College Football Nation: Chykie Brown
Texas is easily the wildest card in the Big 12 deck this season, but how do you see the Longhorns faring in 2010?
The defense returns six starters, and is the strength of the team, despite losing Chykie Brown, Curtis Brown and Aaron Williams to the NFL. The team's safeties, Kenny Vaccaro, Christian Scott and Blake Gideon are solid, though Scott will be sidelined the first three games because of a suspension.
Offensively, well, the Longhorns have a lot to prove. They're the only Big 12 team left that doesn't know its starting quarterback for the opening weekend. Eight starters from last year's offense return, but some of the team's biggest hype is coming from players new to campus.
Running back Malcolm Brown and receiver Jaxon Shipley showed up to campus this summer, but quarterback David Ash impressed coaches after enrolling early this spring.
The offensive line will have to be better, especially if any of those three will have success. Shipley should add some solid playmaking ability to a receiving corps depleted with the losses of Marquise Goodwin (Olympic track qualifying) and Malcolm Williams (personal issues), who won't be with the team this year. Mike Davis will likely be the team's go-to receiver, at least to start the season.
So how do the Longhorns stack up?
We'll move on to the cornerbacks today in our position rankings across the Big 12.
Here's what we've covered so far:
This group? Well, it's not very good. And considering the crazy depth in the Big 12 at receiver, it could be a long season for cornerbacks in this league. I love the upside of many of the Big 12 corners -- namely the guys at Missouri and Texas Tech (especially working with Chad Glasgow's 4-2-5 in Lubbock). Texas could also develop fast in its new defense, but outside of Texas A&M and Oklahoma, I don't see any Big 12 teams that should be completely comfortable with their cornerbacks.
Of course, for fans who love points, this could be a welcome development. For secondary coaches and defensive coordinators? Not so much.
1. Oklahoma -- Jamell Fleming is the Big 12's top returner at the position and gives the Sooners a huge boost after being reinstated last week. Fleming had withdrawn from the university because of academic problems following the season. Aaron Colvin moved to safety during the offseason, but Fleming will still have to beat out Gabe Lynn in fall camp to start opposite Demontre Hurst. Julian Wilson also adds depth.
2. Texas A&M -- Fleming's return pushed the Sooners over A&M as having the Big 12's best group of corners. But Coryell Judie and Terrence Frederick could both challenge for first team All-Big 12 honors at the position. They are ahead of reserves Dustin Harris and Lionel Smith, who will get plenty of time on the field.
3. Missouri -- Missouri loses starters Carl Gettis and Kevin Rutland, but the coaches consider Kip Edwards a returning starter because of how much he played last season. Edwards could join E.J. Gaines in eventually becoming better than both Gettis and Rutland. Trey Hobson and Robert Steeples will get time in the rotation, too.
4. Oklahoma State -- OSU has to replace the Big 12's interception leader Andrew McGee , but Brodrick Brown's development should continue. He's likely a dark horse to earn first-team All-Big 12 honors after the season. The Cowboys didn't release a post-spring depth chart, but don't be surprised if return specialist Justin Gilbert edges out Devin Hedgepeth for the starting spot before the opener. Andrae May has earned playing time on special teams in both of his first two seasons on campus, but could be counted on for a much bigger role this year as the fourth corner.
5. Texas -- The Longhorns are fairly decimated at corner after losing three to the NFL in one offseason. Curtis and Chykie Brown joined Aaron Williams for one of the most talented sets of corners we've seen in this league, but now, secondary coach Duane Akina will have to replace them. Texas' depth chart is still as in flux as any in college football, but I'd be surprised if Carrington Byndom didn't emerge with a starting spot. True freshman Quandre Diggs might swipe the other, but Eryon Barnett and A.J. White will be on the field, too.
6. Texas Tech -- The Red Raiders are likely to ascend this list by season's end, but for now, find themselves at No. 6. Injuries were costly for the defense last season, but Tre Porter and Derrick Mays should be much better, and Tech fans can be encouraged by the upside in Jarvis Phillips, Jeremy Reynolds and Eugene Neboh.
7. Iowa State -- This group might be a bit underrated, but with Iowa State's defensive problems last season, it's a bit hard to tell. Jeremy Reeves and Leonard Johnson return with loads of experience, and Anthony Young is a great additional piece as the third corner. Matthew Thomas should be in the rotation, too.
8. Baylor -- The Bears return both starters. Chance Casey has 15 career starts to Tyler Stephenson's four, but the Bears secondary struggled last season, especially the corners. Tuswani Copeland should be on the field, and Romie Blaylock offers some experience as a senior under new coordinator Phil Bennett, whose work is cut out for him at this spot.
9. Kansas -- Kansas loses Chris Harris from last season's team, but Isiah Barfield is a playmaker at the position. Greg Brown, Tyler Patmon and Anthony Davis fill out the group.
10. Kansas State -- The Wildcats have a huge talent in David Garrett, who led the team in tackles last season and was the nation's leader in tackles for loss, but he's still just one player at a position that needs lots of depth in this league. Also, his coverage leaves a bit to be desired. For now, K-State doesn't look like it has that necessary depth. Terrance Sweeney and Stephen Harrison are gone, but the Wildcats need to find more talents at the position in fall camp. Watch for Thomas Ferguson to emerge as the other starter.
Here's what we've covered so far:
This group? Well, it's not very good. And considering the crazy depth in the Big 12 at receiver, it could be a long season for cornerbacks in this league. I love the upside of many of the Big 12 corners -- namely the guys at Missouri and Texas Tech (especially working with Chad Glasgow's 4-2-5 in Lubbock). Texas could also develop fast in its new defense, but outside of Texas A&M and Oklahoma, I don't see any Big 12 teams that should be completely comfortable with their cornerbacks.
Of course, for fans who love points, this could be a welcome development. For secondary coaches and defensive coordinators? Not so much.
[+] Enlarge
Mark J. Rebilas/US PresswireJamell Fleming returns as the Big 12's top cornerback.
Mark J. Rebilas/US PresswireJamell Fleming returns as the Big 12's top cornerback.2. Texas A&M -- Fleming's return pushed the Sooners over A&M as having the Big 12's best group of corners. But Coryell Judie and Terrence Frederick could both challenge for first team All-Big 12 honors at the position. They are ahead of reserves Dustin Harris and Lionel Smith, who will get plenty of time on the field.
3. Missouri -- Missouri loses starters Carl Gettis and Kevin Rutland, but the coaches consider Kip Edwards a returning starter because of how much he played last season. Edwards could join E.J. Gaines in eventually becoming better than both Gettis and Rutland. Trey Hobson and Robert Steeples will get time in the rotation, too.
4. Oklahoma State -- OSU has to replace the Big 12's interception leader Andrew McGee , but Brodrick Brown's development should continue. He's likely a dark horse to earn first-team All-Big 12 honors after the season. The Cowboys didn't release a post-spring depth chart, but don't be surprised if return specialist Justin Gilbert edges out Devin Hedgepeth for the starting spot before the opener. Andrae May has earned playing time on special teams in both of his first two seasons on campus, but could be counted on for a much bigger role this year as the fourth corner.
5. Texas -- The Longhorns are fairly decimated at corner after losing three to the NFL in one offseason. Curtis and Chykie Brown joined Aaron Williams for one of the most talented sets of corners we've seen in this league, but now, secondary coach Duane Akina will have to replace them. Texas' depth chart is still as in flux as any in college football, but I'd be surprised if Carrington Byndom didn't emerge with a starting spot. True freshman Quandre Diggs might swipe the other, but Eryon Barnett and A.J. White will be on the field, too.
6. Texas Tech -- The Red Raiders are likely to ascend this list by season's end, but for now, find themselves at No. 6. Injuries were costly for the defense last season, but Tre Porter and Derrick Mays should be much better, and Tech fans can be encouraged by the upside in Jarvis Phillips, Jeremy Reynolds and Eugene Neboh.
7. Iowa State -- This group might be a bit underrated, but with Iowa State's defensive problems last season, it's a bit hard to tell. Jeremy Reeves and Leonard Johnson return with loads of experience, and Anthony Young is a great additional piece as the third corner. Matthew Thomas should be in the rotation, too.
8. Baylor -- The Bears return both starters. Chance Casey has 15 career starts to Tyler Stephenson's four, but the Bears secondary struggled last season, especially the corners. Tuswani Copeland should be on the field, and Romie Blaylock offers some experience as a senior under new coordinator Phil Bennett, whose work is cut out for him at this spot.
9. Kansas -- Kansas loses Chris Harris from last season's team, but Isiah Barfield is a playmaker at the position. Greg Brown, Tyler Patmon and Anthony Davis fill out the group.
10. Kansas State -- The Wildcats have a huge talent in David Garrett, who led the team in tackles last season and was the nation's leader in tackles for loss, but he's still just one player at a position that needs lots of depth in this league. Also, his coverage leaves a bit to be desired. For now, K-State doesn't look like it has that necessary depth. Terrance Sweeney and Stephen Harrison are gone, but the Wildcats need to find more talents at the position in fall camp. Watch for Thomas Ferguson to emerge as the other starter.
