Coleman Feeley
On the line
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2013
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submitted Today, 10:40 AM in Texas Longhorns Football By Coleman Feeley
Chalk Talk's summer series will be a preview of line play for each of the Horns' 2015 opponents. With a focus on each side of the ball, there will be discussion of players, coaching, depth and scheme. How Texas matches up with teams in the trenches will play a big role in whether the team stumbles to another 6-6 record, or if they improve on last season's result.
Last week’s preview included analysis of both Rice and California. That finished nonconference opponents – this week launches into Big 12 foes: Oklahoma State and TCU. The Longhorns get the Cowboys at DKR but have to face TCU in Fort Worth. After last season’s performance against the Horned Frogs, Texas must improve up front to win at TCU.
Oklahoma State
Last year Texas handled Oklahoma State 28-7. With Tyrone Swoopes throwing for more than 300 yards and two touchdowns, Texas earned their sixth win and became bowl eligible. However, Oklahoma State improved in their final games, and became bowl eligible as freshman, Mason Rudolph, took over the starting quarterback job. This year, picked to finish fourth in the Pre-Season BIG12 polls, Oklahoma State will have a wealth of experience returning. Offensively, OSU will retain its identity as a ‘spread’ team and will be returning eleven players who all have started. Even with that offensive experience, OSU’s strength will be its defense. With three players on the first team All BIG12 Pre-Season team (Emmanuel Ogbah [DE], Ryan Simmonds [LB], and Kevin Peterson [CB]) Oklahoma State could be poised for a stand out season.
Offense
Oklahoma State’s offensive line coach,Joe Wickline, is a tremendous coach that has placed many offensive linemen into the NFL as well as boasting some of the top performing lines in the nation. The Cowboys’ offensive line coach’s name is Greg Adkins. He is a twenty-four year veteran of coaching and spent the last two years coaching tight ends for the Buffalo Bills. Previous to his NFL tenure, he coached in the SEC and the Sun Belt. While at Tennessee, his 2007 offensive unit claimed the number one spot for offensive lines by allowing just four sacks all season long. Adkins is an unknown, so it’s impossible to know which players will be used, or what style of blocking they’ll employ. It is, however, safe to say that Mike Gundy’s Cowboys aren’t going to change what they do.
The projected starters for OSU, from left to right, are #60 Zachary Crabtree (So.), #66 Lemaefe Galea’i [lem-AH-eh-feh naw-LAY-eye] (Fr.), #57 Paul Lewis (Jr.), #74 Michael Wilson (Jr.), and #79 Jack Kurzu (So.). The two most experienced players on the unit will be right guard Wilson and center Lewis. Wilson started every game last season and started at four different positions along the offensive line; four at right tackle, two at left tackle, one at right guard, and one at left guard. Like Wilson, Lewis is a redshirt junior. At center, Wilson needs to display excellent communication for this young, but experienced offensive line to shine.
Defense
The Oklahoma State defensive line is led by (I’m not making this up) Joe Bob Clements. Coach Clements was a four year starter for Kansas State and went to five bowl games from ’94 -‘98. Since his arrival in 2013, the Oklahoma State defensive line has amassed 52.5 sacks.Coach Clements, like most coaches, platoons his players, playing a fast and aggressive style on the DL. With one of his players up for both the Nagurski and Lombardi awards, Coach Clements unit will be a team strength.
The projected starting lineup for the 2015 season is #92 Jimmy Bean (DE, Sr.), #96 Vincent Taylor (DT, So.), #95 Vili Leveni (DT, So.), and #38 Emmanuel Ogbah (DE, Jr.). Even with other players platooning and splitting reps, expect to see Jimmy Bean and Emmanuel Ogbah in the mix more than others. Ogbah is on the Nagurski Trophy’s watch list as well as the Lombardi Award watch list; he won the team’s most valuable defensive player award last season; and he is on the first team All Big 12 Pre-Season team. On the opposite side from Ogbah is defensive tackle Jimmy Bean. Bean has started every game for the Cowboys over the last two seasons and in that time has recorded 76 tackles. Bean plays especially well against Texas, recording seven tackles in both of the last two meetings between OSU and UT.
