OFFENSE

Better

The quarterbacks will have significantly more experience this season, and both guys will go into the opener expecting to play substantial minutes for the first time in their collegiate careers. An Ohio State-styled power spread system fits both Tyrone Swoopes (Cardale Jones similarities) and Jerrod Heard (Trevone Boykin with a far weaker arm) vastly better than the 2-TE West Coast timing route offense from last year.

Texas is smartly moving to a HUNH along with the RPO/POP power spread concepts from tOSU, which not only has its usual advantages over the defense, but also allows Swoopes and Heard (neither of which are likely ready to be big-time QBs) to play without overthinking the game.

The WR position will take a step back in reliability with John Harris and Jaxon Shipley gone, but there should be more speed and explosiveness with guys like Jacorey Warrick and Armanti Foreman.

RB will have more depth, more speed, and more play-making ability all around than it did last season.

Most important, the OL, which was one of the worst in UT history last year, cannot possibly be any worse. After dismissals, suspensions, and injuries, Texas struggled to field five serviceable players along the line . Even merely a poor OL would be a dramatic improvement. And their job should be easier with the uptempo offense wearing down the defense, as well as the added threat of the QB running game (most of the QB “read” plays last year were not reads at all, but scripted choices beforehand).

 

DEFENSE

Worse

Texas lost arguably its two best players at each level of defense from last year, and it’s basically impossible to duplicate what was at most times a frankly dominant unit that really only ever struggled when the offense forced them back onto the field after repeated three and outs, short drives, or turnovers.

The defensive line is the strength of the team, led by massive DT Hassan Ridgeway, who should be a star. The rest of the DL is solid and has depth, but currently it’s an unspectacular unit pass-rush wise.

Redshirt and particularly true freshmen will be asked to fill in everywhere in the back 7. I think most UT fans wouldn’t be surprised if the Longhorns had a true freshman and a redshirt freshman starting at LB by the end of the season, as well as a true freshman at CB and a RS freshman at nickel. True frosh like LB Malik Jefferson and DBs Holton Hill and Kris Boyd are extremely gifted athletes, but this is the Big 12 — they’re going to get torched in the short term.

You have to respect Charlie Strong and Vance Bedford’s ability to put a tough defense on the field season after season, but it’s likely going to be mediocre at best to start the year.

 

You Buying or Selling the Longhorns in 2015?

I predict 7 wins. I guess that’s selling if you’re a UT fan, but it’s technically an improvement from last season.

I don’t see a win in South Bend to start the season. Texas will be too young, ND will be one of the most experienced teams in the nation, it’s a road game, and they’re QB battle is far more advantageous than the Longhorns.

TCU and Baylor both feel like automatic blowouts on the road. Man, that sure is odd to type.

I don’t like the way OU is trending at all — as much as I like Lincoln Riley, they fired the wrong coordinator — and Strong/Bedford destroyed their offense last year in a way I haven’t seen Texas do to OU in quite a while, but they still feel like a better overall team to me.

That’s 4 Ls already, and I figure UT probably loses one somewhere else along the line simply by not being that good of a team.

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Blake Borron of Burnt Orange Nation, provided the information for our Texas Football 2015 Spring recap. For more Texas football information, commentary and analysis, you can follow Blake on Twitter @gohornsgo90  & Burnt Orange Nation @BON_SBNation. 

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