Bleacher Report - Articles by Dino Nicandros

Alabama vs. Texas Is the Matchup College Football Deserves

Dino Nicandros — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:16:23 -0500

Saturday night had to be rough for TCU and Cinncinati fans everywhere.

Just when we thought all hell would break loose, kicker Hunter Lawrence booted Nebraska and earned Texas its second trip to Pasadena for the National Championship in the waning seconds of a hard fought defensive struggle between two of college football's classic powers.

The manner in which the game ended has been under much scrutiny and questions have been raised as to whether Texas deserves a chance to play for it all based on their weak performance against the Cornhuskers.

As for the Crimson Tide, their performance in the SEC Championship demonstrated they are the best squad in college football after derailing Tim Tebow and the defending national champion Florida Gators, 32-13.

While it is obvious that Alabama earned its spot in the title game, many wonder whether Texas has done enough to prove it belongs in Pasadena over teams like TCU and Cinncinati.

To all of the naysayers out there, I tell you the BCS got it right for once, at least as far as the championship game goes.

Kudos to TCU, Cinncinati, and Boise State for their undefeated seasons. That is quite an accomplishment and each of those three schools has a valid argument as to why they should get a chance to play for a title.

However, I truly believe Alabama-Texas is the match up college football deserves.

There's just something about this game that seems special to me.

Could it be the historical significance?

Legendary coaches Paul "Bear" Bryant and Darrell K. Royal coached against eachother in the '60s. Who could forget the epic 1964 Orange Bowl game where Royal's Longhorns defeated Bryant's No. 1 Alabama( with Joe Namath at the helm), 21-17?

Over the last 50 years, Texas is 7-0-1 against the Tide, with the latest being the 1982 Cotton Bowl where the Longhorns pulled out a thrilling 14-12 victory.

Could it be the defensive nature of the game?

Alabama's defense is rated second in the nation with Texas following close behind at third. The Longhorns boast the best rush defense in the country (62 yards per game) while the Crimson Tide are second (78 yards per game). Both teams force a lot of turnovers as well, as Alabama is plus-16 and Texas is plus-12.

Names like Earl Thomas, Javier Arenas, Sergio Kindle, and Rolando McClain fill the defensive All-American team, making this a highly anticipated defensive slug fest.

I look at this game and I see two teams who just know how to win no matter the circumstances.

The Tennessee Volunteers were lined up for the game-winning field goal that would ruin Alabama's title chances. Tide nose guard Terrence Cody wasn't about to let that happen. As the ball was snapped, Cody broke through the Volunteer line and tipped the ball on its way up. The slight contact with the ball caused the field goal attempt to fall short, effectively saving Alabama's season.

The Crimson Tide again found themselves in trouble against rival Auburn on the road. Down 21-20 in the fourth quarter, Tide quarterback Greg McElroy engineered a 15 play, 79-yard drive that ended with a four yard touchdown pass to Roy Upchurch with just 1:24 left on the clock. Alabama would hold on for the victory.

Texas has had some close encounters of its own.

Clinging to a 16-13 lead over archrival Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl, Colt McCoy threw an untimely interception deep in Oklahoma territory. As Oklahoma defensive back Brian Jackson took off towards the endzone, McCoy may have made the tackle that saved the season.

Still, Oklahoma had the ball late in the fourth quarter only down by a field goal. Sooner quarterback Landry Jones dropped back to pass, and threw right in to the hands of safety Earl Thomas. That interception would prove to be the game-clincher.

On Saturday night, the Nebraska Cornhuskers were 1:49 from throwing a wrench in the national title picture. Up 12-10, the Husker kickoff went out of bounds put Texas at the 40 yard line.

Following a long pass to Jordan Shipley that had yardage tacked on after a horse-collar penalty, Texas was at the Nebraska 26 yard line. With time running and a timeout left, Texas inexplicably ran a play. As time was winding down, McCoy threw the pass out of bounds, but the clock showed zero.

However, replay officals ruled that there was one second left, giving Texas kicker Hunter Lawrence a chance to win it. From 46 yards out, Lawrence squeezed the ball just inside the left upright, giving Texas the Big 12 title and a shot at the national title.

Both the Crimson Tide and the Longhorns have faced a great deal of adversity this season, but it is because of those challenges that I believe these two are the best teams in the country.

Since the 2005 Rose Bowl game between Texas and USC, we haven't seen an evenly matched title game.

2006: Florida 41, Ohio State 14

2007: LSU 38, Ohio State 24

2008: Florida 24, OU 14 (not as close as score suggests)

I expect this year's game to be in the mold of the 2005 Rose Bowl, and not just because the game will be played in Pasadena.

Alabama and Texas are two of the premier programs in the country with arguably the best collection of talent between them.

While Texas' 41-38 triumph over USC was an offensive fireworks display, I expect an Alabama-Texas matchup to be exactly the opposite.

Two of the nation's best defenses come to the forefront in a game the could very well be decided by field position and field goals.

Both squads match up evenly in terms of athleticism and discipline. The coaching abilities of Nick Saban and Mack Brown are impeccable as well.

One team runs to set up the pass, the other passes to set up the run.

Two Heisman candidates in Bama's Mark Ingram and Texas' Colt McCoy can really light up the scoreboard.

What more could you ask for in a national title game?

While the heated arguments that started Saturday night will continue well in to January, I believe the BCS finally got it right (and I won't say that often).

This matchup was destined to happen, and now that it's set, we can expect nothing less than a titanic, rough-and-tumble grudge match between two of the nation's most storied programs.

Vince Young and The Texas Longhorns Have Come Full Circle

Dino Nicandros — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:59:36 -0500

It was almost four years ago that Vince Young and the Texas Longhorns stepped into the Rose Bowl against the USC Trojans.

The second ranked Longhorns and their fearless leader were given no chance to beat Pete Carol's juggernaut, but the boys in burnt orange knew better.

On a night that featured college football's two highest scoring offenses and three Heisman contenders (two winners), the two teams traded punches well into the fourth quarter.

Just when it looked like USC was going to seal the deal on their third national title, Young ran to the rescue, scoring two touchdowns in the last four minutes including the game winner with 19 seconds left.

It was perhaps the finest moment in Texas football lore and was one of the greatest games in college football history.

In the months that followed that epic night, Young and the Texas Longhorns went their separate ways. Young opted out of his final year of eligibility and entered the NFL Draft, where he was selected third overall by the Tennessee Titans.

At Texas, Mack Brown named redshirt-freshman Colt McCoy the starting quarterback following spring workouts.

The parting of ways damaged both sides in one way or another.

While Young's rookie season in the NFL was successful (Rookie of the Year, Pro Bowl selection), he would soon face a great deal of adversity, so much so that many speculated his career was coming to an early end.

On opening day of the 2008 season, Young struggled against the Jaguars, throwing two picks and getting sacked four times. The young quarterback was booed by his own fans trotting back to the sideline.

Hesitant to return to the game, Young walked back on to the field only to suffer a knee injury on his first play.

In the weeks following that fateful day, Young lost himself.

Veteran Kerry Collins was named the starter and the Titans took off without Young at the helm, running off a 13-3 regular season record.

It would continue to go downhill from there.

One night, Young left his apartment without his phone and without telling anyone. A rumor began to circulate that Young was contemplating killing himself due to depression caused by his recent struggles on the football field.

It was all a big misunderstanding, but the constant media coverage hurt Young's image even further. Things didn't look good for the former Texas star's future.

While things weren't nearly as bad for Mack Brown and the Longhorns, it seemed that Texas was returning to its old self (winning 10 games a year, but losing one or two stunners).

The young McCoy had fourth-ranked Texas at 9-1 heading in to a match-up with Kansas State in Manhattan.

Texas got out of the gates quickly, driving to the Kansas State one-yard line in less than three minutes. On fourth down, McCoy lunged across the goal line and scored, putting Texas up 7-0.

However, McCoy suffered a severe neck sprain on the play, an injury that would cost Texas its quarterback as well as a shot at the national title.

Texas lost 45-42 that night and dropped the next game against rival Texas A&M, effectively removing the Longhorns from the Big 12 and national championship pictures.

The Longhorns won 10 games over the course of the 2007 season, but lost three in ugly fashion, two of which were to rivals OU and A&M.

The question of whether Mack Brown and Texas could win a Big 12 or national title without Young was being answered. It appeared the answer to that question was no.

Fast forward to 2009.

The Tennessee Titans started the season a horrid 0-6 with Collins still at the helm.

That's when the cries for Young began.

Coach Jeff Fisher insisted Collins wasn't the problem and that it was the team as a whole that was struggling.

Following a 59-0 loss to the New England Patriots in week six, owner Bud Adams insisted Young start coming out of the bye week.

With nothing left to lose, Fisher started Young against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the same team Young faced the day his career took a turn for the worst.

Young completed 15 of 18 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown as the Titans won their first game of the season, 30-13.

The Titans haven't lost since.

Young has thrown for 1010 yards (completing 62 percent) and four touchdowns to just two picks in that span. He has also rushed for 159 yards and a touchdown.

His finest moment came against Arizona last weekend when Young had arguably his best game as a pro. The resurgent quarterback threw for a career-high 387 yards and led a 99-yard, game-winning drive in the last two minutes of the game, in which he converted four fourth down attempts and threw the game-winning touchdown to Kenny Britt with no time left.

All of a sudden, the critics of the once beleaguered quarterback have been silenced. Young has improved leaps and bounds since the beginning of the 2008 season and has finally proven he belongs at the helm of an NFL franchise.

The McCoy-led Longhorns marched into College Station on Thanksgiving night undefeated and squarely in the national title hunt.

The Aggies were determined to play the ultimate spoiler for their rivals from Austin, but McCoy and the Longhorns would have nothing of it.

In what was a track meet of offensive firepower, McCoy's 479 yards of offense (304 passing, 175 rushing) and five total touchdowns gave Texas a narrow 49-39 victory over the Aggies, keeping Texas on track to play for the national title in January.

Since the start of the 2008 season, Texas has gone 25-1 and has BCS bowl victory. The Longhorns have righted the ship and have become legitimate national title contenders, with No. 12 behind center I might add, not No. 10.

This weekend Young and Texas will enter the big stage, but unlike 2006, they will do it separately.

Young's Titans face off against the 11-0 Colts. At 5-6, the Titans are back in the AFC Wild Card hunt, and a win over the Colts would be absolutely huge for Young's confidence going forward.

As for Mack Brown's squad, they are back in the Big 12 title game for the first time since Young's departure.

A win against 23rd-ranked Nebraska would secure a conference championship trophy and guarantee Texas' place in the BCS National Championship Game.

Many wondered how Young would handle the NFL and whether or not he could transform in to a successful pro quarterback.

College football analysts doomed Texas following VY's departure, citing the fact that he was their heart and soul.

As was the case when they were united on the same field four years ago, Young and the Texas Longhorns have defied the odds yet again and have landed in the spotlight once more.

How they handle the pressure this weekend will be a significant indication of just how far they have come since 2006.

Does Texas' Will Muschamp Have What It Takes To Be the Head Honcho?

Dino Nicandros — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:22:22 -0500

Many college football fans around the country know defensive coordinator Will Muschamp for the all too recognizable sound clip making the rounds on YouTube, where he yells "Boom (expletive)" after a vicious hit made by one of his players.

While he may have not been aware that the ABC microphones were on at the time, I doubt he'd care anyway.

Will Muschamp wears his emotions on his sleeve and he's proud of it. His enthusiasm for the game, and more specifically for hard-hitting defense, rubs off on his players.

Muschamp has moved around a lot (LSU, Miami Dolphins, Auburn, and Texas), but his defenses have always been top of the line, and more importantly, well disciplined.

His arrival at Texas in 2008 bred major success for the Longhorns, as they finished 12-1 and were one controversial ruling away from the national title game.

This season, Muschamp's philosophy has really set in as Texas is ranked fifth in total defense (first in rush defense).

Muschamp's triumph at Texas has been so significant that following the 2008 season he was tagged as the "Head Coach-in-Waiting", meaning that when Mack Brown decides to step down, Muschamp will take over the program.

There are many questions surrounding this scenario, however. First and foremost, when will Mack step down and will Will Muschamp wait around for that long?

Mack Brown signed a 10-year contract extension following Texas' national championship victory in 2006. He's slated to be at Texas until 2016, unless he signs another extension or steps down before then.

While it is unlikely that Brown will stick around until 2016, I do see him completing the Garrett Gilbert project before he contemplates hanging it up.

Muschamp has staved off multiple rumours that he's thinking about heading elsewhere. Prior to being deemed the next guy in Austin, his name came up for coaching vacancies at Clemson, Tennessee, Washington, Auburn, and more recently, Notre Dame.

I believe Muschamp will indeed wait. He's in the perfect situation and has all the tools to be successful as the head guy on the Forty Acres.

He has wonderful coaching role model in Mack Brown to learn under.

He has a talent pool that can't be matched anywhere in the state, or perhaps even the country.

He has a supportive fan base and generous alumni donors.

Will Muschamp's personality and coaching style is exactly what a post-Mack Brown Texas would need.

While Mack Brown is the perfect mold of what a college football coach should be, Muschamp adds his own, unique edge. He's only 38, so his youthful passion and fervor would be well received by both players and fans.

Youth also has its advantages on the recruiting trail. Recruits can relate better to a younger coach like Muschamp (not to say Mack doesn't do an incredible job of wooing players).

Try imagining for a second the Texas program developing an even more talented crop of players than they already have available. Hard I know, but if anyone could meet, or even exceed, Mack Brown's ability as a master recruiter, it's Will Muschamp.

His honest and straight-forward mentality could win over a lot of recruits, especially on the defensive side of the ball, that have thoughts of going elsewhere. After all, Muschamp did coach in the SEC for an extended period of time, so it is likely that he could open Texas up to a whole new crop of talented youngsters in the deep south.

Muschamp will continue to be tempted by other teams with head coaching jobs available, as he is one of the hottest assistant coaches in the nation, but ultimately I see him waiting his turn at Texas and inheriting one of college football's premiere programs.

His sheer determination and will to win bode well for a Texas program looking to extend its Big 12 dominance in to the next decade.

Texas's Dogus Balbay Is Quietly Making a Name for Himself

Dino Nicandros — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:39:58 -0500

He isn't one of the better shooters on the floor.

He's not the tallest guy on the floor, either.

However, junior point guard Dogus Balbay may very well be the hardest working player on Rick Barnes's squad.

Texas's 78-62 win over Pitt on Tuesday night was a coming out party for Texas's athletic point guard. For anyone who has never really watched Balbay play, they got a pretty good idea of just how ferocious he is.

Balbay had 10 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and three steals on the night, easily the most complete performance of anyone on the court.

Balbay was flat out outstanding on defense as he was able to make life incredibly hard for Pitt's guards Travon Woodall and Ashton Gibbs.

Dogus's key play came with just over four minutes left in the game, when he stole the ball from Woodall in transition and dished it to Damion James. James capitalized with a Layup, pushing Texas's lead to 71-59 and essentially putting the game out of reach.

That was just one of many timely plays Balbay made over the course of the game.

Balbay was able to drive in to the lane and finish around the rim (four for six from the field), something he struggled with last season.

With Balbay keeping Pitt's aggressive defense honest with his driving ability, J'Covan Brown and Jordan Hamilton were able to knock down some big shots from three point range.

While Balbay has always been a good athlete, it is clear that he put in a great deal of work in the offseason.

A year ago he was a bit wild with the basketball, thundering in to the lane with no control.

Tonight he was in complete control and made some good plays around the rim whether he was scoring or dishing it off to someone else.