Texas will need to execute and take advantage of weaknesses in the Oklahoma State pass defense in order to win the game against the Pokes. It will be important for the offensive line and quarterback to be on the same page throughout the game to make sure they identify and account for the talent located on the OSU defensive line.
TCU
The Horned Frogs finished last season with a 12 – 1 record and are ranked number two in many of the nation’s pre-season polls. With nine starters returning on offense and six more on defense, TCU is poised for a Big 12 Championship run, as well as having a solid chance at making this years’ College Football Playoff. TCU’s offense, led by superstar quarterback Trevone Boykin, finished last season second in the nation in total offense and set a school record for most points in a season (604). With All-American linebacker Paul Dawson graduated the TCU defense has some holes to fill, however, with Gary Patterson at the helm it won’t be surprising if some new, impressive talents fills those holes.
Offense
TCU’s offensive line coach, Jarrett Anderson, is entering his eighteenth season in Fort Worth and his second season as TCU’s offensive line coach. He has coached wide receivers, running backs, and now offensive line while. Last season Coach Anderson had three players receive All-Big 12 honors and one, senior Tayo Fabuluje, was drafted by the Bears in the 6th round. Normally with the loss of an NFL caliber player certain units suffer, but this is not the case at TCU. The Horned Frogs will feature a stout offensive line that boasts 97 combined starts and is composed entirely of seniors. The projected starting lineup is #69 Aviante Collins, #77 Jamelle Naff, #55 Joey Hunt (2014 2nd team All-Big 12), #65 Brad Foltz, and #74 Halapoulivaati Vitai (2014 2nd team All-Big 12). Center Joey Hunt will lead this unit not only by assignment but with experience. Hunt has started every game over the last two seasons and experience is tied to Trevone Boykin and the efficiency of the TCU offense.
In order for Texas to beat TCU, the Longhorn defensive line will have to disrupt the TCU offense and capitalize on every opportunity at a negative play. TCU will score points, and Texas will have to match that to stay in the game, however, if Texas can force miscues and turnovers the Longhorns could pull off the upset.
Defense
TCU’s defense is in a ‘rebuilding’ phase. With the loss of All-American Paul Dawson and the surprise exit of safety Chris Hackett, TCU’s defense lacks the household name fans are used to in Fort Worth. With TCU running their nickel defense (4-2-5), most of the run game responsibilities fall to the linebackers. In the Horned Frogs scheme, defensive linemen generally play less aggressively in an attempt to hold the line of scrimmage and allow the safeties and linebackers to do a majority of the tackling. With that said, TCU has a talented bunch returning to the defensive line which could cause some changes in responsibility and assignments.
TCU will rotate it’s defensive linemen, however, the starting lineup is projected as: #94 Josh Carraway (DE), #57 Davion Pierson (DT), #97 Chris Bradly (DT), and #93 Mike Tuaua (DE). Last season against Texas, Carraway had one of the best games of his career – he forced a fumble, which was returned for TCU’s first touchdown, and returned an interception thirty three yards for a touchdown. Defensive tackle Davion Pierson, is another familiar face to the Longhorn coaching staff. A three year letterman and fifth year senior, Pierson was a team captain last year and is expected to uphold his position. With four seniors in the possible rotation, the defensive line should be one of TCU’s most experienced units; and for the Horned Frogs to keep winning their line will have to play big.
For the Longhorns to avoid another disastrous game against TCU both the offense and defense need to execute at a near-perfect level. There can’t be missed opportunities (like taking a field goal in the redzone, or not scoring off a turnover), and Texas cannot allow points on special teams, or off turnovers.
TCU will be one of Texas’ toughest opponents, however, it is not an unwinnable game. The Longhorns will have to work to win, but if they protect the football and execute a great game plan, Texas could leave Fort Worth with a win.
