Why the Texas Longhorns Are Still the Great Unknown

The Texas Longhorns advanced to 3-0 Saturday night after a thorough walloping of the Rice Owls, 52-10.

Colt McCoy has been absolutely brilliant in this three-game stretch, completing 63 of 81 passes for 833 yards and 11 touchdowns to just one interception.

Believe it or not, the Texas gunslinger has also led the 'Horns in rushing, running for 194 yards and two touchdowns on just 25 carries.  He has been as perfect as a QB can be at this time in the season.

The offensive line has only given up two sacks and has paved the way for the Texas attack, which is averaging nearly 50 points a game. 

Now with that said, Texas has yet to face an opponent of any significance.  FAU, UTEP, and Rice are not the same as OU, Missouri, and Texas Tech.

The lack of competition up to this point has led many to ask one simple question: What has Texas proven?

Well, this team certainly hasn't proven that it can win a huge game this year or that it can come from behind late in the fourth quarter, though both of those feats are absolutely feasible considering Texas' success under Mack Brown.

The Longhorns haven't faced a team that can beat you in a variety of different ways.  FAU, UTEP, and Rice all rely on their passing games to beat teams, and while that may just be the best way to beat up on the 'Horns, these teams don't have the personnel to do it.  They become extremely one-dimensional with the absence of a significant rushing attack.

As lowly as the three teams mentioned above are considered to be, they do have the ability to put up points, and Texas' defense rose to the occasion all three times.  Texas is only allowing 11 points per game and has allowed only seven points total in the second half all year, which suggests that the defense gets better the more snaps they play.

Texas has shown dramatic improvement on defense, although it seems the young secondary is still susceptible to the big pass play.  The red zone defense in particular has been stellar.

After two pass interference calls and 12 plays inside the five-yard line, Texas kept the Rice offense out of the end zone.  12 plays.  That's what I like to call hard-nosed defense, no matter who the opponent is.

The ferocity that new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has brought from Auburn is becoming more and more visible.  Texas will need every ounce of ferocity they can give if they are going to win the games on their schedule.

While Texas' offense has been extremely efficient, there doesn't seem to be a go-to running back at the moment.

Vondrell McGee just doesn't have the speed and Fozzy Whittaker has only been seen once.  Freshman Cody Johnson has busted onto the scene, running for three touchdowns, and Chris Ogbonnaya is a proven pass catcher out of the backfield, but where is the home run hitter?

Jamaal Charles left a huge void when he left for the NFL, and while Texas doesn't lack talent at running back, they lack a serious touchdown maker.  Hopefully this situation will be resolved, because as great as it is that Colt McCoy is running more, he can't be the team's leading rusher week in and week out.

Receiver Jordan Shipley has been McCoy's deep threat far this season, hauling in four touchdowns, including a 60-yarder, on just 12 receptions.  Fellow senior Quan Cosby has 278 yards and two touchdowns and has proven to be perhaps one of the better receivers in the Big 12.

John Chiles has gotten a decent amount of work this season, especially in the highly anticipated "Q" package, which features both McCoy and Chiles in the same formation.  While his legs are his known asset, Chiles still needs work on his throwing ability to keep defenses honest.  His unique talents will need to be used more as the season progresses.

Texas remains one of the great unknowns this year, which is rather strange considering they're in the top 10.

McCoy looks like a superstar early on, and Texas will need more of the same if they are to navigate this brutal schedule.

The pass defense will need work, a running game with a proven running back will need to be established, and dedicated football will need to be played for four quarters every game.

The Longhorns take on Arkansas on Saturday, which begins a stretch that includes Oklahoma and Missouri in the next four weeks.

Is Texas for real?  We'll know by Oct. 11...