A year ago he would often hold the ball too long and then throw up a foolish shot.

Tonight he got Texas running up and down the court and made smart, quick passes to players who had clear mismatches down low.

With players like Damion James, Dexter Pittman, and a host of talented freshmen gracing the roster, it's easy to overlook the Turkish point guard.

That may be the very reason he could be one of Texas's greatest assets this season.

Teams will be loading up to stop James and Pittman down low and Bradley and Brown on the perimeter. If Balbay is able to improve his shooting slightly and continue his brilliant play driving in to the lane, he will make life easier on the other players.

Balbay is also good for getting to the free throw line four to five times a game (making the free throws is a different story, however).

Knock down-drag out games like the one Texas played against Pitt play to Balbay's strengths. He's not afraid of contact and he flat out gets after every loose ball. I have never seen a guard of his size (6'0", 175 lbs.) so keen on getting in on the action with the big boys down low.

Dogus Balbay's incredible athleticism and improved offensive skill set makes him one of the more complete players on the roster.

His progression this season will be key for Texas's run through the non-conference and Big 12 schedules.

If defenses continue to ignore Balbay, rest assured he will make them pay one way or another.

Youngsters Making An Early Impact for the Texas Longhorns

Dino Nicandros — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:01:00 -0500

There has been much talk about Rick Barnes' stellar 2009 recruiting class and how it may be his best class ever, even better than the 2006 class that brought Kevin Durant and D.J. Augustin to the Forty Acres.

That assessment may a be a bit premature, especially considering Texas is only three games in to the season, but it can't be denied that the Longhorn freshmen are contributing early on.

The third ranked Longhorns are 3-0 following three straight blow out wins over UC Irvine, Western Carolina, and Iowa.

Much of Texas' early success can be attributed to what many people thought would be the key to the Longhorns' title hopes this season: Depth.

Rick Barnes' bench is 14 players deep, giving him the luxury of subbing in multiple players every so often to keep the five guys on the court fresh at all times.

While seniors Damion James (16 points, 11 rebounds per game) and Dexter Pittman (15 points, seven rebounds per game) anchor the squad, the freshmen are getting in on the act as well.

Let's take a look at the four new faces in Austin:

J'Covan Brown, PG

After sorting out some academic issues last year, Brown is finally making a statement on the court for the Longhorns.

Through the first three games, J'Covan Brown has seen the most significant amount of playing time out of the four freshmen, averaging over 20 minutes per game.

Brown is averaging 12 points, two assists, and two rebounds a game for Texas. He has shown excellent range from deep, connecting on 38 percent of his three-point shots.

Brown provides a good mixture of shooting touch and ball handling at the point, something that was lacking for this team a year ago. He is also very quick in transition and can cut through a defense in a hurry.

However, the freshman point guard has struggled with turnovers early in the year. He turned the ball over five times against UC Irvine, six times against Western Carolina, and three times against Iowa.

If he can cut down on giving the ball away and improve on his passing, Brown will quickly develop in to a complete and effective point guard.

Avery Bradley, G

Touted as one of the best players in America as a senior in high school, Avery Bradley is one of the more imposing figures on defense for the Longhorns.

While he is a talented scorer (put up 10 against UC Irvine and 11 against Iowa), he wants to be known as one of the better defensive guards in the country.

His stats haven't really suggested that yet, mainly because he plays about 19 minutes per game, but he has shown terrific on the ball defense and he doesn't make many mental errors despite his youth.

Bradley is shooting a whopping 58 percent from the field and he will only get better.

His shot selection has been a bit questionable, as he is too eager to throw up threes without looking for easier shots.

He will learn to take better shots as he sees more time on the court this season. Look for Bradley to develop in to one of Texas' top weapons on both ends of the court.

Jordan Hamilton, G-F

While Avery Bradley was the talk of the town in this recruiting class, Jordan Hamilton is proving to be not only the most complete freshman, but one of the more complete players on the team.

At 6"7, Hamilton is a versatile inside-outside player in the mold of a shorter Kevin Durant.

Playing from both the guard and forward positions, Hamilton is averaging 11 points and three rebounds per contest and is shooting 50 percent from the field (37 percent from three).

Mind you, this is all in only 18 minutes per game.

Hamilton can bang around in the paint and stretch the defense from three point range. He is a physical player who is graceful for someone of his size.

The only knock on Hamilton at the moment is his low free throw percentage (50 percent), but then again Texas isn't the best free throw shooting team, so it's not all on Hamilton.

Shawn Williams, G-F

Kind of the forgotten man in the group, Shawn Williams plays a very similar game to Hamilton.

Though he has only seen about eight minutes per game so far this season, Williams has shown glimpses of great versatility.

At 6'7, Williams is a hybrid guard-forward who plays tough defense and can shoot the ball pretty well from anywhere on the court (66 percent from the field, 50 percent from three).

Having players like Hamilton and Williams coming off the bench for your squad is frightening considering how many things they do well.

Williams is currently sandwiched on the depth chart with veterans like Gary Johnson Alexis Wangmene seeing increased roles, but it is likely he will see more playing time once Texas gets in to the meat of its schedule

Texas Longhorns: Keys To Avoiding a Thanksgiving Day Turkey

Dino Nicandros — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:44:10 -0500

The goal is in sight.

With just one game left to play in the regular season and a date with the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Big 12 title game, the Texas Longhorns are two wins away from another trip to Pasadena.

Texas has cruised through the regular season, running up an 11-0 record and swatting down any potential upset bids (Texas Tech, Oklahoma).

The Longhorns boast the second highest scoring offense in the country at 42 points a game.

What's been even more impressive is their defense, which is statistically the best in the nation, allowing just 239 yards per game.

Now that's all well and good, but the last few years haven't gone exactly as scripted as far as the Texas-Texas A&M game goes (last year is the exception as Texas won 49-9).

The following is a list of keys to the game for the Longhorns as they look to continue their march to the National Championship.

Smother the Fire Early

College Station may be one of the most intimidating venues in all of college football.

As of late, it hasn't been kind to Texas, if it ever was at all.

In 2007, the Longhorns traveled in to Aggie Land with a 9-2 record and a shot at a Big 12 south title still in play.

Quarterback Stephen McGee and the Aggies had other plans. The Longhorns surrendered 533 yards of offense, including 336 through the air, on route to a 38-30 loss.

A&M was able to jump on Texas early and keep the crowd in the game, running up a 17-3 halftime score. While Texas was able to claw its way back in, the Aggies stayed a step ahead of their burnt orange rivals.

Obviously this is a different year, and Texas is far better than they were in 2007, but the Aggie offense has shown some pop this season (ranked sixth in the nation in total offense) and can put up a lot of points on a good day.

Texas must strike early and fast, and they must quiet the crowd as soon as possible. If the Longhorns can get out to a 10 to 14 point lead early, the pressure to keep up will be squarely on the Aggies, which isn't likely considering the vast improvement to Texas' defense.

However, if A&M is hanging around late in the game with the 12th man behind them, Texas could be in some trouble.

The Aggies are Playing For Pride...

While A&M still has a pretty good shot at a bowl game, there isn't much to play for on a significant level.

That's very dangerous for Texas.

This game will be treated as the National Championship of the Aggies' season, and you can bet they will come out with all guns blazing.

The problem with Texas' back-to-back losses to the Aggies in 2006 and 2007 was that the Longhorns didn't match the Aggies emotionally. Call it arrogance, but Texas didn't believe the Aggies stood a chance, and in turn, they got bitten.

This time around, the Longhorns have to play every down with the thought that if they don't win, they can kiss glory goodbye.

Will Muschamp should have his defense excited, which should help keep the team's morale at a high level.

Pressure Jerrod Johnson

Johnson has really taken off this season for the Aggies, throwing for 2,875 yards and 24 touchdowns with just five interceptions.

In years past, the Aggies relied on a form of the spread-option to mainly run the ball. Stephen McGee was never a great classic passer, thus A&M was often left one-dimensional.

With Johnson keeping defenses honest with his powerful arm, the Aggie offense has finally taken off.

Because Johnson can hurt defenses with his legs (358 yards, eight touchdowns), it will be important for the Texas defense to keep him in the pocket and attack him from all sides.

Will Muschamp is one of the best in the business at drawing up exotic blitzes from the edge, so the speed of the Texas defense should keep the Aggie quarterback in check.

Get the Ground Game Rolling

The Aggies have been good at keeping Colt McCoy under wraps the last few years, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that the Longhorns have been unable to get a consistent ground game going to keep pressure off of him.

Texas has been better at running this season, but the ground game still needs a lot of work.

It is likely that Mack Brown will turn to either freshman Tre' Newton (370 yards, five touchdowns) or sophomore bruiser Cody Johnson (331 yards, 12 touchdowns).

While Texas' short passing game has served as a pretty effective de-facto running game, Newton and Johnson will need to produce to keep the aggressive Aggie front led by sack master Von Miller at bay.

The Longhorns were able to counter a stout Oklahoma defense earlier this season by turning to a lot of misdirection plays that kept the Sooner linebackers off balance. A&M's defense isn't exactly stingy, so Texas shouldn't have too much trouble dictating the pace of the game.

Additionally, letting McCoy run some options or a draw here and there would help neutralize A&M's speed rush.

Colt McCoy and the Longhorns will likely leave College Station with a win, but the month of November always has its surprises. Texas needs to be ready for a shoot out with their archrivals.

Flying Under the Radar: Five Of College Football's Unsung Stars

Dino Nicandros — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:55:52 -0500

Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, and Mark Ingram have dominated the Heisman conversation since the season began, and rightfully so.

Guys like Case Keenum, Jimmy Clausen, and Jacory Harris have been receiving a fair bit of exposure as well.

Looking past the small club of superstars, there is a group of players who I believe have done an equally remarkable job of guiding their teams without all the national attention received by the top dogs.

While they aren't really Heisman contenders, these guys deserve some well earned credit.

Josh Nesbitt, Georgia Tech

While Georgia Tech is ranked seventh in the latest BCS poll and has garnered some national attention, not much is said about their field general, Josh Nesbitt.

Nesbitt has steadied the nation's No. 1 rushing attack and has Georgia Tech at 9-1 and on top of the ACC Coastal divison.

While his passing stats won't wow you (1,223 yards, 45 percent completion rate), he has been an effective trigger man for Paul Johnson's triple option attack, rushing for 817 yards and a whopping 16 touchdowns.

Nesbitt's best game of the season came in an upset victory over then-No. 4 Virgina Tech, when he rushed for 122 yards and three touchdowns.

His tough running style has given ACC defenses fits and has proven the triple option can be effective in major college football with the right man behind center.

If Nesbitt can guide the Yellow Jackets past games against Duke, rival Georgia, and the ACC title game, it's off to the BCS for Georgia Tech.

Colin Kaepernick, Nevada

Buried in the far reaches of the college football world is the WAC conference, home to potential BCS-buster Boise State.

While the Broncos may have the best team, the Nevada Wolf Pack may just have the best player in quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Kaepernick, at 6"6, 215 lbs, is as good an athlete as you'll find at the quarterback position.

The Wolf Pack quarterback has thrown for 1,593 yards (a 61 percent completion rate) and 14 touchdowns to go along with 920 yards on the ground and an additional 12 rushing touchdowns.

Kaepernick's crowning achievement came against Idaho, where he threw for 178 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 230 yards and four touchdowns. He has rushed for at least 100 yards in his last three outings, including that record-breaking day.

After starting 0-3, the Kaepernick-led Wolf Pack have won six straight, including five in a row in conference play, and are tied for the WAC lead with none other than Boise State.

Nevada's second-ranked offense should present Boise State with its stiffest challenge yet when the two teams meet on Nov. 27.

Toby Gerhart, Stanford

Alabama's Mark Ingram and Cal's Jahvid Best have been touted as two of the best running backs in the country and future NFL stars in the making.

No one seems to have noticed Stanford's Toby Gerhart thus far in the season, but the nation took notice on Saturday when the 235-pound bruiser rammed his way for a school record 223 yards and three touchdowns in Stanford's 51-42 upset victory over Oregon.

Gerhart is a major reason why the Cardinals are 6-3 and in the thick of the Pac-10 race. His physical running style has presented some serious problems for the softer Pac-10 defenses, and there are no signs of him slowing down.

Gerhart has rushed 1,217 yards and 16 touchdowns on the season, and with three showcase games against USC, Cal, and Notre Dame on the horizon, he could really become a national figure if he performs well.

In fact, if all of the pieces fall the right way in the conference—which at this point is a long shot (another Oregon loss, two losses by Arizona, and a win over USC)—Stanford just may make a trip to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl.

As Gerhart goes, so goes Stanford.

DeVier Posey, Ohio State

It would seem a bit odd to an include a receiver from one of the nation's worst passing offenses on this list, but I believe this guy deserves a lot of credit for making the best of his current situation as well as his help in the development of the young Terrelle Pryor.

His stats aren't in the least bit flashy (45 receptions, 672 yards and seven touchdowns), but he has been Pryor's go-to-guy this season, especially in the big games.

Against a tough USC defense, he had six catches for 81 yards and proved to be the only guy Pryor could find open downfield. In a losing effort against Purdue, he had nine catches for 87 yards and a touchdown, as the only spark on offense.

His best game came against Minnesota, when he caught eight balls for 161 yards and two touchdowns, including a 62-yard beauty on a broken play.

Posey is nowhere near the top of any major receiving categories, but his gutsy play has given Pryor a reliable weapon in the passing game. He deserves a lot of credit for being patient while Pryor gets his feet wet in his first year as a full-time starter.

He is only a sophomore, so he will have plenty of time to develop in to a big-time receiver in the years to come.

Bo Levi Mitchell and Kyle Padron, SMU

June Jones is at it again, this time in Dallas and not the Hawaiian islands.

Jones's Mustangs are 5-4 overall (4-1 in C-USA) and are currently tied with the Houston Cougars for the C-USA West lead.

Much of the success of the resurgent Mustangs can be attributed to their two quarterbacks, Mitchell and Padron.

Mitchell was the starter at the beginning of the season, throwing for 1,725 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has had some great passing days, throwing for 424 yards against Washington State and 353 against UAB.

Mitchell has sat out the last two weeks due to injury, but freshman Kyle Padron has filled in nicely.

Padron has thrown for 729 yards and four touchdowns in just two and a half games, with his best performance coming in the Mustangs 27-13 victory over Tulsa, where he threw for 354 yards and two touchdowns.

Neither quarterback has put up astronomical numbers, but they are doing just enough to spearhead the resurgence of the SMU program and keep the Mustangs in the hunt for bowl eligibility (which they can aquire with a victory over UTEP next weekend).

Obviously there are many players around the nation that don't nearly get the credit they deserve and these are just a few of them. If there any players you believe need some love, feel free to comment below.

Texas Two-Step: Could We Be Looking at The First Dual Heisman?

Dino Nicandros — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:19:14 -0500

The Heisman Trust should seriously consider awarding a dual Heisman Trophy this season.

Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley form perhaps the nation's most dangerous combo and Saturday's 35-3 romp over Central Florida was their best showcase yet.

McCoy went 33 of 42 for 470 yards and two touchdowns, falling just shy of Major Applewhite's single game passing record of 473 yards.

Texas' offense struggled early in the game, but a few timely throws by McCoy got the Horns in rhythm.

McCoy hit James Kirkendoll on a 14 yard touchdown late in the third quarter, and Texas never looked back, scoring 14 points in the fourth to seal the deal.

Texas' win marked the 41st win in Colt McCoy's career. The Texas quarterback is one win short of tying the NCAA record for most wins in a career (held by Georgia's David Greene, 2001-2004).

