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Will Texas be this good next year?

  • I hope so.

    Texas is the favorite to win Big 12

    By KC Joyner
    ESPN Insider
    Archive

    There are numerous reasons to not be of a positive mindset when it comes to gauging the state of the Texas Longhorns program.

    After all, last year's Longhorns team clinched consecutive losing seasons in conference play for the first time since 1935-38, had a game where it did not score a touchdown for the first time since 2004 and gave up a combined 141 points to the Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowboys and Baylor Bears.

    As painful as those items might be for UT fans to read, there are eight reasons to think Texas can not only get things going in a positive direction in 2012, but that they can win the Big 12. Here's why the Horns should be considered the favorite to win the league this season.

    This can from a paid site but, still. We will need a QB.

    hornokc ●

  • This seems like the best place for this.
    dontstopbelieving

    Really though, I'll have what he's having.

    HighFire

  • All comes down to QB play. If Ash can play even decent and not turn the ball over it will be UT OU and WVU at the top and then everyone else

    signature image signature image signature image

    KorbenDallas28228 ●

  • If Ash improves only slightly over his bowl game performance, Texas has a great chance to be a Top 10 team. If he improves significantly, anything less than a Top 5 performance would be a surprise and disappointing.

    JLT

  • Not to be a downer but we still have the same question marks going into this season that we had at this time last year. While I'm excited about the talent infusion on the offensive side of the ball we still don't know how good our O-line, WRs and most importantly our QB can be. Add to that the special teams unknown and I have a hard time envisioning a conference chanmpionship in 2012. If by the end of the season our QB, O-line and WR play is in the + column and not in the middle or worse, then I think you're looking at 9 wins with a chance at 10 with the bowl game. If that happens I'm going all in on a MNC run in the 2013 season.

    Rgranger2 ●

  • Rgranger2 said...

    Not to be a downer but we still have the same question marks going into this season that we had at this time last year. While I'm excited about the talent infusion on the offensive side of the ball we still don't know how good our O-line, WRs and most importantly our QB can be. Add to that the special teams unknown and I have a hard time envisioning a conference chanmpionship in 2012. If by the end of the season our QB, O-line and WR play is in the + column and not in the middle or worse, then I think you're looking at 9 wins with a chance at 10 with the bowl game. If that happens I'm going all in on a MNC run in the 2013 season.

    Our OL will be head and shoulders above what it was going into last fall. We played a guy at LT who had been hurt and was someone we all envisioned redshirting. You can now slide Hopkins to a guard position, instead of playing him out of position at RT. Bring in a Juco guy that we all believe will probably anchor one of the tackle positions. Espinosa was another player that needed to RS, but was forced into action and he may not even start next year. Add in the fact that these guys will get Spring, Summer and Fall with Wylie --- I think the offensive line will be MUCH better than last year.

    UTortho

  • I know many people will argue that our QB (likely Ash) only needs to be a "game manager" and simply not hurt the offensive for the team to be successful. I disagree strongly with this notion. Texas does not play in the $EC. Excuse me while I go all Mike Gundy, THIS IS THE BIG 12!!! My point is that the offenses in our league as a whole are much more dynamic than those in the $EC. While our defensive is very strong, I would argue that it's not elite... not yet anyway. Asking our D to repeatedly shutdown highflying offenses while our offense plays with a conservative game manager at QB is not a recipe for an undefeated season in the Big 12. I'm not saying that Ash cannot be more than a game manager, I just saying that he will have to be more than that if we want to win the Big 12.

    Rgranger2 ●

  • Rgranger2 said...

    Not to be a downer but we still have the same question marks going into this season that we had at this time last year. While I'm excited about the talent infusion on the offensive side of the ball we still don't know how good our O-line, WRs and most importantly our QB can be. Add to that the special teams unknown and I have a hard time envisioning a conference chanmpionship in 2012. If by the end of the season our QB, O-line and WR play is in the + column and not in the middle or worse, then I think you're looking at 9 wins with a chance at 10 with the bowl game. If that happens I'm going all in on a MNC run in the 2013 season.

