Bleacher Report - San Antonio

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.

Read more San Antonio news on BleacherReport.com

48 Hours Make Colt McCoy the Clear Heisman Front-Runner

Jeff Dillon — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:40:34 -0500

Forty-eight hours.

That is all it took for Colt McCoy to take charge in the Heisman race.

The Texas quarterback, whom many felt was robbed in the voting a season ago, has been one of many names thrown out as possibilities to win college football's most distinguished award.

Perhaps never before had the Heisman race been so unclear so late in the season. "Unclear" in the terms of about 10 or so names all deserving consideration.

Tim Tebow, C.J. Spiller, Toby Gerhart, Jimmy Clausen, Case Keenum, Mark Ingram, and several other names were mentioned not only as candidates, but as Heisman front-runners.

Not any more.

On a wild Thursday night in College Station, Colt McCoy delivered his long-awaited Heisman moment.

The Texas A&M Aggies were playing their best football of the season. Junior quarterback Jerrod Johnson was pulling his best Vince Young impression. The College Station faithful were intent on an upset that would have undercut the Longhorns' BCS title hopes.

Then Colt McCoy took over.

The senior not only threw for 304 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions, he also rushed for 175 yards-a career high-and a touchdown.

All-in-all: 479 total offensive yards, five scores and a 49-39 Texas win.

Anyone who watched the Thanksgiving night shoot-out saw just how significant McCoy was to his team's avoidance of a monumental upset.

McCoy repeatedly willed the Longhorns down the field, answering every challenge the Aggies put forth. He played smart, efficient, and gutsy football.

This was a guy intent on keeping his team's undefeated record and national title hopes alive and well.

This was a guy that looked like a Heisman winner.

Just one day later, McCoy's Heisman hopes were given another boost when Alabama's Mark Ingram—considered the award front-runner by many—was held to just 30 yards on 16 carries.

And while the weekend saw impressive performances from other names, including Tebow, Gerhart, and Spiller, no player had a game like McCoy's.

With championship weekend on the horizon, McCoy's numbers read: 3,328 passing yards, 27 TD's, 368 rushing yards, two TD's, and a perfect 12-0 record.

Sure, names like Tebow, Gerhart, and Spiller all have impressive stats, too. But none of them have been the difference in a historical season the way McCoy has been with the Texas Longhorns.

And no one has been the difference in a season-defining win the way McCoy was Thursday night in College Station.

Before Thanksgiving, the Heisman race was a wide-open guessing game. Two days later, some voters likely already had their ballot in the mail.

It's Colt McCoy's season. And it's Colt McCoy's Heisman.

Read more San Antonio news on BleacherReport.com

Texas Longhorns Suspend Marcus Davis Indefinitely

Brittany Jacobs — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:19:16 -0500

Freshman defensive back Marcus Davis has been suspended indefinitely after being arrested in Pearland (approximately 15 miles South East of Houston) early Saturday morning.

Davis was pulled over around 6:45 AM as he was driving with a flat tire. He was then arrested for driving while intoxicated and for possession of a controlled substance.

"We are very disappointed to hear about the recent allegations against Marcus Davis," Texas coach Mack Brown said in a statement. "He will not be involved in team activities in any way at this time, including participating in either the Big 12 Championship or our bowl game, pending the completion of the legal process."

This is the second arrest in a matter of weeks for the Texas Longhorns. Redshirt freshman D.J. Monroe was arrested two weeks ago on DWI charges. He was pulled over on I-35, the main highway that runs through Austin. He too has been suspended.

Read more San Antonio news on BleacherReport.com

The Way I See it: A Look at College Football's Top 25 (Nov. 29)

Drew Gatewood — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:56:19 -0500

1. Texas 12-0

The Big 12 Championship and a BCS title Game berth are on the line for the Longhorns this week.

Next: Nebraska

2. Florida 12-0

We’ve been waiting for this game all year, and so has The Crimson Tide.

Next: Alabama

3. Alabama 12-0

They travel to Atlanta with revenge on their minds, but will this year be any different?

Next: Florida

4. TCU 12-0

They’re waiting to see whom they play in a BCS bowl.

Next: Bowl Game

5. Cincinnati 11-0

The Bearcats had better sleep on an angry Panther team this week.

Next: Pittsburgh

6. Boise State 12-0

Will Boise be able to gain enough respect for an at large BCS bid?

