Longhorns report: Strategy and personnel

May 2, 2008
The Sports Xchange

Strategy and personnel · Notes, quotes · Inside slant

2008 OUTLOOK: Texas notched its seventh consecutive 10-win season in 2007 despite fielding the seventh-worst defense (371.2 yards per game) in school history. If Auburn import Will Muschamp is as tough as advertised as Mack Brown's defensive coordinator, it's very difficult to imagine that streak not reaching eight in '08. Whether the Longhorns can beat Oklahoma and win the Big 12 South is another question and will depend largely on whether any running back can follow in the Texas-sized boot-steps of Jamaal Charles, Cedric Benson, Hodges Mitchell and Ricky Williams, etc. The most productive runner in the spring game was backup QB John Chiles (nine carries, 75 yards), a not-very-secret weapon who could line up at quarterback, tailback and receiver this fall.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
Junior QB Colt McCoy is 20-6 as a starter and already ranks fourth in Texas history in touchdown passes (51) and sixth in passing yards (5,873). He loses four significant weapons from 2007 in RB Jamaal Charles, WR Limas Sweed, WR Nate Jones and TE Jermichael Finley, but consistently top-rated recruiting classes ensure there's no dramatic decline in talent. Sure-handed seniors Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby are steady targets and strong role models for a young crop of receivers. The offensive line has more depth than last year, when injuries to Dallas Griffin and Tony Hills gave many of the younger players a chance to gain valuable game experience. Junior Chris Hall (6-4, 300) is the unit's MVP -- Most Versatile Player -- having started at least one game at all five line positions in 2007.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
Muschamp will not tolerate the lackadaisical effort the Longhorns showed late last season, when opponents averaged 37.5 points and 482.5 yards over the last four games. He promises to put a unit on the field that is physical, disciplined, passionate and aggressive, traits that describe his own personality to the letter. Texas will still use a base 4-3, but practiced plenty of 4-2-5 setups to counter the three- and four-wide sets that are now commonplace. Muschamp has placed a high priority on improving a pass rush that generated just 11 sacks in eight Big 12 games. He added speed to the line by moving Lamarr Houston from end to tackle alongside Roy Miller, with Brian Orakpo and Henry Melton on the outside. "We've got to be able to generate pressure with four guys rushing," Muschamp said. "There's no question."

SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS
Clutch kicker Ryan Bailey nailed 18 of 22 field-goal attempts last season, including eight of 10 from 40 yards or more. After losing his job midway through last season to walk-on Justin Moore, junior punter Trevor Gerland has to hold off walk-on John Gold this summer. Gold averaged 46 yards on two punts in the spring game. Second-team All-Big 12 honoree Quan Cosby is a dynamic punt returner, but may not return kickoffs this season. Malcolm Williams, Jeremy Hills and Christian Scott shared those duties in the spring game.

ROSTER REPORT

--In order to offset the loss of starting DTs Frank Okam and Derek Lokey to graduation, junior DE Lamarr Houston (6-2, 275) moved inside this spring and drew rave reviews from coaches and teammates. Playing beside Roy Miller with the No. 1 unit in the spring game, Houston registered two tackles and a sack.

--Several Longhorns missed all or part of the spring with injuries, including LB Sergio Kindle (knee), LB Jared Norton (thumb), DE Aaron Lewis (collarbone), DE Eddie Jones (shoulder), S Ishie Oduegwu (shoulder) and OT Adam Ulatoski (knee).