The 2012 Texas Football season is FINALLY upon us. The team has completed its last fall camp practice, the depth chart is set, and its time to RISE. Lets take a look at the coaching match-ups and learn a bit about our opponent’s skill position players headed into Week 1.
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GAME INFORMATION
COACHING
Head Coach – Dave Christensen, 4th season, 18-20 record
Offensive Coordinator: Gregg Brandon
Defensive Coordinator: Chris Tormey
Dave Christensen brought his innovative offensive attack from Missouri to Wyoming in 2009, and has limited success in turning the fortunes of the Cowboys, though he has the team coming off an 8-5 season and a bowl game loss. The Cowboys will bring in new Offensive and Defensive Coordinators in Tormey and Brandon, though the offense will mirror what Christensen ran with the Tigers.
QUARTERBACK
Brett Smith, Sophmore – 253 – 415, 2622 yards 20 Tds 11 INTs, 139 carries 710 yds 10 Tds
Smith started last year as a freshman and had a season at QB Texas fans would have accepted from their starter. Christensen has experience in developing explosive play makers at the position from his time with Missouri, and Smith comes to Austin as his teams unquestioned, seasoned, experienced leader. Smith is the typical dual threat QB in the mold we’ve seen from past Missouri offenses.
The stat line is good on Smith, but against the top 3 teams he faced last year, the numbers reveal a different quarterback.
- 9/24/2011 versus Nebraska: 17-33, 166 yards, 2 TD’s 1 INT, 3 carries, 2 yards
- 11/5/2011 versus TCU: 17-26, 210 yards, 2 TD’s, 4 carries, 68 yards (61 on one run)
- 11/26/2011 at Boise State: 17-25, 78 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 6 carries, 37 yards
- Smith also struggled in the Cowboys bowl game loss:
- 12/17/2011 versus Temple: 20-30 127 yards, 2 TD’s 3 INT’s, 16 carries 65 yards.
Though it is true the biggest leap in a players development is from Year 1 to Year 2, but the Texas defense Smith faces on Saturday will be the best he faces his entire collegiate career.
RUNNING BACKS
Brandon Miller, Junior – 66 carries, 364 yards, 2 Tds, 20 rec, 199 yards, 1 TD
Kody Sutton, Sophmore – 30 carries, 146 yards, 1 rec, 14 yards, 1 TD
Nehemie Kankolongo, Sophmore – No Statistics
Wyoming’s running back trio has talent, but is young, with Miller having the most experience by default. Kankolongo is the biggest at just 205lbs, with Miller and Sutton in the 190s. Wyoming’s backs work well in its spread attack, but don’t have the size or power to grind out yards. Texas speed at safety and outside linebacker easily mirrors what the Cowboys can muster.
Against the same four defenses featured in the Smith breakdown, here are the numbers:
Brandon Miller
- versus Nebraska – 10 carries 38 yards
- versus TCU – 4 carries, 4 yards, 1 rec 4 yards
- at Boise State – 0 carries, 0 yards, 7 rec, 18 yards
- versus Temple – 5 carries, 31 yards
Kody Sutton
- versus Nebraska – Did Not Play
- versus TCU – Did Not Play
- at Boise State – 4 carries, 13 yards,
- versus Temple – 4 carries, 33 yards, 1 rec, 14 yards, 1 TD
The numbers don’t bode well for Miller or Sutton facing the extreme speed and size of the Texas back seven.
RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS/H BACKS
Dominic Rufran, Sophmore – 44 rec, 402 yards, 2 Tds
Robert Herron, Junior – 43 rec, 379 yards, 3 Tds
Chris McNeill, Senior – 42 rec, 504 yards, 4 Tds
Trey Norman, Sophmore – 2 rec, 14 yards
Riley Lange, Sophmore – No Statistics
Wyoming spreads the ball around to multiple receivers, and the Cowboys crew is unselfish, sure handed. 3 receivers come to Austin with starting experience.
McNeill hauled in 5 passes for 99 yards against TCU, but only 2 for 18 against the Cornhuskers, and did not play against Temple or Boise State.
Rufran was putrid against big time competition, with his best day being a paltry 9 catch, 24 yard effort against Temple. Ruffran didn’t break 27 yards against TCU, Nebraska, or Boise and didn’t score on any of them.
Herron found the end zone against Nebraska in a 4 rec, 35 yd, 1 TD effort. He caught 5 for 38 against TCU, did not face Boise State, and was held to 3 catches for 31 yards against Temple. He did also pop a 21 yard run on the Cornhuskers, but again did nearly nothing for the most part against the big boys.
Rufran is the biggest receiver of the three at 6 foot 185lbs. These guys have a track record of disappearing when the lights are on bright, and they present no size or speed matchup problems whatsoever against #DBU. Wyoming is going to need time on each play for these guys to get open, and that is going to be exceptionally difficult with an offensive line that starts no man over 295lbs going against two 300lb DT’s for the most part and two All American caliber DE’s.
SUMMARY
Christensen is a good coach with a good system and a knack for recruiting. He will turn the corner with this team and make it one who, more often than not, will win the games on its schedule it should win. That said, the Cowboys offensive line wont be able to stop the Texas pass rush nor open up running lanes. Texas will be able to generate a significant pass rush without using the blitz. The receivers lack the size and speed to escape the Longhorns top 10 secondary, and Smith will be running for his life while facing 6 or 7 in coverage out of the Horns base defensive set.
If Texas is firing on all cylinders out the gate this is going to get ugly in a hurry, but I expect the Longhorns youth to need a quarter to settle down in front of 101,000 friends on Saturday night. Put your money on a Texas winning this one around 49-10.
Follow Johnny on Twitter @205Whisenant
