2007 Statistics

One of the longest relationships in college football is between coach Brown and coordinator Greg Davis. Since 1985 (at Tulane), these two have been working together and the Longhorn offense benefits from their co-founded knowledge, each year a little bit more.

QUARTERBACK
Many will point to 2007 and speak of QB Colt McCoy’s efficiency numbers going down after his stellar freshman campaign. Sure, his interceptions increased from a mere seven to 18, and his TDs shrank from 29 to 22…that will take your efficiency down, real quick. But the thing was this – they had Colt throw it 106 more times (33%), so his yardage also went up and there were some statistical consequences. Overall, the offense averaged over 70 more yards per game and about 1.5 more points per week, yet it still equaled the same 10-3 result. Enough returning starters back McCoy such that OC Davis should be able to see more modest gains and hopefully more wins. Consistency becomes the first objective. Now a junior, Colt has to make better decisions when airing it out. Otherwise, his ability to motor for sizable yardage makes LBs have to break out of coverage, which gets guys open, and little 10-to-20 yard gains are the result. The backup, soph John Chiles, isn’t quite ready; speed and strength abound, but Chiles hasn’t gotten it together to make the staff feel comfortable if he were to be handed the reigns suddenly. Sherrod Harris is another option with speedy wheels, but he may not be around any more by the time you read this (transfer rumors). All-around-type G.J. Kinne, coming out of 3A Gilmer (TX), has really been a player favorite, running the scout tem like a pro and offering coach Brown no excuse to keep him off the field. Just a crazy notion: maybe use Kinne as a Tebow-esque hybrid who is rotated in only now and again, for optimal impact. We think he could be a solid starter if given the chance, but for now he is third-team.

RUNNING BACK
The changes at RB have been continual for a few years. The latest RB of the Year will likely be Vondrell McGee, but he failed to impress in his 75 carries (4.0 ypc and no catches). The buzz has been all about RS frosh Foswhitt Whittaker, the guy who shot up the depth chart this spring and made heads turn. Ogbonnaya, a big senior who has not been “all that” for huge gains but has been solid in short yardage situations and with his soft hands, definitely has a role foes cannot ignore (blitz pickup, too). The fullbacks are both capable role players who facilitated the jump in last year’s ground production (went up by 45 yards per game from ‘06). Cobb is sure yards and should get more touches if Davis knows what’s good for the offense.

RECEIVER
The wideouts turn over some, but the use lately of so many multiple-WR sets means experienced snarlers step into any vacancies. Quan Cosby is the same mid-range guy as departee Nate Jones, and though Shipley isn’t 6’5 like Sweed, he did go deep with similar results, so the focus shifts to finding and developing a third guy. Collins, Kirkendoll, Williams, Payne and Webber are the four-star prospects lined up on the Longhorn tarmac, so the two newbies this year won’t be needed and can redshirt. The wanna-be tight ends are also lined up behind Peter Ullman, a hulking, sticky-handed target who, along with Blaine Irby, can stay in for both runs and passes.

OFFENSIVE LINE
The line looks good with the four starters slated for return. With the utility he showed as a backup, Buck Burnette is recommended for center. That would allow Mr. Every Position, Chad Hall, to go back to guard. Tanner and Dockery would hash it out for the other inside spot, giving lots of depth here. Outside, Adam Ulatoski likely winds up at left tackle, so Tray Allen and Kyle Hix will compete for Adam’s old job on the right. Hix is our guess with Allen progressing slower than expected (though his upside is still huge). The troubles forming one group that remained the same – there were three or four permutations, none that lasted – still produced the 13th-ranked total offense. Greg Smith, Tanner and Allen will make a great start to the second string and make it so Brown/Davis have continuity for 2009 and beyond, too.

Taking for granted that the running game will remain strong, all that is needed will be McCoy to get back to his freshman self for the Longhorn offense to gain consistency and to then become as unstoppable as it was in the title year.

Much of the talk about the Longhorn’s defense starts with new coordinator Will Muschamp. A name familiar to SEC followers, he comes most recently from Auburn and before that LSU. He led LSU’s D to the national title (2003) and has had top 10 results for total defense each year in the SEC as a DC. This guy gets results, and after Mack Brown admitted that some of the offenses in ’07 had Texas’s number (last four foes all scored at least 34 points each), the move to get 13-year assistant Muschamp will buoy results. The new terminology has been tough to learn, but reports confirm that the bugs will be worked out by the end of summer with the great attitude seen so far.

