Texas Football: 3 Plays Major Applewhite Needs to Call More Often

In less than 24 hours, the Texas Longhorns will take the field for the first time in eight months. And it signifies the start of their quest to re-announce themselves as one of college football's top programs.

The personnel in 2013 is not so different from 2012, but the biggest change under the hood has to be Major Applewhite sliding into the play-calling role as Bryan Harsin made the jump to head coach at Arkansas State. Applewhite handled the offense in Texas' Alamo Bowl win, and the results have had Texas fans wondering what will become of their offense this season.

The Longhorns return every starter on offense, meaning comfort and chemistry will be at its highest point of the past three seasons.

With junior quarterback David Ash running the show with more apparent confidence and maturity, the Longhorns appear to be in good hands with the type of talent surrounding the Texas signal-caller. We will know exactly what works and what doesn't early on, and it would behoove Applewhite to take advantage of the potential mismatches that he will be able to field.

Zone Read

He is no Colt McCoy, but David Ash is a more than capable runner, and with the kind of talent operating behind him in the backfield, it would be foolish not to utilize the zone read in the right situations.

Throw in a wild card like Daje Johnson and Texas can piggyback plenty of looks off of the zone read.

The Longhorns will be playing with more tempo on offense, and a big part of that could be a series of zone read-type plays that will take full advantage of mismatches on the ground and through the air should they incorporate some play action.

Texas simply has too much going for it on the ground to stray from the zone read, an offensive tool that has been a huge part of Texas' recent successes with Vince Young and McCoy running the show.

Now it's Ash's turn.

Speed Sweep

If Daje Johnson turns into the second coming of D.J. Monroe, Texas fans will lose their heads.

Johnson's career is already off and running after an efficient freshman season that had him post 490 yards from scrimmage on 46 touches (10.7 yards per carry).

Monroe and Marquise Goodwin were the bigger benefactors of the speed sweep last season, but with Johnson looking to become a big part of the offense, Texas would be well off to have him handle as many carries as possible.

When talking about Texas' offense, its speed will be what stands out. The 'Horns have had success with this play in recent seasons, and it would make little sense to shy away from it this year.

Anything That Gets Mike Davis or Jaxon Shipley Open

Some nights, it could be that simple for the Longhorns.

Davis and Shipley are among the best receivers in the Big 12, and the senior and junior, respectively, will be huge pieces in the Texas passing game.

Ash developed a strong rapport with Davis last season, and the improvement of Ash's deep ball can only spell more success for the two.

The sure-handed Shipley should see work all over the field as the intermediate option. With precise routes and a knack for finding open space, Ash will have two experienced sets of hands working the field to complement one of the best running back corps in the nation.