TEXAS LONGHORNS
The class
Signees: 22 (four enrolled early)
Top prospects: Running back Malcolm Brown is the big headliner, the nation's No. 2 running back and No. 7 overall prospect. Cornerback Quandre Diggs gives the Longhorns the nation's top corner and No. 21 overall prospect. Defensive tackle Desmond Jackson and linebacker Steve Edmond are also two of the nation's best at their positions. Josh Turner, Sedrick Flowers and Leroy Scott give the Longhorns seven ESPNU 150 commits.
Needs met: Texas isn't starved for talent at any position. Its biggest problem in 2010 was a lack of talent at the skill positions, so it needs to find some solutions there, be it from talent already on campus or with incoming recruits. Brown gives the Longhorns a running back with their two other backs, Fozzy Whittaker and Cody Johnson, set to be seniors in 2011. Diggs and Scott also give them depth at cornerback, where Aaron Williams, Curtis Brown and Chykie Brown left openings.
Analysis: Part of me feels bad for Malcolm Brown. There might not be another player in the country with more expectations in his first year on campus, and that's not necessarily fair. Brown seems like he's embraced them, and hasn't wavered much since committing to the Longhorns in August. Texas couldn't run the ball in 2010. Brown is expected to help them do it in 2011. I just hope fans realize that offensive lines have just a little bit to do with that, too. The Longhorns did what they usually do, and hauled in the best recruiting class in the Big 12, narrowly beating out Oklahoma. They got a nice balance of offensive and defensive talents, but most other recruits will offer depth early on in their careers. Also, I wouldn't put much stock into Texas' drop from No. 1 to No. 5 nationally in the recruiting rankings. They lost just one recruit (granted, it was their top recruit, offensive tackle Christian Westerman of Arizona, who signed with Auburn) after replacing six assistants and Texas already had 22 commits in late June. The drop was precipitated by SEC teams Alabama and Auburn and USC gaining late signees from uncommitted prospects.
ESPN recruiting grade: A
AUSTIN, Texas -- Both teams have arrived, and it should be a beautiful night for football. It's a little windy, hovering around 60 degrees and prepared to drop below 50 as the sun sets well before the 8 p.m. ET kickoff.
Both teams have arrived, and a few Texas players have made their way on the field for warm-ups.
One player who hasn't is Texas receiver Marquise Goodwin. He'll be out tonight to attend his grandmother's funeral in Lubbock.
That means Garrett Gilbert is down one of his targets, and Goodwin is third on the team with 28 receptions. The Longhorns will have to put points on the board to beat No. 10 Oklahoma State, the No. 3 scoring offense in the country, which is something they haven't done much this year.
For Texas to pull the upset in this one, top receivers Mike Davis and James Kirkendoll will need big days. That, or Texas can control the time of possession with a ball-control running attack like it showed at Nebraska in an upset this season.
Either way, look for Gilbert to try and make a few plays with his feet at some point tonight, especially after struggling last week in a loss to Kansas State that featured five interceptions from the sophomore first-year starter.
Goodwin's absence only adds to Texas' missing numbers heading into tonight's game. The Longhorns lost cornerback Chykie Brown for the season last week, and will be without offensive linemen Michael Huey and Kyle Hix for tonight's game.
Both teams have arrived, and a few Texas players have made their way on the field for warm-ups.
One player who hasn't is Texas receiver Marquise Goodwin. He'll be out tonight to attend his grandmother's funeral in Lubbock.
That means Garrett Gilbert is down one of his targets, and Goodwin is third on the team with 28 receptions. The Longhorns will have to put points on the board to beat No. 10 Oklahoma State, the No. 3 scoring offense in the country, which is something they haven't done much this year.
For Texas to pull the upset in this one, top receivers Mike Davis and James Kirkendoll will need big days. That, or Texas can control the time of possession with a ball-control running attack like it showed at Nebraska in an upset this season.
Either way, look for Gilbert to try and make a few plays with his feet at some point tonight, especially after struggling last week in a loss to Kansas State that featured five interceptions from the sophomore first-year starter.
Goodwin's absence only adds to Texas' missing numbers heading into tonight's game. The Longhorns lost cornerback Chykie Brown for the season last week, and will be without offensive linemen Michael Huey and Kyle Hix for tonight's game.
What to watch in the Big 12: Week 11
November, 11, 2010
11/11/10
10:15
AM ET
By
David Ubben | ESPN.com
1. Colorado. What can we expect from this team under Brian Cabral? There's probably equal opportunity that Colorado looks better than ever and is renewed and ready to steal a game or two down the stretch, or that it completely collapses. We'll get a good idea of which after the Buffs' game against Iowa State at home, a very winnable game for a squad that is 0-5 in conference.
2. Justin Blackmon vs. Aaron Williams. Williams headlines a talented Texas secondary that limited Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles to five catches and 36 yards with lots of bracket coverage. Chykie Brown (broken arm) is out for the season, meaning Williams will move from nickelback to corner, and should get some one-on-one time against Blackmon, who beat Nebraska's Prince Amukamara for five receptions, 157 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Who wins this showdown in the secondary?
3. Texas' quarterbacks. Garrett Gilbert struggled through five interceptions and was nearly benched last week in a loss to Kansas State. If he finds early trouble against Oklahoma State, will Case McCoy, the younger brother of Colt McCoy, get his first meaningful action?
4. Turner Gill. Gill has downplayed his return to Lincoln, where he coached and played under mentor Tom Osborne, this week. Will he have any thoughts or reflections to share after what could be the first and last time he brings his team to Nebraska as a head coach?
5. Blaine Gabbert. Gabbert has had two of his worst games after one of his best -- a win over Oklahoma three weeks ago. Last week, he completed just 40 percent of his passes for just 95 yards against the No. 119 pass defense in the country. Kansas State's pass defense is average, but if Gabbert struggles as badly as he did last week, Missouri's in line for a third consecutive loss.
6. The Wrecking Crew? Texas A&M left the field last week to chants of "Wrecking Crew" after an upset of Oklahoma that featured three goal-line stops. They'll need another high-level performance against a great offense at Baylor in the Battle of the Brazos. Can Tim DeRuyter's crew validate the hype?
7. Robert Griffin III. Even a great performance from Griffin wouldn't have been enough to outscore Oklahoma State last week, but the Baylor quarterback wasn't at his best against the Cowboys. He'll need to rebound this week and connect on deep passes to Kendall Wright and Josh Gordon that he missed last week if the Bears want to upset Texas A&M at home.
8. Paul Rhoads' headset. Rhoads made a brave call by attempting a fake extra in trying to beat Nebraska last week. If it's close late, does anyone doubt he'll have something else up is sleeve with bowl eligibility on the line against Colorado in Boulder? The Buffs better watch for well-timed onside kicks and stay home on defense.
9. Taylor Martinez's ankle. Nebraska looked positively average without Martinez last week at Iowa State, but he should be ready to play against Kansas this week. An injury that nags Martinez even when he's on the field will be trouble. Even the threat of him running opens up other options for backs Rex Burkhead and Roy Helu Jr. The Huskers should win this one easily, but is Martinez back at 100 percent, and still able to make the plays with his feet he made earlier in the season? The Huskers' Big 12 title hopes depend on it.
10. Oklahoma's offensive line. Bob Stoops was pretty happy with his offense until it got down to the 1-yard line last week and got stuffed. The Sooners left with zero points three times in a loss to Texas A&M. How do the big guys up front do if faced with a similar situation against Texas Tech.
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AP Photo/Ed AndrieskiBrian Cabral makes his debut as interim coach of Colorado on Saturday.
AP Photo/Ed AndrieskiBrian Cabral makes his debut as interim coach of Colorado on Saturday.3. Texas' quarterbacks. Garrett Gilbert struggled through five interceptions and was nearly benched last week in a loss to Kansas State. If he finds early trouble against Oklahoma State, will Case McCoy, the younger brother of Colt McCoy, get his first meaningful action?
4. Turner Gill. Gill has downplayed his return to Lincoln, where he coached and played under mentor Tom Osborne, this week. Will he have any thoughts or reflections to share after what could be the first and last time he brings his team to Nebraska as a head coach?
5. Blaine Gabbert. Gabbert has had two of his worst games after one of his best -- a win over Oklahoma three weeks ago. Last week, he completed just 40 percent of his passes for just 95 yards against the No. 119 pass defense in the country. Kansas State's pass defense is average, but if Gabbert struggles as badly as he did last week, Missouri's in line for a third consecutive loss.
6. The Wrecking Crew? Texas A&M left the field last week to chants of "Wrecking Crew" after an upset of Oklahoma that featured three goal-line stops. They'll need another high-level performance against a great offense at Baylor in the Battle of the Brazos. Can Tim DeRuyter's crew validate the hype?
7. Robert Griffin III. Even a great performance from Griffin wouldn't have been enough to outscore Oklahoma State last week, but the Baylor quarterback wasn't at his best against the Cowboys. He'll need to rebound this week and connect on deep passes to Kendall Wright and Josh Gordon that he missed last week if the Bears want to upset Texas A&M at home.