DEFENSIVE LINE
Brown’s teams have stressed run defense first and QB pressure second, so a big question is whether the excellent run-stopping results can continue. Brian Orakpo’s five sacks (led team) were in only nine games (knee injury), so his return is expected to keep both DL dimensions strong. Ex-RB Lamarr Houston picked up the slack and then some for Orakpo. Aaron Lewis, a starter to begin 2007, was the odd man out after Orakpo returned; the reason his steady efforts weren’t worthy of the start is because most teams only field two DEs per play. Lewis will push both starters in a good way. Jones and Acho are great backups, too, and the size of the ends makes it tough to have a back block them, allowing each to slide inside during stunts. The term “pinning our ears back” was heard a lot this spring, so you can bet that these guys are now more aggressively coming for opposing QBs. Tackle Roy Miller earns his start after backing up so many – he had nearly as many tackles (for loss, too) as the two departed starters. Alexander is a monster at the other tackle spot, but he will have to perform to keep the bevy of prospects from his starting slot. Newbies Humphrey and Randall will state their cases for reps; Muschamp is open to seeing all possibilities, so at least one of them will probably not redshirt right away to bolster the inside. Critical will be the adjustments made by the tackles to make sure runs are stopped if/when the pass rushing ends blow by the ball carrier.

LINEBACKER
Muschamp is a linebacker coach, too, so the two vacancies there are in good hands for fitting into the flow of the entire D. Rashad Bobino has started since day one, and the senior’s presence will be the key for this unit playing where they need to. A member of the 2005 championship team, this former Freshman All-American (and prep 4A Defensive Player of the Year in Texas) plays a smart game from his commander’s position (MLB). Roddrick Muckelroy is an ex-sprinter who picked up in ’07 where he left off in ’06 before a torn tendon shot his campaign down. He was a starter then, so he just has to learn the new system to assure the same killer impact. Former No.1 LB prospect Sergio Kindle’s upside was cut short by injury last year (ankle, stinger), so he’s another piece of the already completed LB puzzle. Norton is a capable starter who backs Bobino and is ready to step in at any time on the outside, too. Speed abounds within the list of extra LBs, a tough group that is just waiting for their individual chances.

DEFENSIVE BACK
The secondary is the main focus on defense, especially after their atypical rankings for the past two seasons (passing defense was 99th in ’06 and 109th last year). Duane Akina has to be on the hot seat, so his guys need to respond. Ryan Palmer is a great foundation to start building around – his 14 pass-breakups and zero interceptions is a testimonial to how much teams throw away from him, figuratively and literally. Balls that come his way are uncatchable for even the receiver. Deon Beasley is an ex-QB-WR who has the most experience out of the rest, so he is the by-default starter for now. Muschamp told Beasley he won’t play as much unless he becomes more aggressive, a real testimonial for the new DC’s intensity and style across the board. Many now feel Beasley is the top corner since he was pushed this way. But the name most keep saying is Chykie Brown at practices. No, not last years No.2 corner prospect Curtis Brown…Chykie. Chykie’s size-speed combo and playing style have fit perfectly into Muschamp’s wheelhouse of intensity and fun, so he is going to get his shot, as will Curtis (no relation to Chykie or Mack). Wells and Scott are the latest additions to the DB stall, and these Horns all have the chops to play well (one-on-one, if needed). Ishie Oduegwu is the lone experienced backup to return for the safety vacancies, but that is a cause for concern. This guy had his troubles in ’07 as a backup, so his presence is reminiscent of the failures; that will have him on the bubble from the start. Christian Scott (not the world class trumpeter) is a fresh face, and the former two-way star/ex-sprinter/ex-high (and triple) jumper showed his wares as an Army All-American. He has the smarts to excel here, as does Ben Wells (sizable enough to fit at safety?) Anyone can see the talent that is to fill in the blanks; it will be in honing it that the devil finds details to exploit. The turnover here will pay dividends by mid-season, regardless of whom gets which assignments. That will be guaranteed by the pass rush improving. How many more Thorpe Award winners Akina finds from this group (has fostered three in his career) remains to be seen, but the potential is there. The aggressive nature soon to be seen has the players excited for the results, since they know they will be having more fun playing all-out ball.