Texas head coach Mack Brown was very candid, as always, at the Big 12 media days and alluded to some interesting offensive strategy ”tweaks” that could take place.
Brown was open when discussing the Texas offense, saying he believes defenses are catching up and adjusting to the spread offense, aka Texas and many of the Big 12’s bread and butter. He then referenced how his team struggled against others that had a more traditional run-it-down-your-throat running game (cough, cough, Alabama).
When you think of Big 12 offenses, you certainly don’t associate it with strong running attacks. Last year, Oklahoma State was the lone Big 12 team to make it in the top 25 in rushing, coming in at 21. Texas came in right at 50 and a good chunk of that came from Colt McCoy. The teams leading rusher Tre’ Newton led the team in rushing with only 500 plus yards.
Losing a 4-year talent like McCoy would make any coach revaluate strategy going into a fresh season. With that said, Brown’s comments are intriguing when you consider the dynamic of his league and college football as a whole.
Very few college teams sport a running game that many would fear first. Alabama certainly comes to mind, as do a handful of teams in the Big 10 and some select others, but as a whole teams are finding creative ways to utilize speed and spread the field more considerably than before. Not the good ol’ bruisin’ way.
Brown, however, saw the Bama running attach first hand and it sounds like his sophomore QB Garrett Gilbert will be lining up under center much more than McCoy ever did. Whether he sticks to this will remain to be seen. With that said, I certainly feel this would be a great way to protect their young gunslinger.
Even getting into the formation more would easily change how defenses approach you on the field and in film. The threat of play-action, particularly good play-action, is something we don’t see enough of in college pigskin. While these teams shouldn’t appeal to what I want to see (that would be fantastic BTW), it could change the dynamic of an offense.
“We’re not going to be three yards and a cloud of dust,” Brown said. “We’re just changing our personality. We’re not going to change it entirely, but we are going to tweak it some.
These comments could be more of an assessment of personnel than anything else. With McCoy and Shipley gone, every bonehead with a PS3 can tell you that they should “probably run the ball more.” My own reasoning behind this is much more than graduates.
I believe a traditional, behind-the-center offense can be more difficult to pick through when run properly. Sprinkling in spreads, wildcat formations and other tomfoolery is where you can utilize certain weapons.
Whether Mack has the backs and lineman to successfully run the ball behind center is something that is also up in the air. It’s a pretty large change in philosophy/scheme and is no gimmie going into camp.
Even minor tweaks, however, could go along way in putting Big 12 foes on their toes. Gilbert most likely won’t be able to run like McCoy did, which is a pretty significant change even before they take on Rice in the opener.
I imagine that Texas will run the ball a bit more, but I don’t think we’ll see the Longhorns try and run it down Oklahoma’s throat come the Red River Shootout. It’s hard to change who and what you are, especially when you’ve had so much success in the past.
Mack might just be giving the media something to chew on but I, for one, am interested.
I’m not thinking “smash mouth” but hopefully enough change of pace to make up for the lost offensive playmakers and change up the ways of the Big 12.
