Special teams
Special Teams: (A+)
Touchdowns, touchdowns, touchdowns. On special teams, six of them. And while the kickoff coverage still lacks, they have yet to give up anything more than field posiation.
Kicker: (A)
Hunter Lawrence has 16 field goals this year, which in my view is entirely too many, but good for Hunter. Me, the blood thirsty touchdown seeker would prefer Texas strike for six every time they touch the ball.
But either way, Texas has the epitome of a reliable kicker — which might pay off in a future close game.
Punter: (B-)
The golden foot Justin Tucker possessed last year when debuting the magical rugby punt hasn’t shown itself yet, but Tucker has been relatively reliable. Well, other than the six yard punt he sailed into the west side upper deck at DKR earlier this year.
Coverage: (D-)
Texas’ kickoff coverage showed strong signs of improvement against Oklahoma State. I still have the feeling that someone is going to take a kickoff return to the house on the Longhorns, and you can only hope it doesn’t happen in a “big” game.
Wide Receivers: (A-)
Arguably the Longhorns’ most valuable offensive player this year, Shipley has been a dynamic threat, sometimes Texas’ only dynamic threat. And he has only been better now that he can move around the field with the emergence of Goodwin and Williams.
And while this year may not be the year, Williams is going to be a great receiver, though Davis and Co. did everything in their power to make sure we would never see the field.
Returns: (A+)
D.J. Monroe has already set the school record for kickoff return touchdowns for a career, with his two this year, and along with Jordan Shipley gives Texas two legitimate touchdown threats on every return. Shipley, who has taken two punts to paydirt, better quit fumbling though.
Offense
Quarterback: (B+)
Colt McCoy works miracles.
Offense: (B-)
It is hard to complain about the No. 1 scoring offense in the nation, but I am going to do it. Not to mention Texas leads the nation with nine non-offense touchdowns, so while they might score the most points the offense is getting an extreme amount of help from the defense and special teams.
Offensive Line: (C)
Missed assignments, whiffed pass blocks, and an inability to sustain zone blocks long enough to give running plays time to develop have hamstrung the offense. The offensive lineman can not continue to let rushers run free toward McCoy, or well… I don’t want to have to say it.
Running backs: (B-)
The thunder and lighting duo of Cody Johnson and Fozzy Whittaker has provided some stability to the Texas backfield, with each becoming more patient each game as they learn to trust their offense. If only Davis could scrap the ace backfield stretch play from the super hurry-up set, a play which has only been bad news this year.
The more McCoy becomes a legitimate running threat again, the bigger the running lanes become and the better Texas’ offense becomes.
Offensive coaching: (C-)
No it hasn’t been Chris Simms era bad, but Greg Davis’ play calling has been about as predictable as an episode of Scooby Doo.
Davis continually puts Colt McCoy in situations destined for failville—empty set against a big blitz where the defense jumps the predictable short routes, and throws his offensive line into hot lava at least a dozen times a game—asking respectable pass blockers to reach quicker defensive linemen in straight zone plays.
Certain personnel decisions—promoting Malcolm Williams and Marquise Goodwin—help make up for the continued reliance on the one-demisional threats James Kirkendoll and John Chiles.
Defense
Defense: (A)
No. 1 rushing defense in the nation, No. 3 total defense, and No. 11 scoring defense, is superb. But as Will Muschamp says, stats are for losers.
But turnovers, turnovers are for winners. And Texas is a turnover forcing machine. Only one team, Ohio, has forced more than Texas’ 26 turnovers, three of those for touchdowns.
Defensive Coaching: (A+)
In his second year, Will Muschamp is become a feared name by quarterbacks and offensive coordinators around the Big 12. His game plans have been spot on, forcing even good offenses into bad situations, exploiting their weaknesses and maximizing Texas’ strengths.
Zac Robinson is a good quarterback, in a good offense, and before facing Muschamp’s unit he had only thrown three interceptions in seven games. He threw four interceptions against Texas.
Defensive Line: (A)
Regardless of the sack numbers, Texas’ front four have kept up the high standard set by last year’s unit. Sergio Kindle forces offenses to change their protection schemes, and Sam Acho and Lamarr Houston are punishing teams for focusing on Kindle.
Rarely does an opponent’s offensive line move the Horns front four, and strong play from Houston and fellow tackles Kheeston Randall and Ben Alexander make the Texas’ interior and immovable force.
Linebackers: (B)
Losing Jared Norton for the season was a big loss, but the Longhorns’ linebacking corps has stepped up in his absence. Roddrick Muckleroy is the playmaker of the bunch and has an amazing knack for sniffing out screens. Keenan Robinson is maturing every game and has the tools to be a game changer.
Secondary: (A+)
Earl Thomas has as many interceptions this season, six, as Texas did all of last year… Chew on that juicy tid-bit for a while, delicious isn’t it. Now spit it out and add four interceptions from Blake Gideon, who is beginning to build some important confidence.
And did I mention that Earl Thomas is the MVP for Texas so far this season. Thomas has turned into Texas’ version of Eric Berry, which basically anoints him as a badass. Maybe it is the magical powers of No. 12.
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