Breakdown of Texas and prediction for the year

It is time to weigh in with some comments on this year's Texas squad. I am by no means an expert, but I have been monitoring the Horns from my bunker deep beneath the Earth, so here it goes.

I'll start with the real strength of the team, the defense. This defense not only has the capacity to be good, it could be great. I mean 2004 Penn St. 0r Auburn good. As a segue, the new DC at Texas is former Auburn DC and Assistant Coach of the Year, Gene Chizik. And he has inherited a loaded defense. The front line will dominante week-in, week out. Rod Wright and Larry Dibbles return for their senior season. However, Dibbles is battling soph Frank Okam for his starting spot (no kidding). Derek Lokey and Roy Miller will also contribute. The D-Line is the deepest in the nation and was ranked in the top 3 in every pre-season rag. The end position is solid with Tim Crowder and converted LB Brian Robison. This unit will have to get more pressure on the QB this year for Texas to be sucessful against high octane offenses (see Ohio St., Tech and TAMU).

The LB position is supposed to take a hit with the loss of DJ. However, this year's unit will be a more complete unit than last year. Last year, it was a two-man show with DJ and Arron Harris. The third LB, Eric Hall, was largely ineffective. This year, Harris returns to lead a unit that will feature some young, quick talent in the likes of converted SS Drew Kelson, Rashad Bobino and Killebrew. The word from practice is Bobino and Killebrew destroy everything in their path, and Kelson is drawing comparisons to OU's Roy Williams. This unit will be depended on to help shut down the rushing attack at OU, knock the holy hell out of Ted Ginn, should he come across the middle.

The secondary is also loaded with experienced talent. Michael Griffin, Cedric Griffin (no relation), Arron Ross, Tarrell Brown and Michael Huff have logged playing time in the past. Michael Griffin's twin brother Marcus should also contribute. These guys are fast and Ced Griffin and Ross hit hard. They will have to step up against Ohio St.'s receivers for Texas to have a chance in that game.

All told, this is a squad that could easily lead the nation in most defensive categories. I expect them to hold most opponents to less than 17 pionts a game. Which will take a lot of pressure off the offense. Speaking of...

The offense begins and ends with Vince Young. Prototypical QB or not, this is the guy you want touching the ball on every play. The only question with Young is has his passing skills improved enough to make him an elite QB? That remains to be seen. It may not matter. Vince has made moves that boggle the mind. He covers ground like noone I have seen. To be sure, defenses will be prepared this year and he will have one, if not two spies on him every play (Michigan tried this in the Rose Bowl, Young ran it in from twenty yards out). Certainly, an improved passing game will assist the running game. And the passing game is the biggest question mark heading into the season.

But what about the running game? Ced Benson was the 6th leading rusher in NCAA history, who can fill those shoes? The running game will be fine, because Texas has the consensus number one O-line in the nation. I could rush for 1500 yards behind this line. Allen, Scott, Blaylock, Studdard and Sendlein open the holes and provide pass protection this year. Should any of those guys go down, Mike Garcia started about seven games last year and played well. Tony Hills has also competed for a starting spot this year. This unit has depth, experience and talent enough to help the Horns have an explosive offense.

As for the running backs, Selvin Young returns as a Junior. Selvin is fast and athletic, but prone to injury. Ramonce Taylor is another guy you want touching the ball every play. He is fast, and draws comparisons to Reggie Bush, although he is not as strong as Bush. Look for Ramonce to be involved in some reverses and to return kicks and punts. Incoming freshmen will also have a chance to make an impact. Jamaal Charles is the Texas State hurdles champ. Mike Houston out of Colorado enrolled early and has been with the team since spring drills. But the fish getting the most buzz is Henry Melton. At 6'3, 270 he is destined to be converted to full-back, possibly DE. This year, he could be the short yardage back that Texas lost with the departure of Cedric Benson. The local media is comparing Melton the Jerome Bettis and Iron Head Hayword. Geoff Ketchum of Orangebloods.com says the only defensive players that have stopped Melton on first contact were DT Rod Wright and LB Robert Killebrew. At fullback, Will Matthews will be missed, but Amhad Hall is a former Marine who will bring toughness and maturity to that position.

Wide receiver is the lone weakness on the offense. Unfortunately, they may have to be relied on if defenses stack the box to stop Vince and the running back committee. Limas Sweed has the most experience and talent of the group. Jordan Shipley is the Golden Boy at receiver, but he missed all of last year with a knee injury and may be out til game one with a strained hammy. Nate Jone and Billy Pittman will be relied upon to contribute, but are only sophmores. Quan Cosby generated a lot of excitement. Quan was all-world coming out of high school 4 years ago, but chose to play baseball instead. He has returned to Texas as a freshman, but may not be ready to contribute until mid-season. At tight-end, David Thomas is an excellent receiving tight-end. Thomas gets overlooked on the national scene, because of his blocking ability (although one mag did have him on the 4th team offense nationally). Fortunately, given the strength of the O-line, Thomas will not be called upon to block much. He will be Vince's number one target until defenses figure that out and take it away. So what does this boil down to? The box will be stacked and Thomas will be defended, meaning a lot of one-to-one match-ups for the receivers. The receivers will have to get open and make the catches (many local pundits blamed Young's passing defenciency on the young wide-outs), and Vince needs to be able to hit them in stride. Look for Sweed and Shipley to be possession receivers and Cosby to be the deep threat once he is ready to play. This unit must step-up if Texas is to compete for the national and Big 12 titles.

Special teams will be okay, not great. Kick coverage must improve. The Michigan was close mostly because the Wolverines were running back kicks to the Texas side of the field. Many think the Ohio St. game will turn on special teams, and if that is the case, Texas could be in trouble.

In the end, it could be a great year for Texas. The lynchpin this year is the game at Ohio St. on Sept. 10. If Texas goes in there and wins big, then noone will touch them, and you can pencil them in for the Rose Bowl. If the game is really close, win or lose, then the OU games looms large and Texas will have to battle to win the Big 12. If Texas goes in there and loses big, and gets humiliated on national TV, then they lose to OU and probably lose two or three more.

Same tune, different verse, this team is loaded and there should be no excuses. The difference between this team and previous teams? No QB controversy and Vince Young is the unquestioned leader of this team. Vince should look into hotel accomodations in NY for later this season.