snoscythe wrote:
Texas' defense has been in constant decline since Diaz took the reins, and there's nothing to indicate much improvement--they've always had top-tier athletes, so this problem won't be solved with new personnel. I expect their run and scoring defense to remain #64 or lower (bottom half of FBS).
Very accurate stmt, regarding Diaz. Texas' struggles last year on defense had more to do with scheme than anything else. We have the athletes, and we have the coaching as far as the assistants. Diaz on the otherhand has been a disaster.
snoscythe wrote:
for the offense, who knows what is going on there. It was here-and-there with Applewhite and Harsin as "co-offensive coordinators," but Harsin left and now Applewhite has a new co-O coord in a career WR coach. Mack Brown also indicated his disappointment with the lack of consistency from game to game and has directed them to return to the Colt McCoy -era spread offense, so not only is Applewhite adjusting to a new co-, but he's also being bumped out of the playbook he designed and into someone else's playbook. It's a sketchy situation (see also: Utah's offensive coordinator intrigue).
Don't put too much into the new offense. It's virtually the same playbook, but has been simplified to leave most of the same personnel on the field to be more uptempo. . Harsin's offense was becoming to easy to read for any decent DC, based on the personnel on the field. If certain skill players were on the field for Texas, a good DC with good scouting would be able to decide which defense best suited the situation.
The difference between this years offense, and last years, would be best described if you were to watch the Oregon St game in the Alamo Bowl. We were the same basic offense in the first half, but in the second half, we moved to an uptempo offense. Once we did that,we were able to move the ball. It also played to Ash's strengths as well.
Also, as far as Wyatt being the Co-OC. Wyatt is an exceptional recruiter and WR coach, and has been an OC. This was nothing more than a move by Mack to appease Wyatt into staying and to give the perception that staff was solid. When in reality, from what I've been told, the most of the staff nearly left last year before and after the bowl game. This includes the defensive assistants as well as Major, Wyatt and others on the offense.
Also, don't be deceived into thinking that Major is some young pup who's just getting his feet wet. He's been the glue that's held this team together. Mack has depended more on Major than anyone else the last 3 years. Question is, will Mack let Major do his thing?
The same was true for Harsin, and he bailed first chance he got to Arky St, w/o even stepping foot on campus from what I've heard. He was sick of coaching under Mack and he saw a sinking ship...I hope he was wrong, but I haven't seen or heard anything to make me think different.
From what I've been told, one would think that Major is the acting HC, and is running the show behind the scenes. I could go into much greater detail, but I doubt that you'd be all that interested.
Fact of the matter is, is that while the staff is very excited about the team as a whole, their seats are very hot, and they're coaching for their professional lives this season. This team on the inside appears to be very shaky. We could have a great year, or we could implode, and it could be a very long season with Mack and co. on their way out.
You guys could be the catalyst for all of that...