8. Paul Rhoads' headset. Rhoads made a brave call by attempting a fake extra in trying to beat Nebraska last week. If it's close late, does anyone doubt he'll have something else up is sleeve with bowl eligibility on the line against Colorado in Boulder? The Buffs better watch for well-timed onside kicks and stay home on defense.
9. Taylor Martinez's ankle. Nebraska looked positively average without Martinez last week at Iowa State, but he should be ready to play against Kansas this week. An injury that nags Martinez even when he's on the field will be trouble. Even the threat of him running opens up other options for backs Rex Burkhead and Roy Helu Jr. The Huskers should win this one easily, but is Martinez back at 100 percent, and still able to make the plays with his feet he made earlier in the season? The Huskers' Big 12 title hopes depend on it.
10. Oklahoma's offensive line. Bob Stoops was pretty happy with his offense until it got down to the 1-yard line last week and got stuffed. The Sooners left with zero points three times in a loss to Texas A&M. How do the big guys up front do if faced with a similar situation against Texas Tech.
Broyles vs. Texas D takes center stage
September, 29, 2010
9/29/10
11:31
AM ET
By
David Ubben | ESPN.com
Ryan Broyles hadn't had a chance to scan the résumés of his competition on Saturday. Three Texas defensive backs made the preseason watch list for the Thorpe Award, and all three should have futures in the NFL.
"Hopefully, one day I’ll be playing on Sunday, too," said the Oklahoma receiver, a member of the Biletnikoff Award watch list himself, with a laugh. "I’m looking forward to this challenge and so is this team."
Want to watch a high-stakes matchup in Saturday's Red River Rivalry? Keep an eye on Broyles as he navigates the Texas secondary, featuring three award listers at corner in Aaron Williams, Curtis Brown and Chykie Brown, alongside safeties Christian Scott and Blake Gideon.
"Our coach calls plays and you’ve got to make plays, it doesn’t matter who you’re going against or our team’s going against," Broyles said. "You’ve just got to go out there and compete."
They'll be plenty of competition there against a Texas secondary hungry to make big plays. After intercepting a national high of 25 passes a year ago, it has just three through four games this season. Texas coach Mack Brown chalks that up, in part, to not playing any teams with the explicit goal of throwing against the Longhorns. The one team that tried, Texas Tech, left with 158 yards on 36 attempts with two interceptions. For their lack of interceptions, the Longhorns have given up just three passing touchdowns. Only 10 teams in college football have allowed fewer.
"They’ve done really well," Brown said. "We still have to get our hands on the ball more."
Texas may get plenty of chances on Saturday against Oklahoma, who has thrown the ball at least 36 times in every outing this season. Rest assured, plenty of those will come Broyles' way. He's got at least nine catches in every game this season and he leads the nation in receptions with 41.
"He does such a great job after he catches the ball. He can get open, he’ll catch it, but he’s a guy that can beat you when he gets the ball in his hands," Brown said. "All you can do is try to keep the ball out of his hands because when he gets it, he’s real good."
How to do that is something few have figured out. Broyles has topped 100 yards in each of his past seven games.
"You try to change it up, obviously. But if I knew [how] on Monday, I wouldn’t tell you," Brown said.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops is busy making sure limiting Broyles doesn't mean beating Oklahoma. Broyles played Texas last year two weeks after suffering a hairline fracture in his shoulder blade and wasn't 100 percent. He still managed to catch a short pass, make a defender miss and race into the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown in the second half of Oklahoma's 16-13 loss.
He'll be at full strength this week, but quarterback Landry Jones obviously won't be looking his way every play.
"It isn’t just Ryan. You’re not going to get it done with one guy," Stoops said, complimenting the early play of his other receivers, Cameron Kenney and freshman Kenny Stills, among others. "If each of them makes 2-3 plays, it’s harder to focus on just one guy and we plan to spread it around and use them all."
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Eric GayRyan Broyles will have to contend with Curtis Brown and a talented Texas secondary.
AP Photo/Eric GayRyan Broyles will have to contend with Curtis Brown and a talented Texas secondary.Want to watch a high-stakes matchup in Saturday's Red River Rivalry? Keep an eye on Broyles as he navigates the Texas secondary, featuring three award listers at corner in Aaron Williams, Curtis Brown and Chykie Brown, alongside safeties Christian Scott and Blake Gideon.
"Our coach calls plays and you’ve got to make plays, it doesn’t matter who you’re going against or our team’s going against," Broyles said. "You’ve just got to go out there and compete."
They'll be plenty of competition there against a Texas secondary hungry to make big plays. After intercepting a national high of 25 passes a year ago, it has just three through four games this season. Texas coach Mack Brown chalks that up, in part, to not playing any teams with the explicit goal of throwing against the Longhorns. The one team that tried, Texas Tech, left with 158 yards on 36 attempts with two interceptions. For their lack of interceptions, the Longhorns have given up just three passing touchdowns. Only 10 teams in college football have allowed fewer.
"They’ve done really well," Brown said. "We still have to get our hands on the ball more."
Texas may get plenty of chances on Saturday against Oklahoma, who has thrown the ball at least 36 times in every outing this season. Rest assured, plenty of those will come Broyles' way. He's got at least nine catches in every game this season and he leads the nation in receptions with 41.
"He does such a great job after he catches the ball. He can get open, he’ll catch it, but he’s a guy that can beat you when he gets the ball in his hands," Brown said. "All you can do is try to keep the ball out of his hands because when he gets it, he’s real good."
How to do that is something few have figured out. Broyles has topped 100 yards in each of his past seven games.
"You try to change it up, obviously. But if I knew [how] on Monday, I wouldn’t tell you," Brown said.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops is busy making sure limiting Broyles doesn't mean beating Oklahoma. Broyles played Texas last year two weeks after suffering a hairline fracture in his shoulder blade and wasn't 100 percent. He still managed to catch a short pass, make a defender miss and race into the end zone for a go-ahead touchdown in the second half of Oklahoma's 16-13 loss.
He'll be at full strength this week, but quarterback Landry Jones obviously won't be looking his way every play.
"It isn’t just Ryan. You’re not going to get it done with one guy," Stoops said, complimenting the early play of his other receivers, Cameron Kenney and freshman Kenny Stills, among others. "If each of them makes 2-3 plays, it’s harder to focus on just one guy and we plan to spread it around and use them all."
Texas 34, Rice 17: Not exactly the blowout Texas fans had in mind, but the Longhorns were in control for most of this game. Plenty of eyes were on Texas' three running backs Saturday, as they ran for 171 yards on 42 carries -- a four-yard average. Against Rice, that's not a very encouraging sign.
What is encouraging is Tre' Newton, who after losing the starting job to Cody Johnson, stated his case to earn it back. He was Texas' featured back in the second half, and got more carries than either Johnson or Fozzy Whittaker, running for 61 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries. Deep in Rice territory, Newton got it done. Johnson didn't. The offensive line has a lot of influence on that, but the number of touches in the second half for Newton vs. Johnson is hard to ignore.
An OK, but uninspired, debut for Garrett Gilbert, who completed 14 of 23 passes for 172 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions. Malcolm Williams and Marquise Goodwin had four catches each.
One other note: Texas' defensive backs could have made this win much more lopsided if they had hung on to a few interceptions, but they didn't have much trouble doing it last year, when the Longhorns had 25 picks, five more than any other team in the Big 12. Aaron Williams and Chykie Brown both had a pair of catches they could have come down with, and Brown's would have been an easy touchdown. Saturday was out of character for them.
We didn't learn a ton about Texas, other than the running game needs work. We probably won't learn much about them next week against Wyoming. That probably won't be the case when the Longhorns travel to Lubbock in Week 3.
What is encouraging is Tre' Newton, who after losing the starting job to Cody Johnson, stated his case to earn it back. He was Texas' featured back in the second half, and got more carries than either Johnson or Fozzy Whittaker, running for 61 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries. Deep in Rice territory, Newton got it done. Johnson didn't. The offensive line has a lot of influence on that, but the number of touches in the second half for Newton vs. Johnson is hard to ignore.
An OK, but uninspired, debut for Garrett Gilbert, who completed 14 of 23 passes for 172 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions. Malcolm Williams and Marquise Goodwin had four catches each.
One other note: Texas' defensive backs could have made this win much more lopsided if they had hung on to a few interceptions, but they didn't have much trouble doing it last year, when the Longhorns had 25 picks, five more than any other team in the Big 12. Aaron Williams and Chykie Brown both had a pair of catches they could have come down with, and Brown's would have been an easy touchdown. Saturday was out of character for them.
We didn't learn a ton about Texas, other than the running game needs work. We probably won't learn much about them next week against Wyoming. That probably won't be the case when the Longhorns travel to Lubbock in Week 3.