While McCoy had an amazing career day throwing the ball, the guy he was throwing to stole the show.

Jordan Shipley caught 11 balls for a Texas-record 273 yards and a touchdown. Shipley's best play on the day came on an 88-yard catch and run from the Texas 12-yard line, after the Texas offense had been pinned on the goal line just a play before.

Shipley's remarkable performance ranks second all-time in Big 12 history and was the second best performance of any receiver in college football this season.

Shipley has 75 catches for 1,050 yards on the season, and it is likely he will reach 100 receptions for the second straight season.

On top of his astounding numbers through the air, Shipley has returned two punts for touchdowns, giving him three for his career to go along with a kick return for a touchdown.

The McCoy-Shipley connection has yielded 2,483 yards and 25 touchdowns over four years, and that's with frequent injury to Shipley his freshman season.

Is it so out of the question to give both of these players equal consideration in the Heisman race?

Neither of them would have the numbers they have without the other.

There is rare chemistry between these two roommates.

Being long time friends, they have spent many a summer night just working on timing and they have developed a virtual sixth sense for finding each other on the field.

When defenses have clamped down on the running game, McCoy has often been able to find Shipley weaving in and out of opposing zone defenses.

Though Shipley was limited during the OU game, the fear of him running loose forced the Sooners to double him, leaving guys like Marquise Goodwin wide open for McCoy.

With four games left in the regular season plus the Big 12 title game, this Texas Two-Step has a chance to add to their already prolific history.

While Colt McCoy will likely get most of the credit for Texas' success and will receive some make-up votes after the way last season's Heisman race turned out, Shipley deserves his fair share of the pie.

This really isn't a likely scenario for a multitude of reasons, greatest of which is the fact Alabama's Mark Ingram may be the one hoisting the trophy all by himself.

However, if Texas remains undefeated and cruises to the National Championship game, I say give the Heisman to both of them, for there is not a more valuable or effective combination in the entire country.

BCS Championship Prediction: Why the Texas Longhorns Will Beat Alabama

Dino Nicandros — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:39:43 -0500

As it stands now, Florida, Texas, and Alabama hold the top three spots in the BCS standings, and it doesn't seem like anything will change that until the forthcoming match up between Florida and Alabama in the SEC title game.

Most have tabbed Florida the favorite in a game against Alabama, and it is likely that Florida would prevail and go on to face Texas in the BCS Championship game.

However, Alabama tripping up Florida is a plausible scenario, and such an event would put the Crimson Tide in the title game opposite the Longhorns.

Here's what I believe would happen if these two teams were to meet for the grand prize (keep in mind this is mere speculation as it is no guarantee that Florida/Alabama and Texas will reach Pasadena, though it seems very likely).

Offense

Texas holds a clear advantage when comparing the two offenses.

The Longhorns boast the highest scoring offense in the nation (41 points per game) while Alabama averages just around 30.

Texas and Alabama are almost even in terms of yards of total offense, but that stat is deceiving considering the Longhorns have scored nine non-offensive touchdowns this season.

The Longhorns have been extremely efficient on third down, converting 44% of the time while the Crimson Tide are converting at just 38 percent.

While Colt McCoy isn't boasting the gaudy numbers he had at this time last year, he's been more than serviceable for Texas. He is still completing just over 70 percent of his passes, which is good for second in the nation.

McCoy has yet to have his best game, which is scary considering he's gotten on a hot streak ever since the Oklahoma game.

Receiver Jordan Shipley has been absolutely amazing for the Longhorns, grabbing 64 balls for 777 yards and five touchdowns to along with two punt return touchdowns and one kickoff return for a touchdown.

Marquis Goodwin and Malcolm Williams are viable deep threats with their rare speed.

Dan Buckner has fit in to the flex-tight end position nicely and provides a big target for McCoy.

The offensive line has given up a few more sacks than Colt McCoy would like (15), but it's still one of the best units in the country. Senior tackle Adam Ulatoski is a monster and pushes opposing defensive lineman around with ease while center Chris Hall can play any position along the line.

While Texas has no set starter at running back, Cody Johnson and Fozzy Whittaker have both proven to be reliable runners (Johnson is thunder, Whittaker is lightning). Freshman D.J. Monroe adds an interesting dynamic to the position as well.

As for the Crimson Tide, quarterback Greg McElroy has been decent, but nowhere near the elite level of McCoy.

McElroy is completing just 59 percent of his passes and is averaging just seven yards per completion.

Running back Mark Ingram has been entrenched in the Heisman race all season long, as he has already broken 1,000 yards rushing. However, it remains to be seen how he could function against the nations number one rush defense.

Receiver Julio Jones is a rare physical specimen who has all the talent in the world, but 'Bama's inefficient passing attack has left Jones with just one touchdown on the season. They simply can't get the ball to him consistently, and it is unlikely they would be able to do so against a tough Texas secondary.

Alabama's offensive line has only given up eight sacks on the year, but they have struggled to protect McElroy at times, especially against a stout Tennessee.

The Crimson Tide offense has served its purpose this season, but if it were forced to keep pace with an offense like Texas', it would fizzle.

Defense:

Defense is the name of the game in the SEC, which is why I give Alabama a very, very slight edge in that department.

Alabama is giving up around 11 points a game and only 240 yards of offense.

Marcell Dareus has been a terror up front, racking up four and a half sacks on the season while anchoring a line that is giving up only 64 yards rushing per game.

The secondary, led by senior Javier Arenas (four sacks, one interception), has been amazing in its own right, surrendering just 176 yards through the air per game.

Colt McCoy has struggled a little bit this season forcing the ball down the field, and I would expect the Alabama defense to capitalize on even the smallest of mistakes.

Moreover, Texas' offensive line struggled mightily with Oklahoma's defensive front, which means the Bama line could likely cause some major trouble as well.

On the other side, Will Muschamp's Longhorn defense has been playing out of this world.

The Longhorns boast the best run defense in the country, allowing only 54 yards per game and 1.8 yards per carry.

Sergio Kindle has been a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks (two and half sacks) as he uses his size/speed combination to overpower larger offensive lineman.

Linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy has been a steady presence in the middle of the field, as he is able to fly around and make plays in both run and pass defense (two sacks, four passes broken up).

Safety Earl Thomas may very well be the next Thorpe winner, as he already has six interceptions on the season, two of which he has taken back for touchdowns.

The resurgent Longhorn secondary is allowing just 187 yards passing per game and is holding opposing quarterbacks to mere 52 percent completion rate.

Alabama plays defensive-minded football, but Texas' revamped defense can play dirty too.

Special Teams:

Texas has a pretty significant advantage in the special teams department.

Jordan Shipley has returned two punts and kick off back for touchdowns this season.

Speedster D.J. Monroe has returned two kick offs for touchdowns, as well.

None of of the Crimson Tide returners have scored touchdowns so far this season.

In terms of blocking punts, Alabama has four (one won the game for them against Tennessee) and Texas has two on the season.

The fact that the Longhorns have so many weapons in the return game gives them the ability to score quick points and shift momentum.

Final Analysis

This game would come down to Alabama's ability to keep Colt McCoy locked down.

McCoy is dangerous on the run and you can bet offensive coordinator Greg Davis would want to get him outside the pocket early and often against an overly-aggressive Alabama defense.

It is unlikely that Bama quarterback Greg McElroy would have much time to do anything, making stand-out receiver Julio Jones irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

While Alabama has the defense to keep Texas in check for a little while, it simply doesn't have the offense to capitalize. Texas' defense is much improved and it would simply pin its ears back with a multitude of different blitz packages to make McElroy as uncomfortable as possible while keeping star running back Mark Ingram in check.

Texas and Alabama get locked in a knock-down, drag-out game, until Colt McCoy gets in sync with Jordan Shipley, and Texas pulls away late.

Texas 28 Alabama 17

With Texas' 7-0 Record, Don't Execute Offensive Coordinator Greg Davis Just Yet

Dino Nicandros — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:38:06 -0400

Last weekend's 16-13 victory over Oklahoma was a good win for a Texas Longhorns team looking to stay unbeaten, but it was hardly the satisfying win they were looking for.

Both teams combined for eight turnovers in what was a knock-down, drag-out Red River slug fest.

The Texas offense sputtered all day long, picking up just 269 yards of total offense. Quarterback Colt McCoy had the worst passing outing of the season, throwing for just 127 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Credit the OU defense for clamping down on the Heisman trophy candidate, but isn't it a bit strange that just a year ago this Texas offense mauled this Sooner defense en route to 45 points and 438 yards of offense?

Granted, Sooner linebacker Ryan Reynolds left the game early, leaving the middle of the field wide open, but this year's defense is almost identical to last year's.

The fact that Texas wasn't able to move the ball consistently on the Sooners was troubling to many fans after the game.

That's when the all too familiar chants for offensive coordinator Greg Davis' head began.

Many analysts and fans pointed to the fact that Davis chose to abandon the run until late in the game and held McCoy in check by calling a more conservative game plan.

Davis, a member of Mack Brown's staff since his arrival in Austin 11 years ago, has been the subject of as much scrutiny as any assistant coach in the nation.

He has become a popular scapegoat for the few issues Texas has had over the last decade.

Whether it was the five straight losses to Oklahoma from 2000 to 2004, the QB controversy between Major Applewhite and Chris Simms, or the few shocking upsets pulled by unranked opponents, Davis has taken the brunt of the blame.

It is true that offensive coordinators draw up your game plan. It's also true that they are the ones who call the plays in the tough situations. Like any normal human, they make mistakes too.

But let's consider the facts for a moment:

During Davis' tenure as offensive coordinator at Texas, the Longhorns have run off a record of 122-26.

Davis has coached nine of the top ten offenses in school history.

He has produced record setting quarterbacks in Major Applewhite, Chris Simms, Vince Young, and Colt McCoy.

He has called and won three BCS games, including the 2005 national championship.

After losing five straight games to the Sooners, Davis has sparked the offense and won four out of the last five in the series.

Oh, and Texas is 7-0 in 2009. It's hard to argue with an undefeated record.

I'm willing to go out on a limb and say Texas has the best offensive coordinator in the Big 12 conference. The numbers prove it.

As for the stinker last week against Oklahoma, Davis more than made up for it on Saturday against Missouri.

A common criticism of Davis during last week's game was his lack of creativity. He continually went back to the same 10-12 plays (screens, misdirection's, roll outs).

It's worth pointing out that most offensive coordinators have their set staple plays that they tend to go back to frequently.

The Longhorn offense had its most complete game of the season (against a real opponent), racking up an even 400 yards of offense en route to a 41-7 victory.

Davis, after being a bit lazy with the run game last week (if you call 142 yards lazy against the second best run defense in the nation) went to the ground right away against the Tigers.

Running backs Fozzy Whittaker and Cody Johnson combined for over 50 yards on the first two drives alone, opening up the passing game for McCoy and Jordan Shipley. The Longhorns scored touchdowns on their first three drives of the game.

Many of the calls Davis made this week were similar to last week. He rolled McCoy out often and let him make throws down the field (he implemented deeper throws this week, as well).

Texas has fans are quick to point out flaws in Davis' play-calling, but they are just as quick to praise him after brilliant games ('05 championship game, '08 OU game).

I suppose the same goes for every program and its fan base, but like everything else in the state of Texas, the pressure is enormous.

This is a growing Texas offense that has yet to reach its potential, and that's scary considering they're unbeaten.

You may not agree with Davis' game plans at times, but it can't be denied that he is a significant factor in Texas' success.

He'll call a bad game here and there, but his record shows that more often than not, Texas wins.

So let's not crucify Greg Davis just yet, at least until Texas starts winning less than 10 games a season (knock on wood).

Death to the BCS: An Anglo-Saxon Boast

Dino Nicandros — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:51:03 -0400

My AP English class recently read the famed tale of Beowulf, the story of a Viking hero who rescues the Danes from the horrible wrath of the monster Grendel.

After reading this epic piece of literature, our assignment was to compose a boast, or a rousing speech, in old Anglo-Saxon form.

The boast had to contain a problem, a quest, and a solution to said problem. As a keen observer of college football, I chose the most controversial topic I could think of: The BCS.

As you all know, the BCS computers have been the subject of much scrutiny since the system was put in place in 1998.

Many Longhorn fans will agree when I say that the BCS has managed to be—for lack of a better term—inaccurate in its selection of teams to compete in the five BCS bowl games.

The first BCS rankings of the year were released on Sunday. Florida was first, Alabama was second, and the Longhorns came in third.

However, the Sagrin computer ratings, a key component of the overall BCS formula, have the Longhorns 15th behind a one loss Utah team and a two loss Arizona tea that was ranked 37th in the Harris Poll and 40th in the Coaches Poll.

Excuse me?

We are just halfway through the season and Texas is already beginning to feel the icy clutches of the BCS yet again.

Thus, I turn to my boast, which expresses my displeasure with the current system in place. (Keep in mind this was written from an emotional standpoint and is in no way a reflection of my objectivity.)

Death to the BCS

Lord McCardle, Hail! I,

your loyal servant and follower, intend to take

on a task of the most dangerous kind.

I have traveled many miles from the land of

the Forty Acres, where our horns are long and our

hearts are large. Our enemies are many, but our equals

are none. However, the world of college football is

A grand and noble realm, one filled with passion and glory,

and I would never wish ill tidings upon it.

I have ventured to the thundering Death Valley and the treacherous Swamp.

I have gazed upon the splendor of the Horseshoe and Happy Valley.

I have touched Howard’s Rock and beheld the Coliseum in all of its wonder.

I fear, oh Benefactor of Benevolence, that our realm is in

grave danger. As of late, the sacred kingdom of

college football has fallen under the spell of a most

notorious and cunning enemy: the BCS.

This secret council of devious and dastardly demons

dares to defy the will of the masses.

Hidden away in their cold, decrepit basements and behind their

partitions, these upstarts have succeeded in attaining a foothold

In our glorious kingdom. These mere profit hunters have

created a state of imbalance and uncertainty in this land.

These negligent nimrods have nullified all that was once good

about college football. No longer is victory on the field of

battle worthy of the ultimate glory.

We now live in a world where nothing less than absolute

slaughter is acceptable. Moreover, we live in a world where

one slaughter is compared to another, in the hopes of deciding

which slaughter is more grand and glorious.

A year ago, my lord, the kingdom of the Longhorns

defeated the Soil-Stealer's of the kingdom of Oklahoma

in a fight to the death. Victorious were the Longhorns,

but bereft of glory. The Sooners attained the highest honors,

though they failed miserably in combat.

Only a society such as the BCS could conjure up such chaos.

You know of what I speak, oh Tamer of the Tigers. It was

not long ago that your kingdom was forced to share power

with the cowardly Trojans, who never even faced you in battle,

yet dared to call themselves your equals.

A mere computer formula, not the strength of our armies or the

courage in our hearts, decides our paths.

I pledge to thee, my lord, that I will root out these usurpers.

My journey will be perilous, my challenges great.

I will venture forth to the castle of the BCS and force

its dreaded council to change its ways.

Our great realm was built on honor and integrity. The victor

on the field of battle, not the offspring

of some cowardly computer formula, deserves the ultimate prize.

By the sweat on my brow and the chip on my shoulder,

I will not fail thee!

2009-2010 College Basketball Preview: Texas Longhorns

Dino Nicandros — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:27:21 -0400

The 2008 season was a bit of a roller coaster ride as far as the Texas Longhorns were concerned.

Rick Barnes' squad entered the season as a top 10 team, but faltered in January and February, limping in to the NCAA Tournament. The Longhorns finished a modest 23-12.

