The annual Orange and White game is usually a dull affair that loses luster sometime after the second series. While the whole affair is usually vanilla, the 2016 spring game will actually hold some intrigue. Sure, you can’t take too much from one scrimmage, but you will be able to get a peek under the hood of the 2016 Texas Longhorns.
Here are five things to look for this Saturday.
1. The Quarterback Battle
Let’s just be clear, this will always be the number one item in any story until the problems at the position are solved. Aside from a few David Ash performances during his sophomore season, the position has been a barren wasteland since Colt McCoy left the field during the 2010 Rose Bowl. This year we have another battle on our hands, and sources behind the scenes indicate it is really heating up. The dynamics of the battle pit senior Tyrone Swoopes against true freshman Shane Buechele. Swoopes is well known for his quarterback play during his time in Austin, but perhaps infamous is a better descriptor.
While Swoopes has struggled during his time under center in Austin, his experience and arm strength give him a leg up in the competition. Buechele on the other hand is a ray of hope for the position. The former Elite 11 passer possesses both the mental and physical capabilities to finally give Texas fans a drink of water as they wander through the desert. The problem is Buechele is a true freshman still adjusting to the speed of the game. As a spring enrollee, Buechele got a head start on learning the new offense. If he can show a mastery of it between now and the opening game of the season, he might be able to steal this job from Swoopes. Whatever the case, Buechele will probably be called upon at some point next season. All eyes will be on these two players this Saturday to see which one looks more capable of leading this team to wins in the fall.
2. Sterlin Gilbert’s Offense
With so much on the line this year, a large part of the hopes for this team will rest on new Offensive Coordinator Sterlin Gilbert and his high octane offense. The early reports of install have been encouraging, and the topic most discussed during spring practice is the incredible tempo the Longhorns are running with. Quick tempo can often be an equalizer on the field, and Gilbert will want to show off his offense on the first big stage. It will also be interesting to see how much the quarterback running game comes into play. While the spring game isn’t the best forum for that due to the quarterback no contact policy, we can at least tell a little from play design and frequency. One final thought on the new offense concerns the players with explosive ability. With Daje Johnson and Marcus Johnson moving on, the proverbial “score from anywhere†players have yet to reveal themselves. Armanti Foreman showed signs of such ability in the past, but he will need to put together more consistency this season. Roderick Bernard is now full time at running back, and though he won’t be depended on for 20 carries per game, his speed adds a new dimension to the backfield. Sophomore receiver Ryan Newsome was a track standout in high school, and the new spacing and passing concepts should give him some room to operate and make big plays.
3. The Freshmen
For the second year in a row, there has been a substantial amount of hype surrounding the incoming class. The 2016 class included four early enrollees, and each of them have been talked about so far this spring. We’ve already discussed Shane Buechele, but Collin Johnson is the player receiving the most attention. The monstrous receiver is putting on a show this spring, flashing the immense physical talent he was blessed with. Johnson has seemingly locked down a starting spot at receiver, and his ability gives Texas a player with NFL talent on offense. Texas fans will want to see if the hype is real for Johnson, and at this rate he’s going to have a lot to live up to.
Zack Shackelford is another freshman thrust into a starting position. Shack has taken the reigns at the center position, and he will have a lot on his shoulders going into the season. For Shackelford (as well as the rest of the offensive line), there needs to be cohesion and consistency. Shackelford held his own during spring workouts, but we will need to see how he performs when the pressure kicks up a notch. Perhaps the forgotten player in this group is Demarco Boyd. The younger brother of Kris made some highlight films in the spring with his physical brand of play. While it’s unclear what his future position is, he will get a chance to start off at linebacker. The linebacker group is pretty crowded, but Boyd has spent some time with the second unit this spring. A couple of touchdown passes from Buechele to Collin Johnson should make a successful day for the class of 2016.
4. Position battles in the secondary
While “DBU†waits for a new infusion of talent, there are new positions to be won among the younger players in the group. The obvious battles are at safety, where the much maligned duo of Dylan Haines and Jason Hall are trying to hold off young players like DeShon Elliott and PJ Locke. Elliott should get a lot of looks in this scrimmage, and his athletic playmaking ability is apparent every time he steps on the field. Most fans hope he can use that to springboard his performance into a successful summer and fall. While Davante Davis and Holton Hill have a firm grip on the starting corner positions, there will be a need to see who can step up at the nickel position. PJ Locke is the standout so far, but Kris Boyd and John Bonney can still make an impact in that race. Without a doubt, the best thing we will see Saturday is a healthy Sheroid Evans. His perseverance through several injuries is inspiring for his teammates to see, and his wealth of talent and experience should help his teammates tremendously. The secondary looks like it could be a position of strength this year, and Texas fans will want to see a good performance from the defensive backs under Clay Jennings.
5. Key replacements
Last year’s team was heavily influenced by the underclassmen, but there was some influence by players that have now moved on. With Hassan Ridgeway, Duke Johnson, and Peter Jinkens no longer on the team, Texas will need to find players that can step up and fill their roles. The competition to replace Thomas at the nickel is filled with a few potentially good players, but none of them have proven they are ready to be relied upon. Hassan Ridgeway’s spot might not really be filled until the fall, but Paul Boyette and Poona Ford get the first shot starting Saturday. The defensive tackle position will be incredibly thin during the scrimmage, so look for walk on players to get their shot and put in quite a few reps. While Ridgeway is an NFL talent, Peter Jinkens was the most productive player on defense last season and the heart of that unit. Replacing him will be no easy process, but Malik Jefferson looks poised to fill in from both a production and leadership standpoint. Charlie Strong programs typically have a “next man up†philosophy with talented depth ready to step in when their time comes. This Saturday we will see if Texas can take those steps with little drop off.
There are many more storylines to watch on Saturday. What about the offensive line? Who’s going to provide a pass rush? Is there a player on this team that can kick field goals? While we definitely could delve into all of those issues, we selected these five items as our most important stories that will play out on the field. Whatever the case, this is only the beginning for this team as the hard work will begin in the summer and into fall camp.
Try not to take too much from a bland scrimmage, but remember that sometimes what you see is what you get.