    What we do know is that we will be improved:

    - we'll be in the second year of our scheme, which is typically when you make the most progress.
    - we'll add significant talent, including Hawkins (left or right tackle), Gray, McFarland (redshirt tight end), Harris (returning WR), and lots of recruits who will be role players and depth.
    - we'll have a full offseason to improve our quarterbacking

    If you count returning hours, you can see the difference between this year and last.

    bat ●

  • UTortho said...

    Our OL will be head and shoulders above what it was going into last fall. We played a guy at LT who had been hurt and was someone we all envisioned redshirting. You can now slide Hopkins to a guard position, instead of playing him out of position at RT. Bring in a Juco guy that we all believe will probably anchor one of the tackle positions. Espinosa was another player that needed to RS, but was forced into action and he may not even start next year. Add in the fact that these guys will get Spring, Summer and Fall with Wylie --- I think the offensive line will be MUCH better than last year.

    All valid points. There are definitely reasons for optimism but until the OL can prove that they are a strength for this team I still have to put them in the question mark column. If they do turn out to be a quality unit, I think getting the JUCO transfer will be a big reason why.

    Rgranger2 ●

  • I would love an OL with the following:

    OT Hawkins
    OG Hopkins
    C Walters
    OG Flowers
    OT Cochran

    But will likely get:
    OT Hawkins
    OG Walters
    C Espinosa
    OG Hopkins
    OT Cochran

    Walters and Hopkins could be flipped.

    everybodygodeep

  • bat said...

    What we do know is that we will be improved:

    - we'll be in the second year of our scheme, which is typically when you make the most progress. - we'll add significant talent, including Hawkins (left or right tackle), Gray, McFarland (redshirt tight end), Harris (returning WR), and lots of recruits who will be role players and depth. - we'll have a full offseason to improve our quarterbacking

    If you count returning hours, you can see the difference between this year and last.

    You're right and I agree we'll be improved. The question is by how much? Healthy running backs and a QB that's not a true freshman with limited spring, summer and fall snaps will probably help too!

    This post was edited by Rgranger2 on 2/15/2012 at 12:47 PM

    Rgranger2 ●

  • everybodygodeep said...

    I would love an OL with the following:

    OT Hawkins OG Hopkins C Walters OG Flowers OT Cochran

    But will likely get: OT Hawkins OG Walters C Espinosa OG Hopkins OT Cochran

    Walters and Hopkins could be flipped.

    Walters will not play center. I agree with Hopkins though. Flowers will start.

    AlumniHorn ●

  • Every team has question marks. Just because there are questions, doesn't mean that they won't be answered in a positive way. Of the three positions mentioned, I worry most about WR. Shipley will be a strength, but Goodwin's status is unknown. Until Davis demonstrates that he can elevate his play, he is a question as well. While there is talent coming at the position, they are still unproven freshmen, at a position that requires as much integration into the nuances of the offense as it does talent.

    texaztom ●

  • Asked the OP question to my magic 8-ball, the first response was, "Concentrate and ask again." 2nd time, said,"Outlook not so good." Obviously, the thing is broken and just threw it away!

    Kong ●

  • texaztom said...

    Every team has question marks. Just because there are questions, doesn't mean that they won't be answered in a positive way. Of the three positions mentioned, I worry most about WR. Shipley will be a strength, but Goodwin's status is unknown. Until Davis demonstrates that he can elevate his play, he is a question as well. While there is talent coming at the position, they are still unproven freshmen, at a position that requires as much integration into the nuances of the offense as it does talent.

    I hope your right about getting some positive answers this season. As for the receivers, we are low on guys you really feel like you can count on week in and week out. I would feel a lot better about this position if we had somehow pulled DGB. I think he could have had a huge impact.

    Rgranger2 ●

  • Rgranger2 said...

    I hope your right about getting some positive answers this season. As for the receivers, we are low on guys you really feel like you can count on week in and week out. I would feel a lot better about this position if we had somehow pulled DGB. I think he could have had a huge impact.

    Very true, but the biggest fish sometimes gets away.

    texaztom ●

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