For a team with the kind of talent Texas had, the inconsistency throughout the season was a bit unsettling.

The Longhorns were looking good in December, knocking off ninth ranked UCLA and 12th ranked Villanova in back-to-back games.

Heading in to a match-up with fifth ranked Oklahoma in January, Texas was 12-3 on the season. However, a poor showing against the rival Sooners sent the Longhorns into steady decline down the stretch.

Texas went 14-7 in the last 21 games, including three straight losses to Kansas State, Missouri, and Nebraska in Big 12 play.

The limping Longhorns managed to slide in to the NCAA tournament after suffering a rather surprising loss to Baylor in the semifinals of the Big 12 tournament.

Texas was able to drive past New Mexico in the first round, but couldn't overcome Duke in the second round. For only the second time in five years, the Longhorns bowed out of the tournament before the Sweet 16.

The 2009 version of the Texas Longhorns is looking to right the ship and get the program back among the elite.

With 16 players on the roster, Rick Barnes has one of the deepest squads in the country, and Texas fans know that depth has been hard to come by the last few years.

The Players:

G/F Damion James

Longhorn nation breathed a sigh of relief when the dynamic James backed out of the NBA Draft and opted to return to Texas for his senior season.

James is the heart and soul of this Texas squad. Last season, he averaged 15 points and nine rebounds a game, shooting 46 percent from the field. At 6'7", 225 lbs, James is the kind of player that can dominate inside the paint and keep defenses honest on the perimeter.

However, James struggled at times being the go-to guy a year ago. His numbers were solid, but his shooting percentage from behind the arc fell from 41 percent in 2007 to 32 percent in 2008.

James' return to Texas will be key for both the Longhorns' success as well as his individual development as a pro prospect. It will be interesting to see how he handles the role of team leader this season.

C/F Dexter Pittman

"Sexy Dexy" may have made the most significant improvement out of anyone on the team.

After averaging just three points and three rebounds a game in 2007, Pittman saw increased playing time, and as a result, he averaged just over 10 points and five boards a game in 2008.

Pittman came on strong towards the end of last season, averaging a double-double in the Big 12 tournament. His best game came against Kansas State when he scored 19 points, grabbed 20 rebounds, and had seven blocked shots.

Get used to seeing that kind of stat line in 2009 as Pittman will continue to develop into one of the most dominating inside forces in the nation.

G Justin Mason

Every coach wants a player like Justin Mason on his team. He is a tireless defender, he can rebound with the best of them, and he's got a decent shot.

Mason has been the utility player for the Longhorns the last few seasons, getting time at the point, on the wing, and at forward.

A year ago Mason averaged six points, three rebounds, and four assists per game.

Mason was as good as ever on defense, but he struggled on the offensive side. While his overall shooting percentage was up from 2007, his three point percentage dropped from 34 percent to 20 percent and his free throw percentage plummeted to 56 percent.

If his offensive game has improved in the off-season, he'll be one of the better all around players in the Big 12.

F Gary Johnson

Johnson really improved his shooting last season, averaging 10 points a game. He shot around 48 percent from the field.

Gary's greatest attribute is his defense down low. He moves well laterally and is a terrific rebounder.

Johnson can get off the ground and block shots with the best of them and will be a force to be reckoned with on the Longhorn front line.

G Varez Ward

Talk about coming out of the wood work.

Not many people knew about Ward, but he made fans take notice during the Big 12 tournament. While his numbers weren't staggering (total of 16 points during the tournament) he made some huge plays driving in to the lane and picking up tough points.

Ward's aggressive play has earned the respect of his teammates as well as some significant playing time in the upcoming season.

He should fit in nicely to Barnes' guard rotation with A.J. Abrams gone.

G Dogus Balbay

Balbay came on the scene last season as a highly touted point guard from Turkey.

He had earned a reputation for being an extremely physical guard who could drive into the paint and make plays around the rim.

While Balbay showed flashes of those skills, he was hardly the offensive force many expected him to be. He averaged a mere three points per game in significant time at point guard. While he did shoot around 45 percent from the field, his jump shooting was far from impressive and his free throw shooting was atrocious (also 45 percent).

However, Balbay is an impressive defender. Rick Barnes said before last season that Balbay was perhaps the best pure athlete on the team, and it was evident at times. His vertical is amazing for a player of his size (6'0", 176 lbs) and his speed in transition isn't too shabby either.

Look for Balbay to continue to play a lot, but in a more defensive role, at least until he develops a more potent offensive game.

F/C Clint Chapman

Big man Clint Chapman saw limited duty during the season, but played some valuable minutes off the bench last year.

Chapman isn't the most graceful of athletes, but he's a physical presence in the lane and he's continuing to improve his play around the rim.

Chapman will see more time this season backing up Dexter Pittman and should be much improved from a season ago.

F/C Matt Hill

Hill spent much of last season on the bench as a result of a foot injury.

Hill, like Chapman, is a big man who can rebound and make some shorter-range shots. He is continuing to work on his footwork on defense as well as his free throw shooting.

He should work his way in to the rotation with Pittman and Chapman.

F/C Alexis Wangmene

After sitting out last season with an injury, Alexis Wangmene was granted a medical redshirt by the NCAA, giving him another year of eligibility.

Wangmene is now healthy and ready to contribute this season.

Alexis has a remarkable wing-span and is a furious defender. He is physical and adds a mean streak that Rick Barnes seems to really like. Moreover, the kid is as humble as they come.

The Newbies:

Rick Barnes brought in the sixth ranked recruiting class in the nation, adding some much needed firepower to an offense that struggled at times last season.

Shooting guard Avery Bradley was the No. 1 ranked player in the nation at his position. Bradley has been picked as the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and we have yet to see him at the college level.

He's an incredible scorer who is able to drive into the lane and play around the rim as well as sink deep three's. Bradley should fill the void left by three point ace A.J. Abrams.

Small forward Jordan Hamilton was the second ranked small forward in the nation. He resembles a lankier Damion James.

At 6'7" Hamilton is a dominating presence both inside and out. He likes to utilize the fade away, but he is best suited to play around the rim.

He will provide huge match up problems for the smaller forwards he will face.

Small forward Shawn Williams is a dynamic three point shooter, much in the way Abrams was for Texas a year ago.

At 6'6", he is another large small forward, but he needs more work rebounding and playing defense.

Williams will be a source of instant offense for the Longhorns this season.

Junior guard Jai Lucas , a transfer from Florida a year ago, immediately enters the mix for starting point guard. Lucas averaged eight points and three assists at Florida in limited playing time.

Lucas will be playing for Texas this season without a scholarship in order to make room for the three incoming freshmen. Talk about a team player.

Guard J'Covan Brown was cleared to play this season after being ruled ineligible by the NCAA earlier this year due to academic issues.

Brown is an electric scorer and a gifted ball handler, who many around the team seem to believe will be the starting point guard this season. Brown immediately infuses a great deal of versatility for the Texas offense.

Predicted Finish:

This Texas team is stacked.

Last season, this squad struggled to find an identity on offense, despite having playmakers like A.J. Abrams and Damion James.

While Abrams is gone, James and a host of experienced players return to the 40 Acres to complete some unfinished business.

James should be far more productive this season with the improvement of players like Justin Mason and Dexter Pittman. He won't have the pressure of having to carry the team all by himself.

With the addition of players like Avery Bradley and J'Covan Brown, this team should be a lot more explosive on the offensive end, as well.

Texas has a killer line up of games this season.

The Longhorns face a game USC squad on December 3, followed by a huge match-up against North Carolina in the new Dallas Cowboys stadium on Dec. 19 and a showdown with Michigan State in Detroit on Dec. 22.

What's more is Texas will have to contend with yet another talented Bill Self coached Kansas team, which is favored by many to win the Big 12 this season.

Should all the pieces of this Texas squad come together early in the season, they should be able to navigate through a brutal non-conference schedule with no more than two losses.

Texas matches up well with Kansas yet again and I look for the Longhorns to finally get over the hump and win the Big 12 tournament.

The talent is there for not only a run to yet another Sweet 16, but a run to the Final Four.

Rick Barnes has done an incredible job at Texas and this year he may have the deepest team he's ever had.

Look for the Longhorns to make an appearance in the Final Four this season behind the elite play of Damion James and company.

Bleacher Creatures Debate the Red River Rivalry: Who's Got Issues?

Dino Nicandros — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:09:09 -0400

In our second installment of "Bleacher Creatures Debate", Jett and I discuss which squad has the more significant problems heading in to this weekend's match up.

Jett:

Arguing who has the most issues is a moot point. OU definitely has more question marks going into the game.

But Texas has their fare share as well. One is, for some reason, their offensive line seems to have taken a step backwards despite returning all five starters from last year.

While the Texas line did have a few minor problems last year, they seem to have gotten worse, not better. Poor defenses have been able to pressure McCoy and make him uncomfortable, leading to a lackluster season by Colt McCoy thus far.

Colt McCoy's play is also an issue. While his numbers are respectable, there is a huge drop off in efficiency this year. He is averaging over an interception per game, so chances are he gives one up to the Sooners.

McCoy has been unable to stretch the field with his arm and he has not looked anywhere near as good as he did early in the season last year.

He has had to rely on the short pass and the speed of Jordan Shipley and the size of Dan Buckner. OU's defense has proven over the past two years that it devours one-dimensional offenses. Teams that can run and pass are quite a different story, but a one-trick pony offense is not going to beat the Sooners.

Which leads me to my last point. While the Sooners have more issues, The Longhorns have the biggest issue by far, the inability to run the ball despite not playing one defense that is worth a damn.

If you look back at the the past 10 years, the team that gets the most rushing yards wins the Red River Rivalry with the Exception of 2006 where both team finished with 124, I believe.

If Texas has had trouble running on Wyoming and Colorado, their line has almost no chance of enforcing its will against the Sooners' front seven.

OU still has one of the best defensive lines in the nation and three good run-stopping linebackers. Texas has poor line play and at the very best will have its two best running backs less than 100 percent, if at all..

Of course, Texas does have a chance to move the ball if they use the same formula as last year.

The Longhorns could not run the ball in the first half, then killed OU over the middle with Shipley in the third quarter, which opened up the run game in the fourth, allowing Texas to run all over the Sooners late and put the game away.

This year, though, using the short pass to get the run game going is a must instead of an added benefit.

Nothing the Texas offensive line has done should give you any inkling that they will be able to push back a good defensive front because they have not been able to push around some bad ones.

Yes, the Sooners have the most question marks, but Texas has the biggest one by far.

Dino:

Both Texas and Oklahoma have some noticeable flaws that need to be addressed, but one team's problems have already gotten the best of them. Twice.

It is clear that heading in to this year's Red River Rivalry, the Oklahoma Sooners are facing an uphill battle. In fact, since the season began, Bob Stoops' squad has had to deal with a great deal of adversity.

It all began with quarterback Sam Bradford's nasty spill against BYU that resulted in a sprained ACL joint in his throwing shoulder.

The injury cost Oklahoma the game as well as their quarterback, as Bradford would miss the next three weeks of play, including the Sooners' second loss at Miami.

Sooner nation got an emotional boost when Bradford finally returned to action last Saturday against Baylor. The Heisman Trophy winner looked good in his first game back, throwing for 389 yards and a touchdown.

However, he completed a little over 50 percent of his passes against a sub-par Baylor defense. Moreover, the Sooners failed to score a touchdown on three separate occasions inside the Baylor 20-yard line.

Bradford was able to make some nice throws, but he will have to perform a heck of a lot better against a loaded and hungry Texas defense.

It wasn't all Bradford's fault that the Sooners failed to produce touchdowns. With the loss of talented receiver Ryan Broyles to injury (should make a return against Texas), the inexperienced Sooner receiving corps dropped 11 passes, which doesn't bode well for them in this weekend's match up. If Bradford can't rely on his other receivers, this Sooner attack becomes a lot less potent.

The loss of stud tight end Jermaine Greshman before the season began was almost as bad as losing Bradford. Gresham was perhaps the most dangerous offensive weapon in the Sooner arsenal a season ago.

The red-zone woes the Sooners are having at the moment are significant, and without Gresham on the field to convert inside the 20, this offense will likely stall early and often against the stout Longhorn front.

The running game has been good so far this season, but against Baylor, it got bogged down at times. Sure the Sooners finished with over 200 yards on the ground, but after three quarters of play, they hadn't reached 100.

This week, tail backs Demarco Murray and Chris Brown will be facing a defensive line that gives up 1.8 yards a carry and 48 yards rushing a game, which is first in the nation. If the Sooners can't run, they won't win. It's that simple.

The offensive line has suffered this season, with the loss of three starters to the NFL. Trent Williams is a sold NFL prospect, but the rest of this group had failed to step up on a consistent basis.

Bradford will be on the run all day on Saturday if they can't get a push against a smaller, but quicker Longhorn defensive line.

The defense is good, but they have cost the Sooners both of their losses. Defensive coordinator Brent Venerables is just flat out too aggressive. He spent the whole Miami game pressuring Jacory Harris, but in the end it came back to bite him. Harris picked

apart the Sooner secondary after the first quarter.

This defense was torn apart by the precision passing game of Texas last season (McCoy went 28-of-35 for 277 yards and two touchdowns, no picks).

They face a very similar Texas attack this season, and if Venerables is too aggressive with his linebackers, McCoy will tear them apart yet again.

The Sooner defensive line is loaded with NFL-caliber talent, but it was dominated for the most part by both BYU and Miami.

The Longhorn offensive line may be struggling with run blocking, but its pass blocking may be better than any line in the country. If Colt has time to throw, he will be able to dictate the pace of the game, running game or not.

Overall I see a Sooner team that has the potential to stay competitive, but has far too many problems with inexperience and injuries to stay consistent for four quarters against a fast and athletic Texas squad.

Bleacher Creatures Debate the Red River Rivalry: Who's Better Defensively?

Dino Nicandros — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:06:54 -0400

This Saturday, the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners are set to square off in the 104th installment of the Red River Rivalry, held in the famed Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas.

The Longhorns come in as serious national title contenders, while the Sooners look to right the ship and win a unprecedented fourth conference championship.

I have teamed up with Oklahoma FC Jett Byrom in a Creature vs. Creature debate centered around this weekend's game.

Each day leading up to the game, Jett and I will debate a topic pertaining to some particular aspect or storyline of this very intriguing matchup, leaving it to the readers to decide which team holds the edge.

On to the first topic:

Who Has The Better Defense?

Jett:

The key to any good defense is the front seven, and OU has a better front seven than Texas. Some will point to the numbers and say that Texas has the better defensive numbers and allowed less yards. Which is true, but who have they played?

Texas has allowed about five fewer running yards per game than OU. However, Texas has yet to play an offense that can run the ball. Of the two conference games they have played, one team doesn't even try to run and the other gets stopped by second and third-tier teams on their schedule.

OU has played two ranked teams that can and do run the ball. They held one to less than 30 yards rushing. In addition, they have faced Tulsa—the No. 1 offense in the country in total yards the past two seasons. Unlike Texas Tech, Tulsa tries to both run and throw the ball, but could not do either against OU.

Another plus for OU is scoring defense. Despite have a much tougher strength of schedule than Texas, OU is allowing nearly a touchdown less than the Longhorns per game. OU has almost allowed half the points Texas has, despite the fact Texas has yet to play a ranked team and the Sooners played two ranked teams away from home.

The one place you would expect Texas defense to be much better is pass defense. The Longhorns' pass defense is highly regarded, while the Sooners' pass defense is considered second class at best.