Huskers, OU top list of elite NFL prospects
August, 19, 2010
8/19/10
3:37
PM ET
By
David Ubben | ESPN.com
Scouts, Inc. has released its list of the top 150 NFL prospects 
for the 2011 draft, and it's got plenty of Big 12 talent from top to bottom. You'll need an Insider account to see the whole list, but here's a bit of how it relates to the Big 12. Three Big 12 teams were among the nation's top 10 in possessing the most players on the list. Here's where they stood: T-3. Nebraska. (6) T-3. Oklahoma (6) T-10. Texas (4) North Carolina and Ohio State topped the list, with seven total prospects in the top 150. But let's take a closer look. Here's a few notes/thoughts.
for the 2011 draft, and it's got plenty of Big 12 talent from top to bottom. You'll need an Insider account to see the whole list, but here's a bit of how it relates to the Big 12. Three Big 12 teams were among the nation's top 10 in possessing the most players on the list. Here's where they stood: T-3. Nebraska. (6) T-3. Oklahoma (6) T-10. Texas (4) North Carolina and Ohio State topped the list, with seven total prospects in the top 150. But let's take a closer look. Here's a few notes/thoughts.
- The Big 12's top overall prospect? Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara, who is the No. 1 cornerback. That echoes what NFL scouts have been saying for the past few months, and it'll be interesting to see the battle between him and Aaron Williams (No. 6 cornerback) as the season moves on. They'll both see plenty of good offenses.[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Nati HarnikPrince Amukamara (21) is the Big 12's top NFL prospect -- and No. 3 overall -- according to Scouts, Inc. - For all the talk about Nebraska's offensive struggles, they placed three players in the top 150, including Mike McNeill, who is ranked as the No. 6 tight end, despite moving to receiver in the spring. Running back Roy Helu Jr. and receiver Niles Paul both rank in the top 150, at No. 12 for their respective positions. That should prove just how important Nebraska's quarterback situation is this year. Clearly, they've got some individual talent at the skill positions and a great offensive line, but without good quarterback play, they might not be much better than they were in 2009. If Zac Lee pulls a Joe Ganz and has a nice senior year, the Huskers are almost assured a finish in the top half of the Big 12 in scoring offense.
- Everyone wants to talk about Texas' defense, the list is a reflection of why. The Longhorns have three cornerbacks (Aaron Williams, Curtis Brown, Chykie Brown) in the top 150 and Williams and Brown are in the top 10 in their position. Sam Acho rounds out Texas' group as the No. 133 best overall prospect and No. 14 defensive end. That ranks as the best DE in the Big 12.
- Surprising that Oklahoma's Quinton Carter is rated as the No. 2 safety and a better projected pro than teammates Jeremy Beal, Ryan Broyles, Adrian Taylor and DeMarco Murray, all in the top 10 at their positions. No other safeties in the Big 12 rank in the top 10, but the next best is Nebraska's Eric Hagg.
- You can see how every prospect at your school is rated by Scouts, Inc. if you have Insider, but here's how the rest of the Big 12 ranked in players who made the top 150. If your school doesn't have a player in the top 150, here's a list of the top prospects for each team in the Big 12 from Mel Kiper.
Miss your team's mailbag? Here's the first two:
On with the show...
Dan St. Peter, Minn. asks: Who do you think has/had more pressure put on them, Freshman Colt McCoy following VY's run into glory or Grapes (GG) following his...um...encounter with the Alabama Defense?Do you think the "lights will be to bright for him" as they were for Nebraska's Cody Green or will he deliver as a freshman?
DU: First off, Grapes is a fantastic nickname. Although, it opens up the Horns to some too-easy jokes every time he gets sacked about what’s eating him. And I can only assume you’d have to pay Johnny Depp some royalties. I’m sure no one wants to get into that.
But to your question: It’s Gilbert. The hopes were high for McCoy, but no one expected him to do what Vince did. Even though he never got that national title, he was arguably as good overall as Vince was, even though they were very different quarterbacks. Now, the folks in Austin have seen that legends can be replaced and that it’s possible for Gilbert to be as good as McCoy—and he might be. No pressure, just replace the quarterback with the most wins in the history of college football.
I don’t think “the lights will be too bright,” but like McCoy in his first year (Ohio State, Texas A&M), Gilbert’s going to have his bad days and forgettable games alongside his memorable ones. But unlike McCoy, he’ll have a top-notch defense to fall back on and help the Longhorns “down year” be pretty high. The Longhorn defense finished 24th nationally in scoring and total defense when McCoy was a freshman. I’d be shocked if Texas was that low this year.
Eric in Dallas, Texas asks: Which running back actually steps up to take some of the load off Gilbert, and will Texas stick with the running game if Gilbert proves he is consistent and reliable?...........Or will Texas ditch running the ball around the UCLA game, only to try and revive it after OU takes a halftime lead in the RRR?
DU: Tre’ Newton and Fozzy Whittaker should receive the bulk of the carries, but I think the distribution will vary game-to-game based solely on who’s being more productive. As for your second question, I think the reverse is more possible. They’ll keep running the ball and I don’t see Texas losing a game until maybe at Texas Tech in the third game but more likely the Red River Rivalry. If they’re down at the half, I could definitely see the running game scrapped and the game put in Gilbert’s hands, depending on how he’d played in the first four games. If he engineers a comeback and beats Oklahoma, thus reincarnating the spread in Austin, well… let the legend begin. He looked really good in the spring game, and I didn't see any real negatives in his Easter performance against his own defense. Obviously, that wasn't the case against Alabama, but he won't see defenses like that every week. We'll probably get a good read of what to expect from him this year by the end of the Texas Tech game.
Bobby in Austin, Texas asks: Why did you not put Texas' three-headed monster on your list?? I mean, Texas has so much talent to be afraid of, it is ridiculous! Garrett Gilbert will be the best QB in the Big 12 this year with all his skill and leadership. He already has 2 Texas state championships to his credit and several Texas high school passing records. Fozzy Whitaker and/or Tre' Newton will have a big year in the new offense with Gilbert being more under center. They are fast and shifty and can make big plays. And Malcolm Williams and Marquise Goodwin will have a party on the field this year at receiver. The size and athleticism of Williams could rival anyone in the conference, while Goodwin is one of the fastest players in the nation and can jump farther than anyone (proven by his national championship in long jump). So what gives?
DU: Who would you kick off my list for a quarterback with zero career starts, two running backs who have never rushed for more than 600 yards in a season and two receivers who have also never touched that mark? Oklahoma State has a couple of those, but they also have a guy without a real ceiling in Kendall Hunter and a chance to put up crazy numbers offensively.
Larry in Salina, Kansas asks: Does Texas pay you weekly or monthly for your services?
DU: Bi-weekly, with per-post bonuses.
Cecil in Plano, Texas asks: Mack Brown and Co. have a lot of work to do this off season and once the season starts. What are the realistic expectations for the 2010 Horns and what will you be looking for in order for them to make a championship run this year or next?
DU: The defense will keep the Longhorns streak of winning 10 games for the past nine seasons alive. How many more they win is up to Gilbert. If he plays well, Texas could go undefeated. The defense won’t be able to beat teams like Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas A&M by itself. If he plays poorly in those games, the defense will need to make a couple big plays or force some timely turnovers to win.
Kevin in Austin, Texas asks: David, love the blog. I have a feeling that the post-Earl Thomas era for UT's secondary is going to be BETTER than last year. I think the added experience of Aaron Williams, Chykie Brown, Curtis Brown and Blake Gideon, in a defense that snatched 17 non-Earl Thomas INTs in 2009, will mature into the scariest secondary in college football. Do you agree and should the rest of the conference decide to focus on the run game versus UT?...(uh oh...Acho brothers....)
DU: I agree completely. Texas should have the best secondary in the nation, and that front seven will help them do it. The Acho brothers, Sam and Emmanuel, LB Keenan Robinson and DT Kheeston Randall will put pressure on passers and keep teams from focusing on the run. The entire defense will have a hand in what should be a good turnover ratio and a great pass defense, but the talent and depth that Texas has on the defense’s back line is unrivaled.
On with the show...
Dan St. Peter, Minn. asks: Who do you think has/had more pressure put on them, Freshman Colt McCoy following VY's run into glory or Grapes (GG) following his...um...encounter with the Alabama Defense?Do you think the "lights will be to bright for him" as they were for Nebraska's Cody Green or will he deliver as a freshman?
DU: First off, Grapes is a fantastic nickname. Although, it opens up the Horns to some too-easy jokes every time he gets sacked about what’s eating him. And I can only assume you’d have to pay Johnny Depp some royalties. I’m sure no one wants to get into that.
But to your question: It’s Gilbert. The hopes were high for McCoy, but no one expected him to do what Vince did. Even though he never got that national title, he was arguably as good overall as Vince was, even though they were very different quarterbacks. Now, the folks in Austin have seen that legends can be replaced and that it’s possible for Gilbert to be as good as McCoy—and he might be. No pressure, just replace the quarterback with the most wins in the history of college football.
I don’t think “the lights will be too bright,” but like McCoy in his first year (Ohio State, Texas A&M), Gilbert’s going to have his bad days and forgettable games alongside his memorable ones. But unlike McCoy, he’ll have a top-notch defense to fall back on and help the Longhorns “down year” be pretty high. The Longhorn defense finished 24th nationally in scoring and total defense when McCoy was a freshman. I’d be shocked if Texas was that low this year.
Eric in Dallas, Texas asks: Which running back actually steps up to take some of the load off Gilbert, and will Texas stick with the running game if Gilbert proves he is consistent and reliable?...........Or will Texas ditch running the ball around the UCLA game, only to try and revive it after OU takes a halftime lead in the RRR?
