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Texas head coach Tom Herman has high hopes for four young defensive players.
Texas head coach Tom Herman hired new defensive coordinator Chris Ash at the conclusion of the 2019 season in hopes of improving what was one of the worst units in college football. Continue reading “Tom Herman lists four potential breakout players on Texas’ defense”
According to ESPN writer Bill Connelly, there are three obstacles ahead of the Longhorns in order to get back to elite status.
It has been a long-time joke in the eyes of many for the better part of the last decade. “Is Texas back?”
It has been asked after every big win by the Longhorns over the last several years. When they took down Notre Dame in Austin where it took double overtime to come out on top, the question was asked. When the Longhorns outlasted Oklahoma in a thrilling 2018 Red River Shootout, many begin to wonder if they’re finally back. Quarterback Sam Ehlinger even proclaimed it after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs in the All-State Sugar Bowl.
ESPN staff writer Bill Connelly put together his list of three obstacles that the Longhorns need to overcome to in fact be back.
Well that is quite the bold strategy for the coordinators to in fact coordinate. One could understand the sentiment but that is an odd way of putting it. The Longhorns are in rarified air with having two new coordinators coming to town for the 2020 season and with the current climate of COVID-19, it will be increasingly difficult.
It was the right move for Tom Herman given the tremendous amount of pressure to win big and he needed to shake things up. Whenever football is once again back on, both Mike Yurcich and Chris Ash need to get their perspective units rolling and hopefully it will come quick because the clock is ticking.
USA TODAY Sports recently released their Top 25 preseason poll where the Longhorns football program is listed at No. 15.
Although spring practices have been canceled due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the consensus between national media outlets expects the Longhorns football program to be a top 20 team in 2020. Continue reading “USA TODAY Sports lists Texas on their latest Top 25 preseason poll”
Texas football is targeting highly-touted linebacker Justin Medlock out of Manvel High School.
Texas head coach Tom Herman has signed several highly-rated players in the past few recruiting classes.
Continue reading “Texas football offers highly-touted linebacker from Manvel”
Recently 247 Sports came out with their lone game circled for every projected top 25 team, for the Longhorns that game wasn’t Oklahoma.
When it comes to football, especially for the Texas Longhorns there is one game that many want to tune in for and that is the Red River Rivalry in Dallas, Texas. The Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners are one the biggest rivalries in college sports. In a recent exercise, 247 Sports laid out the biggest game on each of the projected Top 25 team’s calendar. For Texas, that game wasn’t the one that will be played at the Cotton Bowl in 2020.
The article by 247 Sports didn’t go into detail about the game but it makes a lot of sense. The Longhorns and Tigers will have a rematch from their high-scoring thriller a season ago. Quarterbacks Sam Ehlinger and Joe Burrow put on a show in front of a packed house at Darrel K Royal-Memorial Stadium. The Longhorns were able to push the eventual National Champions to the limit 45-38.
After falling behind 20-7 at the half, the Longhorns got within two by the end of the third quarter 23-21. Ultimately Texas fell after falling behind 45-31 late in the fourth quarter but Texas proved that they can provide a challenge for any defense offensively. The question really becomes can they get stops on defense? With a new look defensive staff and scheme for 2020, this game will be the measuring stick for the Texas Longhorns before getting into Big 12 play.
Tom Herman was in South Bend to meet with Brian Kelly. They were meeting about how to turn programs around after hiring a new coaching staff.
According to 247Sports, Tom Herman was in South Bend on Thursday to meet with Notre Dame Head Coach Brian Kelly. They were meeting about how to have a successful season after rehauling their coaching staff.
In 2016, the Fighting Irish went 4-8 and Kelly hired new offensive and defensive coordinators. The following three seasons, Notre Dame has gone 10-3 in 2017, 12-1 including a College Football Playoff appearance in 2018, and 11-2 this past season.
The initial season was not as bad for the Longhorns, going 7-5 last season. Now, with Mike Yurich taking over as the offensive coordinator and Chris Ash as the defensive coordinator, Texas will be looking for similar success as Brian Kelly’s squad throughout the next three seasons.
Texas football coach Tom Herman will spend Thursday in South Bend learning how to succeed after a coaching overhaul from Notre Dame's Brian Kelly, according to my sources. After a 4-8 season in 2016, Kelly's new staff finished 10-3 in 2017, 12-1 in 2018, and 11-2 in 2019 pic.twitter.com/8HLCoZKq85
— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) February 27, 2020
For Yurich on the offensive end, he has stepped into a dream situation, inheriting the best returning quarterback in the conference. With Sam Ehlinger being a senior, the new offensive coordinator will be hoping that the veteran leader can lead the Longhorns to a new level.
As for Ash, he will have a more difficult time, with the defense needing a lot of work. Changing a few key player’s positions like Joseph Ossai will help, but the place that needs to be improved is the secondary. The leader should be junior safety Caden Sterns, but Ash will need to get the group as a whole playing better.
If throughout the next three seasons Texas can replicate what Notre Dame has done, it would be considered a success. Three straight 10 wins seasons mixed with a College Football Playoff appearance would be the best stretch for the Longhorns since the Colt McCoy days.
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With a new position coming for DeMarvion Overshown in 2020, could he fill a role similar to Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons?
