Texas Football: 3 reasons why the Longhorns will annihilate Rice

Playmakers on defense will have plenty of chances to breakthrough

Some of the Longhorns’ top defensive playmakers have yet to really make any big plays this fall through two games. Texas should be able to see the likes of senior cornerback D’Shawn Jamison and senior linebacker DeMarvion Overshown make some plays in this game that they haven’t been able to yet.

This is the slowest start for Overshown and Jamison through two games in their careers as regular starters thus far. Jamison doesn’t have a single pass breakup, turnover drawn, and was beat deep twice in the first two weeks. He hasn’t played terribly, but this is not what we usually see out of a dynamic weapon on defense and special teams like Jamison.

Moreover, missed tackles were a problem in the past for Overshown at the linebacker position. And they’re a problem once again for him at the outset of this season. Overshown has five missed tackles in the first two games, including four in the loss to Arkansas.

Overshown has yet to really make many plays in terms of blowing up plays in the opposing team’s backfield and/or drawing turnovers so far this season. He has those five missed tackles compared to just one quarterback hurry through two games.

Texas needs the top defensive playmakers to come through in a big way before the start of Big 12 play. Rice starting quarterback Luke McCaffrey tossed three picks last week in the loss to Houston. This team is prone to coughing up the ball, and Texas should be ready to take advantage.

And then, in the loss to Arkansas in Week 1, fellow Rice quarterback Wiley Green tossed three picks too. Texas should see the opportunity to get going in terms of winning the turnover battle.