Enough with the e-mails this week from people wondering if the Texas pass defense is being headed by Gary Darnell.
Yes, Darnell had some tough years as defensive coordinator at Texas (of course, Texas won two conference titles with Darnell on staff in 1995 and 1996). But he has helped fix what was the nation's worst pass defense last season.
After A&M gave up 304.6 yards per game through the air last season under Carl Torbush, Darnell has the Aggies ranked 48th nationally, giving up 189.3 yards per game through the air. Darnell has also seen the team's run defense improve. Last year the Aggies gave up 139.2 yards per game on the ground. This season, A&M is giving up 127.8 rushing yards per game.
Maybe most impressive are Darnell's halftime adjustments. The Aggies have given up 75 points in the first quarter this season, but only 72 in the second half. That's an average of 6.6 points given up over the final two quarters.
Anyway, here's what Mack Brown and UT co-defensive coordinator Duane Akina had to say about the Longhorns' 111th-ranked pass defense, which collapsed (once again) in a 45-42 loss at Kansas State and has already given up a school-record 2,739 passing yards this season. The last 13 touchdown passes surrendered by Texas have gone for an average of 30.5 yards per play.
Said Akina, who coaches the secondary, "We went into the season saying we have to stop the run. The way to do that is with a nine-man front. In doing that, you lose some of the margin for error we've had in past years in pass coverage.
"We wanted more takeaways. By playing the nine-man structure and playing more zone, you get more eyes on the ball. We have generated more turnovers. We have 29 takeaways, which is fourth in the nation."
But by focusing on the run, playing more zone and using nine-man fronts, the secondary has been particularly susceptible to play-action fakes.
"One could argue we're too aggressive, and I would agree with that. We've got to slow them down [in the secondary]," Akina said.
Brown said playing zone also allows teams to have more success with trick plays using play-action because the secondary is reading run first. Baylor, Nebraska and Kansas State all scored on trick plays against Texas. A&M used five trick plays against Texas last season, including a halfback pass from Jorvorskie Lane for a touchdown.
"We have to get the quarterback off his rhythm," Brown said. "When we blitz, we typically play man behind it, and that's been affected by the injuries. The trick plays work because of overaggressiveness by the defense. And they work more against zone than man. Because of our guys being hurt, we've played more zone."
Akina said the bottom line is that players in the secondary can't bite as quickly on run fakes.
But he also gave credit to Kansas State for its performance.
"If that quarterback [freshman Josh Freeman] can keep throwing off his back foot right on the money like he did against us, you have to give him credit," Akina said.
Q: In your opinion, is the poor pass defense due more to scheme or personnel? I'm thinking many didn't realize how good Michael Huff and Cedric Griffin were last year. Anyway, how do you see the secondary playing out next year, as I don't think it could get much worse?
Russell, Dallas
BROWN: It's both, Russell. The scheme is focused on stopping the run with one or both safeties playing an active role in run support. But coaches should have been able to make adjustments to stop the bleeding by now. The personnel issues were more understandable when most of the secondary was hurt early in conference play. But the defense proved it could play shut-down football against Oklahoma State three weeks ago. Akina can talk about Josh Freeman getting hot and throwing off his back foot all he wants in the K-State game, but why didn't Texas bring some different blitzes, especially zone blitzes, against the Wildcats to try to get him off his rhythm? Yes, K-State was calling quick drops (three steps or less) and getting the ball out quickly, but Freeman had plenty of time to connect on touchdown passes of 36, 32 and 30 yards. Texas brought safety Michael Griffin a couple times on blitzes and then backed off. The Longhorns sacked a kid who played high school ball last season only once. Contrast that with the Oklahoma State game, in which Texas blitzed Bobby Reid early and got him out of rhythm –and Reid was never the same.
Q: With the loss of senior secondary members Michael Griffin, Tarell Brown and Aaron Ross, who are the leading candidates for those positions next season?
Michael H.
BROWN: Right now, you're starting cornerbacks next season appear to be Brandon Foster and Ryan Palmer. The safeties appear to be Robert Joseph and Marcus Griffin. Foster and Palmer have a long way to go because if they were any good, the coaches would have played them ahead of Tarell Brown (broken toe). Foster got burned badly by Ohio State when Brown was suspended. Palmer had a couple of nice plays against Texas Tech but played miserably on special teams at K-State. His second 15-yard penalty for kick catch interference helped set up K-State's game-winning field goal. The only way those projected starters change is if young guys such as Deon Beasley and Chykie Brown (who is redshirting) come on strong at cornerback and guys like James Henry (who is redshirting) come on strong at safety. And remember, Brown doesn't like to throw young players out there before he thinks they're ready. That's another reason Palmer and Foster will probably open the season as starting corners with Beasley and Brown getting lots of backup duty.
