Know the Opposition (Fiesta Bowl Edition): Texas

Dave and Drew Thurman (3:26 pm)

Mascot: Longhorns

Stadium: Texas Memorial Stadium (93,553)

Coach: Mack Brown (11th year at Texas 114-26, Bowl Record 9-5)

2007 Record: 10-3 (Defeated Arizona State 52-34 in Holiday Bowl)

2008 Record: 11-1 (Tied for 1st in Big 12 South)

Base Offense: Ace (3 Wide Receivers)

Base Defense: 4-3

Lettermen: Returning - 47, Lost - 17

Returning Starters: Offense -7, Defense - 4, Specialists - 2

Returning Star: QB Colt McCoy, DE Brian Orakpo

Notable Alumni:

-Laura Bush - Wife of President George W. Bush
-Roger Clemens - Seven time Cy Young Winner
-Michael Dell - Founder of Dell Computers
-Mary Lou Retton - Olympic Gymnastic Gold Medalist
-Matthew McConaughey - Actor
-Vince Young - NFL quarterback
-Earl Campbell - Heisman Award Winning Running Back
-Janis Joplin - Rock and Roll Singer

Cheerleading Scouting Report:

Texas Overview:

The discussion on Texas has to start on the offensive side of the ball, because the statistics are pretty overwhelming. The Longhorn offense averages 476.4 yards a game, and puts up a jaw dropping 43.9 points a game. A lot of this can be credited to their Heisman candidate at quaterback, Colt McCoy. First, McCoy has the ability to pick apart a defense with his arm. On the season he completed 77.6 percent of his passes for 3,445 yards with 32 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. Second though, McCoy is the leading rusher on the Texas team with 576 yards and 10 touchdowns.

McCoy has a whole host of targets at wideout that he can throw to. The two primary receivers McCoy looks to are Jordan Shipley (982 yards, 11 TD) and Quan Cosby (952 yards, 8 TD). Both young men will also play a factor on kick returns, and Shipley is a major threat as a punt returner (10.7 avg, 1 TD).   

In the backfield the Longhorns do not feature a primary back, but instead rotate between no less than four runners. None have put up spectacular statistics, but together they are forminable force. The main ones to watch for are Vondrell McGee (376 yards, 4 TD), Cody Johnson (336 yards, 12 TD), and Chris Ogbonnaya (331 yards, 4 TD). Ogbonnaya is also a threat catching the ball coming out of the backfield, and has 484 yards and three touchdowns.

On defense, the Longhorns feature a unit cloaked in anonymity, but are nonetheless talented. Outside of Brian Orakpo, there are no big names, maninly because they have played some spectacular offenses. They did play in the Big 12, which was a passing first league, but they still led the nation in rushing defense allowing only 73.6 yards a game. That starts up front with a defensive line that features four experienced seniors. Besides Brian Orakpo, they also have a very solid defensive tackle in Roy Miller, who has 46 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and four and a half sacks.

The linebacking core is very underrated, and features a couple of fierce competitors in Roddrick Muckelroy (106 tackles, 4 TFL) and Sergio Kindle (50 tackles, 13 TFL, and 9 sacks). They also have four year starter in Rashad Bobino (36 tackles, 1 TFL), who has seen less time due to their nickel scheme in the Big 12, but will see much more time against the Buckeyes.

The secondary is adequate, but is probably the weakest link in the Longhorn defense. The young man to keep an eye on will be safety Earl Thomas who has 63 tackles and two interceptions on the season.  

What must happen:

Listed as an 80%-20% underdog according to ESPN.com, the Buckeyes are going to need to get confidence early. A lot of this rests on the shoulders on the offense, who has struggled in some of the biggest games this season. First, the run game has to be established. With Beanie as the leader, this offense is designed to feature the run. If he averages anything under three yards a carry, it will be very difficult for the offense to getting anything going against the Longhorns.

Also Pryor needs to get in rhythm early in this game. This will not happen with him throwing 50 yard bombs, but instead with an array on short slants and screens. There are a lot of experienced wideouts on the team, and they have to step in this game. Missed opportunities killed Ohio State in the National Championship last season, and that cannot happen again. The Buckeyes also need Pryor to be able to run the ball as well. Texas features very good defensive ends, and if they over pursue, it will give him the green light to head down field.

Even more than the offense though, the defense needs to prove the doubters wrong. Especially the back seven who have beeen gashed by big time quarterbacks under the tenure of Jim Heacock. A lot of this does start with the front four for the Buckeyes. If they come out with the tenacity they did against Penn State, the Buckeyes will be able to blitz less and have more guys in coverage. McCoy has ripped apart blitzing schemes all year long, and while some blitzing needs to happen, the front four need to get pressure on their own.

Early stops and turnovers will be the name of the game for the defense. If the Longhorns walk down the field and score the first few times they have the ball, we could have another terrible bowl game on our hands. Instead, they need to come out, be physical, force turnovers, and make a statement to themselves early in the game. Doing this will provide confidence, and hopefully rattle the Longhorn offense a bit. This will be no easy task though, and they will have their hands full all night long!

Father vs. Son Prediction Battle:

Dave has it: Texas 31 Ohio State 20
Drew has it: Ohio State 34 Texas 31