As the Texas season opener looms on Saturday at 2:30 pm Central Time. We’ve heard the hype from Quinn Ewers to Alfred Collins to the 2023 true freshmen. There’s been negative and positive throughout the offseason. On and off the field. The new additions are lethal, but linebacker depth is not looking great as Texas starts with a couple of 105 degree games. National media believes this is a College Football Playoff roster and Big 12 officials have their own comments. Texas versus Rice will be a peak at the rest of the season.
Texas Season Opener, Offensively
The Texas skill position players have been praised all offseason. Adonai Mitchell does something every day that outdoes himself. In a receiver room Steve Sarkisian believes can be six deep. The quarterback room looks like they are going to Hollywood for an Avengers remake. The running backs are solidifying their roles behind an improving offensive line. Texas season opener offensively should look explosive on the outside.
On the offensive line both starters at tackle are remaining in place. Kelvin Banks and Christian Jones were the only Power 5 tackles that allowed less than 5 quarterback hurries as a duo in the last five weeks of the 2022 season. In the interior, DJ Campbell has taken over the right guard position. With Jake Majors and Hayden Connor starting at center and left guard. With the hot start, Kyle Flood believes that the offensive line is potentially 8 deep.
Texas Season Opener, Defensively
The key thing for the Texas defense is getting pressure and without blitzing linebackers and secondary players. For as deep as the interior defensive line feels. The EDGE positions feel just as thin. Barryn Sorrell and T’Vondre Sweat are trying to become draft picks. Bullying the Rice offensive line in Texas’ season opener will be a great first step.
The Texas secondary and linebackers were a tale of two offseasons. While the transfers and true freshmen have made this secondary room as deep as it’s been in over a decade. One injury has left the linebacker room with questions a tad if a scorching hot September. Two of Rice’s top 3 receivers have left. Luke McCaffery is still around but shouldn’t manage to be a one man show with former five star JT Daniels at quarterback.
Conclusion
For Texas to be the team we expect, the line of scrimmage play needs to be nasty and violent. Texas’ season opener is the opportunity to show this program plays to the standard Steve Sarkisian has set. And no longer plays down to it’s competition. Texas flexing on an undermanned team will show it’s continuing to move in the right direction. I expect Texas to cover with a 45-7 win.
https://texas-talk.com/2023/04/12/texas-quinn-ewers-means-everything-to-longhorns-2023-success/
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