Texas Longhorns Football - 2012

[MojoMan]

Same song, different verse. Apparently neither McCoy or Ash has distinguished themselves during camp, so they will split time at QB for the Longhorns again this year, at least in the opening game.

Ash, McCoy both to play opener

AUSTIN — It’s looking more and more like the dreaded “-OR-” on Texas’ quarterback depth chart is here to stay.

While there remains a possibility the Longhorns will pick a clear starter before beginning the season on Sept. 1, offensive play-caller Bryan Harsin said Monday he expects both David Ash and Case McCoy to play in the opener against Wyoming. And like Mack Brown last week, Harsin gave no indication coaches are closer to choosing one player over the other than they’ve been at any point in the 20 months Ash and McCoy have been competing.

Before camp began, Brown stressed the importance of having one quarterback assert himself as the starter, and said he expected separation to happen. Lately, though, he and Harsin have reverted to last season’s tactic of waxing enthusiastic about the advantages of a two-quarterback system.

“It’s ideal to have both guys playing at a high level,” Harsin said. “That’s what you want.”

Little, however, was ideal about the time-share situation in 2011, when the UT depth chart listed “David Ash -OR- Case McCoy” as the starter for the bulk of the season and the Longhorns finished 89th nationally in pass efficiency. Despite those results, Brown and Harsin said they believe Ash and McCoy have both improved so much that splitting snaps shouldn’t be a problem.

“We want both guys to play,” Harsin said. “There’s strengths and weaknesses with both guys.”

It’s a familiar tune they’re playing. The Longhorns just have to hope they’ve gotten better with their instruments.

Not that hardly anyone will get to see the first game, as the first two games will be broadcast on the friggin' LHN, which is carried by almost none of the cable TV providers. Of course the cable TV providers are not to blame here, as the LHN just does not make economic sense for most consumers or most cable TV networks. Personally, I am looking forward to the end of the LHN experiment, which increasingly appears to be just a matter of time.

[MojoMan]

The AP preseason poll has Texas ranked #15 to start the season:

http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings

Also ranked among the Big 12 are:

04 - Oklahoma
11 - West Virginia
19 - Oklahoma State
20 - TCU
22 - Kansas State

As a result, 6 of 10 teams in the league will be ranked in the top 25 to start the year. This is shaping up to be a pretty tough conference.

[MojoMan]

Then again, it looks as if the Longhorns offense may be primarily orchestrated around the running game this year.

It has been a while, but for those who remember, three yards and a cloud of dust is what Texas has been primarily famous for on the offensive side of the ball. Think Earl Campbell, Ricky Williams and all of the other excellent RB's that have come out of Texas over the years.

This year, the Longhorns have at least two NFL quality backs in Malcom Brown and Jonathan Gray, and a third in Joe Bergeron who could be as well. If the Texas offensive line does their part, this should be a three back running attack that should be something to behold.

Older, wiser Brown ready to lead Texas RB trio

AUSTIN – Malcolm Brown is old, venerable and game-hardened and full of the kind of wisdom he wishes kids would listen to but knows they probably won't. When he was a wide-eyed, 18-year-old running back in 2011, he didn't have the perspective he has now. He struggled to figure out pass protection, allowed himself to be overwhelmed by the attention of playing at Texas, and regularly treated himself to Little Debbie Zebra Cakes.

The more experienced Brown shakes his head at that stuff. And when he talks to Johnathan Gray, the freshman who like Brown joined the Longhorns as one of the top running back recruits in the nation, he tries to make him understand. "The crowd's going to get all hyped up when you get your first touch, and you're going to feel like there's pressure on you," Brown said he told Gray. "But it's still the game of football." And if that simple game of football can be won by handing the ball off to fast, strong guys, the Longhorns think adding Gray's flash to Brown's savvy and Joe Bergeron's bruising ability could make them as dominant as any ground game in the sport.

Uncertainty remains in the incessant David Ash-Case McCoy quarterback competition, but UT has no shortage of answers at tailback. Last year, the Longhorns utilized then-freshmen Brown and Bergeron to average 202 rushing yards per game, 21st in the country.

By adding a third teenager to the group - specifically, a teenager who raced to more high school touchdowns than anyone in history - and by bringing back the bulk of a maturing offensive line, they think they can be better. "The running game we were building in steps last year we know is going to be great this year," guard Trey Hopkins said. "We have some stallions back there." And the styles are diverse enough to take advantage of just about any kind of track. If UT needs to pound the ball between the tackles, Bergeron, with his barrel chest and enormous thighs, is the man. If the Longhorns want a runner who can get wide before turning upfield, Gray has that ability.