DU: Tre’ Newton and Fozzy Whittaker should receive the bulk of the carries, but I think the distribution will vary game-to-game based solely on who’s being more productive. As for your second question, I think the reverse is more possible. They’ll keep running the ball and I don’t see Texas losing a game until maybe at Texas Tech in the third game but more likely the Red River Rivalry. If they’re down at the half, I could definitely see the running game scrapped and the game put in Gilbert’s hands, depending on how he’d played in the first four games. If he engineers a comeback and beats Oklahoma, thus reincarnating the spread in Austin, well… let the legend begin. He looked really good in the spring game, and I didn't see any real negatives in his Easter performance against his own defense. Obviously, that wasn't the case against Alabama, but he won't see defenses like that every week. We'll probably get a good read of what to expect from him this year by the end of the Texas Tech game.
Bobby in Austin, Texas asks: Why did you not put Texas' three-headed monster on your list?? I mean, Texas has so much talent to be afraid of, it is ridiculous! Garrett Gilbert will be the best QB in the Big 12 this year with all his skill and leadership. He already has 2 Texas state championships to his credit and several Texas high school passing records. Fozzy Whitaker and/or Tre' Newton will have a big year in the new offense with Gilbert being more under center. They are fast and shifty and can make big plays. And Malcolm Williams and Marquise Goodwin will have a party on the field this year at receiver. The size and athleticism of Williams could rival anyone in the conference, while Goodwin is one of the fastest players in the nation and can jump farther than anyone (proven by his national championship in long jump). So what gives?
DU: Who would you kick off my list for a quarterback with zero career starts, two running backs who have never rushed for more than 600 yards in a season and two receivers who have also never touched that mark? Oklahoma State has a couple of those, but they also have a guy without a real ceiling in Kendall Hunter and a chance to put up crazy numbers offensively.
Larry in Salina, Kansas asks: Does Texas pay you weekly or monthly for your services?
DU: Bi-weekly, with per-post bonuses.
Cecil in Plano, Texas asks: Mack Brown and Co. have a lot of work to do this off season and once the season starts. What are the realistic expectations for the 2010 Horns and what will you be looking for in order for them to make a championship run this year or next?
DU: The defense will keep the Longhorns streak of winning 10 games for the past nine seasons alive. How many more they win is up to Gilbert. If he plays well, Texas could go undefeated. The defense won’t be able to beat teams like Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas A&M by itself. If he plays poorly in those games, the defense will need to make a couple big plays or force some timely turnovers to win.
Kevin in Austin, Texas asks: David, love the blog. I have a feeling that the post-Earl Thomas era for UT's secondary is going to be BETTER than last year. I think the added experience of Aaron Williams, Chykie Brown, Curtis Brown and Blake Gideon, in a defense that snatched 17 non-Earl Thomas INTs in 2009, will mature into the scariest secondary in college football. Do you agree and should the rest of the conference decide to focus on the run game versus UT?...(uh oh...Acho brothers....)
DU: I agree completely. Texas should have the best secondary in the nation, and that front seven will help them do it. The Acho brothers, Sam and Emmanuel, LB Keenan Robinson and DT Kheeston Randall will put pressure on passers and keep teams from focusing on the run. The entire defense will have a hand in what should be a good turnover ratio and a great pass defense, but the talent and depth that Texas has on the defense’s back line is unrivaled.
AUSTIN, Texas -- Mack Brown knows what an NFL defensive back looks like. He's coached plenty. From Michael Huff and Cedric Griffin in 2006, to Michael Griffin and Aaron Ross in 2007 to Earl Thomas in 2009; the Longhorns' secondary has been home to a handful of early draft picks in just the last few years.
That hasn't kept Brown from heaping praise on his 2010 defensive backfield.
"We feel like we’re as good at corner right now, potentially, as we’ve ever been," Brown said.
His three reasons for smiling at the thought of that potential are Curtis and Chykie Brown, along with Aaron Williams.
"We’re really fortunate right now," Brown said. "All three are potential NFL guys to me."
That means trouble for Big 12 quarterbacks. Though Texas loses Thomas, a safety and finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back, the Big 12's second-best pass defense a season ago plans to challenge for the top spot in 2010. If Brown's senses are correct, they should be able to do it, and improve on their NO. 19 national ranking at defending the pass.
"We’re more comfortable with [defensive coordinator Will] Muschamp’s scheme; I know I am," Williams said. "A lot of guys are returning guys who are coming back and are more knowledgeable about what he wants to do."
Blake Gideon returns at safety, and Kenny Vaccaro and Nolan Brewster will compete for Thomas' freed-up spot.
"We had high expectations last year, but we’re probably going to have more expectations this year," Williams said. "Our goal right now is to be physical, we’re trying to be one of the most physical DB corps in the nation."
In the Texas spring game to close practice on Sunday, Williams and Vaccaro took steps to establishing that identity. Williams broke up a deep pass early by going over the intended receiver to swat the ball away. Vaccaro unleashed the biggest hit of the exhibition on running back Tre Newton, driving through his teammate on a short pass in the flats.
"We don’t want a team to be like 'Okay, well he’s that one physical person.' We want a team to be like 'Whoa, we’ve got that team coming through,'" Williams said. "As a team, we want to be more physical."
But even in praising them, in the same breath, their coach can't help but think like a coach.
"We’re really pleased with those corners, we just have to find the younger ones, because two of those are seniors and they’ll be gone," Brown said.
Not to mention Williams, a junior who enters 2010 with a legitimate case as the Big 12's top defender and whose future could includes an early entry into the 2011 NFL draft. That would leave Brown without any of his three future pro corners. But he's already picked out a few successors, including A.J. White and Eryon Barnett.
"We’ve got to find somebody to step up," Brown said.
That hasn't kept Brown from heaping praise on his 2010 defensive backfield.
"We feel like we’re as good at corner right now, potentially, as we’ve ever been," Brown said.
[+] Enlarge
Brett Davis/US PresswireTexas cornerback Aaron Williams had three interceptions last season, including this one in the Big 12 title game.
Brett Davis/US PresswireTexas cornerback Aaron Williams had three interceptions last season, including this one in the Big 12 title game."We’re really fortunate right now," Brown said. "All three are potential NFL guys to me."
That means trouble for Big 12 quarterbacks. Though Texas loses Thomas, a safety and finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back, the Big 12's second-best pass defense a season ago plans to challenge for the top spot in 2010. If Brown's senses are correct, they should be able to do it, and improve on their NO. 19 national ranking at defending the pass.
"We’re more comfortable with [defensive coordinator Will] Muschamp’s scheme; I know I am," Williams said. "A lot of guys are returning guys who are coming back and are more knowledgeable about what he wants to do."
Blake Gideon returns at safety, and Kenny Vaccaro and Nolan Brewster will compete for Thomas' freed-up spot.
"We had high expectations last year, but we’re probably going to have more expectations this year," Williams said. "Our goal right now is to be physical, we’re trying to be one of the most physical DB corps in the nation."
In the Texas spring game to close practice on Sunday, Williams and Vaccaro took steps to establishing that identity. Williams broke up a deep pass early by going over the intended receiver to swat the ball away. Vaccaro unleashed the biggest hit of the exhibition on running back Tre Newton, driving through his teammate on a short pass in the flats.
"We don’t want a team to be like 'Okay, well he’s that one physical person.' We want a team to be like 'Whoa, we’ve got that team coming through,'" Williams said. "As a team, we want to be more physical."
But even in praising them, in the same breath, their coach can't help but think like a coach.
"We’re really pleased with those corners, we just have to find the younger ones, because two of those are seniors and they’ll be gone," Brown said.
Not to mention Williams, a junior who enters 2010 with a legitimate case as the Big 12's top defender and whose future could includes an early entry into the 2011 NFL draft. That would leave Brown without any of his three future pro corners. But he's already picked out a few successors, including A.J. White and Eryon Barnett.
"We’ve got to find somebody to step up," Brown said.
Paul punt return leads to Nebraska FG
December, 5, 2009
12/05/09
11:11
PM ET
By Tim Griffin | ESPN.com
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Nebraska impotent offense needed a big play on special teams to crawl back into the game.
Niles Paul provided a 42-yard punt return to the Texas 10.
But Nebraska couldn't produce on its first three plays in the red zone tonight as Chykie Brown defensed a pass intended for Brandon Kinnie in the Texas end zone.
Alex Henery provided a 28-yard field goal to pull within 10-9 with 11:34 left.
Nebraska got a huge break on the ensuing kickoff when Marquise Goodwin slipped at the Texas 1.
Colt McCoy will be facing a huge disadvantage in field position. The Longhorns need a couple of first downs to extricate themselves from the shadow of their own end zone.
Niles Paul provided a 42-yard punt return to the Texas 10.
But Nebraska couldn't produce on its first three plays in the red zone tonight as Chykie Brown defensed a pass intended for Brandon Kinnie in the Texas end zone.
Alex Henery provided a 28-yard field goal to pull within 10-9 with 11:34 left.
