Texas Longhorns 2006 Football Preview:

Too Much for Texas

What can I say? It may be late, but it’s in. This is the final installment of Big 12 previews and I barely got it in before the first week. I’m not proud, but I’m glad it’s over and the season’s starting. What makes me a little happier is it’s starting without Vince Young. Everyone knows about Jevan Snead and Colt McCoy pushing each other for the starting spot (If Mack decides to go with just one, Snead will take it). But does everybody know what else is missing? Absolutely nothing.

Seven starters return on offense and seven on defense. The tandem of Selvin Young and Jamaal Charles won’t have Ramonce Taylor to siphon carries and I don’t think anybody in Austin is too broken up about that. Billy Pittman and Limas Sweed may be the best receivers in the league. Both are lightning quick with hands like flypaper. The unproven but highly touted Jordan Shipley will finally take the field so we can all see what the ruckus is about. Neale Tweedie will start at tight end, but Jermichael Finley will challenge for the spot in time. Both are decimating blockers that can catch the ball and take licks. The offensive line is the deepest in the conference by far. There’s third stringers on this team that would start anywhere else in the country. Kasey Studdard, Justin Blaylock, Lyle Sendlein, Cedric Dockery, Tony Hills, Adam Ulatoski, Dallas Griffin and Chris Hall are all in the rotation and there’s virtually no drop off with any five of them in the game at once. The only piece that’s questionable is at quarterback, which is admittedly, the most important piece. McCoy has more experience, but Snead has shown real talent in summer practices making the decision for Mack Brown tougher every day. He made a complete mess of things with indecision at quarterback between Chris Simms and Major Applewhite, and Texas fans can only hope he’ll go with one and stick with it.

On defense, it’s a mirror of last year. Tim Crowder, Brian Orakpo, Brian Robison and Aaron Lewis will lead the charge from defensive end. All four get playing time and all four are stars. Anybody see a recurring theme here? The tackle positions will be manned by Frank Okam, Roy Miller and Derek Lokey. Lokey has the type of agility and speed that qualifies him for fullback in some situations—seriously. Rashad Bobino will move from weakside to middle linebacker with Robert Killebrew and Drew Kelson at the strong and weak spots, respectively. There’s not even a dropoff in the secondary. Michael Griffin and Marcus Griffin, yes they are brothers, will man the safety positions. Tarell Brown and Aaron Ross will line up at corner and no doubt give offensive coordinators fits as both are just as proficient in stopping the run as they are halting the pass.

Looking at this team’s potential, they may actually be a better team than they were last year. They have the same type of schedule, with the exception of the twelfth game where they’ll be facing off against Sam Houston State. They get Ohio State at home, which wil likely eliminate one team from the national title game, and they’ll face Oklahoma to likely determine who’ll take the South. Beyond that, the home schedule is light with Iowa State, Baylor, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M. The road schedule is involves trips to Nebraska, Manhattan and Lubbock. There’s not a single game the Longhorns shouldn’t win, but with a bull’s eye on their back the size of the state in which they reside, I doubt they’ll repeat as division champs, much less the conference or national variety. There’s simply too much to overcome and they really lack that leader—the one player that can elevate others and take the reins. Players like that are few and far between and the only one in Texas is in Tennessee.