But the numbers are not that different, OU has allowed 990 pass yards to date, while Texas has allowed 934. Texas has played only one good pass offense all year and that was Tech—which burned Texas for 420 yards in Austin.

Some will say, "yes, but that's Tech, and they cannot be stopped," but remember what happened to them last time they went to Norman. The only yards they got were against OU's prevent defense trying to burn out the clock for nearly two full quarters. So Tech can be stopped, and usually is when up against a good defense.

Which brings me to my final point. It remains to be seen whether Texas is a good defense. They lead the nation in a few defensive categories, but have yet to play anyone and have allowed way too many points to teams that should not be scoring on a top-tier defense.

OU, on the other hand, is much more proven, having almost identical numbers despite having a much tougher schedule—especially on the road.

Dino:

I look at this game and I see two defenses that can flat-out play.

Texas ranks fourth in total defense, and Oklahoma is not far behind at ninth. Both squads boast a boatload of talent, specifically along the defensive line. The Longhorns and Sooners are particularly adept at stopping the run (first and third, respectively).

In a game that is so evenly matched on the defensive side of the ball, I'd have to give the edge to the Longhorns, but by the slimmest of margins.

Sergio Kindle leads an undersized yet speedy defensive line that really knows how to put pressure on the quarterback (14 sacks in five games). While Kindle is the big-time name on the line, I look for junior Sam Acho to take advantage of double teams on Kindle.

Acho has good speed, and has racked up three sacks on the season to along with three fumble recoveries. Defensive tackle Lamar Houston has proven to be Texas' best run-stuffer, and will be key in slowing down Demarco Murray and Chris Brown.

Looking at the linebackers, Roddrick Muckelroy may be one of the better players Mack Brown has had at the position in some time. Last season versus the Sooners, "Muck" single handedly shut down the OU running game, getting in on 16 solo tackles. Look for Muckelroy to pound on the Sooner backs early and often. Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho will need to continue their improvement to aid against the Sooner running attack as well.

The secondary may be the most improved unit on the team. This group has eight interceptions through five games (last season they had a total of six). Sophomore safety Earl Thomas has been the defensive MVP so far this season (four interceptions).

He flies all over the field and does an excellent job of reading the quarterback's eyes, allowing him to defend virtually any route a receiver can. Aaron Williams and Curtis Brown have been solid, but neither has a pick so far this season. In a game that is annually decided by turnovers, these two will have to step up and make some big plays.

The Sooners have looked just as impressive on defense, but they have already suffered two losses (BYU, @ Miami). Granted, they were by one point apiece, but contrary to popular belief it was the defense, not the offense, that cost Oklahoma in both of those games.

The Sooners held a lead late in both games, but the defense was unable to make the critical stops needed to preserve the victory. Moreover, the Sooners have yet to face a quarterback of McCoy's talent, so they should be in for a rude awakening.

On the other hand, Texas' defense has saved them from a couple of scares. When the Longhorns traveled up to Laramie, Wyo., to face the Cowboys, they had a three-point halftime lead. While the offense struggled mightily, the defense was able to hold Wyoming to 273 yards of total offense (much of which came against the Longhorns' second-stringers late in the game) and shut-out the Cowboys in the second half.

Just last weekend against Colorado, the Texas offense struggled in the first half, but the defense came up huge (a 96-yard interception return for a touchdown by Earl Thomas and a blocked punt recovery for a touchdown by Ben Wells), essentially winning the game for Texas.

Because the Longhorn defense has been able to bail Texas out of some sticky situations and OU's defense has cost them some tight games, I give the edge to Texas.

Texas Longhorns: Win and You're In

Dino Nicandros — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:36:18 -0400

It's been absolute chaos in college football this season.

Ten top 10 teams have already lost this season (six have lost to unranked opponents), and there are sure to be more upsets on the horizon due to the current state of things.

Only five weeks into the season, just three of the original top 10 teams have remained undefeated: No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Texas, and No. 3 Alabama.

Amidst all of the uncertainty, the Texas Longhorns have to like the way things are playing out, even more so than Florida and Alabama.

Coming into this season, there was fear in Austin that the Longhorns' strength of schedule would work against them come BCS rankings time.

Texas has played three cream puffs in Louisiana-Monroe, Wyoming, and UTEP. Moreover, the win over conference rival Texas Tech is looking progressively worse (Tech lost to Houston, Houston lost to UTEP).

The BCS poll takes into account strength of schedule, style points, and a boat load of other factors.

With Texas' weak non-conference schedule, it was a very distinct possibility that, in the event of a tie in the Big 12 or on the national level, Texas would be overlooked in favor of a team with a similar record and a stronger schedule (see: 2008 season).

However, many of the Longhorns' top challengers in the polls have faltered as of late, leaving Mack Brown's boys in the perfect spot to make a run to Pasadena.

Texas' arch rival, Oklahoma (ranked third in the preseason polls) scheduled a substantially more difficult non-conference schedule with an opener against BYU and a matchup with the Hurricanes in Miami.

The Sooners didn't plan on losing those games, but an injury to Bradford in the opener seemingly doomed Oklahoma's title chances. The Sooners lost to BYU, 14-13, and again three weeks later to Miami, 21-20.

All of a sudden we are looking at a two-loss Sooner team that is severely depleted on offense, even with a possible Bradford return.

Meanwhile, the USC Trojans, who came into the season ranked fourth, looked poised to run through what seemed to be a weaker Pac-10 conference.

A win on the road in Columbus against Ohio State, with a freshman quarterback no less, was a monumental achievement.

Unfortunately for the Trojans, the hype wouldn't last, as former USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian and his Washington Huskies surprised Pete Carroll's crew just one week after its win at Ohio State.

Currently, the top five stands as follows: Florida, Texas, Alabama, LSU, and Boise State.

All five are undefeated.

So shouldn't the Longhorns be concerned that they can still be jumped by one of the three undefeated squads trailing them?

Sure, the potential is there for either Alabama or LSU to jump Texas, but what does it matter?

Florida plays LSU this weekend, and no matter what happens, the loser will drop out of the top five.

In the event that LSU pulls off the upset, they will either jump Texas or trail them by the tiniest of margins in the polls.

However, LSU has to play at Alabama later this season, thus canceling out yet another top five team, with the loser dropping from the ranks of the unbeaten.

Then there's the SEC title game that will likely have Florida playing Alabama or LSU. The loser would be out of the running.

As for Boise State, it could run the table the rest of the way and still have no prayer of jumping Texas due to the Broncos' very pedestrian schedule.

Get the picture?

No matter what happens between Florida, Alabama, and LSU for the rest of the season, Texas can only benefit.

The only thing Mack Brown and his Longhorns have to do is win. Period.

The scenarios detailed above differentiate this season from last year, when Texas had to worry about scoring style points in the BCS rankings to keep pace with Oklahoma, especially after the loss to Texas Tech.

With the Sooners and Trojans out of the equation for the moment, and the inevitable sorting out of the SEC chase forthcoming, the Longhorns just have to win, regardless of how.

Of course, this whole scenario depends entirely on the Longhorns running the table.

If Texas is thrown into the mix with a multitude of other one-loss teams, the Longhorns might as well make their travel arrangements to Tempe. It's that simple.

Should Colt McCoy Be Worried about the Heisman Jinx?

Dino Nicandros — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:45:03 -0400

It was supposed to be one of the most heated Heisman races in college football history.

Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow, and Colt McCoy came into the season with high expectations for not only their respective teams, but for themselves as well.

Unfortunately, two of these three quarterbacks have been dealt significant blows to their Heisman campaigns.

In Oklahoma's season opener to BYU, Sam Bradford suffered a sprained ACL joint in his throwing arm after falling on his arm awkwardly shortly before halftime.

Bradford didn't return for the second half and his Sooners went on to lose in dramatic fashion, 14-13. The Sooner quarterback missed the next three weeks and his status remains unknown for Oklahoma's upcoming matchup with Miami.

Tim Tebow and his Gators were cruising past Kentucky last Saturday. Tebow had already amassed some impressive numbers on the day and was looking or more.

Then, horror struck.

Early in the third quarter, while dropping back to pass, Tebow was blind-sided and sent straight into the ground. On his way down, he smashed his head against one of his own linemen's knees, which knocked him out for a good 15 seconds.

Tebow was able to walk off the field, but he was soon driven away in an ambulance.

It was found that Tebow suffered a severe concussion.

Florida has a bye-week this week, but Urban Meyer is still debating whether or not to play Tebow against LSU a week from Saturday, a game that is pivotal in the SEC chase.

As for Texas' Colt McCoy, it was business as usual, as he racked up over 300 yards of total offense and threw for three touchdowns in a 64-7 massacre of UTEP.

While the Longhorns have essentially jogged their way to 4-0, their fearless leader hasn't looked as impressive as he was this time last year.

McCoy has already thrown five interceptions this year, after throwing a total of eight last season.

His freakish 77 percent completion rate is down to around 70 percent, which isn't remotely bad, but it's hardly his best effort.

Perhaps the most noticeable change in McCoy's game is his comfort level on the field. A year ago, McCoy managed games with such ease that it was almost impossible to shut him down.

This season, however, Colt has looked a bit spooked, especially early in games. He has been forcing the ball into tight coverage at times as well as failing to go through all of his progressions.

Granted, it's early in the year and he is still adjusting to life without Quan Cosby, but McCoy seems hesitant.

Could it be that McCoy witnessed what happened to Bradford and Tebow and is now afraid of suffering a similar fate?

It's a plausible explanation, but I don't think it's the case.

After all, McCoy has already been down injury road.

Late in his freshman season, McCoy suffered some nerve damage in his neck, which in turn, inhibited his ability to throw the ball at high velocities and great distances.

However, Colt was able to rebound and there were no lingering effects of his injury when Texas played Iowa in the Alamo Bowl.

With that in mind, I doubt Colt is as nervous as people think he is simply because he knows how to cope with injury.

I don't believe McCoy is suffering from injury-related anxiety. He's simply trying too hard.

He may not say it to the press or the fans, but Colt McCoy wants that Heisman Trophy badly, and as a result he is forcing plays that aren't there.

This Texas gun-slinger isn't afraid for his safety. He's afraid to lose.

If anyone is afraid for McCoy's safety, however, it's Mack Brown and Greg Davis.

We haven't seen McCoy take off and run as often this season, which is partly by design (to allow the running backs to carry the load) and partly to preserve him physically over the course of the season.

The conservative play calling has kept McCoy safe, but at some point Greg Davis will have to open up the play book and allow Colt to be Colt.

Injuries are a constant threat in football, but the fear of injury should not dictate how a team or any specific player performs on the field.

So if I'm Colt McCoy, I don't worry about what happened to Bradford and Tebow, nor do I worry about that bronze statue. I play my own game to the best of my ability and have fun doing it.

The rewards will come in time.

Besides, Colt hasn't won a Heisman yet, so you have to like his chances to stay healthy.

Getting Defensive: Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners Leaning On Stout D

Dino Nicandros — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:50:45 -0400

Last season, the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners boasted two of the most explosive offenses in the nation.

The Longhorns averaged 42 points and 475 yards of offense a game led by their Heisman-hopeful quarterback Colt McCoy. McCoy completed an NCAA record 77% of his passes, sparking Texas' impressive run to the BCS.

The Sooners were incredible in their own right, scoring 51 points a game and racking up 547 yards a game behind the arm of Heisman winner Sam Bradford. The Sooners scored at least 60 points in the final five games of the regular season, making them the highest scoring offense in NCAA history.

The preseason magazines said Texas and Oklahoma would meet, and possibly exceed last season's gaudy numbers.

While both offenses are still scoring over 40 points a game this season, it has been the defenses that have carried these two squads.

The Longhorns (3-0) haven't received the kind of production from Colt McCoy they were expecting, but that's not to say he hasn't been good.

The offense has been inconsistent, getting off to slow starts in the first half of games and picking it up in the second half.

While the offense has been a bit stale at times, it seems that Will Muschamp's defense has come to play this season.

It was particularly evident in Texas' 34-24 victory over Texas Tech last weekend.

By looking at the stat line alone, one would think that giving up 420 yards through the air and 24 points would be a horrible outing for a defense.

If you watched the game, however, you would have seen the true story.

The Longhorn defense got after Tech quarterback Taylor Potts all night long, sacking him twice, forcing a fumble, and pressuring him in to multiple bad throws.

The defensive line, anchored by senior Sergio Kindle, man-handled the Red Raider offensive line, something the Longhorns failed to do in last year's loss to Texas Tech.

Lamaar Houston and Kheeston Randall were stout in the middle, helping Texas hold the Red Raiders to -6 yards on the ground.

I didn't expect the defensive line to be this far along this early in the season, but the spectacular performance on Saturday proved they will be a force to be reckoned with in the coming weeks.

Roddrick Muckelroy and the linebackers were simply vicious.

The Longhorns forced three fumbles, two of which were forced by the linebacking corps.

The secondary held its own for a majority of the game.

Corner backs Curtis Brown, Chykie Brown, Aaron Williams, and Deon Beasley were physical in their coverage of the Tech receivers, while safety Earl Thomas picked off a pass and flew around the field all night long.

There were a few coverage breakdowns that led to Tech scores, but when the secondary played closer to the line of scrimmage, the coverage was excellent.

Don't look too far in to the yardage this defense is giving up. Playing in the Big 12 against spread offenses tends to twist defensive numbers a bit, as these offenses are designed to pick up large amounts of yardage.

Make no mistake, this defense is ferocious and is right up there among some of the better squads in the nation.

The Texas defense has improved leaps and bounds since last year and will continue to carry the team until McCoy and the offense can get their mo-jo back.

The Oklahoma Sooners (2-1) didn't start the season out the way they had planned, losing to BYU, 14-13, in the opening game of the season.

Not only did the Sooners lose the game, they lost Heisman winner Sam Bradford to a sprained right shoulder, which has kept him out of play since.

The keys to the offense were handed to freshman Landry Jones, a kid whose first snap as a college quarterback came in a losing effort to BYU.

Jones has played remarkably well in Bradford's place, especially in OU's 45-0 victory over Tulsa last Saturday, when he threw for 336 yards and six touchdowns.

The offense looked extremely fluent, but it was the defense that stole the show.

Over the last two seasons, Tulsa has been the top offense in the nation, but they failed to score a point against the Sooners.

The Sooner defensive line, led by Gerald McCoy and Demarcus Granger, dominated up front, forcing Tulsa quarterback G.J. Kinne in to throwing two interceptions as well as clogging up running lanes for the Tulsa running backs.

The linebackers were stellar.

Travis Lewis, the Sooners' leading tackler this season, sacked Kinne once and racked up seven solo tackles.

Senior Ryan Renolds was even better, sacking Kinne twice and tallying 13 total tackles.

The secondary was in lockdown mode all day long, allowing only 153 yards through the air.

Safety Quinton Carter and corner back Brian Jackson picked off Kinne once a piece and kept Tulsa star receiver Damaris Johnson in check.

This Sooner defense is as good as advertised, and quite frankly it needs to be if Oklahoma hopes to avoid another stumble. Look for this squad to reach dominant form by mid-season.

Both Texas and Oklahoma are boasting a whole lot of firepower on the defensive side of the ball, a complete 180 degree turn from last season when the Longhorns and Sooners were terrifying offensively (they still are), but suspect defensively.

The question is, which defense has made the greatest improvements? OU has the statistics, Texas has Will Muschamp.

We should get the answer to that question when these two rivals meet up again on October 17th in Dallas.

Until then, however, we'll have to settle for watching these two squads feast on opposing offenses.

