2008 Season Preview: Texas

by ccmachine on Jul 22, 2008 3:43 PM CDT in Football

OU snapped a two-game skid to the Longhorns last October and are now looking to restore the dominance we saw from 2000-2004. After back-to-back losses to Kansas State and OU last season marked the first time the Longhorns started conference play 0-2 since the inception of the Big 12. Some things will get better for the Longhorns in `08 while others will get worse. Even diehard Texas fans are looking to `09 as the year they make another title run and not this season.

Colt McCoy may have had a bit of a letdown after an incredible freshman campaign but when you consider the offensive line he was working behind and the loss of Limas Sweed during the season he really shouldn’t shoulder all the blame. One of the things that gets overlooked about McCoy is that he was second on the team in rushing with 678 yards making him the returning leading rusher in 2008.

The departure of Jamaal Charles leaves some significant questions for Texas as to how effective their rushing attack can be this year. Besides McCoy Vondrell McGee is the running back who returns in `08 with the most experience he carried the ball 75 times for 325 yards. There is still talent at the position for Texas but it is young and inexperienced and won’t be as strong as last year.

Texas also loses their `07 leading receiver in Nate Jones and over-the-middle target Jermichael Finley but they do return Quan Cosby (60 receptions, 680 yards, 5 TDs) and Jordan Shipley (27 receptions, 417 yards, 5 TDs). Again we find talent bust less experience than last season. The catalysts to the Texas offense is again the offensive line which in spite of losing two key starters from last year could actually be a better unit this year as the group enters 08 with more collective experience than it started the 07 season with.

2007 Offensive Leaders
Passing	Colt McCoy	276/424, 3303 yards, 22 TD, 18 INT
Rushing	Jamaal Charles	258 carries 1665 yards, 18 touchdowns
Receiving	Nate Jones	70 receptions, 795 yards, 5 touchdowns

On Defense the Longhorns only return four starters but don’t let that fool you. They have enough experience to be good. Possibly the biggest loss is Marcus Griffin who led the team in tackles but they return cornerback Ryan Palmer (who led the team in pass break-ups), middle linebacker Rashad Bobino, defensive end Brian Orakpo (who led the team in sacks) and defensive tackle Lamar Houston (who led the team in tackles for loss).

2007 Defensive Leaders
Tackles	Marcus Griffin	99
Tackles for Loss	Lamarr Houston	7.5
Sacks	Brian Orakpo	5.5
Interceptions	Brandon Foster	5

The assumption that the Longhorns won’t be good on defense in 08 could be valid but most likely isn’t. They gave up an average of 25.3 points and almost 400 yards (371) per game. Keep in mind that Mack Brown has landed some highly touted recruits the past few years and even though they only have 4 returning starters they do have experienced players at all 11 positions.

2007 Team Stats
Points Scored P/G	Points Allowed P/G	Rush P/G	Pass P/G	Home	Road
37.2	25.3	208	255	5-1	4-1

Poll

What will the result of the OU/Texas game be for the Sooners?

0 recs | Comment 8 comments

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Comments

Still A Close Game

Texas may have issues at running back, wide receiver and defensive line, but it’s still the Longhorns. The game may not be as close as last year, but it will still be a good contest. OU should roll this year with the roster they have.

by DallasSooner on Jul 23, 2008 7:26 AM CDT 0 recs

great synopsis, thanks for posting

Watching Reggie Smith, Malcom Kelly, and Curtis Lofton reminds me that they will be missed this season. If all three had returned I think OU would be odds-on favorite for a national title appearance. All three made BIG plays in the Texas game, particularly Lofton and Smith.

McCoy is a great QB, but he shouldn’t get too many opportunities to make big plays with OUs D-line in his face. And, yes, some Texas fans seem to be writing this season off. I don’t think OU/Texas will be close, or at least it shouldn’t be. OU is just too strong on the lines this year.

by inocybe on Jul 23, 2008 8:32 AM CDT 0 recs

The thing about this rivalry is that you just don't know.

Obviously these last several years it has gone in streaks. Here’s to hoping that it stays that way and the Sooners run off several more in a row.

by ccmachine on Jul 23, 2008 2:10 PM CDT 0 recs

Strength on the lines...

is the big “if” in my opinion. Teams like Texas with speed on the D-line really gave OU fits last year. The line is huge but struggled to run block well against speed. Everyone says the O-line is the biggest strength on the team. I really would like to see it first. That Texas defense is always strong up front.

by bigskinny on Jul 24, 2008 8:53 AM CDT 0 recs

TX D Lost A Couple Of Horses

The tu D lost a couple of good players on the line. I’m sure they will have some decent replacements, but they are unproven at this point. Look for DeMarco to make another couple of hurdle runs to the end zone. OU 24…...tu 14

by DallasSooner on Jul 24, 2008 9:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

28-21

I expect more close RRSO games like this in the future, no more giant blowouts (not that i minded um when we did it) becasue the teams are just too similer in terms of talent.

Semper Paratus

by CrimsonBlood on Jul 24, 2008 12:55 PM CDT 0 recs

if you don't like strength...

...then consider the experience (and depth?) on the lines that OU has over Texas this coming year.

Also, in the Stoops era every time OU has been ranked higher than Texas, OU has always won. I’ll take a one point win over Texas any day, but this year I would predict a larger margin.

by inocybe on Jul 24, 2008 8:33 PM CDT 0 recs

I like the strength

and experience of the line. Hoping that the expectations mirror the results this time around. Seems like that was a small point of weakness at times last year

by bigskinny on Jul 26, 2008 12:07 AM CDT up 0 recs