A better pass rush
The defense as a whole was a problem for the Longhorns last season, but the pass rush was a struggle throughout the season, only getting to the quarterback 27 times last season. Linebacker Joseph Ossai led the team in 2019 with five sacks, but he played linebacker most of the season. Malcolm Roach had three sacks, the most for anyone on the defensive line.
We saw a glimpse of it in the Alamo Bowl against Utah on New Year’s Eve when Texas dominated the Utes on the line of scrimmage. Ossai was the main guy that night, getting three sacks and six tackles for loss. It turned out to be one of the major keys in the victory for the Longhorns and it needs to continue into 2020.
With Chris Ash as the defensive coordinator, the defensive line must improve. Coaching some elite talent in his two seasons at Ohio State, Ash has worked with the likes of Joey Bosa and made them some of the best players in the NFL. Ta’Quon Graham and Ossai will be the main pash rushers next season and the pressure on the QB must be better.
If the pass rush is better, every other unit will improve for the Longhorns. The two teams with the most sacks in 2019 were Oklahoma and Baylor and they ended up in the Big 12 championship. Even if they can get pressure and cause quarterbacks to make poor decisions, it will be an improvement.
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