47. 50. 49. 45. Those are the number of points the Texas defense has given up against power five teams this season. Culminating with a 45-40 loss against the Oklahoma Sooners while giving up 673 yards, it is evident that something needs to give within the Longhorn program.
Talent is certainly not the issue for the Longhorns. The vast majority of defensive players on defense were highly recruited – and rightfully so. From the 2015 recruiting class, five of them who see significant playing time were four stars or higher. From the 2016 class, Malcolm Roach, Jordan Elliott, Deandre Christmas-Giles and Chris Nelson were highly sought after players. In summary, there is no shortage of talent on the Longhorns’ defense. Yes, they’ve made more than their share of mistakes during this incredible rough stretch of games, but something beyond the lines is going on with the ‘Horns defense. This was a defense back in the day that was one to be reckoned with. It’s imperative they get back there, and quickly.
While Charlie Strong said during the bye week that the defense was going to be “fixed,†We have not seen any improvement at all. The biggest things that stand out are the missed tackles and the amount of big plays given up. Against Oklahoma State and Oklahoma, Texas gave up 16 plays of 20 yards or more, a number that is most certainly not a winning formula. Whether it was Baker Mayfield tossing the ball all over the Texas secondary or Mason Rudolph and Justice Hill running it down their throats, the Texas defense can’t seem to stop anyone, no matter the opponent or scheme.
The players are well aware of their defensive mishaps after the game. Sophomore linebacker and unofficial team leader Malik Jefferson said after the loss to the Sooners, “673 yards. That’s not fixed.â€
With Texas headed into a 2-week stretch in which they will face an improved Iowa State team and a Kansas State team who just came away with a win against Texas Tech, the task doesn’t get much easier for the Longhorns. Something must change quickly or Texas could be staring down the barrel of another 5-7 season. Last year, it was the offense that was soul-searching. The defense was not great, but they had some bright spots. This year, while the offense has looked relatively good, the defense cannot seem to find its footing in any facet.
For a program searching for their first seven-win season since 2013, the Longhorns certainly have more questions than answers after five games into the season. Whether they can answer those questions remains to be seen. If the questions are not answered rather rapidly, Texas might once again be looking for a new coaching staff. 13-17 over two plus years will not get the job done anywhere, let alone the University of Texas.