Q: You said cornerback Aaron Ross had no chance of winning the Thorpe Award and then he was named a finalist this week. Care to change your mind?
William, Houston
BROWN: Ross has great numbers this season (10 takeaways in the last nine games). His numbers for passes defended (20), interceptions (5), forced fumbles (3) and tackles (71) are all better than the other two finalists – Michigan's Leon Hall and Florida's Reggie Nelson. Both Hall (12 career interceptions at Michigan) and Nelson (four interceptions this season and blocked punts against LSU and Vanderbilt) are among five finalists for the Nagurski Award. The Nagurski is given to the best defensive player in college football. By numbers this season, Ross should probably win it. He has to hope voters didn't notice that he was burned badly in Texas' two losses this season. He was beat on two long touchdowns against Kansas State (and burned repeatedly by Yamon Figurs in that game) and was on the cover of Sports Illustrated getting beat by Ted Ginn for Ohio State's back-breaking touchdown before the half. Ross' plays against Oklahoma (two interceptions and a fumble returned for a touchdown) and Nebraska (forced fumble with 2:17 left that lead to game-winning field goal) were critical in those victories. We'll see. If voters are truly paying attention this week and Ross has a big game against A&M, maybe he can swing the vote.
Q: What can you tell me about Justin Blalock? I know he's started a whole bunch of games in a row, but it doesn't seem like much has been written about him as a person.
Tina, Austin
BROWN: Tina, I'm writing a story about Justin for next week, so I don't want to give too much away. Just kidding. Blalock is from Plano East and is incredibly smart. He had better than 1300 on his SAT and has a wicked, dry, sometimes sarcastic sense of humor. He is incredibly respected by his teammates and one of the most-liked players on the team. Needless to say, he's tough after starting a school-record-tying 49 straight games. Of Texas' 22 rushing touchdowns this season, 16 have been behind Blalock. Already a Lombardi Award finalist, Blalock was named an Outland Trophy finalist this week. The Outland Trophy goes to the nation's best interior lineman. Blalock is joined as a finalist by offensive linemen Joe Thomas of Wisconsin and Dan Mozes of West Virginia.
Q: UT has been living on the edge for the last five weeks. Do you think their run of luck has finally run out? Also what are the possibilities of a Ohio State-Michigan rematch for the national title?
Tom, U.S.M.C., Amsterdam
BROWN: I'm going to answer any question from someone defending our country, even if the questions are completely unrelated. First off, Tom, thanks for your service. My brother-in-law is a Marine who just got back from his second tour in Iraq, so I'm very thankful for all the men and women in uniform are doing for this country.
Texas has been living on the edge, much like Texas A&M. Texas has lost two games by a combined 20 points. A&M has lost three games by a combined six points, including one-point losses at home to Nebraska and Oklahoma. So I think both of these teams have experience in close games. With Colt McCoy at full strength and the defense not completely breaking down, Texas was able to pull out second-half comebacks against Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas Tech. A&M was not able to find a way against Texas Tech, OU and Nebraska. So I think Texas can live on the edge one more time because the edge in a close game goes to Texas at home.
As far as the national title game, if USC wins out, it should be Ohio State-USC. If USC loses to Notre Dame or UCLA, Michigan should get the rematch. I'm not in favor of a rematch, but I think Michigan is better than Florida or Arkansas and has already proven it is better than Notre Dame.
Q: A&M wins if Texas keeps Colt McCoy in the game. A pinched nerve is worse than people think. His passing game will suffer. Texas wins if Jevan Snead sees early action and gets in a groove. I think a 100 percent Jevan is much better than a 90 percent Colt. With Colt, A&M wins, 27-17. With Jevan, Texas wins, 42-27.
Greg Bryan
BROWN: Was there a question in there somewhere? Who let the crazy guy in?
Q: What has happened to Henry Melton not being in there on short-yardage plays? I believe if he was in there on the goal line, Colt would not have gotten hurt. What is the status of Eddie Jones out of Kilgore, Texas?
Terry Cook, Arp, Texas
BROWN: I got numerous e-mails asking about Melton. He has begun his move to defensive end. Although he is still a running back, he is working out in practice more and more with the defense. Coaches had seen enough of Melton tap-dancing into the line and trying to dive for the goal line instead of lowering his shoulder and bulling people back to know that his future was on defense. Eddie Jones is redshirting.