Next: Bowl Game

7. Ohio State 10-2

The Buckeyes are in the clubhouse waiting for their show-down with the winner of Ducks and Beavers.

Next: (Rose Bowl)

8. Oregon 9-2

The ducks haven’t fared well in the civil war lately, they need to change that in order to smell the roses.

Next: Oregon State

9. Iowa 10-2

They won an ugly game and now wait to see if they can get a BCS at large bid.

Next: Bowl Game

10. Penn State 10-2

The Nittany Lions looked very impressive during their 42-14 win

Next: Bowl Game

11. Virginia Tech 8-3

The Hokies crushed the Cavaliers after a rough first half.

Next: Bowl Game

12. BYU 9-2

It took an overtime, but they beat Utah and improved bowl positioning.

Next: Bowl Game

13. Nebraska 8-3

The Huskers want to ruin Texas’s season and go to a BCS bowl.

Next: Bowl Game

14. Pittsburgh 9-2

The Big East crown is on the line this week along with the Panthers respect.

Next: Cincinnati

15. Georgia Tech 10-2

A dropped pass on fourth down doomed the Jackets against the Dawgs.

Next: Clemson

16. Houston 9-2

Houston’s 73 points are tops among any college football team this year.

Next: ECU

17. USC 8-3

They beat UCLA, but three losses on the year still stings a bit.

Next: Bowl Game

18. California 8-3

Beating the Huskies puts them in a better bowl.

Next: Washington

19. LSU 9-3

Another nail biter for LSU fans, this time turns out on the positive side.

Next: Bowl Game

20. Miami 9-3

The Canes made it rain on USF this weekend, once again beating their instate rival.

Next: Bowl Game

21. West Virginia 8-3

The Backyard Brawl turned out to be another nail biter in the fourth quarter.

Next: Bowl Game

22. Oregon State 8-3

The Civil war will always mean more than a Rose Bowl berth, but this year it adds another level of excitement.

Next: Oregon

23. Utah 9-3

The Utes have had another tough game slip away late.

Next: Bowl Game

24. Oklahoma State 9-3

Oklahoma put the BCS at large bid talk to sleep for the Cowboys this week.

Next: Bowl Game

25. Stanford 8-4

The Cardinal put the nail in Weis’ coffin this week as they got a late victory over the Irish.

Next: Bowl Game

Here's a look at the Terrible 10:

The Terrible Ten: College Football's Biggest Disappointments (Nov 29)

Read more San Antonio news on BleacherReport.com

SEC Secures Spot in BCS Title Game: Will Texas Be Next?

Pete Misthaufen — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:49:12 -0500

With Alabama and Florida finishing the regular season undefeated, the SEC now has eliminated any possibility of the SEC not having a team in the BCS title game. Now, it only remains to determine which team the SEC will face in its quest for a fourth consecutive BCS title.

With six undefeated teams, it would appear that the BCS was headed to the so-called "Doomsday scenario", that some pundits believe would lead to the implementation of a playoff.

While having four or more undefeated teams would seem at first glance as a problem for the BCS, the real problem is having an outsider make the BCS title game.

And by outsider, I mean Cincinnati as much as TCU. Have no doubt, even with its auto-bid status, the Big East does not have the required status, nor does the ACC outside of Miami, Virginia Tech, and Florida State.

Currently, unless Nebraska can find a way to win the Big 12 championship game versus Texas, the powers-that-be of the BCS will take comfort that they avoided what they view as a true disaster.

As a supporter of system shock , I can only hope for this type of doomsday soon. So, unless the Cornhuskers win, the BCS will avoid their worst nightmare. Having Boise State, TCU, and Cincy on the outside looking in will actually make them all content and happy.

Now, TCU and Texas have been very close together in the BCS computers for several weeks. There is a small chance that TCU could get a boost in the computers and human polls for the final BCS standings if Cincy loses (combined with the SEC championship game).

In such a situation, TCU most likely would be a strong No. 3 in the human polls, behind Texas, but with just enough computer help to move ahead by a small fraction. However, this is very unlikely and TCU needs a Texas loss.

One other possibility is a Texas loss and a very close battle in Atlanta. In such a situation, there is also a remote possibility of a Florida-Alabama rematch, but that would create such a stir and a turmoil that it is extremely unlikely.

