2013 Football Previews – Big 12 – Longhorns
Texas’s main advantage this season is being able to feature the most pedigreed, most accurate – and really, just downright best – QB in the Big 12, with junior David Ash. Ash had a poor outing against hated rival Oklahoma (which is mildly concerning) and TCU, but he played against the Horned Frogs while nursing a broken rib.
Big 12 Conference 2013 College Football Previews: Texas Longhorns
Head Coach: Mack Brown
2012 Record: 9-4
Texas Gambling Odds to win BCS Championship: 25/1
Texas Gambling Odds to win Big 12: 3/1
A healthy Ash should be ready to tear up opposing secondaries in 2013. Offensive co-ordinator Major Applewhite – he himself a former Texas pivot – plans to use a no-huddle offense that will push the tempo and keep Ash slinging the ball all over the field.
More good news is that there’s tons of veteran experience returning for 2013. Texas only must replace one starting wideout from last year, and the crucial players on defense also return. Senior WR Mike Davis should play an especially large role in the attack, with his game-breaking speed opening up the offense for a stable of talented runners to work. Running backs Johnathan Gray and Malcolm Brown should both get plenty of carries this season.
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Their job will be made easier with a veteran offensive line blowing open holes; the Horns can start the same five they had in 2012, but also feature massive JUCO transfer Desmond Harrison, who is 6”8, 310 lbs and fleet of foot. Needless to say, the Longhorns should be just fine with their front-line beef. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Longhorns must be concerned about upgrading their defense. UT was miserable on that side of the ball in 2012, finishing 73rd in the nation in scoring defense and 88th at stopping the run. Part of the problems were due to DE Jackson Jeffcoat and LB Jordan Hicks going down with season-ending injuries.
Those two players returning to form will be crucial to defensive improvement in Austin. Fellow linebacker Peter Jinkens also has the opportunity to be very good. Junior CB Quandre Diggs will be important in the secondary, as the ’Horns must replace standout Kenny Vaccaro, who has moved on to the big leagues.
Yet, even with the offensive worries looked after and the hope of some sort of a defensive resurgence, it just feels like there’s something missing from this prestigious, storied program. The days of Vince Young and Colt McCoy grabbing the national spotlight are long gone. One would never even think of this in the past, but it might be time for longtime head coach Mack Brown to ride off into the sunset.
Coach Brown seems to think the program is back where it needs to be, but there have been unhappy boosters and fans in Austin ever since a 5-7 meltdown in 2009. All hope is not lost, however – this is a talented team that can again run with the conference’s elite. It won’t be an easy road.
Texas draws BYU and Ole Miss out of conference and also plays Kansas State, Oklahoma and TCU in the first half of the ’13 season.
2013 Longhorns Schedule
8/31/13 8:00 PM ET NMXST
9/7/13 7:00 PM ET @BYU
9/14/13 8:00 PM ET MISS
9/21/13 TBD KANST
10/3/13 7:30 PM ET @IOWST
10/12/13 TBD OKLA
10/26/13 TBD @TCU
11/2/13 TBD KANS
11/9/13 TBD @WVIRG
11/16/13 TBD OKLST
11/28/13 7:30 PM ET TXTCH
12/7/13 TBD @BAY
