Jul 22, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong speaks to the media during the Big 12 Media Day at the Omni Dallas. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
We got a game coming up, Bruin fans! UCLA Vs Texas is this weekend at AT&T Stadium and it is a big event for both teams. That is why Go Joe Bruin chatted with Hook’em Headlines, the Fansided sites for both UCLA and Texas. You want to know what Texas is bringing to the game? Well check out our interview with Hook’em Headlines editor Jeff Kubiszyn as he answers a few questions about the Longhorns.
Go Joe Bruin: With Charlie Strong taking over, things have really changed for UT. What is the perception from the Longhorn faithful about his first few months on the job?
Hook’em Headlines: Most of the UT fan base has been supportive of the changes Strong has made. Many people felt Mack Brown had let the program slip, and a strong-minded coach was needed to whip the players into shape. He took away the air-conditioned buses, making the players walk to and from practice. Players were forced to move back onto campus and live in the dorms. The team practiced without the famous Longhorn on its helmets – the decal had to be earned. Fans are really buying into what Strong is selling.
Betsided
GJB: There have been several suspensions so far this season from Coach Strong. Is it good having a disciplinarian like Strong handling Texas?
HH: Charlie Strong is exactly what the University of Texas football program needs. The players had become complacent. A feeling of entitlement dominated the locker room. Texas needed a coach who would come in and, you know, coach. Actually get the most out of a player. A few guys didn’t want to play by his rules, and consequently they were shown the door. This has re-energized the fan base, even if it weakened the team.
GJB: Do you believe all of Coach Strong’s actions will have positive results in the future?
HH: Strong is heading down the right path. It’s going to take time, however. I think most fans thought he could take this group and make Texas a Big 12 title contender right away. BYU reminded them this is a marathon, not a sprint.
GJB: Okay, now to actual football… With QB David Ash out indefinitely, how do things look for the Longhorns with back-up Tyrone Swoopes in the game?
HH: Tyrone Swoopes surprised a lot of people with his play last week. He has really progressed from the player in 2013 who took the snap and looked for a hole to run through. Most of his passes were on target, even if they were thrown around the line of scrimmage.
Having said that, the guy is still raw and a work-in-progress. The play book was simplified for Swoopes. He basically had two reads – Jaxon Shipley and John Harris.
I expect Swoopes to throw more vertical passes this weekend. He has to in order to keep UCLA from stacking the box to stop the run. Whether these throws can be caught is anyone’s guess. No one other than the coaches and players know for sure if he can throw an accurate deep pass. It’s this air of mystery surrounding Swoopes that makes even the most pessimistic Texas fan want to watch and see what he can do.
GJB: So, um, what happened with BYU?
HH: Reality happened. The reality that Texas is not back. The tackling was better, but there were still too many missed tackles in the second half. The offense couldn’t run the ball. The offensive line could not open up any holes for the running backs. No vertical pass plays by Texas meant everything was played close to the line of scrimmage. Turnovers stopped at least one promising drive, possibly two.
I also have to give BYU credit. They have a pretty good football team. The Longhorns looked like the team wilting in the Texas heat.
Sep 6, 2014; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Tyrone Swoopes (18) scrambles against the Brigham Young Cougars during the first half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports
GJB: Is the defense the more worrisome squad than the offense right now and what can they do to improve?
HH: I would say the offense has fans concerned. The offensive line is missing three starters. The most veteran lineman has two career starts. If these guys can’t control the line of scrimmage, it will be another long day for Texas. To make matters worse, top receiver Jaxon Shipley is questionable with a head injury. Shipley is the go-to guy for whoever is quarterbacking this team.
The defense has looked much better this season. The tackling needs to improve, but even after giving up 41 points, this unit is still the strength of the team.
GJB: Brett Hundley threw for 396 yards last game with 3 touchdowns. Will the Longhorns be able to limit his productions and who should the Bruins be eyeing?
HH: I think the Longhorns would welcome the prototypical pocket passer after getting run over by the 230-pound Hill. The problem is Hundley is mobile too, so Texas’ pass rushers can’t just pin their ears back and go after the quarterback. The defense will need to respect Hundley’s scrambling ability. I think Hundley will still have a productive day.
If there is one guy on the defense that can swing the momentum in Texas’ favor, it is linebacker Jordan Hicks. Hicks has battled injuries the last two seasons, but he looks healthy this year. He has really taken to Vance Bedford’s new defensive scheme. Hicks is an explosive player who can make plays all over the field. He’s athletic enough to cover backs coming out of the backfield, too.
GJB: Despite a rough start, who has been a bright spot for Texas?
HH: Believe it or not, a fifth-year wide receiver by the name of John Harris. The guy had nine catches in three years. In two games this season, he has 15 receptions and two touchdowns. Texas has lost three receivers to suspension or dismissal, so Harris’ emergence has been a godsend.
Desmond Jackson and Malcolm Brown have also had a pretty good start to the season while anchoring the interior defensive line. They had good pressure on BYU’s Hill all game; it was the rest of the defense that couldn’t stop him.
More from UCLA Bruins Football
- UCLA Football: It’s time for the nation to meet Dante Moore
- UCLA Football: Where are they ranked heading into week 4
- UCLA Football: Position battle breakdown for Utah showdown
- UCLA vs. Utah: Location, time, prediction, and more
- UCLA Football: Highlights from Chip Kelly’s appearance on the Jim Rome Show
GJB: With UCLA’s inability to get at opposing QBs, will the Longhorn offensive line be able to hold them off as well?
HH: I suspect this changes for UCLA against Texas. The offensive line is a patchwork job at best right now. Starting center Dominic Espinosa is done for the year with an injury. Tackles Desmond Harrison and Kennedy Estelle are still suspended. Texas is starting a former defensive lineman at tackle. If the defensive line for UCLA was looking at a game to get untracked, this would be it.
GJB: UCLA’s defense was exposed a bit last week, does Texas have what it takes to capitalize on that this week?
HH: If the Texas offensive line can open up some running lanes for Malcolm Brown and Johnathan Gray, Texas has a chance to slow the game down and keep the UCLA offense on the sideline. Texas does not have the fire power to match the Bruins if this turned into a shootout. I don’t believe the Texas offense is developed enough to pose a serious threat to UCLA. The Bruins should leave AT&T stadium with a win. I think Texas fans will take a moral victory if the team is competitive. We want to see if Strong can get his team to bounce back after a bad loss.
Thank you to Jeff Kubiszyn and Hook’em Headlines for taking time to chat with us. Let us have a good game and play some football!!!