Even with a Texas loss, TCU would likely need an assist from Pitt just to eliminate the Bearcat threat.

So, BCS tyrants, you are most likely going to get your way. But be prepared to deal with another difficult year in Washington, D.C., as the politicians badger Mr. Hancock and Mr. Perlman yet again.

And no, Ari the P.R. mouthpiece is not going to help resolve this situation. Not unless he can convince the BCS boneheads to finally bring in a playoff.

Read more San Antonio news on BleacherReport.com

Colt McCoy Says Goodbye Texas A&M Aggies; Hello Heisman

Gene Strother — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:05:54 -0500

The Texas A&M Aggies played their "national championship" (of the Republic of Texas) yesterday. They played well. They fought valiantly. They left everything they had on the field.

And...they lost.

The Texas Longhorns narrowly escaped their matchup with Texas A&M, 49-39. Some will hold that against them, since the Aggies are now a mere 6-6. Those who do so either do not understand the dynamics of such a rivalry, the hostility of that environment, or they didn't see the game.

Great teams find a way to win, even when an upset is in the air. Upset was in the air at Kyle Field last night. The air was thick with it. The crowd could taste it every time they kissed in celebration of another Aggie score.

There were plenty of Aggie scores for one primary reason: His name is Jerrod Johnson. The Aggie quarterback was simply brilliant. By halftime, Johnson had thrown for 199 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 13 of his 15 passes in the first half, too. He was improvising masterfully, throwing accurately, and making timely plays, time after time.

Trouble for Johnson was this: as good as he was, Colt McCoy was better. Colt matched Johnson blow for blow and then one-upped him with a masterful half-ending drive to send Texas to the locker room with a 28-21 lead.

BY game's end, Colt McCoy was 24 of 40 for 304 yards. He threw four touchdown passes. He also ran for 175 yards on 18 carries, including a game-breaking 65-yard TD scamper right through the heart of the A&M defense.

Said Mack Brown after the game, "If anybody has a better Heisman moment than that, I would like to see it."

Me too.

Colt was big time in prime time and he almost single-handedly willed a vulnerable, exhausted, shell-shocked Longhorns football team to victory.

Shine the hardware. Go ahead and engrave it, too.

That is C-o-l-t.

Read more San Antonio news on BleacherReport.com

A USC Trojan Fan's Perspective of the Texas Longhorns

Rick McMahan — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:52:44 -0500

As the title of this piece suggests, I am a fan of the USC Trojans. More specifically, I am a disappointed fan of the USC Trojans.

The 2009 college football season has been one of chagrin of both myself and my fellow fans of the Men of Troy.

Nonetheless, I remain, even in this time of abject angst over my Trojans, a fan of college football.

As such, I cozied up to my television, fat from too much holiday eats, and prepared to watch what I thought was the best college football team in the land, the Texas Longhorns.

Now, I am not so sure.

Yes, the Longhorns impressed me on offense.

My Heisman vote, if I were to have one, would be directly deposited into the account of Colt McCoy, who is a marvellous talent. Hell, I might even be convinced to cast my ballot for Jordan Shipley, McCoy's roommate and a fantastic wide receiver in his own right.

The Longhorn offense, in my opinion, is among the very best in the land.

However, there is more to a football team than just the offense. And what I saw last night of the Texas defense has given me cause to pause.

Texas A&M, an up-and-coming team with some nice young talent, but still only a .500 team, ran and passed through the Longhorn defense with impunity.

How does 532 total yards and 39 points sound?

To the Longhorns and their faithful fans, probably like an out of tune garage band.

For me, last night only served to reinforce what I already suspected: that this year, there is no completely dominant college football team.

Florida, Alabama, and now Texas have all displayed significant chinks in its armor.

I remain unconvinced as to the quality of teams such as Boise State and TCU.

In a season where traditional powerhouses such as my Trojans and Oklahoma have been mediocre at best, even those with unblemished records have significant warts.

Of course, there is still time for the Texas defense to right its ship.

In the Big 12 championship game, they should easily handle Nebraska.

And certainly they are in the drivers seat to meet either Florida or Alabama in the national championship game. In that game, they will have an opportunity to show the nation that they are indeed a championship team.

But they won't do it with the kind of defensive effort I witnessed last night.

And unless some team displays a complete team game that shows excellence on both sides of the ball, this season will continue, for me, to be what it already has been.