The newest defensive coordinator Chris Ash recently discussed moving defensive back DeMarvion Overshown to linebacker. The defense will be scrapping their 3-3-5 defensive look for the more traditional 4-3 in the first year under Ash. The new defensive play caller had mentioned that they will be trying players at different positions to find the best fit for each of them.
Could Overshown be the next Isaiah Simmons? No one should expect a player to step in immediately and have that same level of impact but could he play that same type of role?
Isaiah Simmons played 100+ snaps at five different positions.
There is no NFL comparison. pic.twitter.com/4jNEBSorkJ
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) February 13, 2020
Whether it is the NFL or college football, they both are “copycat” leagues. When one finds success, oftentimes other teams will take an aspect of their game and try to mimic it for success. Overshown has the talent to definitely take on this sort of role for Texas.
Overshown has only been able to get on the field in six games over his first two years on the forty acres and with a loaded defensive backfield, playing linebacker might be his best option to get on the field. The four-star safety out of Arp, Texas has the size reminiscent of Simmons. Both stand in at 6’4″ but Simmons slightly heavier. Work in the weight room over the offseason will help him bulk up to play closer to the line.
Size, closing speed and ability to make the big hit makes him an ideal candidate to play linebacker. His two-way experience at Arp and playing defensive back the last two seasons gives you can idea that he can be a versatile piece for the defense. Overshown moving positions much like Joseph Ossai could be a huge factor on the defense raising its level in 2020.
The Texas regents are set to approve a new practice facility and announced the finalized contracts for several assistant coaches.
The Texas Longhorns basketball and rowing programs will have a new practice facility in 2022.
The $60 million project will be located near the Moody Center on the Forty Acres, totaling 75,000 square feet.
Texas regents set to approve a new $60 million basketball and rowing (!!) practice facility that will go adjacent to Moody Center. 75k square feet. Opens June 2022.
— Brian Davis (@BDavisAAS) February 21, 2020
Brian Davis of the Austin American Statesman also announced that the Texas regents are set to approve several assistant coach contracts. Offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich will get a three-year deal worth $1.7 million annually, while defensive coordinator Chris Ash will be on a two-year deal worth $800,000.
New tight end and special teams coach Jay Boulware will receive a three-year deal totaling $700,000, whereas linebackers coach Coleman Hutzler receives a two-year deal worth $600,000.
Now that head coach Tom Herman has finalized his coaching staff, Longhorns Wire authors predict which one will have the biggest impact.
The Texas Longhorns have revamped their coaching staff this offseason, which has high expectations considering it’s head coach Tom Herman’s one chance to do so per athletic director Chris Del Conte. With each of the new assistants finalized, Longhorns Wire authors give their prediction on which one will have the most impact on the team in 2020.
Mike Yurcich – Offensive Coordinator
It’s hard not to choose defensive coordinator Chris Ash here, considering Texas had one of the worst defensive units in college football last season. However, the current roster on offense will make or break this team. Yurcich will have one of the best returning quarterbacks in football along with the nation’s top rated running back from the 2020 recruiting class.
Player development with Yurcich will be crucial. Although the offense has a plethora of weapons, they’re young. One of the best position battles in spring will be how Yurcich uses the three talented players in the backfield in Bijan Robinson, Keontay Ingram, and Roschon Johnson. Yurcich will have to find a way to get players like Jordan Whittington and Jake Smith the ball, too.
Too often last season the offense struggled to close out games. The play calling resorted to conservative natures rather than keeping their foot on the gas. Yurcich has complete control over the play-calling this season, which should be the most noticeable upgrade in 2020.
When asked about new pass rusher Joseph Ossai, defensive coordinator Chris Ash said he sees “a lot” of JJ Watt and Joey Bosa in him.
Throughout his time as a defensive coordinator in college football, newly hired Chris Ash has seen some excellent defensive lineman play a key role in his system. Making stops in Wisconsin for three seasons, Ash got to work with JJ Watt, currently one of the best defensive ends in the NFL. In the 2010 season, Watt was second in the Big 10 in sacks with seven and won the Ronnie Lott Trophy, given out to the defensive IMPACT player of the year.
After a one-season stop in Arkansas, Ash found himself with Urban Meyer at Ohio State. There, he worked with Joey Bosa, who recorded 18.5 sacks in two seasons with Ash. In 2014, he won Big 10 defensive player of the year and was a consensus All-American in both seasons.
It is no secret that rushing the passer was one of the main issues for the Longhorns. While it was not the only issue, having a solid defensive line is the way to build up a national championship-caliber defense. To fix that issue, Texas hired Ash and has given him the chance to revamp the defense.
It begun with position changes yesterday, with the most important change coming with Joseph Ossai moving to the jack position on the defensive line. Now, Ossai will be rushing the passer most plays, something he excelled at in the bowl game against Utah last season.
Ash had high praise for Ossai saying he see’s “a lot” of the same things in him that he did with Watt and Bosa.
“I’ve been around some really good ones and hopefully Joseph can become one of them,” said Ash.
Ossai led the Longhorns in sacks last season, ending the year with five. Three of them came in the Alamo Bowl to end the season, adding six tackles for loss to go with them. His ability to disrupt quarterback Tyler Huntley was the reason the defense was excellent all night.
If more is to come next season for Texas, they have the possibility to be the best defensive line in the conference, led by Ossai. Even if he is half as good as JJ Watt or Joey Bosa, the Longhorns have a special player on their hands.
