CFN: 5 Things to Watch - UT vs. Wyoming

5 Things to Watch For: Texas vs. Wyoming
With a big matchup in Lubbock looming next week for the Texas Longhorns, head coach Mack Brown better be ready to show no mercy in preparing his team for Wyoming. Clearly, the offense looked inconsistent last week versus Rice, and if Greg Davis and the offensive units can’t get their stuff together, the Horns could be facing a season-defining loss against Texas Tech next week. Here’s five things to watch for as Texas prepares for Wyoming this Saturday.

1. Will Greg Davis let Garrett Gilbert be a quarterback this week?
Last week, Gilbert was nothing more than a bus driver. He wasn’t asked to make plays down the field. He wasn’t asked to audile based on coverage. He wasn’t asked to be the focal point of the offense. Basically, he wasn’t asked to do any of the things Texas asked him to do in the BCS title game after Colt McCoy’s injury. His play in that game indicated he could handle the pressure. So what does Texas do his first game as a starter? Focus on the run. On an ineffective run at that. GG should be utilizing his NFL caliber arm to get the ball downfield to some of the fastest WRs in the nation, instead of handing the ball off to the likes of Cody Johnson for a 3 yard gain. Davis needs to open up the offense. This is a kid who ran the spread to perfection in high school (he owns most Texas state passing records and 2 state titles), so why not let him show what he can do? This is the week to make Gilbert comfortable in an offense that certainly can’t be as bland as the game called against Rice – because if that is the game plan from Davis for the 2010 season, expect some disappointed Texas fans. And a disappointed QB.

2. Will the defense force turnovers?
Much has been made of the 2 INTs that were dropped by Aaron Williams and Chykie Brown against Rice. The Longhorns forced 2 turnovers against the Owls, but those two picks that were dropped played a major factor in Texas’s subpar victory. Add an easy 14 points from the INTs to the final, and there may be less talk about the ineffective Texas running game, and more talk about another dominate D from Will Muschamp. The difference between 2008 and 2009 on defense was turnovers – they didn’t force enough in ’08, but led the country last year. To help soften the load on the offensive unit, the Texas D needs to come up with more turnovers. Gimmes like the ones dropped by Williams and Brown may not cost Texas against teams like Wyoming or Rice – but they will certainly hinder them when they face Tech, OU, and Nebraska.

3. Will the special teams be special? Or will they ride the special bus again?
The weak link against Rice was clearly the play of the special teams. They missed two field goals (one was blocked) and muffed a punt inside the Rice 20 yard line that set up the Owls last score. If Texas wants to compete for a Big 12 crown, they will have to be much better in the special teams game. Think of 2008 – Jordan Shipley turned the game against OU around by taking a kickoff back 96 yards when Texas trailed by 11 and seemed to be overmatched. Last year, Nebraska made a huge special teams gaffe when they kicked off to Texas with under 2 minutes to go in the Big 12 title game – the kick went out of bounds, giving the Longhorns the ball on their own 40 yard line. Texas won both games, and the play of the special teams was instrumental in each victory. The Longhorns have been one of the best in the country on special teams for the past decade (they lead the country in blocked kicks since 2000) – in 2009 they returned 2 KOs for touchdowns, one of which saved the game against Texas A&M. Shipley was a master at turning games around with his nose for the endzone on punt returns. Hunter Lawrence was the most accurate place kicker in Longhorn history. Texas will need to find a way to replace these points and production if they are going to win the close games in 2010, and nothing about the Rice game gave UT fans confidence these holes have been filled.

4. Can the running game get going?
The magic question for 2010. Tre Newton will get the start ahead of Cody Johnson. Newton, Fozzy Whitaker, and Johnson will split carries again. The 3 headed monster racked up 179 yards against Rice, but there were no break away runs. Basically, Texas pounded the ball, and pounded the ball, and pounded the ball until finally they had racked up enough yards to look respectable. The longest play from scrimmage running the ball was 18 yards. This won’t get it done. Texas needs to find a way to have more explosive plays on offense with the running game, or else teams will be able to clamp down on the offense Greg Davis seems intent on running in 2010. There can be no legitimate NFL style offense, with play action and deep passes, if safeties and defenses don’t respect the home run threat out of the backfield. Nothing any of the Texas players did against Rice shows the Horns have this threat, either based on the running of the backs, or the blocking of the line and receivers downfield. If they are insistent on running the ball in 2010, the Texas coaches better be insistent on finding a scheme and the players to do it effectively.

5. What is the intensity level of the Texas Longhorns?
Look, Texas doesn’t need a team of Rah-Rah cheerleaders. The Pom Squad, Cheerleaders, HellRaisers, and all the other Texas spirit groups will take care of that. But both Mack Brown and Greg Davis commented this week that the Texas sideline wasn’t enthusiastic enough for their taste. The emotion seemed to be lacking. Perhaps it was playing an inferior opponent, and guys just can’t get excited for games they’ll win on talent alone. Attitudes like this will result in losses when Conference play starts. And it will certainly cost them next week at Texas Tech. Let’s see if there is fire on the Texas sideline this Saturday.