....

[Doppelganger]

Originally Posted by MojoMan

Then again, it looks as if the Longhorns offense may be primarily orchestrated around the running game this year.

It has been a while, but for those who remember, three yards and a cloud of dust is what Texas has been primarily famous for on the offensive side of the ball. Think Earl Campbell, Ricky Williams and all of the other excellent RB's that have come out of Texas over the years.

This year, the Longhorns have at least two NFL quality backs in Malcom Brown and Jonathan Gray, and a third in Joe Bergeron who could be as well. If the Texas offensive line does their part, this should be a three back running attack that should be something to behold.

I think UT is trying to go the route of becoming an SEC style team:smothering Defense and prolific running game. I liked what I saw out of the D last year and I think the running game has a chance to be one of the best in the country. I think the D can certainly be top 5 if not top 10. The running game is potentially very dangerous and has 3 really good youngsters carrying the rock. This will be a return to the days of Ricki and Priest establishing the tone rather than Vince or Colt.

My prediction is the D and running game will propel the team to a top 10 finish. The team won 11+ games with Chris Simms as a QB: surely Ash and/or Case are not significantly worse than Simms.

[MojoMan]

Originally Posted by Doppelganger

I think UT is trying to go the route of becoming an SEC style team:smothering Defense and prolific running game. I liked what I saw out of the D last year and I think the running game has a chance to be one of the best in the country. I think the D can certainly be top 5 if not top 10. The running game is potentially very dangerous and has 3 really good youngsters carrying the rock. This will be a return to the days of Ricki and Priest establishing the tone rather than Vince or Colt.

My prediction is the D and running game will propel the team to a top 10 finish. The team won 11+ games with Chris Simms as a QB: surely Ash and/or Case are not significantly worse than Simms.

I think you are right. Of course defense has always been key, but for most of Mack Brown's tenure, the passing game has been much more heavily featured than I think he really wanted. Now with the re-engineering of his coaching staff and the struggles the Horns are having at QB, now is the time to make it happen.

Of course he will only be able to stick with that approach as long as it works, as it is difficult to come back from behind solely by running the ball. The Horns will play 5 teams currently ranked in the top 25 this year and also Ole Miss. If they dominate with the run game and defense through 10 of 12 games, the Horns will finish again in the top 10.

[Stemp]

Oklahoma should be lower. In fact, I'll be surprised if they finished ranked above 20 this year. Texas should be about 19-20 but where they finish will depend on the QB play and if they can stay healthy,

Okie St, TCU, and KSU shouldn't be ranked IMO. I see all 3 having 3-4 losses this year.

[badboy]

Originally Posted by Doppelganger

I think UT is trying to go the route of becoming an SEC style team:smothering Defense and prolific running game. I liked what I saw out of the D last year and I think the running game has a chance to be one of the best in the country. I think the D can certainly be top 5 if not top 10. The running game is potentially very dangerous and has 3 really good youngsters carrying the rock. This will be a return to the days of Ricki and Priest establishing the tone rather than Vince or Colt.

My prediction is the D and running game will propel the team to a top 10 finish. The team won 11+ games with Chris Simms as a QB: surely Ash and/or Case are not significantly worse than Simms.

With that defense, may not need much of a QB.

[texanhead08]

I have never understood how their running game struggled all those years. UT gets the cream of the crop lineman and RB's every year.

[Goldensilence]

Originally Posted by MojoMan

The AP preseason poll has Texas ranked #15 to start the season:

http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings

Also ranked among the Big 12 are:

04 - Oklahoma
11 - West Virginia
19 - Oklahoma State
20 - TCU
22 - Kansas State

As a result, 6 of 10 teams in the league will be ranked in the top 25 to start the year. This is shaping up to be a pretty tough conference.

I think a good argument could be made that the Big 12 last year was deeper as a whole than the SEC last year.

Far as the Longhorns as a whole, I agree it's likely same song second verse. The defense is going to carry this team again, and hopefully the offense will continue to grow under Harsin in his second year. It's really frustrating to see a LOT of good offensive pieces going to waste because lack of a quality QB.

If only they could somehow squish Ash and McCoy together you'd get a capable QB. I guess i subscribe to the idea if you have two QBs then you don't have a real solution at QB.

[Blake]

Hookem baby!