Nebraska got a huge break on the ensuing kickoff when Marquise Goodwin slipped at the Texas 1.
Colt McCoy will be facing a huge disadvantage in field position. The Longhorns need a couple of first downs to extricate themselves from the shadow of their own end zone.
Long strike boosts Aggies to early lead
November, 26, 2009
11/26/09
8:17
PM ET
By Tim Griffin | ESPN.com
COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&M needed to jump on Texas early to gain some confidence and get the large Kyle Field crowd involved.
The Aggies did just that as Jerrod Johnson hit Jeff Fuller with a perfectly executed pass that went for a 70-yard touchdown, giving A&M an early 7-0 lead.
Fuller got behind Texas cornerback Chykie Brown, who thought he had deep help from a safety on the play.
Nothing materialized and Fuller scored easily.
It's exactly the kind of start Mike Sherman and the Aggies wanted.
The Aggies did just that as Jerrod Johnson hit Jeff Fuller with a perfectly executed pass that went for a 70-yard touchdown, giving A&M an early 7-0 lead.
Fuller got behind Texas cornerback Chykie Brown, who thought he had deep help from a safety on the play.
Nothing materialized and Fuller scored easily.
It's exactly the kind of start Mike Sherman and the Aggies wanted.
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin
As Texas streaks to its second 9-0 start since 1983, it’s understandable that some are already comparing this year’s team to the other team that started that fast.
Texas’ 2005 national championship team is the benchmark for all of the other Texas teams coached by Mack Brown. And this team appears to be the closest to the national championship squad in many respects.
While Brown says such comparisons are premature, he does say his current team’s fast start makes for some inevitable comparisons.
“I would think you could compare them because there’s been only one close game for this team and for that team in 2005,” Brown said. “It was the Ohio State game in 2005 and the Oklahoma game this year that was in question late in the ballgame.”
But in order to meet the challenge of matching the 2005 team, Colt McCoy’s team will have to match the finishing kick of Vince Young’s team.
“At this time, they’ve earned the right to be in conversation with the 2005 team,” Brown said. “But they haven’t earned the right to be considered as good because they have to finish like that bunch did.”
The 2005 national championship led the conference in 11 statistical categories; the current team leads it in five. The 2005 team was the nation’s leading scoring team and led the nation in pass efficiency. The current team is more defensively oriented as it leads the nation in rushing defense and scoring defense and ranks second in kickoff returns.
The 2005 title team ranked 10th or better in 10 of the 17 team statistical categories tracked by the NCAA. The 2009 team ranked 10th or better in eight of those team statistical groups.
Here's a position-by-position comparison of the two teams:
Quarterbacks: Both teams featured quarterbacks who were involved in the Heisman Trophy race. The 2005 team had Vince Young, a multi-purpose player who accounted for 3,036 passing yards and 26 touchdown passes. Most importantly, he provided leadership for a team that had never won a Big 12 title under Brown. McCoy redshirted on that team, earning the opportunity to soak up lessons watching Young’s leadership. He’s capping the most productive statistical career for a Texas quarterback by passing for 2,447 yards and 17 touchdowns with at least three games remaining -- not counting a potential Big 12 championship game and a bowl. And his leadership skills are comparable with Young’s in guiding his team to an undefeated season so far.
Edge: Even
Rushing game: The 2005 team relied on Young, who rushed for a team-high 1,050 yards and scored 12 touchdowns and also had a strong starter in Jamaal Charles and an outstanding change-of-pace player in Ramonce Taylor. That team produced 55 rushing touchdowns and had five different backs with eight rushing touchdowns or more. The current team’s rushing game might be its major weakness without a featured rushing threat, as no current back has rushed for more than 275 yards. Depending on game situations, the team has utilized any of three starters, but its most consistent producer has been Cody Johnson, who will become its fourth starter this week against Baylor.
Edge: 2005 Texas
Receivers/Tight end: The 2005 team had a stacked collection of receivers led by top deep threat Billy Pittman and Limas Sweed. But the most consistent receiving threat for Young was tight end David Thomas, who produced 50 receptions, including a career-best 10 in the BCS title game victory over USC. But that team had no receiving threat to match Jordan Shipley, who has already produced 75 catches, four double-figure reception games and broken the school single-game receiving yardage record. Dan Buckner developed early into a receiving threat at flex end and Malcolm Williams, James Kirkendoll and John Chiles all have been strong in an offense that has lived by short passes. But Shipley has been the focal point of a passing game that features short, quick passes as its primary offensive weapon.
Edge: 2009 Texas
Offensive line: The 2005 team featured three-first team All-Big 12 picks in Justin Blalock, Jonathan Scott and Will Allen. Because of Young's mobility, that team allowed only 14 sacks and produced 5.9 yards per carry and 55 rushing touchdowns. The current team is nearly as strong with key players like Adam Ulatoski, Charlie Tanner and Chris Hall, who have currently combined for 99 career starts and should be peaking as the season continues. The current team is producing 3.9 yards per carry, 16 sacks and 20 rushing touchdowns.
Edge: 2005 Texas
Defensive line: The 2005 team featured first-team All-Big 12 players like Rodrique Wright and Tim Crowder and pass-rushing specialist Brian Robison, a converted linebacker who led the team with sacks. But that team didn’t feature anybody as proficient as Sergio Kindle or a run-stuffing tackle like Lamarr Houston. It’s the main reason the current Texas team leads the nation in rush defense (55.33 yards per game), total defense (230.78 yards per game) and ranks in the top 20 in both sacks and tackles for losses. The 2005 team was 39th nationally in sacks and 29th in tackles for losses.
Edge: 2009 Texas
Linebackers: The 2005 unit was at its weakest at linebacker where no players earned All-Big 12 first-team or second-team designation. Robert Killebrew was that team’s only player to earn honorable mention. The current team features an anchor in the middle in senior linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy, flanked by Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho. Will Muschamp’s unit seldom uses three linebackers except in run-stuffing situations, preferring to use a nickel formation. But his current group still has the edge at linebacker over the championship team.
Edge: 2009 Texas
Secondary: The 2005 team might be one of the great college units of all time. That team featured the Thorpe Award winner in Michael Huff and another all-league player in Cedric Griffin. Huff, Cedric Griffin, Michael Griffin, Aaron Ross and Tarell Brown all were drafted in the NFL and had eventual pro careers. The unit was nearly impermeable as it broke up 85 passes and permitted only two teams to pass for more than 200 yards against them. The current group is young and skilled and might develop into as strong of a group with experience.
Earl Thomas has played like the best defensive back in the country this season with six interceptions, including two touchdown returns. Curtis Brown, Chykie Brown, Aaron Williams and Blake Gideon have already helped the defense combine for 16 interceptions. And the group is playing with swagger as the season continues.
The current group could match the eventual production of the 2005 team, but it still has to get there.
Edge: 2005 Texas
Special teams: Neither team had to punt very often, but Hunter Lawrence has a narrow edge over David Pino at kicker for his consistency and range. The biggest difference is in the return game. The current team features two threats with D.J. Monroe (two TDs, 36.5 yards kick return average) and Shipley (14.5 punt return average, two TDs), giving it an edge over Ramonce Taylor and Aaron Ross (14.7 punt return average, two TDs).
Edge: 2009 Texas
Coaching: With largely the same cast of coaches, the 2009 team appears to be better coached. In 2005, Brown was trying for his first Big 12 title and utilized defensive co-coordinators with Gene Chizik and Duane Akina. It often seemed that the individual talents of Young took over the game during that championship season. But this team features a better job by Greg Davis as he compensates for his team’s lack of a consistent running game by developing a crafty passing game utilizing quick short passes. And the defense has taken big steps this season in its second season under Muschamp.
Edge:2009 Texas
Intangibles: The 2005 team was trying to become Brown’s first Big 12 title team and played well throughout. It started with a dramatic comeback victory over Ohio State and continued with a run through the Big 12 that featured no victory less than 19 points. The 2005 team needed a comeback over Oklahoma State, but Young helped the team peak as the Longhorns scored at least 40 points in 12 games. The team rolled to victories of 62, 52 and 11 points in November before notching a record-breaking 70-3 triumph over Colorado in the Big 12 title game and the 41-38 BCS title game victory over USC.
This team hasn’t faced many tests, although it did handle Oklahoma in a 16-13 triumph that ranks as its closest margin. Other than that game, the 2009 Longhorns have rolled up at least 34 points in every game and allowed more than 20 points on only two occasions. But it still has its chance to finish strongly in November like the 2005 team did.
Edge: 2005 Texas
If they met: The 2005 team still would merit a slight edge, mainly because this team doesn’t have a transcendent talent like Young. But the current team is developing and could have a chance to match the championship with a strong finish.
Edge: 2005 Texas
As Texas streaks to its second 9-0 start since 1983, it’s understandable that some are already comparing this year’s team to the other team that started that fast.
Texas’ 2005 national championship team is the benchmark for all of the other Texas teams coached by Mack Brown. And this team appears to be the closest to the national championship squad in many respects.
