Here is What 2 Watch 4:
The QB Situation
I have been very critical of the UT coaching staff on how they have handled their 2 young QB’s to this point. I don’t agree with Mack’s assessment that you need 2 QB’s to be successful. I have always fallen into the theory that if you have 2 QB’s you have none. Its time that Texas decides on 1 QB, name that one the starter and get him all the reps. The fact that Mack and company have not come out yet to name a definitive QB tells me they are still not sold on Ash and McCoy to lead this team.
I will be watching how many reps each QB gets with the 1st team. I will also be watching the mechanics on both QB’s. exas, in my opinion, did a terrible job last year cleaning up the mechanics issues of each QB. Ash and McCoy both did not transfer their weight and get into their throws, it was especially evident in their deep throws. Too often they were both throwing with their upper half of their body and never utilized their hips and lower half to generate the power they needed. As simplistic as this sounds, this is the #1 issue on why both QB’s were inconsistent throwers and why the verticle pass game was below average.
The RB’s
Brown and Bergeron are both grown men and are a force when they are both running the ball and healthy. The issue last year is neither could stay healthy. You can’t help a team if you are always in the training room. I will be curious to see how both of them run Sunday to see if they are fully back or if the coaches hold them back some. A year in the off-season will help them, but as promising as these two kids are, this team will go nowhere fast if they are not on the field.
The Offensive Line
Next to the QB Shuffle that Texas has going on right now, this position group is the other HOT button area. I believe Texas in the past few years did a very poor job of recruiting this position and bringing in solid blue-chip players with a mean streak. I want to see how Espinosa does and has he gotten stronger; he was a youngster last year and at times just got flat out owned by bigger NT and 1-Techniques, I want to see improvement there. I also will be watching to see how Donald Hawkins is adjusting to big boy D1 football. He is the wild card of the offensive line. I want to see this line dominate the LOS and re-establish it down field. Texas can say it wants to be a downhill power running team, but if this line cannot dominate up front, this team will struggle to move the ball.
Wide Receivers
Do the Longhorns have anyone else beside Shipley? I hear Mike Davis is having a great spring. He had no choice but to improve because he couldn’t get much worse. I want to see the depth in the group and who else will step up and make plays.
The Whole Defense
I love this group as a whole. I can’t wait to see them fly around. There are some question marks in a couple spots with the losses of Randall, Robinson, Acho and Gideon, but there are more than capable players to fill those holes. Nonetheless, I will be watching and evaluating.
The Kicking Game/Return Game
Who replaces Tucker and Whittaker? We will find out who has the leg up(no pun intended). I know this, if Texas can’t find a solid consistent kicker, there is no way this team wins 10 games. Will Ash punt any?
Overall
I want to see if the offensive creativity is there on Sunday. Who will be filling Whittaker’s spot in the Wild spot? I want to see a better verticle passing game.
This team can compete for the Big 12 title next year, but we have got to start seeing some questions being answered Sunday and I can’t wait to get there and see it first hand.
HOOK’EM
Coach B