[Rey]

Originally Posted by JCTexan

Did you actually watch the game? The scoreboard was decided on a botched snap when Texas was inside West Virginia's five yard-line late in the fourth quarter. It was about a twenty yard loss and a FG was missed on the next play. Both teams looked equal to me last night.

That's part of being a good complete team.

If you are botching snaps and missing field goals and the other team isnt then you aren't as good as them.

I can see if you are saying there were some questionable calls by the Refs or something beyond the control of coaching and players on the field, but they made those errors, hence they didn't play as well as the other team.

Maybe if they played again they could win, but on that day they were not as good.

[JCTexan]

Originally Posted by Rey

That's part of being a good complete team.

If you are botching snaps and missing field goals and the other team isnt then you aren't as good as them.

I can see if you are saying there were some questionable calls by the Refs or something beyond the control of coaching and players on the field, but they made those errors, hence they didn't play as well as the other team.

Maybe if they played again they could win, but on that day they were not as good.

I understand that Texas lost the game. I just don't think they are inferior to West Virginia because they botched a snap. West Virginia didn't seem to trust their kicking game either (both teams were going for every 4th down). 'A good complete team' doesn't give up 45 points.

I'm not knocking West Virginia by any means, I just don't think they're superior because Texas failed to convert in the redzone late.

[MojoMan]

Originally Posted by JCTexan

I understand that Texas lost the game. I just don't think they are inferior to West Virginia because they botched a snap. West Virginia didn't seem to trust their kicking game either (both teams were going for every 4th down). 'A good complete team' doesn't give up 45 points.

I'm not knocking West Virginia by any means, I just don't think they're superior because Texas failed to convert in the redzone late.

To be fair, West Virginia did win the game in Austin. We do have to give the Miners some credit. This was a big win for them. And Texas did not look all that great on the defensive side of the ball.

These are both very good college football teams. But this year, WVU is better. They proved it on the field. Nobody was cheated. it was not the referees fault. And neither George W. Bush or Barack Obama was there, so they cannot be blamed either.

I hate to say it, but it is true and it needs to be said. Texas does not deserve to be ranked in the top 10 right now, and they will not be, because they just are not good enough. If the Horns want to be ranked in the top 10 going forward, then they will have to win games like this, at home against an opponent ranked slightly higher than them.

There is no excuse. I am as big a Texas fan as anyone here on this board - I authored this thread, for crying out loud - but let's be reasonable here. The Texas Longhorns lost to a better WVU team in Austin yesterday. That is all there is to it.

[Hookem Horns]

Originally Posted by MojoMan

To be fair, West Virginia did win the game in Austin. We do have to give the Miners some credit.

OK, they are new to the Big 12 so you get a pass. They are the Mountaineers ..lol. UTEP are the Miners.

[MojoMan]

Originally Posted by Hookem Horns

OK, they are new to the Big 12 so you get a pass. They are the Mountaineers ..lol. UTEP are the Miners.

LOL. You are right.

They do do a lot mining in West Virginia. But the team is the Mountaineers. I stand corrected.

[Goldensilence]

Originally Posted by Hookem Horns

OK, they are new to the Big 12 so you get a pass. They are the Mountaineers ..lol. UTEP are the Miners.

Hey as a recent grad of UTEP....you didn't have to correct him. I'd be fine if that was the team I got to cheer for.

[JCTexan]

Originally Posted by MojoMan

To be fair, West Virginia did win the game in Austin. We do have to give the Miners some credit. This was a big win for them. And Texas did not look all that great on the defensive side of the ball.

These are both very good college football teams. But this year, WVU is better. They proved it on the field. Nobody was cheated. it was not the referees fault. And neither George W. Bush or Barack Obama was there, so they cannot be blamed either.

I hate to say it, but it is true and it needs to be said. Texas does not deserve to be ranked in the top 10 right now, and they will not be, because they just are not good enough. If the Horns want to be ranked in the top 10 going forward, then they will have to win games like this, at home against an opponent ranked slightly higher than them.

There is no excuse. I am as big a Texas fan as anyone here on this board - I authored this thread, for crying out loud - but let's be reasonable here. The Texas Longhorns lost to a better WVU team in Austin yesterday. That is all there is to it.

I'm not disputing any of that. West Virginia won the game. I'm not saying anything negative about West Virginia. Texas lost the game. No argument there. I didn't say either team was cheated in any way. I just didn't see a superior or inferior team on either sideline last night. I understand the game was in Austin but both teams looked equal to me last night. The game was ultimately decided by a botched snap/missed FG.

[axman40]

West Va looked great and UT looked like they are a year away from being something special.