Texas Longhorns
Big 12
Another good year is masked by frustration and outrage from Longhorns fans. It is really hard to please these people. Once again, Mack Brown and Texas have put together a successful year, wrapped up with a bid to a nice bowl game, but it simply is not enough. With a history of championship contenders to root for, anything less screams disappointment. Losing to Oklahoma again this year (making it three straight defeats at the hands of the Sooners) does not help matters. After having been on the hot seat these past two seasons, Coach Brown may be on his last legs as the head coach at the University of Texas where eight wins just doesn’t cut it if 12 are needed.
2012 Record: 8-4, 5-4
Coach: Mack Brown
Coach Bowl Record: 12-7
Big Wins: 10/20 Baylor (56-50), 11/3 at Texas Tech (31-22)
Bad Losses: 10/6 West Virginia (45-48), 11/22 TCU (13-20)
Strengths:
Despite the feeling of failure surrounding the program, Texas has done a lot of things well this year. They play the field position game well with a solid turnover margin and good punting. They have a very prolific scoring offense as well. In two of their bigger conference tilts, versus West Virginia and at Oklahoma both of which Texas ended up losing, the Longhorns still managed 66 combined points. Aided by a good offensive line, which ranks in the top 12 in the nation in sacks allowed, Texas’ passing efficiency was on par with any of the spread, sling the ball offenses of the Big 12. Led by Johnathan Gray and Joe Bergeron, the running game wasn’t too shabby either. Both backs totaled over 500 yards on the ground, with Gray averaging more per carry but Bergeron managing to run for many more touchdowns. The quarterback controversy of the past few years was pretty much a non-issue as David Ash took the reins this year and got the vast majority of snaps all year long. On the offensive side of the ball Texas was as good as their record indicates.
Weaknesses:
As odd as it seems for the Texas Longhorns, they actually struggled on defense this year. With recent history as our guide and looking at their roster, this is quite surprising. Texas has relied heavily on their defense these past few years. The last time the offensive unit was ahead of the defense was back in 2008, when Colt McCoy was quarterback. Since then, even when the offense was still good, the defense had been nationally competitive…until this year that is. Alex Okafor and Jackson Jeffcoat were supposed to anchor a frightening pass rush. While Okafor and Jeffcoat were able to get to the quarterback a number of times, the two pro prospects and their teammates got shredded on multiple occasions in 2012. Allowing 48 points to West Virginia while Geno Smith was humming is explainable; giving up 50 to Baylor in a shootout makes some sort of sense; but when Oklahoma lays 63 points on you in the Red River Rivalry, the season has not gone according to plan.
Statistical Leaders:
Rushing: Johnathan Gray, RB, 683 yards
Passing: David Ash, QB, 2,458 yards
Receiving: Mike Davis, WR, 909 yards
Tackles: Kenny Vaccaro, S, 99
Sacks: Alex Okafor, DE, 8.0
Interceptions: Carring Byndom, CB, 3; Quandre Diggs, CB, 3
2012 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 183.00 (43rd in nation, 5th in conference)
Passing Offense: 260.55 (44, 6)
Total Offense: 443.55 (33, 6)
Scoring Offense: 37.18 (20, 7)
Rushing Defense: 201.55 (103, 10)
Pass Defense: 216.18 (39, 3)
Total Defense: 417.73 (79, 6)
Scoring Defense: 28.27 (65, 5)
Turnover Margin: 0.45 (39, 3)
Sacks: 2.18 (46, 3)
Sacks Allowed: 0.91 (11, 1)
Recent Bowl Appearances:
2011 Holiday Bowl California (21-10)
2009 BCS Championship Alabama (21-37)
2008 Fiesta Bowl Ohio State (24-21)
2007 Holiday Bowl Arizona State (52-34)
2006 Alamo Bowl Iowa (26-24)
*all team stats through 11/24