A disappointment.

Read more San Antonio news on BleacherReport.com

Texas Wins, but Have the Longhorns Shot Themselves in the Foot?

Alex Ferguson — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:03:11 -0500

Thursday night's Texas-Texas A&M game was a Texas-style shoot-out, complete with drama, fat women in the stands, and noise.

But, while Texas A&M will feel once again disheartened by losing to Texas, Texas will also be disheartened.

Make no mistake about it, folks, that sort of defensive performance can work against lousy Big XII teams—and there were a number UT has faced this season (we won't talk about the laughable non-conference schedule)—but, it won't wash against the Longhorns' likely Bowl opponents, Florida or Alabama.

The Longhorns couldn't stop the throw all night. Think Blake Gideon & Co are going to deal with Riley Cooper better than he did with the Aggies? Or think they'll cope against Julio Jones?

They weren't great against the run either. Early on, it looked as though the Aggies would get roasted on the line of scrimmage. The 'Horns were awesome. But, as is the case in college football, the game rolled on, and the D tired.

By the end of the game, Christine Michael (we only wish we were joking about his first name, but seriously—he's called Christine. Parents wanted a girl apparently), had 83 yards to his name, and the runs were getting bigger each time. They also had trouble stopping Aggies QB Jerrod Johnson. While Texas will have fun against Greg McElroy, think Tebow won't barge them out of the way?

On the good side: Colt McCoy was a star for the Longhorns, and he's playing the best 'ball of his career. Jordan Shipley will be a thorn in anyone's side for the last two games of his college career (he's not coming back for a seventh year is he? IS he?). Kickers against Texas will have to "pick their poison" against Jordan Shipley or Marquise Goodwin, who can both fly.

Look, we know it was a rivalry game.

But rivalry games probably come second to National Championships in terms of games everyone will talk about when careers are done and dusted. No-one wants to be known as the team who went unbeaten during the regular season and then got smacked about during the National Championship Game.

Here's a bit of "Midnight Yell" for y'all. Ignore the first 47 seconds of introduction...

Read more San Antonio news on BleacherReport.com

Texas Wins, but Might Give Florida or Alabama a Blueprint for Victory

Alex Ferguson — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:23:00 -0500

Make no mistake about it folks, Thursday night's Texas-Texas A&M game was a Texas-style shoot-out complete with drama, fat women in the stands, and noise.

But while Texas A&M will feel once again disheartened by losing to Texas, the Longhorns will be too.

Because while that sort of defensive performance can work against a Big XII team—including Big XII North opponent Nebraska a week from Saturday (are we being a little unfair?)—it won't wash against Florida or Alabama.

The Longhorns couldn't stop the throwing game all night. Do you think Blake Gideon & Co. are going to deal with Riley Cooper or Julio Jones better than they did with the Aggies?

Texas wasn't great against the run either. Early on, it looked as though the Aggies would get roasted on the line of scrimmage. The 'horns were awesome. But, as is often the case in college football, the game rolled on, and the "D" tired.

By the end of the game, Christine Michael—we only wish we were joking about his first name, but seriously, he's called Christine (parents wanted a girl apparently)—had 83 yards to his name, and the runs were getting bigger each time. They also had trouble stopping Aggies' QB Jerrod Johnson.

While Texas will have fun against Greg McElroy, do you think Tebow won't barge them out of the way?

On the good side...Colt McCoy was a star for the Longhorns, and he's playing the best ball of his career...Jordan Shipley will be a thorn in anyone's side for the last two games of his college career (he's not coming back for a seventh year is he? Is he?)...kickers against Texas will have to "pick their poison" on kickoffs against Jordan Shipley or Marquise Goodwin, who can both fly.

Look, we know it was a rivalry game. But rivalry games probably come second to national championships in terms of games everyone will talk about when careers are done and dusted.

No one wants to be known as part of the team that went unbeaten during the regular season, but then got smacked about during the National Championship Game.

Read more San Antonio news on BleacherReport.com

Texas Should Fall behind TCU in the Polls after Almost Losing to 6-6 Texas A&M

Tyler Stimson — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:55:47 -0500

All year long, I have heard how great the Texas defense is—how it is the best in the country, or at least on par with teams like Florida, Alabama, and TCU. That is clearly not the case.