Texas-Texas Tech: 'Horns Claim Revenge Over Rival Raiders

Dino Nicandros — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:58:46 -0400

For Mack Brown, it must have felt good lifting the giant gorilla off his shoulders.

After 10 months of waiting, the Texas Longhorns finally got the chance to exorcise some demons after last season's stunning loss at the hands of rival Texas Tech.

Texas fought its way to a 34-24 victory over their rivals from West Texas.

It didn't exactly go as planned for the boys in burnt orange, but Colt McCoy and Co. found a way to hold off a Tech offensive surge in the second half.

The first half had the looks of a defensive struggle, surprising considering the high scoring nature of this rivalry. At the half, Texas held a 10-3 lead.

Offense

Jordan Shipley got the scoring going for Texas, returning a punt 46 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. Apart from a Hunter Lawrence field goal, there was no offensive pulse for the Longhorns.

Colt McCoy struggled in the first half, throwing a pick after overthrowing John Chiles on what should have been an easy throw for the Heisman contender.

The Texas quarterback would rebound, however, throwing a key touchdown to Dan Buckner at the start of the fourth quarter, putting the Longhorns in a comfortable position.

McCoy finished 24 of 34 for 205 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions. He made some good throws throughout the game, but it still seems like he is forcing the ball downfield. McCoy was also high on quite a few throws that he made on a regular basis last season.

The Longhorns may have found their running back of the future in the young Tre' Newton. The freshman ran 20 times for 88 yards and a touchdown. He showed impressive vision between the tackles and good speed on the edge.

Jordan Shipley hauled in 11 of McCoy's passes for 73 yards, but his shining moment came on the punt return touchdown.

Flex-tight end Dan Buckner came up big yet again for the Longhorn offense, catching six balls for 75 yards and the key fourth down touchdown. Look for Buckner to see more and more passes come his way as the season progresses.

John Chiles stretched his legs a bit in Texas' wildcat offense, something we haven't seen from Texas since early last season. Chiles faked a handoff and ran up the middle for 34 yards, showing good speed and elusiveness in the open field.

Apart from two sacks early in the fourth quarter, the Texas offensive line provided solid protection for Colt McCoy throughout the game.

The line is finally run blocking on a consistent basis, as it opened up huge running lanes for Tre' Newton on key downs.

The Texas running game will only get better going forward, and it really has to if McCoy's struggles continue.

The coaching staff will be concerned that the offense had some trouble finishing drives.

After an Earl Thomas interception inside the Tech 30 yard line, the Longhorn offense was unable to capitalize (interception).

Defense

The first half proved to be a Texas defensive clinic, as Will Muschamp's crew took it to Tech quarterback Taylor Potts early and often.

The explosive Red Raider offense was held to just three points and 163 yards passing in the first two quarters. The defensive line led by Sergio Kindle was able to throw Potts out of rhythm and keep the Tech offense in check.

The secondary held its own as well, jumping on the short passing routes and preventing any large gains.

It is also worth noting that safety Blake Gideon played well and didn't give up any long gains (had to be good for his psyche).

The Longhorn defense recorded one sack and three forced fumbles (two recovered) in the first half. Will Muschamp has constantly preached the need for more takeaways.

However, the second half became a shoot out, as was expected coming in.

Taylor Potts threw three second half touchdowns, torching the Longhorn defense out of a no-huddle, hurry up attack.

Potts finished 46 of 62 for 420 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.

The Longhorn defensive backs, after playing tight coverage on the Tech receivers in the first half, played ten to fifteen yards off in the second half, resulting in consistent 12 yard gains for Potts and the Red Raider offense.

Tackling was also an issue in the second half.

Safety Earl Thomas whiffed on a tackle inside the Texas 10 yard line, resulting in a touchdown for Tech receiver Lyle Leong (80 yards, two touchdowns).

Curtis Brown and Aaron Williams each missed a few easy tackles that led to long gains after the catch.

Brown also got mixed up on a coverage assignment, leaving receiver Tramain Swindell wide open for a Tech score with about seven minutes left in the game.

Such coverage breakdowns cannot continue if the Longhorns hope to survive against the potent offenses of the Big 12.

Sergio, who hasn't recorded a sack in 2009, finally got one and it couldn't have come at a better time.

With Texas up by just seven late in the fourth quarter, Kindle shed his blocker and exploded into Taylor Potts, jarring the ball loose. The Longhorns recovered the fumble and went on to put the game away.

Kindle was blitzed from all over the field, keeping Potts on his heels for a good deal of the night. As long as he continues to get to the quarterback, the defense should be just fine in the long run.

The Longhorns face UTEP in Austin next weekend.

Covering The Spread: Keys To Stopping The Red Raider Air Attack

Dino Nicandros — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:49:10 -0400

It may have been the most devestating play in Texas Longhorn history.

When Texas Tech quarterback Grahm Harrell hooked up with star receiver Michael Crabtree for a touchdown with one second left to play in a thrilling battle of titans, the Longhorns' national title hopes suddenly looked dim.

The Longhorns' Big 12 and national title hopes took a huge hit and it can be argued that Texas quarterback Colt McCoy lost the Heisman race, as well.

Texas has waited roughly 10 months to claim its revenge against the team that cost them everything last season.

While Texas head coach Mack Brown points out that he isn't the kind of guy to use revenge as motivational tool, you can bet that it will be one vengeful atmosphere in Austin, Texas on Saturday night.

During last year's encounter with the Red Raiders, the Longhorns got down early due to their inability to sustain offensive drives and slow down Mike Leach's explosive air attack.

While it was difficult for the Longhorn defense to hold its own against the Texas Tech onslaught, there was really nothing different about the offensive scheme they were facing.

Mike Leach's passing attack is reliant on spreading the ball around to all of the receivers and running backs, making it hard for defenses to zero in on one or two specific offensive playmakers (in 2008 that was Crabtree).

When the Longhorn secondary would focus on shutting Crabtree down, players like Detron Lewis and Edward Britton would find spaces in the Longhorn zone and make relatively easy plays in space.

The Texas defense gave up 474 passing yards in last year's game. Nine different receivers caught a ball, seven of which caught more than three.

While play-makers Grahm Harrell and Michale Crabtree are gone, Mike Leach was able to plug yet another quarterback in to his pass-happy system (Taylor Potts) and the Red Raiders seemingly haven't missed a beat on offense.

If the Longhorns hope to slow down the Red Raider juggernaut in this year's contest, they should do the following:

Get Pressure with the Front Four

Before Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo came out with an injury during last year's game, the Texas defense had two sacks on Tech quarterback Grahm Harrell in the first quarter. After Orakpo's departure, the defense had zero.

Because the Longhorns were unable to keep up sustained pressure on Harrell, the secondary was picked apart with ease.

This season, Sergio Kindle (one sack in last year's game) made the move to defensive end in hopes of filling the void Orakpo left after he graduated.

While Kindle has been good at applying pressure thus far, he has yet to record a sack, something the coaching staff should be a little concerned about.

It will be up to Kindle, Lamaar Houston, Kheeston Randall, and Sam Acho to make Taylor Potts uncomfortable early. If Tech gets out of sync early in the game, the Longhorns are sitting pretty. If not, it could be another long game for the Texas defense.

Blitz with Moderation

By now everyone is aware that defensive coordinator Will Muschamp is one fo the more aggressive play callers in the nation.

He loves to bring players on the blitz from all angles to keep opposing offenses guessing.

While the Longhorns have the speed on defense to get away with blitzing more often than your average football team, it is important that they don't get greedy.

In other words, if Muschamp blitzes the linebackers, he better make sure the safties are filling the open void.

Last year, Texas Tech exposed the middle of the Longhorn defense due to the fact that when the linebackers were blitzing, the safties were unable to react fast enough, resulting in huge chunks of yards for the Tech receivers.

Muschamp must also be wary of the fact that blitzing safties too often can get the defense in trouble deep down the field. Look for the Longhorns to keep either Earl Thomas or Blake Gideon deep at all times.

The Texas defense should be just fine with a constant pass rush from the front four and a steady diet of creative Muschamp blitzes mixed in.

Turnovers

Oh, Blake Gideon....

I can't imagine what must have been going through his head after he dropped what would have been game-winning interception.

It was such a shame too after he had one of the better nights of anyone on the defense.

I'm done harping on the young man, but a lesson was learned from the "drop heard 'round the world":

Take advantage of opportunities.

Taylor Potts has already shown this season that he is a bit inteception pone (three versus North Dakota State).

The Texas secondary is far better than it was last season, so there should be a few chances to make Potts pay for some of the untimely throws he is likely to make.

Playing keep away may be the best defense against Texas Tech, so it's the job of the defense to, in short, take the ball away from the Tech offense and get it to Colt McCoy and company.

Tackle, Tackle, Tackle...

This should be pretty self-explanatory to anyone who witnessed this game last season.

The game was decided by a missed tackle...

The Tech offense is going to churn out gaudy offesnive numbers no matter what defensive scheme you employ.

Perhaps the single most important component of keeping the Texas Tech offense at bay is tackling in the open-field.

I couldn't count how many times during last year's game, including the game winning catch, that Longhorn defenders allowed Tech receivers to elude their grasp.

In fact, I'm willing to bet that had the Texas defenders made half of the tackles they missed, the game would have turned out differently.

The linebacking crew has been notorious as of late for missing easy tackles in the middle of the field.

When facing Tech's offense, it can't be stressed enough that giving up the five yard gains instead of the 20 yard gains is extremely important. As long as the defense keeps everything in front of them, Tech will be kicking field goals, not scoring touchdowns.

If the defense can play smart assignment football and make the easy tackles, Texas shouldn't have a problem with handing a good ol' platter of ice cold revenge to the Red Raiders.

Texas-Wyoming: Longhorns Start Slowly, Finish Strong

Dino Nicandros — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:10:09 -0400

It wasn't exactly an ideal start for the Texas Longhorns, but Mack Brown will take the win.

Texas struggled early against a hyped-up Wyoming team playing in front of a record home crowd.

However, the Longhorns, fueled by the play of quarterback Colt McCoy, managed to right the ship and pull away from Wyoming for a 41-10 victory.

Offense

Through out the first half of Saturday's game, the Texas offense looked indecisive and a bit off-kilter at times in the face of an inspired Cowboy defense.

McCoy went 30-of-47 for 337 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 44 yards and another score.

McCoy struggled in the first half, forcing the ball in to tight coverage at times (threw an interception on an under-thrown ball). He didn't seem comfortable in the pocket as he was often under the gun from a multitude of blitzes from Wyoming's defense.

What's even more shocking is the fact that McCoy, the nation's most accurate passer last season, was completing around just 50 percent of his passes before the half.

Wyoming was up 10-6 after a couple of Texas miscues, but McCoy managed to organize a quick scoring drive right before the end of the half, which put Texas up for good.

The Longhorn running game surfaced again this week.

Vondrell McGee performed far better this week (zero fumbles, two last week) running 11 times for 61 yards.

Tre' Newton got a fair bit of work as well, rushing eight times for 62 yards and a touchdown. Newton showed good speed on the edge and some shifty moves in the open field while gashing his way through Wyoming's defense.

The receiving corps got off to a rough start, junior John Chiles in particular.

The converted quarterback dropped three balls early, but rebounded in a big way, catching five balls for 49 yards and a touchdown.

James Kirkendoll was McCoy's go-to receiver on the day, hauling in seven passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. Jordan Shipley, McCoy's favorite target, had a modest day, grabbing seven catches for 61 yards.

Dan Buckner played out of the flex-tight end position and served as McCoy's security blanket. The sophomore caught six passes for 86 yards and a touchdown.

The offensive line looked a little shaky again this week, allowing two sacks on McCoy. Wyoming brought pressure from all sides and the Texas line wasn't consistent in picking up blitzes.

The run-blocking was decent overall, but still needs work. The running game was most successful when the backs ran north-south instead of east-west.

However, offensive coordinator Greg Davis insists on calling run plays parallel to the line of scrimmage, something fans will have to live with for the time being.

Defense

In short, the Longhorn defense was spectacular.

Will Muschamp's defense held Wyoming out of the end zone and limited the Cowboy offense to just 273 yards of total offense.

This game served as a good warm-up for the Longhorn defense, as they will face a similar offensive scheme next week against Texas Tech.

Sergio Kindle and Sam Acho hounded Wyoming quarterback Robert Benjamin all day long. Freshmen Calvin Howell and Marcus Davis both recorded their first career sacks, as well.

Roddrick Muckelroy and the linebackers were flying to the ball all afternoon and gave up very few big plays, an impressive feat considering the up-tempo offense Wyoming employed for a majority of the game.

The secondary, led by safety Earl Thomas, was in shut down mode for much of the game, allowing Robert Benjamin to complete just 42 percent of his passes for a mere 120 yards.

Aaron Williams and Curtis Brown have really come in to their own at the corner positions and should get even better as the season progresses.

The Longhorn defense turned to man-to-man coverage early and often and it was incredibly successful. Though there were no interceptions, the Texas defensive backs were able to effectively blanket the Wyoming receivers.

Special Teams

The special teams unit as a whole was atrocious.

Texas had a punt blocked and returned for a touchdown as well as a fake field goal attempt stopped short of a first down.

Punter John Gold is in Mack Brown's doghouse as well after rolling out for a rugby punt, and unwisely trying to run for the first down inside the Texas 10-yard line.

Texas faces the Red Raiders of Texas Tech next week in Austin.

Horns Roll Over Warhawks: Game Observations

Dino Nicandros — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:32:49 -0400

In their first outing of the season, the second ranked Texas Longhorns blasted the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks, 59-20, in front of a sellout crowd of over 100,000 fans.

Offense

Heisman hopeful Colt McCoy picked up right where he left off last season, going 21-29 for 317 yards and two touchdowns.

The Texas quarterback looked sharp for much of the game, though he did throw an interception in the second quarter.

McCoy showed nice zip on the shorter routes and good touch, as was evident with his 78-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Shipley in the second quarter.

The sixth year senior receiver hauled in eight catches for 180 yards. Shipley will be seeing more time on the perimeter this season with the graduation of Quan Cosby, a role Shipley seems to be comfortable with.

One element that was missing from McCoy's repetoir was his famed running ability. McCoy carried seven times for negative three yards on the night. However, coach Brown must have been pleased that other runners stepped up to take the bulk of the running responsibility.

Junior Vondrell Mcgee started the game at running back, rushing 15 times for 70 yards and a touchdown. McGee looked strong between the tackles, but coughed up two fumbles, a stat that is likely to make the coaching staff question his ability to carry the load.

Sophomore Cody Johnson, the Longhorns' short-yardage back, carried 11 times for 27 yards and scored three times from the goal line. Johnson should continue to handle the short yardage situations going forward.

Mack Brown may have discovered a new offensive toy in the electric freshman D.J. Monroe.

Monroe exploded on to the scene with an 89-yard kick return for a touchdown in the second quarter. The kid can flat out run (5A track star in high school).

Monroe also lined up at running back, rushing nine times for 64 yards. Look for this incredible talent to work his way in to the weekly offensive scheme.

Quarterback-turned-receiver John Chiles caught three balls for 35 yards and a touchdown. Chiles showed good straight-line speed on a screen pass from McCoy, as he ran it 14 yards for the score.

Chiles has earned a spot in the starting rotation, and unless he starts dropping a lot of balls, it is likely he will stay there.

The offensive line looked decent, but wasn't as dominant as expected. McCoy was sacked twice and was under some intense pressure at times.

There is some cause for concern on the line as starting guard Michael Huey was carted off the field after landing akwardly on his ankle. Texas can hardly afford a loss to a staring offensive lineman this early in the season.

