Biggest Questions Texas Faces After a Losing Nonconference Record in 2014

The honeymoon is over for Texas head coach Charlie Strong. But according to him, he is not sure if he ever had that luxury.

"Did I ever have one? No, when you're at a program with a lot of passion, pride and tradition, that's what you expect," Strong said of the honeymoon phase of his new job. "We're not going to coach any different. We're going to continue on. It's a process, and we know this. It's going to take a while, but the fact is we have what we have, and we have enough to get it done."

Strong was very clear about his expectations prior to the season, but his words may have fallen on deaf ears.

The Longhorns leader said his team was not going to be a national title contender in his first year at Texas.

The statement was honest and fair.

And Texas fans who believed otherwise were setting themselves up for disappointment.

The Longhorns are 1-2 this season. It is still unclear who this team is and what it can be with Strong at the helm.

It's obvious there are a significant number of issues Texas is facing as it prepares for conference play. 

In an effort to not write a novel about all of the problems, here are four important questions the Longhorns need to answer before the start of the Big 12 schedule on Sept. 27 at Kansas.

1. What is the identity of the offense?

The Longhorns entered the season with expectations of running a ground-and-pound style of offense with running backs Malcolm Brown and Johnathan Gray.

The offensive line plays a major role in the success or failure of the running attack. After three games, the ground game has not been very successful.

The Longhorns have played the last two games without veteran center Dominic Espinosa (ankle) and offensive tackles Kennedy Estelle and Desmond Harrison (suspensions).

The loss of those three players left Texas with a very inexperienced line that has struggled to establish the line of scrimmage. 

Strong has not determined when Estelle and Harrison will return to the team, but if this offense wants to enter Big 12 play with a run-heavy attack, it will need more help from the offensive line.

Otherwise, the coaches may need to reconsider the amount of emphasis placed on the running game and allow quarterback Tyrone Swoopes to show what he can do in the passing game.

2. Should Malcolm Brown receive the majority of the carries?

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

It's time to address the elephant in the room. Gray does not possess the same amount of talent he had in his first two seasons at Texas.

The junior suffered a torn Achilles tendon last November. He sat out of spring ball and then claimed he was "95 percent" healthy heading into fall camp.

But his production on the field makes you wonder if he is playing at less than 95 percent.

To be fair, the offensive line's inability to open up holes for the ground game plays a role in Gray's lackluster numbers. But it is not entirely the line's fault.

Gray has not shown the same burst or wiggle ability he had in previous seasons.

Chris Wesseling of NFL.com questioned if a torn Achilles is a "death sentence" for NFL running backs. Wesseling reported "no running back ever has recaptured sustained pre-injury form after rupturing an Achilles tendon." 

Could Gray be experiencing this alleged effect of a torn Achilles? Maybe, but only blaming the injury for his production may be misguided.

What is known is Brown's production on the field has continued, even without the help of the offensive line. And he offers a big advantage that Gray has not consistently displayed: the ability to gain yards after contact.

Considering the inexperienced line and the less-than-impressive offensive numbers, one has to wonder if the coaches should stop splitting reps between the two running backs and simply give Brown the majority of the carries.

It's apparent that both backs have struggled to get in a rhythm, partially because the offense has struggled to stay on the field and extend drives.

The Longhorns need to allow one running back to get in a rhythm to make an impact. And throughout the first three games, Brown appears to be the most consistent option.

3. Who are the leaders?

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

When adversity strikes, it's up to the coaches and players to step up and lead the team.

The Longhorns have faced a lot of adversity early in the season, but which players are standing tall and telling the team it's time to bounce back from the misfortune?

Strong challenged his team, specifically the seniors, to take charge of the locker room.

But it doesn't appear to be working.

Texas' 41-7 loss to BYU was the worst home loss since 1997. And this happened following last season's humiliating performance against the Cougars that ultimately led to the demise of former head coach Mack Brown.

How could the team allow that to happen twice? And where were the leaders?

Strong did not have an answer to either of those questions. In fact, he said the coaches took last season's loss more personally than the players, even though the staff was not on campus in 2013.

"I said to our football team, with this coaching staff not being here last year, we're taking this game more personal than you are," Strong said. "It shows how much further we have to come with our leadership, and we have to get guys to lead this football team. The seniors need to take ownership."

Leadership is not a characteristic that can be taught. It has to come naturally.

Are there any natural-born leaders on the roster? Sure, but when those leaders will make an impact is unknown.

It needs to happen soon if Texas is going to compete in conference play.

4. Can the Longhorns rebound following the 1-2 start?

Starting the season with a losing record is not a foreign concept for the Longhorns. Texas had two nonconference losses in 2013 but bounced back and won six consecutive games against Big 12 opponents.

The same needs to happen this season.

Texas has a bye this week and will then head to Lawrence to take on Kansas on Sept. 27.

The Longhorns should be able take down the Jayhawks, but the following weeks will not be a breeze.

Two of the toughest opponents on the schedule are No. 7 Baylor and No. 4 Oklahoma. Texas will face those teams in back-to-back weeks. 

Can the Longhorns upset the Bears and Sooners? Of course it can happen.

Is it likely to occur? Probably not.

Texas has to make significant changes over the next two weeks if it wants to avoid having a losing record in the first half of the season, which has not happened since 1993.

"We have to go out and compete each and every week and play our best," Strong said Monday. "It doesn't matter who the opponent is. It's about our focus and preparation. There are only so many opportunities that we are given, so we cannot waste another opportunity."

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand.

Taylor Gaspar is Bleacher Report's featured columnist covering the Texas Longhorns. Follow Taylor on Twitter: @Taylor_Gaspar.