Texas A&M was the only team that could stop the Aggies in Thursday's game vs. Texas. The "great" Texas defense provided little resistance, giving up 39 points. It only stopped Texas A&M when the Aggies stopped themselves with turnovers and a missed FG at the end.

Texas has struggled with two .500-caliber teams this year—Oklahoma and Texas A&M. The 'Horns are definitely not playing like the No. 3 team in the country. Their ranking is thanks to preseason polls and will, almost assuredly, not drop.

TCU, on the other hand, only struggled with a very good Air Force team—early in the year in awful weather conditions—and a top 15 Clemson team that will play for an ACC championship.

Texas needed a fumble, an interception, a missed tackle on a 3rd-and-12 play that led to a long TD, a kickoff return, and a missed FG to hold on to a narrow victory over a mediocre 6-6 Aggie team.

Texas is ranked ahead of TCU for three main reasons:

1. Big 12 vs. MWC

Really not too much of a difference. The Big 12 is a little deeper, but the MWC has a much better top three. Pretty much a wash.

2. Preseason Rankings (Texas No. 2, TCU No. 17)

It's a shame that preseason perceptions have such a dramatic effect on rankings later in the year.

3. Program Perception

TCU is a small private school with an undergraduate enrollment under 10,000.

Meanwhile, Texas is a perennial top-10 team, the flagship university of the state of Texas, has an undergraduate enrollment of over 50,000, recently won a national title (2006), and gets consistently better recruiting classes.

Let's look at the resumes of Texas and TCU this year without bias:

Team A

SOS: 48
Victories over top-25 teams: one
Won multiple national championships (in its history)
Averages 43 PPG on offense
Gives up 15 PPG on defense
Finished in the top 10 in the final poll last year

Team B

SOS: 32
Victories over top 25 teams: three
Won multiple national championships (in its history)
Averages 40 PPG on offense
Gives up 12 PPG on defense
Finished in the top 10 in the final poll last year
Only team in the Country in the top five in both total offense and defense

Which team has the better resume?

If you look at it unbiasedly, it's clearly Team B, albeit, by a small margin.

Team B is TCU.

Team A is Texas.

But because of the reasons I mentioned above—perceived conference strength, preseason ranking, and program perception—in the polls Texas will stay ahead of a team with a better resume.

Read more San Antonio news on BleacherReport.com

Better Turkey Day Watch? Texas-Texas A&M Or Giants-Broncos

Erin McLaughlin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:00:25 -0500

Why do guys love Thanksgiving? Duh, it is the one day where all you do is eat, drink beer, and watch football. That also extends to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for watching football. For me, the best part is by having the games so spread out we get to watch teams other than the one we normally follow.

This Thanksgiving day starts as it always does, with the Detroit Lions. While the team is normally not worth watching, Matthew Stafford would make the game interesting after his breakout performance. Unfortunately, Stafford is doubtful for the game due to his shoulder.

The opponent is the Green Bay Packers. Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Charles Woodsen, and the rest of the Packers could make this another Turkey day rout of the Lions.

The second game is generally much more worth the watch. That is not the case this year as the Dallas Cowboys host the lowly Oakland Raiders. Some may find it interesting since Dallas is coming off an ugly win against Washington and Oakland is sky high after the upset over Cincinnati.

Don't bet on it. The Cowboys will likely be more motivated over their last performance and crush the Raiders.

Then come the primetime games. That is where football fans have an interesting choice to make. On the NFL Network, you have the Denver Broncos hosting the New York Giants. Over on ESPN, it is Texas at Texas A&M.

In the NFL game, you have two teams who have had almost identical seasons. The Giants started out dominating the NFC before they hit a four game losing streak they snapped last Sunday against Atlanta.

After a six game winning streak to start the season, Denver looked like one of the teams to beat in the AFC. After their own four game skid, they now sit at 6-4 and in second place in their division behind the San Diego Chargers.

Needless to say, this is a must win game for both teams. The winner puts themselves in a position to make a playoff push while the loser takes a major hit on their playoff chances.

The college game features the Texas Longhorns, who have been on pace all year to play in the BCS Title game. Anytime you can watch Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley, it is worth the watch.

Their Thanksgiving opponent, as always, is arch-rival Texas A&M. While the Aggies are not the same program they used to be, this is still on of the most intense rivalries in college football. They sit at 6-5 and a win is the difference between a winning season and a .500 season.

