Even though the Longhorns defense is barely allowing teams to pick up first downs these days, there are still increases that this group can take.
Consider the following:
a. Anthony Hill is on pace for 48 tackles, 3 tackles for losses and zero sacks this season over 12 games.
b. Colin Simmons is on pace for 18 tackles and 4.5 sacks this season over 12 games.
c. Jelani McDonald has interceptions in two straight games and might be the best player on the defense right now. The collection of Michael Taaffe, Malik Muhammad, Jaylon Guilbeau and Derek Williams have combined for only a single interception, forced fumble or fumble recovery among them.
d. No Texas defensive lineman has created a turnover this season and the Longhorns have forced only four fumbles (three recoveries all season).
This is a defense that is mostly dominating, but I’m not sure that anyone other than McDonald is performing at an all-SEC level in terms of production.
For all of the panic of the last few weeks in some corners, the reality is that very few teams are going to break 17 points against the Longhorns defense. It still hasn’t happened through four games.
There are three games on this schedule that could be competitive for four quarters if the Longhorns don’t vomit spaghetti all over themselves in the other games. It’s possible that 20 points will win all three of those games.
Will Texas win two of those three games, get into the playoff and see where things sit going into the post-season as Ohio State did a year ago? Or will it simply lose three of the four dangerous games on the schedule, which would be a major indictment of this coaching staff?
I still say they get to the playoffs. I’m not at a place where I think OU or A&M will beat them in a neutral/road setting.