Q: The players know they blew the chance to possibly play in the national championship game. What's the overall mindset of the team? I would hate to see a repeat of a few years ago where a similar loss dropped them out of a BCS game and sent them to the Holiday Bowl, where they lost to Washington State.
Mark Spinks
BROWN: Running back Selvin Young said he thought the team's mindset was focused and excited for the challenge of playing Texas A&M. "I see guys flying around to the football, having fun and thinking TKO," Young said. "That's how we have to be thinking: straight knockout." And I'm not sure Texas would be in the BCS national title hunt, even with a win at Kansas State. USC's schedule strength and Michigan's near-miss loss at Ohio State might have been too hard to overcome, anyway.
Q: How much of a difference do the Texas players feel when Colt McCoy is in as opposed to Jevan Snead?
Lukus Alderman
BROWN: It sounded like Colt makes a big difference. Senior offensive linemen Lyle Sendlein and Justin Blalock both said McCoy's return would be a huge lift. Said Sendlein, "It means a lot. He's important to our offense from a standpoint of getting the ball out and being a leader, which is crazy to say because he's a freshman. But he's got a presence out there on the field." Said Blalock, "Colt's had a productive year. It's a big boost because of the leadership he brings. This is not a slight at Jevan, but Colt's got control of the offense and puts us in the right plays."
Q: What are rules for a player to transfer? If Snead transfers to Houston, South Carolina or Oklahoma, what happens to his years of eligibility?
Marvin Kyrish
BROWN: If Snead transfers to another Big 12 school, such as Oklahoma, he would have to sit out a year and lose a year of eligibility (leaving him with two). If he transfers outside the Big 12, to a school such as Houston or South Carolina, he would have to sit out a year, but would still have three years of eligibility left.
Q: Please tell me that Stephen McGee isn't going to make our pass defense look like the cast of Awakenings.
James Y., Upstate New York
BROWN: I can make no such promises. But history tells us it probably won't happen. Texas A&M has three games this season in which it attempted fewer than 21 passes – Army (7 of 11 for 102 yards), Texas Tech (9 of 20 for 103 yards), and Oklahoma (8 of 18 for 63 yards). The defense says it is also expecting to see the option, unlike last season. End Brian Robison said the first time A&M ran the option last year, he said to himself, "What was that?" Robison said Texas never did adjust to it, allowing McGee to run for 108 yards. Robison said the Longhorns will be ready this time. Co-defensive coordinator Duane Akina said A&M ran "five" trick plays against Texas last season, including a halfback pass from Jorvorskie Lane for a touchdown. So Akina says his troops will be ready.
Q: What's the latest on the Texas bowl picture?
Carlton, Austin
BROWN: If Texas wins against A&M and Nebraska, it's going to the Fiesta (probably against Boise State). If Texas beats A&M and loses to Nebraska, it's going to the Cotton. If Texas loses to A&M and Nebraska loses to OU in the Big 12 title game, it could get interesting. At that point, the Cotton would have to decide between Nebraska and Texas, and the Cotton is all but planning on Nebraska. If the Cotton takes Nebraska, under that scenario, the Holiday is locked in on Texas A&M. Texas would be looking at the Gator (against Wake Forest, Boston College or Clemson) or the Alamo (against 6-6 Iowa) at that point.
Q: Who is the team's third-string quarterback if Colt McCoy and Jevan Snead go down with injuries? Is it Sherrod Harris? How is he doing?
Mark Mills
BROWN: If McCoy and Snead go down, your third-string quarterback will be walk-on Matt McCoy. Coaches would try to preserve Harris' redshirt season. Harris has drawn praise for his work on the scout team.
Q: By the time Friday morning rolls around, all the articles will have been written. So, what's your prediction on how the game will turn out?
Steve, Richardson
BROWN: Texas A&M has lost six straight to Texas. Think about that for a moment. Dennis Franchione is 1-10 against Texas (0-3), Oklahoma (0-4) and Texas Tech (1-3). At some point, the Aggies are going to decide they've had enough. But is it this year? I don't think so, but the A&M offense is capable of firepower, even though it has reached 30 points or more only once in regulation during Big 12 play (a 31-21 win at Baylor). The Aggies have a solid O-line, solid running game, a QB who can throw it and solid receivers, including tight end Martellus Bennett. As we've said, the A&M defense has been solid in the second half of games. So if A&M is allowed to hang around, watch out. I think Texas has too much talent and too much advantage at home. I'll say Texas 24, Texas A&M 14. Thanks for the questions and keep them coming. Happy Thanksgiving.
E-mail chipbrown@dallasnews.com
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