Not only that, but you know that Texas A&M would love to throw a wrench in the Longhorns' bid for a chance to play for a national championship.

It is a bit funny and somewhat frustrating to see that the earlier games are somewhat duds and fans don't really have a choice. Then at night, when there are two games that are meaningful, fans are forced to choose what to watch.

Read more San Antonio news on BleacherReport.com

Texas Longhorns vs. Texas A&M Aggies: Texas Should Get its Boots, Prepare To Run

Jeff Dillon — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:37:34 -0500

It would be easy to say that Colt McCoy will be the key factor for the Longhorns to get past Texas A&M Thursday night.

After all, the Aggies have one of the worst passing defenses in the country and Colt McCoy is, well, Colt McCoy.

It would be just as easy to say that the Texas defense, which ranks fourth nationally allowing just 239.6 yards per game, will simply be too much for a young Aggies offense to handle.

It would also be easy to cite recent A&M losses, including a 65-10 blowout against Oklahoma two weeks ago, and proclaim that the Aggies simply don’t have a chance against the 11-0 Longhorns.

The Aggies don’t much have a chance, frankly. At least not a good one.

But the one chance the Aggies do have of pulling a monumental upset comes in the form of shutting down the Texas running game and forcing McCoy to singlehandedly earn a Longhorns victory.

Why, you ask? Let’s take a trip back through the past three Texas-Texas A&M rivalry games.

In 2006, the Aggies out-rushed the Longhorns by a startling margin of 244 yards to 70 yards. This lack of a running game forced McCoy to repeatedly air it out, which resulted in three costly interceptions.

The end result in the 2006 contest? A 12-7 Aggies stunner in Austin.

In 2007, the Longhorns made a bit of an improvement, but were still out-gained 171 to 128 on the ground. Once again, McCoy was forced into three turnovers, this time one interception and two fumbles.

Once again, Texas A&M stunned the Longhorns with a 38-30 victory in College Station .

Fast forward, now, to 2008. The one-loss Longhorns rolled into their match-up with A&M playing dominant offensive football.

Texas established its running game early and often, racking up 216 yards on the ground. McCoy was freed up for a huge night, finishing with 311 passing yards, two touchdowns, and zero turnovers.

And, of course, Texas cruised to a 49-9 victory .

This season has seen more offensive fireworks from the Longhorns offense. But hiding a bit under the impressive statistics is the fact that Texas has had a somewhat inconsistent running game.

The Longhorns rank first in the Big 12 in scoring offense, but just fifth in rushing. Their 152.2 rush yards per game don't look bad, but take out rushing explosions against teams like Louisiana-Monroe (199 yards) and UTEP (304 yards), and the number drops dramatically.

In several outings, including vs. Wyoming, Texas Tech, and Colorado, an inability to run the ball consistently for 60 minutes kept the game close for much longer than it needed to be.

In all of those examples, Texas still found its way to a victory. After all, the Longhorns do have one of the nation’s best passing games on their side.

But when they travel to College Station for a Thanksgiving night battle against their in-state rival, the Longhorns must realize they cannot afford a similar roller coaster ride in their running game.

In their six wins, the Aggies defense has allowed 125 rushing yards per game. In their five losses, the Aggies are allowing nearly 200 rushing yards per game.

The Longhorns need to run the ball effectively to allow McCoy to have a nice, comfortable Thanksgiving evening in College Station.

Red-shirt freshman and leading rusher Tre’ Newton is expected to get the start at tailback Thursday night, which should come as good news for Longhorn fans.

Newton has rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns total in Texas’ past two games, showing speed and vision that the Longhorns have lacked in the backfield in recent years.

But whether it’s Newton, Cody Johnson, or any of the other Texas backs, the Longhorns must be able to count on the running game to avoid a monumental loss in College Station.

If the run game stalls, so could a run to the BCS title.

Read more San Antonio news on BleacherReport.com

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.

Read more San Antonio news on BleacherReport.com

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

Read more San Antonio news on BleacherReport.com

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.

Read more San Antonio news on BleacherReport.com

George Hill, Gregg Popovich's New Favorite Player, Gets the Point

Robert Kleeman — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:12:48 -0500

After a five-game flameout against the L.A. Lakers that was much closer than the finish indicated, the San Antonio Spurs headed into one of the most important offseasons in franchise history.