The anticipated debut of freshman phenom quarterback, Garrett Gilbert, was not disappointing.

The Lake Travis graduate went 4 for 5 for 46 yards and showed good athleticism on a 12-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Gilbert showed excellent arm strength and good accuracy while moving out of the pocket.

Defense

The defense looked strong overall.

The Warhawks were held to 298 total yards of offense. The Texas secondary, anchored by sophomore safety Earl Thomas, allowed only 197 yards through the air and intercepted ULM quarterback Trey Revell once in the red zone.

There were a few significant breakdowns in coverage assignments, but the starting secondary proved they are here to play this season.

The defensive line was tough for most of the night, stuffing the ULM run game until late in the fourth quarter. Sam Acho recovered two fumbles and Sergio Kindle applied constant pressure.

Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp could not have been happy with the fact that the Longhorn defense didn't get any sacks. Last season the Longhorns led the nation in the sack category with 47.

Senior linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy made some great plays in the middle of the field, once again proving his worth to this unit.

Sophomore safety Nolan Brewster made a nice interception off a tipped pass deep in Texas territory. Look strangely familiar? Blake Gideon better watch his job...

The Longhorns looked good on opening night, but this team has a lot to work on.

The offense didn't seem to flow with the usual rythem, though I fully expect they will next week, and the defense, despite a solid effort, showed some weaknesses in play recognition.

We didn't really learn anything new about this Texas team.

Offensive coordinator Greg Davis will use the pass to set up the run, though we could see some more I-formation to bolster the running attack.

As for the defense, Muschamp will continue to preach tenacity up front and composure in the secondary. This will be an aggressive Texas defense, but pressure up front will be key come conference play.

The Longhorns take on the Wyoming Cowboys next weekend in Laramie.

Message For Mack: Devour Your Cupcakes

Dino Nicandros — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:48:02 -0400

It's rare that you see so many quality match-ups so early in a college football season, but that's exactly what we have to look forward to on Saturday.

The Big 12 conference has its fingers in two of those huge games.

The third ranked Oklahoma Sooners take on the the No. 21 BYU Cougars in the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium in Arlington. The offensive fireworks will go off early and often when these two high octane offenses do battle.

The ninth ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys face the No. 13 Georgia Bulldogs in Stillwater, in what is to be a very interesting match-up.

As for the second ranked Texas Longhorns, the only real challenge they will face against Sun Belt opponent Louisiana Monroe is the decision of when to take Colt McCoy out and put the second stringers in.

For the tenth straight year, Texas will be facing an opponent from a non-BCS conference to start the season. The Longhorns have won their season opening contests by an average score of 49-6, and the result of this game will most likely follow suit.

Looking past the first week, Texas faces Wyoming in week two and UTEP two weeks later with Texas Tech sandwiched in between.

In short, Texas faces no real challenge until the annual showdown with Oklahoma on October 17th.

So, with plenty of fluff on tap for the next few weeks, the Longhorns don't really have the marquee opportunity to make a significant statement like other teams around the country.

There is only one option for Mack Brown and his Longhorns: win and win big.

No one expects Texas to falter, or even hiccup for that matter, these first few weeks. The Longhorns simply have to destroy their inferior opponents and make it look as easy as possible in the process.

This may not be as easy as it seems, especially if you're aware of Mack Brown's strong belief in sportsmanship both on and off the field.

I give Mack Brown all the credit in the world for being one of the classiest, humble, and likeable coaches in all of college football. His players love him and his opponents respect him.

Unfortunately, the BCS formula doesn't look kindly on sportsmanship, or in Brown's case, keeping the score reasonable during routs of Texas opponents.

In other words, margain of victory plays a significant role in positioning teams in the BCS rankings.

Take last year for example. We all saw Texas beat Oklahoma, 45-35, on a neutral field. Texas was almost guranteed a spot in the championship game. That is until Texas Tech put a damper on the Longhorn's bid for an undefeated season.

Meanwhile, the Sooners were cruising through their remaining schedule, scoring at least 60 points a game down the stretch.

Mack Brown and his boys would win all of the rest of their games convincingly as well, but in the eyes of the BCS, Oklahoma's victories looked "sexier".

You know the rest of the story...

Many agree that the current system is rubbish and that a win is a win no matter the margain of victory.

However, the Longhorns had the opportunity to make their wins look more impressive by simply not calling off the dogs as early as they did.

It's sad that what used to be considered blowouts (ex: 35-7) over lowly opponents aren't good enough anymore. The BCS favors a 62-14 victory over a 49-14 victory. Sportsmanship is being discouraged by the BCS by forcing teams to embarrass their opponents long after the game is in hand.

Unfortunately that's the climate of college football today and coaches have to adapt.

That means you, Mack Brown. If OU is going to hang 60 on their opponents all season long, you have to hang 61.

As hard as it may be, Mack Brown has to put aside his own ethics and run the score up whenever possible, especially during the cupcake non-conference games.

Texas must show no mercy to the weak if they hope to avoid last year's nightmare scenario.

Bear to Watch: Electric QB Robert Griffin Could Bring Baylor Out of Hibernation

Dino Nicandros — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:29:54 -0400

By now we are all aware of the two premier quarterbacks in the Big 12: Oklahoma's Sam Bradford and Texas' Colt McCoy.

These two, along with Florida's Tim Tebow, are the front runners in the race for this year's Heisman Trophy, and for good reason. Their accomplishments are up there with some of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the college game.

However, lost in the titanic hype surrounding Bradford and McCoy is a young quarterback who last season singlehandedly raised the spirits of a program in need of a serious emotional boost.

The Baylor Bears haven't exactly been atop the Big 12 standings year in and year out. In fact, the Bears have finished no higher than fifth in the Big 12 South since the conference's inception in 1996.

A measly 13-43 conference record is all the Bears have to show for 13 years of membership in the Big 12. Moreover, they haven't made the postseason since 1994, when they played in the Alamo Bowl.

To say the 2008 season was a success would be ludicrous considering the Bears finished below .500 yet again at 4-8 (2-6).

But there was something different about the 2008 Baylor squad.

The 2008 version of the Bears didn't lie down and get blown out week after week by physically superior opponents. In fact, the 2008 Baylor Bears convinced a lot of people that they were finally catching up athletically with some of the bigger-name programs in the conference.

The perception of this program changed dramatically—and it had a lot to do with electrifying freshman Robert Griffin.

When Art Briles brought his prized recruit along with him when he left U of H, very few in Bear nation were aware that this kid possessed that "it" factor that surfaces once or twice every decade.

Sure, Griffin was known for his elite speed on the high school track, but no one was quite sure what they were getting in terms of a quarterback.

When the freshman quarterback entered late in the game against Wake Forest in the season opener, the Baylor coaching staff was trying to run the clock and end what was already a very ugly rout.

However, fans got a glimpse of greatness, even if it was for just a few drives at the end of an already decided game.

Griffin went 11-for-19 for 125 yards and rushed for another 29 yards and a touchdown. These might seem like pedestrian numbers, but keep in mind this was with less than a half of work.

The coaching staff handed Griffin the starting reins, and two weeks later, he set a quarterback rushing record at Baylor with 217 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in a 45-17 trouncing of Washington State.

It was the kind of performance that made many say, "Hey, this kid kinda reminds me of a younger Vince Young."

Let's not look too far in to that comparison just yet, but there is no doubt that Griffin's talents have made him a force to be reckoned with in the Big 12.

Despite a subpar supporting cast, Griffin was able to rush for 102 yards against Oklahoma, 101 yards against Texas, 121 yards against Nebraska, and 56 yards in a near-upset of Texas Tech.

Griffin finished the year with 13 touchdowns on the ground, tied for a Baylor single-season record.

Griffin's talents went well beyond running the ball, as he threw for 2,091 yards and 13 touchdowns against just four interceptions, completing 56 percent of his passes.

He set the NCAA freshman record for consecutive passes thrown without an interception at 219.

He has rare athletic talents and is already a very polished passer for his age.

The question is whether the 2009 season will be his breakout year, as if 2008 wasn't stellar enough.

Griffin dropped track this past spring and has fully committed to football, a move that will only help him in furthering his development as a quarterback.

He has often expressed his desire to get Baylor back on the map of college football, or at least create a little blip on the radar.

The way Griffin performed his freshman year, I wouldn't be surprised if he made good on his promise to lift Baylor to new heights this coming season.

Obviously, a bowl bid is the first and foremost priority for this program. But what about for Griffin? Some have got to wonder whether his mind is on another prize.

Anyone with his talent should be considered for accolades, but what about the coveted Heisman? Does Robert Griffin, the quarterback of Baylor University, deserve mention in the Heisman conversation?

Circle Oct. 24 and Nov. 14 on your calendars. Baylor gets Oklahoma State and Texas at home and will be at least 14-point underdogs going into both contests.

Am I saying Baylor will win these games?

No.

Am I saying Baylor could potentially win these games?

Not really.

However, should Griffin somehow miraculously lead Baylor over one or both of these opponents, the Heisman race could take a huge turn in his favor.

While I believe Baylor is being given too many premature votes of confidence, it's not out of the question that Robert Griffin gets this team into a bowl game and makes the Heisman hunt more than a three-horse race.

Texas Longhorns 2009 Preview: Defensive Line

Dino Nicandros — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:34:08 -0400

When defensive coordinator Will Muschamp made his debut on the 40 Acres last season, the Texas defense regained the tenacity that had been missing through the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

The Longhorn defense held opponents to an average of 18 points a game last season, down from 25 in 2007. Texas also improved in total defense, giving up 342 yards a game, down from 378 in 2007.

The run defense was impressive as usual, holding opponents to 83.5 yards a game on the ground, good for third in the country. Though the Big 12 has developed in to a pass-happy conference, that is still a very impressive number.

The defensive line was perhaps the most significant asset to the Longhorns' resurgent defense.

Brian Orakpo (11.5 sacks in 2008, first team All-American), winner of the Lombardi, Nagurski, and Hendricks awards, spearheaded the defense and was one of the premier pass rushers in the country.

However, the Longhorns will not have Orakpo's services this season as he graduated and was drafted 13th overall in this year's NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins.

Also departed are defensive tackle Roy Miller (All-Big 12 in 2008) and defensive end Henry Melton (four sacks in 2008).

The Longhorns now find themselves in a bit of bind along the front four. With only one starter from last year's dominant line returning, defensive tackle Lamaar Houston, many of the younger players will have to step up and produce immediately.

Houston's presence, however, will be key to developing the younger linemen. After switching from defensive end to tackle last off-season, Houston was able to make major contributions in stuffing the run up the middle.

As good as he is, Lamaar Houston serves more as complementary player to more powerful defensive tackles, none of which have surfaced so far.

Senior Ben Alexander will be charged with aiding Houston in the middle. At 6'1" 310 pounds, Alexander has a lower center of gravity and is able to push larger offensive lineman off the line of scrimmage. However, he does not possess the explosive power need in a starting defensive tackle.

Sophomore Kheeston Randall, 6'5", 275 pounds, is an incredibly talented player, but is inexperienced thus far and will have to prove he can be a consistent anchor in the middle before he is given consideration for the starting job.

Mack Brown recently secured the commitments of defensive tackles Taylor Bible and Ashton Dorsey, ranked No. 1 and 2 respectively on the ESPN Top 150 List. Both will be major contributors in 2010.

Defensive end is a very different story.

While the loss of Brian Orakpo and Henry Melton will hurt, there is talent in position to make it yet another strong year along the front line.

Sergio Kindle (All-Big 12 in 2008, 10.5 sacks) has taken on a "slash" role for the defense. Because of his incredible size and speed combination, he will play at both outside linebacker and at defensive end.

Will Muschamp made it clear that he wants to blitz Kindle from all over the field in order to keep the potent spread offenses of the Big 12 guessing.

Kindle will be a sure-fire All-American candidate if he has the same success as he did last season.

Texas fans are eager to witness the development of juniors Eddie Jones and Sam Acho. Acho has already proven he can make plays in limited action, but if Jones can step up and be productive the defensive end rotation will be deadly yet again.

Freshmen Dravaanti Johnson (RS) and Alex Okafor will be significant pieces in the rotation as well.

Johnson made the switch from linebacker to end during his redshirt year and coaches were happy with his spring practices.

Okafor, the No. 1 defensive end in the country coming out of high school, will be counted on the provide solid depth at the position, if not more this season.

If Okafor bulks up a little more in the weight room he will be a force to be reckoned with. The coaching staff has been pleased with his progress so far and they are expecting big things from him going forward.

If Texas' defensive line recovers from the loss of three starters early on, look for the defense as whole to be one of the best in the country.

Texas Longhorns 2009 Preview: Offensive Line

Dino Nicandros — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:22:14 -0400

Going into the 2009 campaign, the Texas coaching staff should feel pretty confident in what they have at their disposal along the offensive front.

Of any position on the field, this group may have made the biggest improvement in production from 2007 to 2008.

Last season, the Longhorn offense scored 42 points a game up from 37 in 2007. The Longhorns also averaged 475 yards of total offense a game, which was good for fifth best in the country.

With four of the five starters from last year's line returning, Colt McCoy and the Texas offense should continue, if not improve upon, the excellent numbers from last year.

It all starts with senior left tackle Adam Ulatoski (30 career starts, All-Big 12 selection in 2008), the man charged with defending McCoy's blind side.

At 6'8", 302 lbs, Ulatoski is a sure-fire first team All-Big 12 selection as well as a possible All-American candidate. His combination of size and brute strength will be pivotal in keeping McCoy on his feet and comfortable in the pocket.

Opposite Ulatoski at right tackle is junior Kyle Hix (14 career starts, 13 in 2008). Hix proved to be an underrated asset to the Texas front line and was one of the more consistent blockers of the group.

As long as these two remain healthy, the Longhorn line should be in good shape. However, there is always a risk of injury to the big men up front.

Juniors Tray Allen and Brit Mitchell are the primary back-ups to the two starting tackles. While both are talented players, neither has played consistently enough to get on the field for more than a few plays at a time.

Allen was a top 20 prospect back in 2007, but he hasn't panned out to be the top player Mack Brown recruited. He will have to step up and show significant improvement or he will lose his job to one of the younger linemen on the roster.

As for Hix, his shift from guard to tackle this spring should serve him well. He has good technique and impressive lateral quickness, now he just has to utilize it when it matters.

Though depth at guard is a bit of a concern, Texas has some solid starters in place.

Senior Charlie Tanner (19 career starts, honorable mention All-Big 12 in 2008) and junior Michael Huey (three career starts) are slotted to be the starters after strong showings in the spring game.

Tanner isn't the best run blocker, but he has proven he can push his man off the line with relative ease.

Huey, however, wasn't able to hold his starting job when Tanner was injured for a portion of last season. He needs to show that he is prepared to handle a full-time job before the coaching staff and Colt McCoy can fully trust him.

That being said, his bullish nature and amazing strength should serve him well at the guard position.

Junior Steve Moore and redshirt freshman Mark Buchanan serve as the back-ups to the starting guards. Both provide some much needed depth and will be called on should the injury bug strike again this season.

Freshman Mason Walters, a center in high school, is a versatile player who will be a known name by mid-season.

Texas is set at center with senior Chris Hall (23 career starts, second team All-Big 12 in 2008) taking the starting reins. Hall is by far the most versatile lineman of the group as he has started at least once at every position along the front five.

Hall has an excellent work ethic and is the kind of player a coach loves to have. He has gotten stronger in the offseason and will prove to be perhaps the most valuable player on the line.

Following the dismissal of Buck Burnette last season, then-freshman David Snow had two very impressive showings at center.

