2006 Statistics

This will be the year that the legend of Colt McCoy will take hold and will give promise that a national title can soon return to Austin. The nation’s top passing freshman (No.8 for all QBs) and a first-team Freshman All-American, this Tuscola-native’s feet have a quick enough burst that he finished fourth on the team for rushing (third if you discount sacks). McCoy learned valuable lessons in their last three games (two were losses) that will pay dividends in improving his leadership to the point needed to take Texas back to the BCS. Thin ranks behind Colt (due to Jevan Snead transferring to Mississippi) mean his health is paramount for keeping Texas competing at its highest level. Running back Jamaal Charles could be an every-down guy, but talent is stacked up three-deep behind him and the multiple sets run by ninth-year coordinator Greg Davis should see many faces producing yards. The thunder to Charles’s lightning is 268-lb junior Henry Melton, a goal-line specialist who lost only five yards in 132 career carries. Speaking of inside running, the interior of the line gets junior guard Cedric Dockery back at full strength, but the promotion of heady (perennial) backup Dallas Griffin to starter at center will be key in improving all efforts up front as he identifies defenses and calls out the needed blocking scheme. The arrival of No.2 guard recruit Tray Allen sure helps, too. Look for the OL to allow even less than 19 sacks with both tackles back. The time McCoy will be afforded to survey the downfield proceedings will allow All-Big 12 senior receivers Sweed and Pittman to put that extra move on DBs. Guys like Jordan Shipley, a solid third receiver, and second-leading snarler Quan Cosby will have to hold off a litany of recent four-star recruits (Payne, Webber) who have the talent to see the field on gameday. Sophomore TE Jermichael Finley is more like an extra receiver coming off the line, so senior Peter Ullman and others will come in to tip their hand when coming in for running plays. This offense will surge past what it was in ’06 to again become an almost-unstoppable force.

Rebuilding the secondary is about the only thing that can keep this defense from getting better, especially seeing how all of its starting linebackers and tackles return. Like Florida and Southern Cal, the holes in this defense will be filled with worthy recruits who represent little, if any, drop-off from their stellar departees. Examples of this are junior ends Orakpo and Lewis, two reserves with extensive experience and stats to prove it. Senior tackles Okam and Lokey (looking good after a broken leg) rotate interchangeably with overachieving junior Roy Miller – penetrating speed from these three pushes runners outside, and they are a huge reason Texas finished third in the nation for run stopping. This year’s line can be just as good since they will have the entire two-deep at LB from ’06 behind them. Weakside senior Derry earned huge praise in spring ball for his leadership and his huge work ethic. Middleman Bobino’s range goes sideline to sideline as he clogs lanes, and the upside of 2006’s top linebacking recruit, Sergio Kindle, will likely be seen as he vies for the start somewhere. Secondary coach Duane Akina rebuilds around local-hero Marcus Griffin at safety, though, depth there looks like the defense’s most vulnerable area. A sure tackler, Griffin is the last starter left from a group that ranked 75th in defensive pass efficiency (99th for pass defense), making us believe that the turnover amongst the starters will be good for Texas’s DB proceedings. Fortunately, the reserves-turned-starters at corner, just like the ends, did see extensive playing time last season, and they will have to fend off No.2 CB recruit Curtis Brown and other four-star prospects to keep their place on the depth chart. Major improvements in the secondary under a guy like Akina are highly likely, and earning top 30 status as a team for pass defense would almost assuredly equal Texas again winning the Big 12 title.