Manu Ginobili, injured after the first round and a shell of himself in the conference finals, managed a career scoring year. His 19.9 average led the team, as did his five regular season game winners.

Tim Duncan scored at least 20 points and grabbed at least 15 rebounds in all five jousts with the Lakers, a signal that he was not ready to hand over his status as the league's best power forward.

Tony Parker regressed after a defining, blistering 2007 playoff run and disappeared at times when the San Antonio needed to counter L.A. most.

Still, the Spurs had been closer to the Lakers than Gregg Popovich or Phil Jackson wanted to admit.

Popovich, ever the military man, refused to allow excuses.

Defense, the trademark of the Duncan era, was not the problem.

The Spurs held the Lakers to more than 15 points below their averages after two playoff rounds.

If you held the Lake Show to an average of 91 points and Kobe Bryant to an average of six free throws per game—a far cry from the 16 he attempted per contest versus Utah—wouldn't you expect to win?

Scoring droughts, sometimes five to seven minutes in length, doomed the defending champions.

The Spurs blew a 20-point lead in Game One and an 18-point lead in Game Five.

Jackson wasn't playing rope-a-dope with his silver and black opponents.

They just couldn't score enough.

With their leading point maker and clutch postseason performer playing at 60 percent, the Spurs looked overmatched.

Brent Barry joked after the exit, "we had the 'Ma,' but not the 'nu.'"

After five outings of offensive offense, with a breezy Game Three victory the exception, it was clear Popovich needed more than a healthy Ginobili to compete for a championship.

The Lakers winced and groaned as they watched the Spurs mutilate the New Orleans Hornets on the road in Game Seven. They had every reason to be worried about a tilt with the champs, and for their part, the reigning best team in the league was good enough on one side of the ball to win the series in five.

With limited options to upgrade the roster, draft night success became imperative. Not since Tony Parker in 2001 had the Spurs struck gold on a late-round pick.

Beno Udrih, Ian Mahinmi, and a host of others fizzled. Popovich destroyed Udrih's confidence, and Mahinmi has yet to make a meaningful impact in the NBA.

With a draft projected as deeper than Warren Buffett's pockets, fans expected the front office to snag a contributor.

So, with the 26th pick, Pop and R.C. Buford selected a little-known kid from a little-known university.

An off guard from where? IUPUI? How the heck do you say that, and what does it stand for?

Who is George Hill?

Indeed, the slashing scorer failed to make most pre-draft selection boards. Only the Boston Celtics later admitted interest in Hill. They would have picked him early in the second round.

After the surprise choice, most expected Ashton Kutcher to emerge on TV to tell them they had been Punk'd.

No Nikon, no film crews, no Ashton. The Spurs' brass was serious.

They thought this "Summit League Player of the Year," would-be college senior could bequest his athleticism to the team's cause right away.

Popovich said he expected Hill to crack the rotation and become an impact player.

The decision passed in San Antonio only because of Parker and Ginobili. Finding two Hall of Fame-caliber players late in the first and second rounds allows you a long grace period.

The Hill culling seemed silly, given that Chris Douglas-Roberts and Mario Chalmers remained on the board.

Chalmers sent the national championship game into overtime with a miracle three. How could the Spurs ignore a player with such proven guts?

Ditto for Douglas-Roberts.

Fans who wanted more athleticism next to Duncan thought Texas A&M's DeAndre Jordan was an obvious fit.

Popovich presumed otherwise, and now he looks like certifiable genius.

Hill's rookie campaign was like a Katy Perry song.

Hot, cold. Yes, no. NBA-level contributor, lost 2 guard trying to be a point guard.

He littered his debut season with moments of basketball effulgence—outplaying Derrick Rose in Parker's absence, three straight 20-point games with Parker shelved, and inspired late-game defensive stints on Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash.

Now? A month into the season, Popovich still calls Hill his "favorite player" and one of the NBA's most improved.

He made the rare declaration during training camp, a stark contrast to how he handled another young point guard.

Then, Popovich treated Parker like a pinata, smacking him around until the goodies spilled onto the floor.

Hill has done enough in little more than a year to convince the coach to put down the bat, a remarkable feat.

Monday night, he showcased his well-rounded game—helping Parker hold heralded Milwaukee Bucks rookie Brandon Jennings to 6-of-21 shooting and adding 14 of the Spur bench's 59 points.

