TULSA PASS OFFENSE VS TEXAS PASS DEFENSE
Starting quarterback Luke Skipper played about half the year last year after taking over for Chad President, who was a four-star player formerly committed to Baylor. Skipper took over the job midway through season last year and won the battle again this off-season. The coaching staff has expressed confidence in him and he was much improved in spring and fall camp. But he’s still inexperienced. Tulsa’s passing offense isn’t as strong as its rushing offense overall, but people who cover the program say Skipper is making better decisions with the ball. The receivers struggled to get separation at times, but Tulsa did use the tight ends more in the first game than they did at any point last season. Transfer Cole Neph from Oklahoma State is more of a pass-catching tight end and he made some big plays last week. The Longhorns could be short-handed in their secondary this week and the DBs had some issues against Maryland, but Texas should be able to bounce back this week.
Edge – Texas ***
TULSA RUN OFFENSE VS TEXAS RUN DEFENSE
Quarterback Skipper can pull it down and run sometimes (69 yards on the ground last week before sack totals were factored in), and he made solid decisions on zone read plays in the first game. Shamari Brooks is the starter, and Corey Taylor also gets work. Brooks is a small guy but very powerful for his size. Both backs run hard and can get yards after contact so Texas will need to be sure tacklers. Both are pretty patient runners as well, and each back went over 100 yards in the season-opener. Incredibly, Tulsa has had a 100-yard rusher in each of its last 16 games. Tulsa’s running scheme are similar to what Baylor did under Art Briles in that the offense spreads the field wide with its wide receivers near the sidelines, but mostly runs the ball up the middle. It’s more of a power run game than what Texas saw last week against Maryland.
Edge – Tulsa *
TULSA OFFENSIVE LINE VS TEXAS DEFENSIVE LINE
Tulsa has three starters back. In the team’s first game, the new guys played pretty well and helped provide some good rushing lanes. Tulsa did give up four sacks though. Center Chandler Miller is very experienced and has started every game since his redshirt freshman year … very steady player in the middle. Tackle Willie Wright is a returner on the right side, and Tyler Bowling at left guard is also a returning starter.
Edge – Texas **
TULSA PASS DEFENSE VS TEXAS PASS OFFENSE
Pass defense has been an Achilles heel for Tulsa for several years. The group did look better last week, but nobody is quite sure what that means against Central Arkansas, who was starting a new quarterback. Overall, the Tulsa defense gave up the fewest yards it has in a game since 2012 (247, 165 through the air). The secondary looked improved, but the jury is still out. Keanu Hill, a JUCO transfer at corner who got hurt and missed last year, is back now but got dinged up last week. Akayleb Evans and Allie Green, both sophomore corners, have talent but haven’t been tested much. Both safeties are returning starters.
Edge – Texas ***
TULSA RUN DEFENSE VS TEXAS RUN OFFENSE
Central Arkansas totaled just 85 rushing yards last week, which is something they’ve been pretty good at in the past. Tulsa’s front seven played well last week and was pretty active against the run. The Texas ground game showed some flashes last week, and it’ll be interesting to see how the staff works guys in against a Tulsa defense they should have success against.
Edge – Texas **
TULSA DEFENSIVE LINE VS TEXAS OFFENSIVE LINE
The Tulsa defensive line was flying around last week, but the guys up front weren’t very good last season so they could only go up. That being said, they did look improved. Trevis Gipson is their pass-rushing defensive end Texas will need to control. Out of the d-line group, he’s considered the standout. He sat behind some seniors last year but people inside the program have high expectations for him this year. Myles Mouton, the other defensive end, also has talent.
Edge – Texas **
TULSA SPECIAL TEAMS VS TEXAS SPECIAL TEAMS
Tulsa has a new kicker after the program’s all-time leading scorer graduated last year. Senior Nate Walker takes over. He went 1-1 last week on a 40-yard FG and hit all five of his PATs. Punter Thomas Bennett was AAC’s special teams player of the week after averaging just shy of 50 yards per punt last week.
