|
EARLY
BIRD 2008 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2007 |
|
|
TEXAS
LONGHORNS |
|
OFFENSE
- 9 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 4 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Limas Sweed-WR, Nate Jones-WR, Billy Pittman-WR,
Tony Hills-OT, Dallas Griffin-C |
DEFENSE:
Frank
Okam-DT, Derek Lokey-DT, Robert Killebrew-SLB,
Scott Derry-WLB, Brandon Foster-CB, Erick
Jackson-SS, Marcus Griffin-FS, Drew Kelson-FS,
Justin Moore-P |
|
|
|
Running
Back |
Jamaal Charles
has the potential to be the
best RBs in the country. For
Texas to return as a top contender,
both nationally and in their
tough conference (half), they
will need him to live up to
his potential every week. |
|
|
Secondary |
This
usually strong unit struggled
in a big way (109th in pass
defense), despite having apparent
talent. They will have to regroup
with a bunch of fresh faces
trying to earn starting spots.
|
|
|
|
RB
Jamaal Charles |
|
DE
Brian Orakpo |
|
|
|
|
*
DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic
gauge for listing players that departed and
players that received the most playing experience
(consistent starters). NationalChamps.net
recognizes the importance of missing personnel
data not listed such as redshirts, transfers,
injuries, incoming recruits, back ups and
alternates. Their coverage will begin with
our full 2008 Preseason Preview due out this
coming spring. |
|
|
|
TEXAS
2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Colt
McCoy-Jr |
John
Chiles-So |
FB |
Luke
Tiemann-Sr |
Antwan
Cobb-So |
RB |
Jamaal
Charles-Sr |
Vondrell
McGee-So / Chris Ogbonnaya-Sr |
WR |
Quan
Cosby-Sr |
.. |
WR |
Jordan
Shipley-Sr |
.. |
TE |
Jermichael
Finley-Jr |
Peter
Ullman-Sr |
OT |
.. |
.. |
OG |
Charlie
Tanner-Jr |
.. |
C |
Chris
Hall-Jr |
.. |
OG |
Cedric
Dockery-Sr |
.. |
OT |
Adam
Ulatoski-Jr |
.. |
K |
Ryan
Bailey-Sr |
.. |
|
|
TEXAS
2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Brian
Orakpo-Sr |
Eddie
Jones-So / Sam Acho-So |
DT |
Ben
Alexander-Jr |
.. |
DT |
Roy
Miller-Sr |
.. |
DE |
Lamarr
Houston-Jr |
Aaron
Lewis-Sr |
SLB |
Sergio
Kindle-Jr |
.. |
MLB |
Rashad
Bobino-Sr |
Jared
Norton-Jr |
WLB |
Roddrick
Muckelroy-Jr |
.. |
CB |
Ryan
Palmer-Sr |
.. |
CB |
Deon
Beasley-Jr |
.. |
SS |
Ishie
Oduegwu-Jr |
.. |
FS |
.. |
.. |
P |
Trevor
Gerland-Jr |
.. |
|
|
QUICK
ANALYSIS |
The
theme for Texas remains - the Longhorns
are all about offense. The question is...inversely,
after five opponents broke the 30-point
barrier, can they stop anybody from passing
and scoring? The offense returns the bulk
of the lineup, and all are upperclassmen,
meaning a great deal of experience will
be back to continue the offensive fireworks.
QB Colt McCoy, soon-to-be in his third season
as the starter, can no longer be considered
a beginner, and holding this team back would
again mean second-tier status in their conference.
Arguably, he had a much better freshman
season (seven INTs in ’06 compared
to 18 this past year). Outside of losing
an oft-injured Limas Sweed, the receivers
are to again be a solid veteran crew, one
that got McCoy 3100+ in the regular season.
RB Jamaal Charles has to parlay his late
season surge into consistent success throughout
in '08. He has the potential to be one of
the best RBs in the country, and his production
would be paralleled by team success. The
defense has been the problem as of late
in Austin, especially in the secondary where
the nation's 109th-ranked pass defense failed
to close the deal after the offense had
scored more than enough points against Tech
(arguably the difference between making
the BCS or their current status of the Holiday
Bowl). The slate will be almost swept clean
in this secondary, which leaves many questions
as to the direction of the entire defense.
But such could be a good thing after the
past DB debacle. A good many other holes
need filling on D, yet getting back into
national championship contention may not
be as far away as the depth chart currently
dictates. But ever-diligent, Mack Brown
has continued to recruit well over the years,
and he will need some big time help on the
defensive side from his stable of raw (but
talented) youngsters. The past two years
(since the undefeated 2005 National Championship
team) have equated to at least three losses
each, but ’08 could just as easily
see UT’s return to prominence amongst
college football’s top teams. Still,
given the state of the defense, that task
seems possibly too tough in their top-heavy
conference (half).
|
|
|
|
TEXAS
2008 SCHEDULE
8-30
FLORIDA ATLANTIC
9-6 at UTEP
9-13 ARKANSAS
9-20 RICE
10-4 at Colorado
10-11 Oklahoma @Dallas, TX
10-18 MISSOURI
10-25 OKLAHOMA STATE
11-1 at Texas Tech
11-8 BAYLOR
11-15 at Kansas
11-28 TEXAS A&M
|
|
|
|