His highlight plays included a chase down of Jennings and a buzzer-beating three at the end of the third quarter with two Bucks defenders draped all over him.

Hill has guts, too.

He has played comfortably at both guard slots, with an improved jumpshot that allows Popovich to sometimes use a Parker-Hill backcourt.

In a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder two weekends ago, Hill harassed Kevin Durant with effective fronts and his long arms.

He doesn't need to dunk over three defenders like Shannon Brown to prove he has enough athleticism to match his Lakers counterpart.

Any basketball executive would be crazy now to want Brown, Jordan Farmar or even Chalmers more than Hill.

Chalmers has carved a promising niche in Miami, demonstrating a fearlessness from behind the arc that should continue for years.

Unlike so many other backups, Hill isn't reckless. He runs the show the way Popovich wants, with enough improvisational skills to force a defense's hand.

The pick who once resembled a joker now plays like an ace.

As a starter, he kept the team afloat until Parker could resume his havoc. As a reserve Monday night, his play was as steady as the wind—with Ginobili again in street clothes.

A risky bet has become a sure winner.

The Spurs wanted French forward Nicolas Batum in the 2008 draft (taken one pick earlier by the Houston Rockets), but they never settled on Hill.

They wanted him as much, and now the selection's detractors can see why.

Count me among the stunned.

Once a relative secret at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Hill has endeared himself to a future Hall of Fame coach in the pros.

No one in San Antonio wonders about 2008 anymore.

Spurs 1, us dummies, 0.

If Udrih fizzled, Hill has sizzled.

And he's just warming up.

Read more San Antonio news on BleacherReport.com

Longhorns vs Aggies: Can Colt McCoy Continue his Rampage?

Carl Vandervoort — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:56:13 -0500

Kyle Field, Thanksgiving Day, the third ranked Texas Longhorns play for their first leg of three to win the National Championship. Entering 2009, the Longhorn's top priority was to play each game as a championship game. This weeks victim:Texas A&M.

Their arch rival Texas A&M Aggies have been out of the national spotlight for over a decade, and are simply hoping they can play spoiler to Texas' national title hopes—a goal they set at the beginning of the season.

As history would suggest, this game plays into the hands of the Aggies, especially since Colt McCoy's career mark is 1-2 against A&M.

Can Colt McCoy continue his rampage against the Aggies?

The Aggies are strong offensively, touting the seventh ranked offense nationally. Signal caller Jerrod Johnson has had moments of brilliance in a season of agony, and will need to limit his mistakes against a Texas secondary full of ball hawks. To do so Johnson has to take what the defense gives him.

The Aggies have good depth at running back with Christine Michael and Cyrus Gray. Time of possession will be critical, as the Aggies look to tire the Texas defense as the the game progresses. If (a big IF) they can run the ball then they'll keep the aggressive Texas secondary off balance, which can open up some opportunities for Johnson downfield.

Texas enters the game with the nations third ranked total defense. The scrappy Longhorns have the nations top run defense, giving up only 50.9 yards per game. To put in perspective how good the Longhorns are against the run, the second ranked run defense is Alabama; giving up 70.55 yards per game. That's not even close. The Longhorn's take pride in shutting down the run, which forces Johnson to convert third and long situations. Just when Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp likes to dial up combo blitzes from all angles.

Thus far, it seems like we may have a game on our hands. Then the Longhorns really separate themselves from the Aggies, who enter the game ranked 100th (of 120) in total defense. The Aggie defense starts and stops with LB/DE Von Miller who has to get pressure on McCoy to buy time for his thin secondary, which could be too much to ask from just one player.

With a potential Heisman trophy on the line, it would be hard to imagine Texas playing incredibly conservative. No doubt the Longhorns will air it out against the 110th ranked pass efficiency defense. Colt McCoy has been on an absolute rampage in his last five games; completing 77% of his passes for 1487 yards, 12 TD's, and 2 INT's, which suggests that it is going to be a long day in Aggie Land.

With everyone's attention on Thanksgiving Day, McCoy looks to even the score against his arch rival Texas A&M. After all, there's nothing the Aggies would be more thankful for than tripping the Longhorn's march to Pasadena.

That's what a rivalry game is all about—playing for all the marbles.

Read more San Antonio news on BleacherReport.com