Texas Wins Despite a Shady Defense: True Or False?

If there has been a criticism of the top ranked Texas Longhorns this season, that criticism has been aimed at the UT defense.  More specifically at their young secondary.  Texas ranks 111 out of 119 schools in pass defense. 

That is a staggering statistic that when you look at it really makes you wonder how Texas can be 7-0 and No. 1 in the country.

On the other hand, Texas has the No. 2 ranked rushing defense in the country giving up a mere 48.1 ypg, which comes out to a minuscule 1.9 ypc.  That stat says national championship.  I guess the two meet in the middle and rank Texas as the 47th best defense in the country, which is mediocre at best. 

Is the Texas defense really that mediocre though?  Some say it's worse than mediocre, and others say that new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has made this defense into a very good unit. 

I say Texas and the rest of the Big XII have entered into a new era.  An era of the spread offense.  Gone are the days of the SWC when it was three yards and a cloud of dust.  Now it's lets test how high the numbers on the scoreboard really go.  Let's see how fast the statistician's can keep up with our up tempo no huddle offenses.

It is impossible to expect anyone in the Big XII to live up to the old time defensive standards that most people still use.  There is no way in a conference that boasts the best offensive talent in the country to expect a defense to only give up 150 passing yards/game and 11ppg.  Those were the standards of yester-year.

So is the Texas defense as bad as people think, no!  My favorite statistic when talking defense is points.  Points are the determining factor in the outcome of a game, so it only makes sense to start from there. 

The Texas defense ranks 40th in scoring defense.  Again that is middle of the pack mediocrity, or is it?  Consider that Texas has played the fourth and fifth ranked scoring offenses in the country.  They held Oklahoma to 35 points, which on the surface is a lot, but OU averages 47 ppg.  Texas held them to 12 points below their season average.

Missouri, the 5th ranked scoring offense, was held to 3 first half points.  They then scored 28 points in the second half, however those came against base and prevent defenses with second stringers on the field and the outcome already determined.  Even still 31 points is 15 below their season average of 46 ppg.

In fact Texas has held every that they have played to at least more than a touchdown less than each teams average points per game. 

So what does this all mean for their upcoming game against Oklahoma St.?  Well Oklahoma St. has one of the most balanced offenses in the country.  They boast the leading Big XII receiver and kick returner in Dez Bryant, the Big XII leading rusher in Kendall Hunter, and the 3rd rated passer in the country in Zac Robinson who can also make plays with his feet.

Texas will have their biggest test of the year against this offense.  The Longhorns boast one of the best defensive lines, which has allowed them to drop seven in coverage to help their young secondary, but with the talented backfield of the Cowboys, Texas may be forced into keeping the linebackers home to play the run, which is something they haven't had to do much this year.

The young secondary has been very susceptible to breakdowns which lead to big plays.  Going against the best receiver in college football, the secondary can ill afford many coverage breakdowns this week. 

However, if you have watched Texas play this season, you know that we have been watching this young secondary grow up game to game, half to half, and play to play.  They are actually outplaying their age and experience.

The OSU Cowboys will bring a lot of fire power, but Longhorns do too.  The Longhorns defense needs to only play well enough to give their offense a chance to win the game.  Texas has risen to the challenge thus far, and will most likely continue to as they mature throughout the season.