Edge – Tulsa **
Starting quarterback Luke Skipper played about half the year last year after taking over for Chad President, who was a four-star player formerly committed to Baylor. Skipper took over the job midway through season last year and won the battle again this off-season. The coaching staff has expressed confidence in him and he was much improved in spring and fall camp. But he’s still inexperienced. Tulsa’s passing offense isn’t as strong as its rushing offense overall, but people who cover the program say Skipper is making better decisions with the ball. The receivers struggled to get separation at times, but Tulsa did use the tight ends more in the first game than they did at any point last season. Transfer Cole Neph from Oklahoma State is more of a pass-catching tight end and he made some big plays last week. The Longhorns could be short-handed in their secondary this week and the DBs had some issues against Maryland, but Texas should be able to bounce back this week.
Edge – Texas ***
TULSA RUN OFFENSE VS TEXAS RUN DEFENSE
Quarterback Skipper can pull it down and run sometimes (69 yards on the ground last week before sack totals were factored in), and he made solid decisions on zone read plays in the first game. Shamari Brooks is the starter, and Corey Taylor also gets work. Brooks is a small guy but very powerful for his size. Both backs run hard and can get yards after contact so Texas will need to be sure tacklers. Both are pretty patient runners as well, and each back went over 100 yards in the season-opener. Incredibly, Tulsa has had a 100-yard rusher in each of its last 16 games. Tulsa’s running scheme are similar to what Baylor did under Art Briles in that the offense spreads the field wide with its wide receivers near the sidelines, but mostly runs the ball up the middle. It’s more of a power run game than what Texas saw last week against Maryland.
Edge – Tulsa *
TULSA OFFENSIVE LINE VS TEXAS DEFENSIVE LINE
Tulsa has three starters back. In the team’s first game, the new guys played pretty well and helped provide some good rushing lanes. Tulsa did give up four sacks though. Center Chandler Miller is very experienced and has started every game since his redshirt freshman year … very steady player in the middle. Tackle Willie Wright is a returner on the right side, and Tyler Bowling at left guard is also a returning starter.
Edge – Texas **
TULSA PASS DEFENSE VS TEXAS PASS OFFENSE
Pass defense has been an Achilles heel for Tulsa for several years. The group did look better last week, but nobody is quite sure what that means against Central Arkansas, who was starting a new quarterback. Overall, the Tulsa defense gave up the fewest yards it has in a game since 2012 (247, 165 through the air). The secondary looked improved, but the jury is still out. Keanu Hill, a JUCO transfer at corner who got hurt and missed last year, is back now but got dinged up last week. Akayleb Evans and Allie Green, both sophomore corners, have talent but haven’t been tested much. Both safeties are returning starters.
Edge – Texas ***
TULSA RUN DEFENSE VS TEXAS RUN OFFENSE
Central Arkansas totaled just 85 rushing yards last week, which is something they’ve been pretty good at in the past. Tulsa’s front seven played well last week and was pretty active against the run. The Texas ground game showed some flashes last week, and it’ll be interesting to see how the staff works guys in against a Tulsa defense they should have success against.
Edge – Texas **
TULSA DEFENSIVE LINE VS TEXAS OFFENSIVE LINE
The Tulsa defensive line was flying around last week, but the guys up front weren’t very good last season so they could only go up. That being said, they did look improved. Trevis Gipson is their pass-rushing defensive end Texas will need to control. Out of the d-line group, he’s considered the standout. He sat behind some seniors last year but people inside the program have high expectations for him this year. Myles Mouton, the other defensive end, also has talent.
Edge – Texas **
TULSA SPECIAL TEAMS VS TEXAS SPECIAL TEAMS
Tulsa has a new kicker after the program’s all-time leading scorer graduated last year. Senior Nate Walker takes over. He went 1-1 last week on a 40-yard FG and hit all five of his PATs. Punter Thomas Bennett was AAC’s special teams player of the week after averaging just shy of 50 yards per punt last week.
Edge – Tulsa **
