HornSports Staff
HornSports.com
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- Oct 20, 2013
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Mike Roach
In what might be a make or break year for this Texas program, they enter the season with a freshman quarterback and new offense. The offensive line position and defense should be improved with another year under their belt. Last season was full of frustrating mistakes and losses from a team not quite ready to finish games. While much of the season will rest on the strong right arm of Shane Buechele, the new offense should generate more yards and points due to its schematic advantage over the Shawn Watson system. The formidable duo of Chris Warren and D’Onta Foreman are the workhorses for this offense that should be able to open up passing lanes. On defense it will come down to the ability for the defensive line to control the run game and pressure opposing passers. Emerging stars at the linebacker and secondary positions should play well on the back end. Texas should also have improved special teams play in the form of Trent Domingue and the second year of Michael Dickson. The schedule starts tough once again, with the toughest three game stretch coming at Cal, at Oklahoma State, and in Dallas for the OU matchup. If Texas comes through that stretch 2-1 they should be able to make some hay and gain some momentum. In my view, Texas has enough to win seven this season and have a chance to pick up an eighth win in a postseason bowl.
Predicted Record: 7-5 (Losses to Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, and TCU)
Bowl Prediction: Motel 6 Cactus Bowl
Ryan Bridges
Let me say first that I am very optimistic about the future of the program because of what Charlie Strong has done -- namely, raise the talent to its highest level in years and instill discipline and toughness that's been absent even longer. But I can't ignore the youth on the interior of the offensive line, the struggles in run defense, and underwhelming safety play. Most of all, I can’t ignore the challenge of running a new offense without a clear-cut first-string quarterback. Defenses will attack the middle of the offensive line and get to the quarterback -- a lot. The backs are exciting, but outside of John Burt, the receivers are unproven. (Arguably, Armanti Foreman has proven that his hands are unreliable, and did you realize Jacorey Warrick has played in 22 games?) And don't get me started on quarterback. Tyrone Swoopes may be improved (where have we heard that before?), but we've seen him take more than 1,000 college snaps, and his limitations are his limitations. I love the corners but I close my eyes when a ball is thrown in the area where a safety should have been. Like Swoopes, we know what we're getting with Dylan Haines and Jason Hall. I don't trust the defensive tackles, and Peter Jinkens will be missed. The good news is that between the lockdown corners and some exciting young pass rushers, there should be plenty of takeaways. The even better news is that, even with all these question marks, Texas will still be better than most of the teams on the schedule. I'm not letting Vegas get my hopes up in the Notre Dame game, but I do expect the Longhorns to get revenge on Oklahoma State now that MVP Alan Eck has graduated to the NFL. I'm giving Oklahoma the edge for no other reason than that the universe has to correct itself in that game eventually. I'm counting Kansas State as a loss because it's in Manhattan and because I think the team, coming off a redemption game against Iowa State and with Baylor on the horizon, will be distracted. Baylor will be out for blood, but by late October they may not have anyone left on either line. The question for me is whether Strong can string enough wins together at the end of the schedule, and whether Shane Buechele can show enough promise, to buy Strong another year. If not, another coach will be reaping the rewards of Strong's recruiting.
Predicted Record: 7-5 (Losses to Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Kansas State, TCU)
Bowl Prediction: AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl
Jeff Cooperstein
It’s about that time of year, time where everyone makes predictions and the vast majority of them are all wrong. Texas is such a tough team to predict, because of all the variables being thrown at them. The unknown at Quarterback, how the new offense will work, and if the defense will turn into what everyone thinks it will. All signs are pointing to Tyronne Swoopes getting the start against Notre Dame, which is cause for concern in its own right. If Swoopes is starting, that means Buchele isn’t quite ready yet. Expecting a true freshman to be ready to play Notre Dame in his first collegiate game is quite the expectation, however the Longhorns have put themselves in this position with the lack of qb depth they’ve had since they thought they had Garrett Gilbert.
Finally, on Sunday night, we’ll get to see what the Longhorns are all about this year. A win against Notre Dame makes them one of the dark horse teams in the country. A loss makes Charlie Strong’s seat a lot warmer than it already is. If they can get to 3-1 by the Oklahoma game on October 8th, Texas will be in a great position for a good season.
Predicted Record: 8-4 (6-3 in conference)
Bowl Prediction: Advocare V100 Texas Bowl
Taylor Smith
An unsure quarterback situation between Tyrone Swoopes and Shane Buechele is my biggest concern for the 2016 Longhorns. Swoopes has yet to really impress me and show he can take over the reins in his three seasons with the Longhorns, so it bothers me knowing that Buechele hasn’t beat him out in practice yet. However, if Buechele lives up to his expectations, I think Texas might have the quarterback of the future (or at least the season until Ehlinger arrives on campus). If Texas finds a quarterback, I think the offense will do just fine behind running backs D’Onta Foreman and Chris Warren III. But, the only way these guys shine is if Texas offense poses as a passing and running threat. I am interested to see what Lil’ Jordan Humphrey does in the wider receiver position. Defensively, I think the Longhorns will step up this year behind fifth-year senior Paul Boyette and junior Poona Ford. The defense gave up a lot of rushing yards last season, but if the offense can stay on the field longer, defense will be more refreshed and ready to hold its own.