This season, he will be called on to provide some key depth for Chris Hall in the event that he has to make yet another unexpected position change during the season. Snow slightly eases worries of an injury to Hall, as well.

Freshman Luke Poehlmann, Garrett Porter, Paden Kelly, and Thomas Ashcraft will all redshirt this season in order to focus their attention on getting stronger in the weight room.

All-in-all, Texas has a very solid offensive line that has a chance to be among the best in the nation. As long as injuries stay at a minimum, this group will bolster an already stunning offensive attack.

Look for the line to improve on run-blocking this season, as it was an area of concern last season.

If they keep the pressure off of McCoy, the Longhorns will be in good shape for a title run.

Texas Longhorns 2009 Preview: Tight End

Dino Nicandros — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:18:44 -0400

Over the past few years, Texas has produced some very talented tight ends.

Bo Scaife, David Thomas, and Jermichael Finley proved their worth while playing for the Longhorns, and now they are enjoying careers in the NFL.

One would think that Colt McCoy would have yet another talented tight end at his disposal this season, but at the present time, the situation looks bleak.

Early last season, sophomore Blaine Irby surfaced as a dangerous pass catcher off the line. In his first two starts, he hauled in 10 balls for 95 yards and two touchdowns. In fact, he was the 'Horns' second leading receiver after two weeks of play.

However, in week four versus Rice, things took a turn for the worse.

Irby suffered a season-ending knee injury, leaving Texas remarkably bare at the position.

The coaching staff was hoping for a somewhat speedy recovery for Irby, but they just recently received even more bad news.

Team doctors discovered some major nerve damage in his knee as a result of the injury, and he will miss the entire 2009 campaign.

Mack Brown is charged with finding a replacement for Irby, something he struggled with a year ago.

Because there were no proven receiving threats among the crop of tight ends, Jordan Shipley was often asked to catch passes from the position.

The Longhorns spent a majority of the time in one-back, four-receiver sets, thus eliminating the need for a tight end on the field.

While this strategy didn't fail, it wasn't the long-term solution the coaches were looking for. Going in to the 2009 season, there are a few players vying for the tight end job.

The coaches were hoping sophomore Ian Harris would step up because of his receiving skills, but he has been battling neck and shoulder injuries since last year, thus making him a question mark going forward.

Sophomore Ahmard Howard was supposed to be Irby's replacement when he went down last season, but he too suffered an injury not too long after Irby. The injury cost him the season, so he is still in recovery mode.

Junior Greg Smith started four games in Irby's absence last season, but he was phased out by midseason and replaced by four- and five-receiver sets.

Freshman D.J. Grant made a switch from wideout to tight end this offseason, a move the coaching staff seemed to like. At 6'3", and with receiver-like speed, he could potentially be the true weapon of the group.

However, Grant injured his ankle during spring workouts, which limited his reps in practice and put him behind some of the other candidates.

The glaring weakness with this group, apart from the injuries, is the inexperience factor. None of these players have seen significant playing time and that will affect them them going forward.

Look for Texas to continue to frequently employ the four-and five-receiver sets this season, at least until a viable option appears at tight end.

If worse comes to worse, the Longhorns will have to line up another offensive lineman at the tight end position for running plays, giving their backs an extra blocker.

Texas Longhorns 2009 Preview: Receiver

Dino Nicandros — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:01:22 -0400

Last season, the college football world continued its journey in to the era of the spread offense.

High-scoring offenses were the norm, specifically in the Big 12 conference, where the spread offense boosted the numbers of many of the nation's elite quarterbacks.

The burnt orange boys from Austin followed suit.

Offensive coordinator Greg Davis installed a version of the spread that allowed Colt McCoy to basically control the pace of games with short to intermediate passes that would eventually open up the long bombs.

McCoy put up astronomical numbers, but of course, he had to have players to throw to.

Former Longhorn receiver Quan Cosby had a phenomenal year serving as McCoy's safety blanket. Cosby finished the 2008 season with 92 receptions for 1123 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Cosby's defining moment was his game winning catch in the final seconds of the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State.

With the loss of Cosby to the NFL, McCoy will likely rely more on his roommate, senior Jordan Shipley, who was granted a sixth year of eligibility this spring following an injury plagued career.

Shipley was just as effective as Cosby last season, grabbing 89 balls for 1060 yards and 11 touchdowns.

If there was an open spot on the field, Shipley found it very quickly.

Shipley also took two kicks back for touchdowns last season, the most significant being his second quarter score against Oklahoma in a pivotal Big 12 match-up.

Shipley's return was good news for the Longhorns, but many of the younger receivers will have to play a bigger role with the absence of Cosby.

Sophomore Malcolm Williams had a rather quiet season early on, but he really began to blossom late in the year. He finished with 17 receptions for 304 yards and three touchdowns.

At 6'3, 220 lbs, Williams is an imposing figure and should be McCoy's best deep threat. However, his route running needs to improve and he must become a better down field blocker.

Sophomore Brandon Collins was perhaps the best young receiver on the field for the Longhorns last season, catching 35 balls for 430 yards and three touchdowns.

With Collins in the slot, McCoy often looked to him when Cosby and Shipley were covered. Like Williams, Collins will have a more active role in the Longhorn offense this season.

Sophomores James Kirkendoll and Dan Buckner will also see some more time in the four and five receiver sets that Texas will employ.

Kirkendoll saw some decent time last season, hauling in 21 receptions for 221 yards and a touchdown.

Buckner saw some mop up duty late in games, but at 6'4, he has the chance to be a valuable possession receiver going forward.

Sophmore Montre Webber and redshirt freshman Deshean Hales will look to eventually break in to the receiver rotation, but will provide some valuable depth at the position for the time being.

Perhaps the most interesting move of the spring was ex-quarterback John Chiles' decision to move to receiver.

Chiles played three years at receiver while at Mansfield Summit High, so he has a natural feel for the position. He is a very versatile athlete and could quite possibly be one of the best weapons on the team.

Look for the Longhorn receivers to blossom in to one of the more talented groups the 40 acres has seen in a few years.

Next up: Offensive line

Texas Longhorns 2009 Preview: Running Back

Dino Nicandros — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:46:51 -0400

Earl Campbell. Ricky Williams. Cedric Benson. Jamaal Charles.

Some of the greatest running backs in college football history have played for the University of Texas. Both Campbell and Williams were awarded the Heisman Trophy, while Benson and Charles set numerous Texas rushing records.

Heck, some might consider Vince Young one of the better running backs to play in the burnt orange.

Texas has long been known as a run-first team that uses a steady dose of power running to open up short to intermediate throws.

For a long time, players like Campbell, Williams, and Benson were the catalysts of the Longhorn offense, as they received 25 to 30 carries a game and 20 to 25 touchdowns a season, on average.

The climate, however, has changed in Austin.

Back in 2003, Greg Davis implemented the zone-read to accommodate the rare skills that Vince Young possessed, and with great success. Young essentially served as a second running back on the field while lined up in the shotgun.

Since then, Davis has overhauled the offense yet again to fit the skills of Colt McCoy. The Longhorns now run a version of the spread that makes use of a short to intermediate passing game to open up a quick-hit running game.

Gone are the days of the power runner.

After Jamaal Charles' early exit in 2007, the Longhorns were left with a stable of young running backs, none of which were able to separate themselves from the other backs. Because of this, the 2008 season saw the beginning running back-by-committee approach on offense.

Texas had five backs, including Colt McCoy, who rushed for at least 250 yards.

Junior Vondrell McGee seemed like the next likely candidate to join the 1,000-yard rushing club at Texas, but so far, it hasn't panned out that way.

Last season, he rushed for 376 yards and four touchdowns on 88 carries, nowhere near the 1,000 yard mark.

He was accompanied by recent graduate and Rams running back, Chris Ogbonnaya. Ogbonnaya served as the versatile third down back for the Longhorns and it looked, for a while, that he would be the consistent threat Texas needed out of the backfield.

He too failed to live up to the full time starter role, though he did rush for 373 yards and four touchdowns along with 540 yards receiving and three touchdowns.

Sophomore Fozzy Whittaker showed the most speed out of the group, but he was derailed by injury and never fully recovered. Whittaker finished the season with 284 yards on 64 carries.

Sophomore Cody Johnson was the team's power back and had arguably the best season of all of the running backs, rushing for 338 yards and 12 touchdowns, though many were near the goal line. Johnson showed remarkable agility for a back of his size (240 lbs.) and seemingly won the starting job this spring before going out with a hamstring injury.

Mack Brown scored big this offseason when he landed 6'3", 225-pound freshman Chris Whaley.

Coach Brown indicated his desire to restore some attitude to the Longhorn running attack, and Whaley, with his rare combination of strength, size and speed, may just be the back Texas needs.

Backs Tre' Newton and Jeremy Hills will also look to increase their work loads in the rotation, while Antwaan Cobb will work full time at fullback after shuffling back and forth between tailback and fullback.

Texas' offense was deadly last season, but the running game lagged behind the passing game at times.

If Texas is able to restore some of that famed balance, not even Urban Meyer's Gators may have enough to stop the Longhorn juggernaut.

Moreover, the Longhorns need a running back to step up and relieve pressure from McCoy, who actually led the team in rushing last season with 561 yards and 11 touchdowns. McCoy is as gutsy and tough as they come, but the hits will take a toll on his body after a while.

This is a talented group of backs. Look for either Johnson or Whaley to win the starting job, with McGee and Whittaker providing the home run threat.

Next up: Receivers

Texas Longhorns 2009 Preview: Quarterback

Dino Nicandros — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:06:09 -0400

Following a surprising run by Mack Brown's squad in 2008, the Texas Longhorns have their sights set on the ultimate prize in 2009.

Fresh off a stirring victory over Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl, the Longhorns head in to the fall as one of the favorites to challenge Urban Meyer's Florida Gators.

Over the next few days, I will be compiling a position by position breakdown of the 2009 Texas Longhorn football team followed by a complete schedule analysis and predictions for the 2009 college football season.

First up: Quarterback

When it was all said and done, Colt McCoy may have had one of the greatest seasons in Longhorn history.

The junior quarterback finished with 3,859 yards and 34 touchdowns to only eight interceptions. The most impressive statistic, however, was his 76 percent completion rate, which set an NCAA single season record previously held by Central Florida's Daunte Culpepper.

Much like his famed predecessor, McCoy also got it done using his feet, rushing for 561 yards and 11 touchdowns.

It was because of McCoy's bold leadership and coolness in the clutch that the Longhorns were able to complete one of the most brutal schedules in Texas history with only one loss.

Texas upended No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 11 Missouri, and No. 6 Oklahoma State in three consecutive weeks, and though the Longhorns would lose a heart breaker to the Red Raiders of Texas Tech in Lubbock, McCoy put Texas in a position to win with just under two minutes left in the game.

Instead of wallowing in pity following the late season BCS controversy, in which Oklahoma, not Texas, was selected to play for the national championship, McCoy rallied his troops and won a stunning game against the Ohio State Buckeyes.

McCoy put his Longhorns on his back and led a last-minute drive to win the game following an Ohio State score late in the fourth quarter. The Texas gunslinger hit Quan Cosby with just 29 seconds left to go in the game.

In March, the junior quarterback announced he would be returning to the 40 Acres for his senior campaign.

Mack Brown and company could not be happier—or surprised, for that matter.

Those closest to McCoy know he is a tenacious yet humble competitor who will not stand for anything less than perfection.

Despite the obvious Heisman hype McCoy will be receiving throughout the season, the Longhorns' leader has one goal in mind: win a national championship.

McCoy has bulked up even more this spring and is ready to hit the field and make things happen for Texas.

Coaches expressed the desire for McCoy to continue his progression in the pocket and not run as much as he did during the 2008 campaign, in which he led all Longhorn rushers in yards.

Lord knows the Longhorns couldn't afford McCoy going down with an injury.

Of course, the road will be perilous for McCoy and the Longhorns, and the media attention can become distracting too, but McCoy may very well be the best player in the country and he is fully equipped to handle any challenge that pops up along the way.

Obviously the starting quarterback position is set for the Longhorns, but looking down the depth chart, the situation becomes a little less clear.

Electric athlete John Chiles made the transition from quarterback to receiver this spring in order to see the field more.

Because of this move, senior quarterback Sherrod Harris will take over second string duties.

Harris hasn't seen a college snap since 2007 and has yet to take a meaningful snap at the college level. Harris is a versatile athlete, however, and his coaches have commended him for solid spring work outs following a knee surgery in February.

Harris' job may not be safe as the Longhorns are awaiting the full-time arrival of their prized recruit, Garrett Gilbert.

Gilbert was one of the top quarterback prospects in the nation and arguably the best prospect in the state of Texas.

Gilbert was named the 2008-2009 ESPN Rise Gatorade National Football Player of the Year following a record setting season, in which he threw for 4,827 yards and 55 touchdowns.

He finished his career at Lake Travis High School with a state record 12,534 yards and 136 touchdowns.

Look for Gilbert to either make a run at decent playing time this fall or opt for a red-shirt season to develop his skills.

Next up: Running backs

Lamar Odom Needs To Step Up If Lakers are to Survive

Dino Nicandros — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:52:13 -0400

Kobe Bryant is the man in L.A.

As such, he will be the one taking the brunt of media and fan displeasure for the Lakers' lackluster playoff performances, even though the future Hall of Famer has put up at least 32 points in four of the five games against the Nuggets.

We've all watched the games. Kobe shows up when he has to and even then, the Lakers tend to play with a lot less fire than one would expect.

The Lakers' struggles really have nothing to do with L.A.'s main man.

Though the blame can be distributed equally among Derek Fisher, who has lost his shot almost entirely, Andrew Bynum, who has had a hard time returning to late-season form, and the bench play in general, I see one glaring weakness with this Laker team.

Lamar Odom.

Odom, at 6'10", 230 pounds, is physically imposing and just looks like a guy born to play the game.

He can play the power forward position with his size, or he can step out and play at small forward with his ability to stretch a defense with his three-point shooting.

Next to Kobe, Lamar Odom may very well be the most physically gifted player on the Lakers' roster.

He provides the ultimate mismatch for smaller, less agile forwards. With the double and triple teaming Kobe is seeing, this guy should be mauling the Nuggets' defense.

It hasn't really panned out that way.

Apart from a Game Five performance, in which Odom finally showed signs of life, he has been a disappointment this postseason, especially in the Rockets and Nuggets series.

In 12 games, Odom has put up double digits only four times.

That's amazing, considering the guy plays around 31 minutes a game.

Odom is shooting 38 percent in the Denver series, hitting only 17 of 44 shots from the floor. That's inexcusable for a man of his size and talent.

He's only taken seven three-point shots in five games and made just three. I don't think the Denver defense is too afraid of him when he plays on the perimeter.

The 63 percent free-throw shooting doesn't help matters, though Phil Jackson has learned to live with it.

Chris Andersen, Nene, and Kenyon Martin have beaten up on Odom down low all series long.

The fact of the matter is that Odom has underachieved. Big-time.

Instead of being a compliment to the likes of Bryant and Pau Gasol, he has often been a liablility.

Sure he has done his rebounding, but his shot hasn't been there and he hasn't been the aggressive Lamar Odom Laker fans have come to know.

The Lakers won game five because Odom decided to play (19 points, 14 rebounds).

In fact, when Odom has scored in double figures this postseason, the Lakers are 7-2.

If the L.A. is to avoid yet another close call, Odom has to show up every night and be a productive member of the rotation.

The Lakers desperately need Odom to regain his fire and swagger, or else they will face elimination sooner rather than later.