Quick Takes on UTEP (by Mike Roach)

[HornSports Staff]

Who: UTEP Miners (1-0) vs. #11 Texas Longhorns (1-0)
When: Saturday, September 10th at 6PM CST
Where: Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium (Longhorn Network)
Odds: Texas -28

The Good: 
UTEP notched a win in week 1 with a dominant offensive performance over New Mexico State. The Miners were led by senior running back Aaron Jones who accounted for 249 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Jones runs behind an experienced offensive line, and the offense is predicated on a strong running game. Junior quarterback Zack Greenlee transferred from Fresno State, and before that he was an Elite 11 finalist during his senior year of high school. The Miners' passing attack accounted for 229 yards and three touchdowns under Greenlee in their week one victory. The balanced UTEP offense accounted for 518 yards on the day. The Miners also boast a strong run defense bolstered by an experienced defensive line. Though the UTEP defense allowed some big plays on the ground, they held NMSU to 139 yards on the day. 

The Bad:
There isn’t a lot of bad to go off in week one for the Miners. Coming into the season it looked like the secondary was a distinct disadvantage for UTEP, but NMSU was only able to tally 206 yards on 41 pass attempts. The Miners were the more penalized team, and depth could be a concern. Most of the reserves on the UTEP defense are young and inexperienced. 

The Uncertain: 
It’s tough to take a lot of things away from a win over a team like New Mexico State, and Texas will certainly test their secondary at a different level. UTEP is also undersized up front, and Texas has a punishing running attack. If the UTEP rush defense can corral the Longhorn running game they might be able to pressure Shane Buechele into making some mistakes.

What’s at stake?
The Longhorns are riding high after shocking Notre Dame in the opener. The media tabbed Texas as #11 in the AP poll, and expectations are on the rise in Austin. The Longhorns need to follow up with a strong performance in order to keep building momentum in their young season. The Miners could play spoiler as an obvious trap game candidate if the Longhorns are feeling too good about themselves following Notre Dame. If UTEP could somehow pull off an upset, it would be one of the biggest wins in program history. 

 

[Duke C #11]

With the running game UT has, plus the speed in the receiving corps, much of which has yet to see the field, I don't know how UTEP's defense can play four quarters with UT. While you can definitely say that UTEP won't be facing NM State, you could also say that UT won't be facing Notre Dame either. If the Horns aren't up by 20 by halftime, I will be pi$$ed. 

 

[MBHORNSFAN]

52-10 Texas. 

 

[Mike Roach]

52-10 Texas.

I'm leaning somewhere in that area.

 

[doc longhorn]

New Mexico State is gawdawful.  If they win a game this year, it will be a miracle.

This game will be one of the games that will be a litmus test for Bedford - the other being Cal.

If mighty UTEP moves the ball on us with a backup QB, I don't like Bedford's chances to survive as our DC.

 

[Harrison Wier]

Important to note that UTEP starting QB Zack Greenlee is officially out for the game. Backup sophomore Kavika Johnson is going to get the nod. Expecting to see a lot of young players get PT on defense this weekend.

 

[Duke C #11]

What should UT's blitz strategy be for this game? Should they play as vanilla as possible? Try to find out who their third string QB is? I'm leaning toward resting starters on defense as much as possible, but turn the young kids loose a bit. 

 

[doc longhorn]

I'm leaning somewhere in that area.

The jury is out for me - for Bedford and our defense.

Our offense will steamroller them and our defense should shut them out from scoring TD's.

The score I would EXPECT and would hope occurs is:

Texas - 69

UTEP - 3

(of course this assumes the scrubs don't get in until late 3rd qtr.)

 

[doc longhorn]

What is the O/U that Merrick will see playing time at QB?

 

[shotime73]

Are Delance and Hudson expect to see playing time?

 

[TexExSpur]

I don't think it's going to be a huge blowout and they're very likely going to rest players before the trip to Berkeley!  WIlliams, Perkins and Nickelson are banged up so Delance may very will get to debut at LT while Hodges holds down RT and Anderson gets the snaps at RG.  I also think they start rotating in more freshmen in this game and I think it's very likely Merrick could play the entire 4th quarter.  Texas should still win big, but I'm not so sure they cover 30 points... if I was thinking like Vegas, I'm looking at 38-20.

But I could easily be around 62-17 depending on how they approach the game.

 

[hookemhorb]

This is the type of game the walkons should be playing in the 4th Qtr.

I'll take a win with no one getting hurt.

 

[shotime73]

This should be the type of game all of the rest of the freshman who didn't play from the ND should debut for this one

 

[Mike Roach]

Are Delance and Hudson expect to see playing time?

We expect Hudson to redshirt

 

[Huskie1]

Just win baby. Screw the style points. Play well and win regardless of the score. I'm hoping we limit some of those banged up guys so they heal a little before Cal, OSU, and ou.

I don't think we are good enough to yet to be worrying about victory margin. This is still a young team.

 

[primal defense]

I don't think it's going to be a huge blowout and they're very likely going to rest players before the trip to Berkeley!  WIlliams, Perkins and Nickelson are banged up so Delance may very will get to debut at LT while Hodges holds down RT and Anderson gets the snaps at RG.  I also think they start rotating in more freshmen in this game and I think it's very likely Merrick could play the entire 4th quarter.  Texas should still win big, but I'm not so sure they cover 30 points... if I was thinking like Vegas, I'm looking at 38-20.

But I could easily be around 62-17 depending on how they approach the game.

That would be my bet.

 

[texasdalton]

We expect Hudson to redshirt

Now might be a good time for a HS chat.

Do you expect delance or Okafor to redshirt?

 

[Duke C #11]

Kyle Porter will run for over 100 yards..

 

[TexExSpur]

Now might be a good time for a HS chat.

Do you expect delance or Okafor to redshirt?

I think you will see Delance and Oak this weekend.