There is no denying Texas coach Charlie Strong’s number one priority after the regular season was fixing his team’s offense.
Some critics will say it was two years overdue because they questioned the hiring of Shawn Watson from day one. After Texas opened this season with a loss against Notre Dame, Strong questioned Watson, too. Watson was supposed to install a spread offense prior to that game, but Texas seemingly ran a faster version of the nonproductive system we witnessed in 2014. Jay Norvell was given the opportunity to call plays after that game, but the offense never flourished under his leadership, and Strong knew a change was mandatory to survive in the Big 12.
Strong’s decision to hire offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert appears to be a step in the right direction. None of us know if Gilbert will have the same success he enjoyed in Tulsa, but it is hard to imagine the offense will be worse than one that finished eighth in the Big 12 with 317 points (26 per game) this season. Texas finished ahead of Iowa State (300 points/25 points per game) and Kansas (183 points/15 points per game). Baylor led the conference with 576 points (48 points per game).
The next challenge Strong faces is fixing this defense.
Longhorn opponents averaged 453 yards and 30 points against Texas this season (ranked 106th in the country). Texas played poorly during a 50-7 loss against TCU. Then Texas dominated the following week during a 24-17 win against Oklahoma. Vance Bedford’s unit struggled during losses against Iowa State, West Virginia and Texas Tech, but Texas defeated Baylor in the season finale. Sure, Baylor did not have any quarterbacks and still ran the ball effectively after switching to a wildcat variation in the second half, but Texas was without four starters on defense. In the end, an ugly win still counts as a victory.
Some Longhorn fans believe to solution is getting rid of Bedford and finding someone else to led this defense. Even though Chris Warren’s dad may disapprove, Bedford will probably be back next season. Strong is a former defensive coordinator, which means Bedford is not doing anything on defense without the approval and input of his boss. Dismissing Bedford would mean Strong believes he is doing something wrong on defense, and that scenario just seems unlikely.
Instead, Strong and Bedford must spend this offseason focusing on their unit’s biggest weakness – stopping the run.
Longhorn opponents averaged 219 rushing yards a game this season. Texas was unable to make teams one-dimensional, and it showed. The one time Texas did make a team one-dimensional, Baylor rushed for 395 yards. Obviously, Texas has to upgrade its defensive line.
If Strong and Bedford can convince defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway to skip the NFL Draft and return next season, the Longhorns will have at least one solid defensive lineman to lean on. Texas needs to load up on defensive tackles and defensive ends in 2016. The Longhorns have recently delivered scholarship offers to a few defensive lineman and currently have three verbal commitments (DE Andrew Fitzgerald, DE Malcolm Roach and DT Gerald Wilbon). Texas definitely needs more depth up front.
Texas faces the challenge of making sure its young players develop during the offseason. Eight freshmen (including redshirts) played against Baylor, and two true freshmen scored on defense this season (Malik Jefferson and Holton Hill). If Texas can turn the corner defensively, this team should record more wins next season.
Strong addressed his top priority after the regular season.
Finding ways to improve this defense has to be second on that list.
Boot Scootin’ Boogie
Okay, for weeks OB readers have asked me what kind of boots will I pick up from The Texas Boot Company. I visited with Marc Conselman of The Texas Boot Company a few ago, and he gave me a tour of their amazing store in Bastrop. I did not want to rush into a boot decision that day because I knew the experts on this website would critique my decision.
However, I finally went back this past week, and here are the boots I picked out (with the help of Summer Ragland, one of the store’s very helpful employees). I took these pics after I got home:
Here is a description of my boot from Conselman:
"The Lucchese Slate Crocodile Belly is one of our own exclusive designs and works really nice as a dress boot or a boot to wear with jeans and a button down. The slate color goes well with a wide range of colors - from olive to khaki or gray or black. The top is an extremely soft buffalo calf. You know it’s a top of the line boot when you walk over and see the store owner wearing the very same boot. Lucchese is one of the most famous boot makers, known for making a great fitting boot and extremely well made boot."
These are the boots I picked out for my son:
As you guys know, I am from Florida, which is just as country as Texas. You will definitely see me wearing my boots around town. By the way, Conselman and I will get together next year to design the official Orangebloods boot, which we will be given to one of our readers. I will keep you posted.
Funniest Thing You Will See This Week
This is for every Star Wars fan out there. Okay, it is for people who enjoy making fun of the hardcore Star Wars fans:
Sports On A Dime
1. I thought @RLong68 made a great point about the speculation of Kyler Murray and Texas. If Murray could contribute in 2016, pursuing the former Texas A&M quarterback would make sense. Since Murray needs to sit out a year, I think Texas needs to focus on finding a junior college quarterback - or graduate transfer - to solve its quarterback issue.
2. Strong and his staff have told us for months they intend to have recruiting success when it counts in January and February. I look forward to seeing how the staff will close as signing day approaches.
3. Dallas quarterback Kellen Moore looked much better than the guy I saw enter the NFL as an undrafted free agent in Detroit. When I first saw Moore, he had no arm strength or accuracy. Moore still does not have a strong arm, but I did not think he was bad against the New York Jets.
4. That being said, seriously, Dallas? New York scored on an eight-play, 58-yard drive in 1:19 minutes? There are so many areas Dallas needs to improve during the offseason, I am not sure where the Cowboys start.
5. It is hard for an NFL team to finish undefeated in the regular season, but Carolina (13-0) will face the New York Giants (6-7), Atlanta (6-7) and Tampa Bay (6-8) before the playoffs. Cam Newton might run away with the MVP vote this year.
6. According to an ESPN report, NFL arrests have dropped by 39 percent since January 1, 2015, in comparison to the same period of 2014. In addition, it is also a 44 percent reduction in comparison to the yearly average from 2007 through 2014. It appears Roger Goodell’s unpredictable punishments, or the popularity of Uber, is enough incentive for players to stay out of trouble.
7. I am imaging Alex Dunlap’s brain exploding if he had to dissect this play:
8 The NBA season does not start for me until Christmas Day. I have watched a few quarters of games here and there, but Friday is the real season opener for me and a lot of NBA fans.
9 Somebody please tell Roy Jones Jr. to stop boxing. It is just hard to watch a guy who was one of the best fighters in the world take this abuse:
10. Floyd Mayweather Jr. recently was begrudgingly named Sports Illustrated‘s Fighter of the Year. Um … why? Canelo Alvarez, Gennady Golovkin and Keith Thurman were better candidates, in my opinion.
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