While Brown says such comparisons are premature, he does say his current team’s fast start makes for some inevitable comparisons.
 | |
| Brendan Maloney/US Presswire | |
| Colt McCoy and the Longhorns have drawn comparisons to the 2005 national championship team. |
“I would think you could compare them because there’s been only one close game for this team and for that team in 2005,” Brown said. “It was the Ohio State game in 2005 and the Oklahoma game this year that was in question late in the ballgame.”
But in order to meet the challenge of matching the 2005 team, Colt McCoy’s team will have to match the finishing kick of Vince Young’s team.
“At this time, they’ve earned the right to be in conversation with the 2005 team,” Brown said. “But they haven’t earned the right to be considered as good because they have to finish like that bunch did.”
The 2005 national championship led the conference in 11 statistical categories; the current team leads it in five. The 2005 team was the nation’s leading scoring team and led the nation in pass efficiency. The current team is more defensively oriented as it leads the nation in rushing defense and scoring defense and ranks second in kickoff returns.
The 2005 title team ranked 10th or better in 10 of the 17 team statistical categories tracked by the NCAA. The 2009 team ranked 10th or better in eight of those team statistical groups.
Here's a position-by-position comparison of the two teams:
Quarterbacks: Both teams featured quarterbacks who were involved in the Heisman Trophy race. The 2005 team had Vince Young, a multi-purpose player who accounted for 3,036 passing yards and 26 touchdown passes. Most importantly, he provided leadership for a team that had never won a Big 12 title under Brown. McCoy redshirted on that team, earning the opportunity to soak up lessons watching Young’s leadership. He’s capping the most productive statistical career for a Texas quarterback by passing for 2,447 yards and 17 touchdowns with at least three games remaining -- not counting a potential Big 12 championship game and a bowl. And his leadership skills are comparable with Young’s in guiding his team to an undefeated season so far.
Edge: Even
Rushing game: The 2005 team relied on Young, who rushed for a team-high 1,050 yards and scored 12 touchdowns and also had a strong starter in Jamaal Charles and an outstanding change-of-pace player in Ramonce Taylor. That team produced 55 rushing touchdowns and had five different backs with eight rushing touchdowns or more. The current team’s rushing game might be its major weakness without a featured rushing threat, as no current back has rushed for more than 275 yards. Depending on game situations, the team has utilized any of three starters, but its most consistent producer has been Cody Johnson, who will become its fourth starter this week against Baylor.
 | |
| Mark J. Rebilas/US Presswire | |
| Vince Young quarterbacked the 2005 Texas team to the national title. |
Receivers/Tight end: The 2005 team had a stacked collection of receivers led by top deep threat Billy Pittman and Limas Sweed. But the most consistent receiving threat for Young was tight end David Thomas, who produced 50 receptions, including a career-best 10 in the BCS title game victory over USC. But that team had no receiving threat to match Jordan Shipley, who has already produced 75 catches, four double-figure reception games and broken the school single-game receiving yardage record. Dan Buckner developed early into a receiving threat at flex end and Malcolm Williams, James Kirkendoll and John Chiles all have been strong in an offense that has lived by short passes. But Shipley has been the focal point of a passing game that features short, quick passes as its primary offensive weapon.
Edge: 2009 Texas
Offensive line: The 2005 team featured three-first team All-Big 12 picks in Justin Blalock, Jonathan Scott and Will Allen. Because of Young's mobility, that team allowed only 14 sacks and produced 5.9 yards per carry and 55 rushing touchdowns. The current team is nearly as strong with key players like Adam Ulatoski, Charlie Tanner and Chris Hall, who have currently combined for 99 career starts and should be peaking as the season continues. The current team is producing 3.9 yards per carry, 16 sacks and 20 rushing touchdowns.
Edge: 2005 Texas
Defensive line: The 2005 team featured first-team All-Big 12 players like Rodrique Wright and Tim Crowder and pass-rushing specialist Brian Robison, a converted linebacker who led the team with sacks. But that team didn’t feature anybody as proficient as Sergio Kindle or a run-stuffing tackle like Lamarr Houston. It’s the main reason the current Texas team leads the nation in rush defense (55.33 yards per game), total defense (230.78 yards per game) and ranks in the top 20 in both sacks and tackles for losses. The 2005 team was 39th nationally in sacks and 29th in tackles for losses.
Edge: 2009 Texas
Linebackers: The 2005 unit was at its weakest at linebacker where no players earned All-Big 12 first-team or second-team designation. Robert Killebrew was that team’s only player to earn honorable mention. The current team features an anchor in the middle in senior linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy, flanked by Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho. Will Muschamp’s unit seldom uses three linebackers except in run-stuffing situations, preferring to use a nickel formation. But his current group still has the edge at linebacker over the championship team.
Edge: 2009 Texas
Secondary: The 2005 team might be one of the great college units of all time. That team featured the Thorpe Award winner in Michael Huff and another all-league player in Cedric Griffin. Huff, Cedric Griffin, Michael Griffin, Aaron Ross and Tarell Brown all were drafted in the NFL and had eventual pro careers. The unit was nearly impermeable as it broke up 85 passes and permitted only two teams to pass for more than 200 yards against them. The current group is young and skilled and might develop into as strong of a group with experience.
Earl Thomas has played like the best defensive back in the country this season with six interceptions, including two touchdown returns. Curtis Brown, Chykie Brown, Aaron Williams and Blake Gideon have already helped the defense combine for 16 interceptions. And the group is playing with swagger as the season continues.
The current group could match the eventual production of the 2005 team, but it still has to get there.
Edge: 2005 Texas
Special teams: Neither team had to punt very often, but Hunter Lawrence has a narrow edge over David Pino at kicker for his consistency and range. The biggest difference is in the return game. The current team features two threats with D.J. Monroe (two TDs, 36.5 yards kick return average) and Shipley (14.5 punt return average, two TDs), giving it an edge over Ramonce Taylor and Aaron Ross (14.7 punt return average, two TDs).
Edge: 2009 Texas
Coaching: With largely the same cast of coaches, the 2009 team appears to be better coached. In 2005, Brown was trying for his first Big 12 title and utilized defensive co-coordinators with Gene Chizik and Duane Akina. It often seemed that the individual talents of Young took over the game during that championship season. But this team features a better job by Greg Davis as he compensates for his team’s lack of a consistent running game by developing a crafty passing game utilizing quick short passes. And the defense has taken big steps this season in its second season under Muschamp.
Edge:2009 Texas
Intangibles: The 2005 team was trying to become Brown’s first Big 12 title team and played well throughout. It started with a dramatic comeback victory over Ohio State and continued with a run through the Big 12 that featured no victory less than 19 points. The 2005 team needed a comeback over Oklahoma State, but Young helped the team peak as the Longhorns scored at least 40 points in 12 games. The team rolled to victories of 62, 52 and 11 points in November before notching a record-breaking 70-3 triumph over Colorado in the Big 12 title game and the 41-38 BCS title game victory over USC.
This team hasn’t faced many tests, although it did handle Oklahoma in a 16-13 triumph that ranks as its closest margin. Other than that game, the 2009 Longhorns have rolled up at least 34 points in every game and allowed more than 20 points on only two occasions. But it still has its chance to finish strongly in November like the 2005 team did.
Edge: 2005 Texas
If they met: The 2005 team still would merit a slight edge, mainly because this team doesn’t have a transcendent talent like Young. But the current team is developing and could have a chance to match the championship with a strong finish.
Edge: 2005 Texas
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin
How about some stickers for players who emerged out of some sizable shadows today to lead their teams to victories?
Here are my choices for Saturday's games.
Nebraska defensive tackle Jared Crick: Ndamukong Suh’s partner at tackle emerged to have one of the greatest individual days in Nebraska's history, leading the Cornhuskers to a 20-10 victory over Baylor. Crick notched a school record five sacks for 24 yards, tying Jim Skow’s 24-year school record of seven tackles for loss for 28 yards. Crick produced 13 total tackles, including 10 solo stops. He also recovered a fourth-quarter fumble that helped seal the victory.
Missouri defensive end Aldon Smith: Produced four tackles for loss, including three sacks to lead the Tigers’ 36-17 victory over Missouri. The Tigers sacked Colorado quarterback Tyler Hansen eight times. Smith also produced five tackles, recovered a fumble and broke up a pass.
Texas’ secondary: Playing a nickel defense almost the entire game, the Longhorns produced a turnover binge against Zac Robinson and Oklahoma State in Texas’ 41-14 victory. Safeties Earl Thomas and Blake Gideon and cornerbacks Chykie Brown and Curtis Brown all produced interceptions as the Longhorns limited Robinson to 143 passing yards. Before Saturday night, Robinson had been intercepted three times on 176 passing attempts all season.
Texas Tech running back Baron Batch: Rushed for 123 yards and four touchdowns and also added five receptions for 13 yards to pace Texas Tech’s 42-21 over Kansas. Batch scored on runs of 2, 1, 17 and 11 yards, including three scores during a span of 9 minutes, 1 second in the fourth quarter that blew the game open for the Red Raiders.
Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones: Completed 26 of 37 passes for 294 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Sooners’ wild 42-30 victory over gritty Kansas State. It was Jones’ fourth game of multiple touchdown passes this season.
