I may be futilely trying to inject some rationality into the board, but I'm going for it. I think the pity party freak-outs on the board are overreactions. The primary issue is the defense as the offense is currently grading out as one of the best Texas offensives in the last 20 years.
Texas lost the most production from last season than any other power 5 team in college football, and ranked 121 out of 130 teams total. Specifically they ranked 88 worst in offensive returning production and a whopping 123 worst in defensive returning production.
On top of a brand new, young defense they just finished playing with six starters injured and finished the game with a walk-on safety playing the last two series. By the way, add two more to the six injured. As of tonight it was announced both Foster and Overshawn are injured.
On top of 8 new defensive starters, and currently having 7 injured starters, Texas is at the peak of getting through a roster low point. What should be the current meat of our roster and starters is the 2016 and 2017 classes, making up the current upper-classmen. Unfortunately these have turned out to be two of worst classes in the history of Texas recruiting. Fortunately Herman's first two classes, 2018 and 2019, have been good but it's unrealistic to expect true freshmen, red-shirt freshmen, and true sophomores to field a decent defense.
Texas currently grades out at #64 in defense (ESPN efficiency) and that sounds about right...or maybe better than expected for the extraordinary amount of injuries, youth, and inexperience that is the reality right now.
Considering that with a solid personnel, Orlando put together one of the best Texas defenses in modern Texas football history in 2017, I think it's too soon to freak out.
Texas lost the most production from last season than any other power 5 team in college football, and ranked 121 out of 130 teams total. Specifically they ranked 88 worst in offensive returning production and a whopping 123 worst in defensive returning production.
On top of a brand new, young defense they just finished playing with six starters injured and finished the game with a walk-on safety playing the last two series. By the way, add two more to the six injured. As of tonight it was announced both Foster and Overshawn are injured.
On top of 8 new defensive starters, and currently having 7 injured starters, Texas is at the peak of getting through a roster low point. What should be the current meat of our roster and starters is the 2016 and 2017 classes, making up the current upper-classmen. Unfortunately these have turned out to be two of worst classes in the history of Texas recruiting. Fortunately Herman's first two classes, 2018 and 2019, have been good but it's unrealistic to expect true freshmen, red-shirt freshmen, and true sophomores to field a decent defense.
Texas currently grades out at #64 in defense (ESPN efficiency) and that sounds about right...or maybe better than expected for the extraordinary amount of injuries, youth, and inexperience that is the reality right now.
Considering that with a solid personnel, Orlando put together one of the best Texas defenses in modern Texas football history in 2017, I think it's too soon to freak out.