I think the Notre Dame game will give us a good look of how the 2016 season will be for the Texas football team. In my opinion, Charlie Strong should start Buechele and see what he’s got. Texas fans don’t want to see the same old, same old from players that have already disappointed them. My bold prediction is Buechele takes the first snap of the game, and the Longhorns beat the Fighting Irish to start the season. It will be a close game with Texas coming out on top, 28-24. I think the Longhorns finish the season with 7-9 wins.
Predicted Record: 8-4 overall record (with losses to California, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, and TCU)
Bowl Prediction: Motel 6 Cactus Bowl
Chris Flanagan
As I stated in my Big 12 rankings for the year, Texas has the foundation and depth of talent to rebuild the program. However, what they lack is experience and that does matter. Only Florida State in 2013 were conference and national champions starting a freshman quarterback (redshirt freshman no less). So expecting a championship this season would be insanity. What also should be classified as insane is this should be a 9 win season or Charlie is gone as our partners at Campus Insiders suggest. Texas is a blue blood of college football, but that doesn't mean everyone else in the Big 12 is chopped liver. When Texas is on the schedule, teams get up to play the game. Texas doesn't have the experience and mental fortitude to handle the week to week grind required to be a very good team.
Texas will be average, and that's okay because the future is very bright.
Predicted Record: 7-5 (5-4 Big 12)
Bowl Prediction: Advocare V100 Texas Bowl
Aaron Carrara
Year three in the Charlie Strong era at Texas will yield a better on-field product on both sides of the ball. Despite the quarterback situation being relatively non-convincing, there is reason for optimism. Senior Tyrone Swoopes has matured and made strides at the position since last season, and true freshman Shane Buechele has the capability to take the reins of Sterlin Gilbert’s offense and run with it, should he assume the starting role. 15 starters return on offense and defense, and an improved offensive line should support better offensive schemes and a solid running game from Donta’ Foreman, a bulked-up Chris Warren and other backfield weapons.
The Longhorns’ defensive unit returns 8 starters, anchored by Preseason All-American Malik Jefferson. An improved secondary with immense talent will be interesting to watch. The Longhorns face many potent offenses in-and-out of conference play and we will learn just how much Vance Bedford’s unit has improved since giving up 453 yards per game last season.
Without question, Charlie Strong is under the microscope this season, but a winning record should be enough to secure his return to Austin next season – and rightfully so. I’m not convinced his seat is “hotâ€, but it’s warm. Strong has his recruiting prowess in-motion, what looks to be formidable coordinators, and it’s all paying dividends. This year will be a slightly above average year for the Longhorns, but 2017 sees them back in the upper echelon of college football once again, with Charlie Strong at the helm.
Predicted Record: 8-4 (Losses to Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, and TCU)
Bowl Prediction: Motel 6 Cactus Bowl
Daniel Seahorn
I've been wrestling with this prediction from some time now, and I'm finally trying to put it into words.
This is a big year for Charlie Strong and the Longhorns not so much as they have a chance to compete for a national title, but they have a chance to grab ahold of the recruiting momentum in state in a major way. While many have sky high expectations for the Texas every year, I am going to be one to tell you that you must remain patient and trust the process of what Strong and staff are building in Austin. It's abundantly clear the talent is being stockpiled and they finally have a young quarterback who could finally put them back where they need to be inShane Buechele once he gets some experience under his belt.
This was a true ground up rebuild for Strong and his staff and I think they will take a step forward in 2016 after struggling mightily in the first two seasons. While I am not predicting double digit wins this fall, I think they will show improvement in several areas and will surprise everyone and a pull an upset nobody (including myself) saw coming.
Last year we saw the Longhorns fall flat on their face in South Bend against a much more talented Fighting Irish squad, but this year with more experience under their built and talent gap narrowed, I think we see a better game.
If Strong can get his team to 8-9 wins, I think Longhorn fans are going to be very pleased with what happens in February due to the progress shown on the field. No, 8-9 wins isn't the standard in Austin, but in 2016 it will certainly help them get back to the standard that everyone in the state is used to.
I'm predicting Buechele takes over under center at some point during the season and he never looks back. Make me look smart, Shane.
Predicted Record: 8-4 (Losses to ND, OSU, OU, TCU)
Bowl Prediction: Advocare V100 Texas Bowl
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