Texas Football: 50 Days until kickoff – 5 keys to victory
Just 50 days remain until the Tom Herman Era of Texas Football begins in Austin.
That’s 50 days until we finally get to see a revitalized Texas Football team take the field looking to do damage at DKR Memorial Stadium.
That date is Saturday, September 2 for Texas vs. Maryland kicking off the college football season.
(We’ll pause to shudder at the bizarre 11:00 a.m. start time, placing the second quarter in the middle of the Texas summer heat.)
Fortunately, Tom Herman is all about hydration. Because that will be the key to surviving this season’s home opener.
Now, what will be the keys to winning the 2017 home opener?
Texas Football vs. Maryland: 5 Keys to Victory
Here are the five keys to how Texas Football will secure their first win of the season and the first win under Tom Herman.
1. Shane Buechele needs to be special.
We saw Shane Buechele play special football at times last season. Based on his final numbers, you would translate that to a solid 8-4 or 7-5 overall record.
But, Buechele was injured at times during the second half of the year, he hit the freshman wall, and the Horns’ offense became predictable with enough plays and tendencies on tape for opponents to pick up on.
The final 2016 record was 5-7.
Tom Herman won’t commit to Shane Buechele as the starting QB during the summer, but he’s clearly the choice. We need to see that Buechele who wowed fans against Notre Dame in his first-ever college football game one year ago.
2. Texas needs to establish the running game.
No D’Onta Foreman. So, is Chris Warren healthy and ready to take over the starting RB position?
Or, will incoming freshman Toneil Carter take the bulk of the RB work?
It doesn’t matter if it’s Warren, Carter, or both — the Horns need to establish the running game the season after D’Onta Foreman broke records and won the Doak Walker Award.
3. Texas needs to establish a go-to WR.
Last year’s approach was WR by committee. It worked at times, but in critical moments, Shane Buechele did not have a reliable receiver to convert a first down or make an extraordinary play.
Buechele needs that player this season. We believe it’s fellow sophomore Collin Johnson. It could also be Armanti Foreman, the twin brother of D’Onta Foreman.
There are plenty of options at the loaded WR position for the Longhorns. But, Tom Herman needs a player to step up and become the guy for Buechele.
4. The Defense needs to create turnovers.
New defensive coordinator Todd Orlando built his reputation with the Houston Cougars by putting players in position to create turnovers.
Texas needs those huge TO numbers in Houston to translate to Austin.
The Longhorns have the talent to get turnovers; they just need to be better prepared to maximize opportunities to get interceptions and recover fumbles.
A big turnover early in the game against Maryland could set the right tone for the Longhorns in 2017.
More from Texas Football
- Texas Football: Quinn Ewers joins 7-Eleven Cleat Crew for charity event
- Texas Football: 4-Star A&M OT commit officially visiting for KU game
- How to watch Texas football vs. Baylor: TV, stream, game time
- Texas Football: Predicting each remaining 5-Star commit for Horns this fall
- Texas Football: Top 5 defenders during nonconference play
5. The Defense needs fresh bodies.
It will be hot. Really hot. And this will affect the defensive line the most trying to stop the run and rush the passer in 100 degree Saturday heat.
Poona Ford will especially need help on the defensive line. The D-Line represents the greatest concern for the Longhorns entering the season. And, it will be tested very early in Game 1.
It does create an opportunity for players to step up and assert themselves playing alongside Poona Ford. Those players will be the key to the season making sure Texas Football can control the line of scrimmage on the defensive side of the ball.