The quarterback position may no longer be the key to Texas’ Success. In the world of football, the quarterback falls under scrutiny far more than any other position on the field — and Texas football drives that point year in and year out.
“As a quarterback, you’re the guy who gets too much credit and way too much blame,” former Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert said. “I’ve known that from the time I played Pop Warner all the way through high school and into college.”
Longhorn fans — after seeing Vince Young and Colt McCoy raise up the football program — quickly became frustrated with five-star prospect Gilbert…[s2If current_user_is(s2member_level2)]After starting all 12 games during the 5-7 campaign in 2010, he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery after playing just two contests in 2011. His absence and ultimate departure opened the door for Case McCoy and David Ash to lead the Longhorns back to national prominence.
Connor Brewer and dual-threat Jalen Overstreet offer alternative options coming into this season if either Ash or McCoy falls flat. Even then, fans can hold high hopes for 2013 five-star commit Tyrone Swoopes (even though he’ll likely redshirt and not see any playing time until 2014).
But forget the hoopla and anticipation surrounding the quarterback situation. If Texas wins 10 games this season, don’t give the credit to the quarterback. Look at Alabama. The Crimson Tide won two national titles in the last three years with decent, game-managing quarterbacks in Greg McElroy (2009) and A.J. McCarron (2011).
Only an effective running game and a dominant defense will transform the Longhorns back into a perennial powerhouse.
“We need a good enough team that if the quarterback’s not having a stellar day, we can still win. We haven’t been that way for the last four years,” head coach Mack Brown said. “We don’t want to win the game because [the quarterback] is great every game, because the great ones aren’t great every day. We want to win the game. Period.” That bottom-line approach served the Longhorns well last year, coming off their worst season since 1997. And even with so much uncertainty with the quarterback position, they managed to go 8-5.
The coaches like Ash’s athleticism, and after playing more efficiently than McCoy in the spring game, the starting quarterback position is his to lose. Fortunately for the Longhorns, the backfield will provide help to anyone who takes the snaps.
Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron both registered multiple 100-yard games as freshmen but battled through nagging injuries the second half of the season. The Longhorns received inconsistent performances from their quarterbacks as well, but they struggled more when their running backs weren’t at 100 percent. With the arrival of the country’s top-ranked high school running back Johnathan Gray, Texas will have options — and great ones at that.
The Longhorns lost four defensive starters, but both new and returning players should fill those holes nicely. Junior college transfer Brandon Moore played impressively in spring practice and will likely replace Kheeston Randall at defensive tackle. Steve Edmond and Demarco Cobbs have big shoes to fill at linebacker when they take over for Emmanuel Acho and Keenan Robinson, while Adrian Phillips should replace Blake Gideon at safety.
Safety Kenny Vaccaro and defensive end Alex Okafor will lead the defense as the only starting seniors. Last season Vaccaro said that this year’s defense would be better than the 2011 group, a significant statement considering Texas had the Big 12’s finest secondary and the best rush defense — one of only seven in the nation to surrender less than 100 yards on the ground per game.
If the backfield stays healthy and the defense builds on their performance from last season, the Longhorns could return to their status as a national title contender in the BCS polls —even if a future Heisman candidate isn’t taking the snaps and handing off the ball.
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