Texas Longhorns Football: Little Improvement Brings Even Smaller Satisfaction

The Texas Longhorns of 2011 were different from the Longhorns of 2010. Last year's Texas squad managed just five wins and did not receive a bowl invite, both firsts since Mack Brown took over in 1998.

Then-starting quarterback Garrett Gilbert threw 17 interceptions and Cody Johnson was the team's leading rusher with 592 yards and six touchdowns. Brown decided that year that they would establish a power running game, and take the pressure off the sophomore quarterback. Anyone who watched the Longhorns last year, minus two exceptions against Nebraska and Florida Atlantic, saw Gilbert's ill-advised passes and inability to limit mistakes

Then the house imploded. Offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, offensive line coach and defensive line coach all retired, except for the DC, Will Muschamp, whose coach-in-waiting label couldn't wait any longer and ran to Florida.

The 2011 season saw a new offense with Bryan Harsin, and a nonstop defense from Manny Diaz. The excitement in Austin grew with anticipation of Bryan's Boise magic and Diaz's constantly blitzing defense.

Just like the 2010 season, 2011 opened up against Rice. For the second straight year, while trying to establish the run, they only mustered 34 points as seven players combined for 239 yards on the ground. Gilbert was 13-of-23 for 239 yards and a touchdown. The defense played well, only allowing three field goals.

Then BYU came to Austin where the benching of Garrett Gilbert finally came. Most people were looking for Case McCoy last year while Gilbert threw the ball to the other team 17 times. Gilbert being pulled was the result of completing just two passes and throwing two picks in the first quarter.

Longhorns fans got the first glimpse of sophomore McCoy, and freshman David Ash. They combined for 92 yards and just 9-of-11 passing, but were mistake-free and led two touchdown drives for the win.

The Garrett Gilbert era had come to an end.

Over the next two games, Texas would average 444 total yards in routs of UCLA and Iowa State, both avenging losses the previous season. The Longhorns were 4-0 heading into two straight weeks with Top 10 teams in Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

The Red River Rivalry turned into the Red River Rout when Oklahoma put up 55 points on Diaz's defense. Texas gave the ball up five times and lost for the second consecutive year. The 'Horns would then lose their second consecutive game to Oklahoma State, and this game was also decided by turnovers, something Texas was able to be mostly free of early in the year. Freshman David Ash threw two interceptions and his late fumble in the fourth quarter ended any comeback.

Things would not get much better in Austin.

The Longhorns finished the year winning three of their final six games, with the only real highlight win coming in College Station, beating Texas A&M in what may be the last game between the two for a while. Case McCoy showed signs of his brother Colt late in the game with a scramble that set up the game-winning field goal. His performance was short-lived, as Texas was blown out by Baylor the following week and McCoy was intercepted four times and lost a fumble.

One positive from the up-and-down year is Texas is back in winning format. They finished 7-5, making them eligible for bowl season. The loss to Baylor was the difference in playing in the Insight Bowl in Tempe, AZ, and the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, CA. They will be going to San Diego to face off against the Cal Golden Bears, the Longhorns' second trip to the Holiday Bowl in the past five years.

Although it wasn't the season fans were looking for, there are still some positive things that came out from the season and things to look forward to.

The rushing attack, although not always stellar, averaged 210 yards a game, which ranked 19th in the country. Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron were not healthy the whole year either, which gives the folks in Austin something to look forward to next year: a healthy stable of running backs. However, Texas adds the No. 1-rated running back and No. 5 overall prospect in Jonathan Grey. Grey adds speed in the backfield to counter the power of Brown and Bergeron.

The Orangebloods will be looking for more of a sure thing at quarterback. However, it looks like they are headed for another quarterback battle, and not just between McCoy and Ash. Connor Brewer, the No. 2-rated QB of the 2012 class, will be coming to Texas. He has a better arm than McCoy and is great in the pocket, and there could be another freshman starting next fall.

The schedule is favored for quarterbacks to begin undefeated, as usual. If Brewer or Ash were to win the starting job, they would open up at home against Wyoming, then New Mexico the following week. Following NMU, Texas travels to Ole Miss, possibly the most disappointing SEC team over the past couple years; then the 'Horns are back home against Iowa State.

Overall, it was an improvement from last season. However, it brought minor satisfaction to the people in Austin. With a season under their belts and a long offseason coming, the new coaching staff and players will get more time to mesh and understand the schemes of Diaz and the tricky style of Harsin. With the top-ranked recruiting class and signing day still to come, there is still a bright side to next season.

When the team meshes with the coaches like those of recent years, things should start to fall back into place.