After the Debacle: Texas Longhorn 2011 Preview, Pt 3

Aug 12, 2011

Heads rolling means new blood, new life.

Offense

Whatever happens to the Longhorn offense this season, will for the first time in the Mack Brown era, not be attributable to “retired” Offensive Coordinator/ QB coach, Greg Davis. Now the onus to perform lies on the two-headed tandem at Offensive Coordinator, Bryan Harsin and Major Applewhite. Harsin, only 34, was the mastermind of the Boise State Broncos offensive machine, a force so efficient, dangerously proficient and effective, that over the past five season they ranked in the top five nationally in scoring offense on four occasions, and three times in the top five in total offense. Prolific, indeed! Harsin, as Davis before him, will also oversee the Quarterback (QB) position.

Of course, Major Applewhite needs no introduction to the Forty Acres. Applewhite, one of the most beloved Texas Qbs ever, was promoted to Co-Offensive Coordinator this season, much to the delight of an adoring Longhorn faithful. Only 32, himself, Applewhite enters his sixth season of coaching at UT. Like last season, he will also oversee the Running Back (RB) position.

Making their Longhorn coaching debuts on the Offense this season are Stacy Searels (Offensive Line) and Darrell Wyatt (Wide Receivers). Searels served in the same capacity at Georgia and LSU previously, was a former All-American offensive lineman during his college playing days at Auburn (where he blocked for Bo Jackson). Searels is committed to improving the physicality of an offensive line that somewhere along the way, in recent years, forgot how to run block. Wyatt comes to the Longhorns, sporting experience at Southern Mississippi, Arizona, Oklahoma (yes, the Sooners!), Oklahoma State, and even experience with the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL. Wyatt is also the Co-Recruiting Coordinator along with long-time returning Tight End (TE) Coach, Bruce Chambers.

Defense

Although last season’s defense was generally a team strength, there was a bit of grousing that the team gave up too many big plays. This was about the only criticism that could be tossed at former Longhorn Defensive Coordinator and “Head Coach In-Waiting” Will Muschamp. Under Muschamp’s fiery leadership, the ‘Horns defense was no stranger to the national rankings, becoming one of the premier units at run defense and scoring defense. In defense of last season’s quibble about the big plays allowed, I will say that an alarming lack of offensive production from last year, contributed more to last season’s collapse than any perceived lapses on the defense’s part. I know for a fact, that the defense was totally frustrated with having little help from their offensive (and sometimes offensive) counterparts. In any case, Muschamp, apparently tired of waiting for Brown to step down, accepted the head coaching vacancy at Florida in December, replacing Urban Meyer.

Enter Manny Diaz, the new Defensive Coordinator at UT. Diaz, helmed the defenses previously at a rising Mississippi State program and Middle Tennessee, also overseeing the Linebacker position (LB) at these schools, and at LSU. Diaz, intends to continue developing the LB position at Texas, which has historically been something of a linebacker factory. Perhaps the biggest change he can effect, is making this team a turnover-causing, turnover-gobbling team. Last year’s defensive squad caused only eighteen turnovers, while the offense gave up thirty. Minus twelve in this category cannot happen again, and frankly, I don’t think it will.

Joining Diaz as debut-making defensive coach is Defensive Tackles (DT) coach, Bo Davis. For eight of the last nine seasons, Davis served under the tremendously regarded Nick Saban at Alabama, LSU and the Miami Dolphins. Davis was also a nose guard for LSU in his collegiate career. Returning as new Assistant Head Coach and for an eleventh season as Defensive Backs (DB) coach is Duane Akina, who has sent a slew of Dbs to the NFL, including eight from UT, and seventeen others in his pre-UT tenure. Former Longhorn Defensive End (DE) legend, Oscar Giles, returns for his seventh season helming the DE position.

Expect the solid, often exceptional defensive play of recent years to continue this season. Expect as well, for this unit to be the team’s strength again, only this year, causing enemy turnovers at a rate of, say, approximately twice that of last year’s squad.

Stay tuned for Part 4, a peek under the hood of the Longhorn offense.