Getting to Know Texas

Texas (3-2) at Nebraska (5-0)
When: 2:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Memorial Stadium
TV: ABC
Radio: 1110 AM KFAB

LAST TIME OUT

Oklahoma did everything it could to keep Texas in the Red River Rivalry two weeks ago, but the Longhorns ultimately couldn’t capitalize and leave Dallas with a win.
The Sooners took a 28-10 lead early in the fourth quarter, seemingly sealing a victory with a 20-yard run by DeMarco Murray.
Texas never gave up, despite a frustrating day filled with costly penalties and bad breaks.

The Longhorns pulled within eight points with less than two minutes left. They just missed a chance to go for the tie when OU quarterback Landry Jones’ fumble bounced out of bounds before the UT defenders could maintain possession. Aaron Williams muffed the ensuing Sooner punt.

The 28-20 loss was just Texas’ second in six years in its annual matchup with Oklahoma. After dropping a game to UCLA the week before, the Longhorns fell out of the AP poll for the first time in 10 years. They’re now in danger of losing three straight for the first time since 1999.

Sophomore quarterback Garrett Gilbert was 27 for 41 for a career-high 266 passing yards. James Kirkendoll caught eight of Gilbert’s throws.

RUNNERS SPUTTERING

Texas’ new-look running attack hasn’t had the impact the Longhorns sought.

More under-center, downhill-style runs. Fewer shotgun-oriented calls. That was supposed to be the way Texas would fix some ground-game deficiencies, transforming the offense into a more balanced unit.

The philosophical shift hasn’t worked.

Sophomore D.J. Monroe, junior Cody Johnson and junior Fozzy Whittaker are all operating out of the backfield, but the identity crisis hasn’t helped the young backs find consistent holes. The Longhorns average 129.8 yards rushing yards per game, the third-lowest total in the conference.

It could be quite possible that the Texas coaches ditch their plans and revert to a spread-like approach Saturday.

UNDAUNTING DEFENSE

Texas’ defense is filled with star power, but the unit hasn’t exactly lived up to lofty expectations.

It’s true there is no Big 12 team that gives up fewer than 254.2 yards per game (UT’s average through five games this year).

But the Longhorns’ defense has struggled during the past two games, allowing UCLA to run all over the field one week and failing to keep Oklahoma from delivering a back-breaking touchdown early in the fourth quarter last week.

And Texas has forced just seven turnovers. Kansas is the only Big 12 team with fewer.

Conference writers included five Longhorns on the preseason All-Big 12 team: defensive end Sam Acho, linebacker Keenan Robinson, cornerback Aaron Williams, cornerback Curtis Brown and safety Blake Gideon. But at least during the past two weeks, those guys haven’t been able to make enough plays to carry Texas to a win.

COACHES UNDER FIRE

When you win at least 10 games nine straight seasons, your fans don’t tend to have much patience for losing.

After two straight disappointing efforts, the passionate Longhorn followers are already starting to turn on 13-year offensive coordinator Greg Davis. The desired firing of Davis seems to be an increasingly popular discussion topic lately on the various Texas-based message boards and blogs.

Head coach Mack Brown, now in his 13th year, doesn’t seem to be receiving much support, either. Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp already has been announced as Brown’s eventual successor. But many UT fans worry that Georgia and LSU might consider Muschamp as a coaching candidate if their seasons don’t end more positively than they’ve started.

So maybe even more than ever, the pressure’s on the Texas staff to perform.