Texas Football: Mack Brown's Career and Legacy Hang in Limbo

Mack Brown may be one of the all-time greats at Texas winning a National Championship over the USC Trojans in one of the greatest finishes in the BCS history. The 2006 season was a magical year and Mack Brown's 2009 squad was fantastic as well before losing to Alabama in the National Championship 37-21 (McCoy's injury changed everything).

However, since the loss the Longhorns have been atrocious as a team. They went 5-7 last season with Garrett Gilbert as their quarterback and despite the 5-star recruits, Mack Brown's program wet the bed a lot last season.

So, is Mack Brown one of the more overrated coaches in the nation at the moment?

Forget what he has done (I understand he will be a Hall of Famer, etc.) in the past look at the present, right now. How in the blue hell does Texas finish the season 88th in points scored per game?

There are 90 percent of teams in America that drool over the talent that Texas gets and yet they dropped the ball by averaging only 23 PPG.

Mack Brown cleaned house as hired all new coordinators. It was about time!

The current co-offensive coordinators are Bryan Harsin and Major Applewhite and the new defensive coordinator is Manny Diaz. I love all three coaches, but how much improvement has been made from last season to this and did Mack Brown make the right decision?

There is a ton of pressure on the Friday Night Lights guest star, but as we all know: You win with your quarterback!

Last time I checked when you play three quarterbacks, you really play no quarterback. Gilbert was thrown into the fire a bit too early you could argue, but the pieces around Gilbert and the rest of signal callers has been mediocre at best for Texas standards.

The receiving core has vastly under performed and what happened to the best line in college football that we saw when Vince Young and Colt McCoy were spinning it?

How much at fault is Mack Brown? All, some, none? This is a huge season for the Longhorns this season with all of the conference expansion and with so many teams getting better as a program (AM, OKST, OU, Baylor). 

Mack Brown has even stated that he did an awful job last year, but he can't fire himself. He may be forced if these 'Horns cannot step up their game on offense. They struggled to move the ball against a decent/solid BYU Cougars defense. 

Malcolm Brown is the one player who can single handily carry this offense to new heights. He could bring them back to the upper echelon of college football if he can go bonkers in his freshman campaign.

Mack Brown is a legend just like the title states, but we live in a win or get out of town life. If Texas were to somehow (doubtful) miss a bowl game and go 5-7 then you would think he would start to get on the heat seat of possible retirement.   

I think that is a bit crazy talk especially since his Longhorns "should" win eight games this season with a solid bowl game appearance as well.

The defense is pretty darn good with a bevy of talent up front, thanks in large part to those 5-star standouts. The linebacker depth is solid and the secondary is only going to improve as the season progresses. 

Still, the biggest question for Mack Brown is whether or not his youngsters on offense can perform well in the spotlight.

Malcolm Brown and whoever the starting signal caller is will determine how far the 'Horns can go in 2011. If those stars continue to develop their talents then the future of Mack Brown's will be bright one again.