Texas Football: 6 Biggest Early Season Storylines for the Longhorns

How quickly things can change.

The outlook was positive after the Texas Longhorns overcame a slow start before blowing out New Mexico State at home. But after a thorough beating by BYU in Provo on Saturday night, the Longhorns have been properly humbled before they prepare for another non-conference test in Ole Miss.

After just two games, the Longhorns are at a crossroads. A loss to the Rebels puts Texas at 1-2 with no momentum whatsoever going into Big 12 play, and maybe the finger-pointing begins.

With the drama comes the storylines, and already the Longhorns have plenty of them surfacing after Saturday night.

Daje Johnson's Injury Impact vs. Home-Run Impact

Sophomore Daje Johnson quickly established himself as a go-to playmaker in Texas' season-opener. But early in the first quarter against BYU, Johnson suffered a left ankle injury that forced him out for the rest of the game.

Johnson was likely a big portion of Texas' gameplan, and that piece was scratched immediately.

If Johnson misses an extended amount of time, Texas is without its best home run hitter on the roster, and the overall speed of the offense takes a considerable hit.

All eyes will be on Johnson's status heading into the Ole Miss game as the Texas offense will need to be ready to light up the scoreboard.

The Emergence of Cedric Reed

Like Daje Johnson, junior defense end Cedric Reed had himself a memorable season-opener, picking up a team-best 10 tackles against New Mexico State.

But despite posting 14 total tackles against BYU, Reed was unable to impact the game like he was able to against the Aggies.

The numbers are respectable, and he has become a star in the making at defensive end alongside Jackson Jeffcoat.

Now it is time for Reed to become more consistent on a weekly basis as a potential anchor up front.

The Offensive Line

It seems we have gotten ahead of ourselves when looking at Texas' offensive production.

A week after pouring on the numbers in the final 32 minutes against New Mexico State, Texas' big boys up front look inept at moving anyone on the defensive line of scrimmage.

All the talk about the returning experience and depth is nice, but when the unit is consistently pushed around by four-man fronts, something is wrong. Something has to change.

The Longhorns have great pieces to use, but when the play goes sour because of poor blocking, that's the recipe for scoring seven points in the second-half.

Special Teams Shortcomings

Two games into the season and the Longhorns have some glaring problems with their special teams.

The punts have been good to very good from Anthony Fera, but the senior has yet to attempt a field goal—Texas’ biggest shortcoming a season ago.

Nick Rose has been great on kickoffs, but the praise stops there.

Kickoff coverage has been below average at best, and a couple 15-yard penalties on Bryson Echols against the Cougars are shots to the foot that Texas cannot be inflicting upon itself.

Incomplete may be the best way to grade the unit right now, but the results from the first two games do not lend much confidence moving forward. 

Texas Tempo

The biggest consistency between games one and two for the Longhorns has been their offensive tempo.

Quick passes, speedy runs and good use of space combined with a high tempo led to some good mismatches and blow coverages against New Mexico State.

Texas tried to use those same tactics against BYU, but the offensive line could not hold up at the point of attack, and, more often than not, the Longhorns were facing pressure.

The identity is almost there, but the offensive unit has taken a step or two back after some big question marks following the loss to BYU. When you throw in the uncertainty of Daje Johnson moving forward, the Texas offense will need to provide some answers against Ole Miss.

Defensive Disapointment

The Texas defense were run over on Saturday night, and Sunday spelled the end of Manny Diaz's duties as defensive coordinator. Diaz will be re-assigned within the UT athletics department.

The Longhorns and Diaz split ways after a little more than two seasons, and former Texas DC Greg Robinson, who re-joined the Texas staff this off-season, will assume the role as the interim DC.

It was a long-time coming for Diaz, whose defensive unit last season was the worst statistically group in the program's history. And after giving up the most yards on the ground in the history of Texas football, Diaz's tenure on the 40 Acres is over.