive line. Todd Boeckman knows what this feels like.
I hate to say it, but that last play was very Boeckmanesque.
LOL!
Maybe they’ll bring out all those 6′5″ receivers they’ve been hiding….
I have to hang that one on the offensive coaching staff. The playcalling was absolutely head scratching in the last 2 series.
I live in Missouri. Dammit. I would’ve been able to make fun of everyone for years if NW pulled off that win.
Hey. Not to be a bitter fan, but fuck Chase Daniel, Gary Pinkel, and Missouri. Suck nuts all game and win on a choke job.
Go check out Colt McCoy’s ass.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKAbA5AUgtY
wow…r u kidding me…what now the big 12 is a power coference?
*sigh* I’ve never been big on conference bragging rights bullshit, but the way the Big Ten loses late in games it has no business being in, and then gets no credit whatsoever for it, is more than a little frustrating.
Ah, you know Mizzou was just toyin’ with ‘em. They had the game in the bag all along.
/obvious sarcasm