How about some stickers for players who emerged out of some sizable shadows today to lead their teams to victories?
Here are my choices for Saturday's games.
Nebraska defensive tackle Jared Crick: Ndamukong Suh’s partner at tackle emerged to have one of the greatest individual days in Nebraska's history, leading the Cornhuskers to a 20-10 victory over Baylor. Crick notched a school record five sacks for 24 yards, tying Jim Skow’s 24-year school record of seven tackles for loss for 28 yards. Crick produced 13 total tackles, including 10 solo stops. He also recovered a fourth-quarter fumble that helped seal the victory.
Missouri defensive end Aldon Smith: Produced four tackles for loss, including three sacks to lead the Tigers’ 36-17 victory over Missouri. The Tigers sacked Colorado quarterback Tyler Hansen eight times. Smith also produced five tackles, recovered a fumble and broke up a pass.
Texas’ secondary: Playing a nickel defense almost the entire game, the Longhorns produced a turnover binge against Zac Robinson and Oklahoma State in Texas’ 41-14 victory. Safeties Earl Thomas and Blake Gideon and cornerbacks Chykie Brown and Curtis Brown all produced interceptions as the Longhorns limited Robinson to 143 passing yards. Before Saturday night, Robinson had been intercepted three times on 176 passing attempts all season.
Texas Tech running back Baron Batch: Rushed for 123 yards and four touchdowns and also added five receptions for 13 yards to pace Texas Tech’s 42-21 over Kansas. Batch scored on runs of 2, 1, 17 and 11 yards, including three scores during a span of 9 minutes, 1 second in the fourth quarter that blew the game open for the Red Raiders.
Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones: Completed 26 of 37 passes for 294 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Sooners’ wild 42-30 victory over gritty Kansas State. It was Jones’ fourth game of multiple touchdown passes this season.
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin
The fiery orations of Will Muschamp have finally gotten through to his secondary.
Last season, there was no way to sugarcoat it. Texas struggled making big plays on defense.
A more mature, experienced group was a marked contrast from those growing days on Saturday. Texas' secondary went into a feeding frenzy in the Longhorns' 41-14 victory over Oklahoma State, finally producing a rare effort where they fulfilled and exceeded their coach’s seemingly impossible standards.
In Muschamp’s world, the Longhorns need to force three turnovers in every game. The developing Texas secondary fulfilled that in bunches in arguably their best performance of the season.
“I’m pretty sure he should be happy,” Texas safety Earl Thomas said, chuckling when asked about Muschamp’s demands. "Our goal is three a game. We got that. It’s just falling our way in this game.”
The Texas secondary produced four interceptions, including two that were returned for touchdowns. Toss in a fumble recovery and the Longhorns’ secondary served as the destructive unit for the Oklahoma State defense.
Thomas set the tone with one of the interceptions for a touchdown, a 31-yard interception return for a touchdown early in the second half. Curtis Brown added another one on a 77-yard pick early in the second quarter that changed the nature of the game.
"Curtis always has the athletic ability to finish games and you saw what he could do,” safety Blake Gideon said. “The way he can jump routes, you saw what happened. That was a big play and a huge momentum swing.”
Gideon also produced a pair of turnovers, recovering a fumble by Hubert Anyiam at the Texas 47 early in the second quarter. That turnover sparked a binge where the Longhorns scored on three straight offensive possessions and the two interception returns that blew the game open.
But his teammates were joking about Gideon’s interception and how he failed to continue the scoring binge. Gideon had a 31-yard interception return, but was stopped short of the end zone like Brown and Thomas.
“I caught some grief,” Gideon said. “I kind of got slowed down and got tackled by a lineman. But I haven’t carried a football since high school, so I guess I kind of forgot about how to do it.”
Chykie Brown added the other interception as the Longhorns matched their season high for interceptions with four set earlier this season against UTEP.
Muschamp had the Longhorns playing in the nickel defense from the start of the game, hoping to handcuff the Zac Robinson’s intermediate and deep passing with three safeties as part of the regular defensive rotation.
The Longhorns’ secondary is playing like the strength of the defense, becoming the best group for the Longhorns since their national championship team in 2005.
“The 2005 secondary, six of them played in the NFL,” Texas coach Mack Brown said. “Let’s wait six games and then talk. But they are playing really well. We’re getting good pressure on the quarterback. Right now we are able to man because we are good and because we can get pressure on the passer. They can’t stand back there forever and try to throw the ball.”
Thomas, whose cover skills may be as good as any back in the nation, was particularly adept in the defense.
“I was really proud of them,” Muschamp said. “We put a lot of kids in our formation and made our adjustments and they did a nice job. And Earl can cover as well as any corner in the country. I don’t even look at him like a safety.”
It’s a big change from last season when the Longhorns ranked tied for 113th nationally and last in the conference with only six interceptions.
Those hard lessons from an immature group have helped prepare the way for the Longhorns’ turnover binge this season.
“Coach Muschamp has worked hard to work for the defense,” Texas defensive end Sergio Kindle said. “We want to force quarterbacks to throw bad balls and it seems like those guys are catching the ball. We had a bunch of drops last season and we’re really focused on doing that.”
And considering that Curtis Brown and Chykie Brown are juniors and Thomas, Gideon and Williams are sophomores, more growth will be expected for the Texas defense during the rest of the season and beyond.
“Those guys are great players and all they can do is get better,” Kindle said. “They have grown and matured. They are learning now and are getting it down to a T.”
The fiery orations of Will Muschamp have finally gotten through to his secondary.
Last season, there was no way to sugarcoat it. Texas struggled making big plays on defense.
 |
|
| Ronald Martinez/Getty Images | |
| Earl Thomas, left, and Curtis Brown celebrate an interception in the third quarter, one of two picks that were returned for scores. |
A more mature, experienced group was a marked contrast from those growing days on Saturday. Texas' secondary went into a feeding frenzy in the Longhorns' 41-14 victory over Oklahoma State, finally producing a rare effort where they fulfilled and exceeded their coach’s seemingly impossible standards.
In Muschamp’s world, the Longhorns need to force three turnovers in every game. The developing Texas secondary fulfilled that in bunches in arguably their best performance of the season.
“I’m pretty sure he should be happy,” Texas safety Earl Thomas said, chuckling when asked about Muschamp’s demands. "Our goal is three a game. We got that. It’s just falling our way in this game.”
The Texas secondary produced four interceptions, including two that were returned for touchdowns. Toss in a fumble recovery and the Longhorns’ secondary served as the destructive unit for the Oklahoma State defense.
Thomas set the tone with one of the interceptions for a touchdown, a 31-yard interception return for a touchdown early in the second half. Curtis Brown added another one on a 77-yard pick early in the second quarter that changed the nature of the game.
"Curtis always has the athletic ability to finish games and you saw what he could do,” safety Blake Gideon said. “The way he can jump routes, you saw what happened. That was a big play and a huge momentum swing.”
Gideon also produced a pair of turnovers, recovering a fumble by Hubert Anyiam at the Texas 47 early in the second quarter. That turnover sparked a binge where the Longhorns scored on three straight offensive possessions and the two interception returns that blew the game open.
But his teammates were joking about Gideon’s interception and how he failed to continue the scoring binge. Gideon had a 31-yard interception return, but was stopped short of the end zone like Brown and Thomas.
“I caught some grief,” Gideon said. “I kind of got slowed down and got tackled by a lineman. But I haven’t carried a football since high school, so I guess I kind of forgot about how to do it.”
Chykie Brown added the other interception as the Longhorns matched their season high for interceptions with four set earlier this season against UTEP.
Muschamp had the Longhorns playing in the nickel defense from the start of the game, hoping to handcuff the Zac Robinson’s intermediate and deep passing with three safeties as part of the regular defensive rotation.
The Longhorns’ secondary is playing like the strength of the defense, becoming the best group for the Longhorns since their national championship team in 2005.
“The 2005 secondary, six of them played in the NFL,” Texas coach Mack Brown said. “Let’s wait six games and then talk. But they are playing really well. We’re getting good pressure on the quarterback. Right now we are able to man because we are good and because we can get pressure on the passer. They can’t stand back there forever and try to throw the ball.”
Thomas, whose cover skills may be as good as any back in the nation, was particularly adept in the defense.
“I was really proud of them,” Muschamp said. “We put a lot of kids in our formation and made our adjustments and they did a nice job. And Earl can cover as well as any corner in the country. I don’t even look at him like a safety.”
It’s a big change from last season when the Longhorns ranked tied for 113th nationally and last in the conference with only six interceptions.
Those hard lessons from an immature group have helped prepare the way for the Longhorns’ turnover binge this season.
“Coach Muschamp has worked hard to work for the defense,” Texas defensive end Sergio Kindle said. “We want to force quarterbacks to throw bad balls and it seems like those guys are catching the ball. We had a bunch of drops last season and we’re really focused on doing that.”
And considering that Curtis Brown and Chykie Brown are juniors and Thomas, Gideon and Williams are sophomores, more growth will be expected for the Texas defense during the rest of the season and beyond.
“Those guys are great players and all they can do is get better,” Kindle said. “They have grown and matured. They are learning now and are getting it down to a T.”
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