For Newton, The Future Is Now

Tre Newton’s second straight start at RB speaks volumes of Texas’ offensive approach as it enters a de facto three-game playoff toward a national championship. Newton’s presence implicitly states a This Is Who We Are philosophy that may carry over into the 2010 season — and beyond.
“He gives us the best chance with his vision and his patience,” offensive coordinator Greg Davis said Monday. The November 14 Baylor game was, in part, a litmus test to see if Texas could establish a power running game that it could carry into the post-season. Put an asterisk next to Cody Johnson’s career-best 109 yards on 19 carries. An out-talented Baylor defense dropped its safeties into deep coverage and all but conceded the middle of the field to off-tackle plays. (It was a reasonable defensive tactic considering Colt McCoy is, again, college football’s most accurate passer while Texas’ rushing offense hasn’t put a scare into anybody in two years.) Conversely, Kansas stacked the box by creeping its safeties to the line of scrimmage, opening the deep passing lanes for the likes of Malcolm Williams and Jordan Shipley. Newton started against Kansas because the RS-freshman is best suited for the five-wide set with which Texas opened, head coach Mack Brown noted. But this goes beyond the opening snap; it was a harbinger of things to come. Johnson appeared very hesitant against KU, managing 15 yards on eight carries. To be fair, Johnson is a downhill grinder who may be the least suited of all Longhorn RBs for a single-back, zone-run scheme. Then again, who is? It’s been a revolving door of RBs this season, but a door has apparently opened for Newton to hang on to the starting job — given the trajectory of Davis’ scheme. Three RBs have logged starts since Texas settled for 67 yards on 25 rushes against Central Florida. “We’re better running the ball than we were four years ago,” Davis said, “but I don’t think we’re where we want to be three weeks from now.” Newton is Texas’ leading ground-gainer with 370 yards on 67 attempts (5.7 ypc). He also has 63 receiving yards on seven catches. Newton is neither the most physical nor the speediest RB out of the stable. But when coaches assess what sets Newton apart from other contenders, they continue to laud his “vision” and “patience”, reinforcing the reliance on a zone running scheme hitched to a back who can efficiently pick his spots. They rave about Newton’s ability to catch the ball out of the backfield as well as his dependability in pass-protection. “He can jump out of an empty (set) and then back into your other stuff,” Davis said. “No changes are necessary.” Davis even likened Newton to one of football’s all-time greats, but with this clarification: pigksin pundits may have underrated Newton’s speed much like they once did Emmitt Smith’s. Said Davis: “I remember when Emmitt came out of high school, and there were comments that he was a great high school player but probably wouldn’t be a great college player because he wasn’t fast enough. When (NFL) Draft Day came around, he was said to be a great college player but probably wouldn’t be a great pro because he’s not fast enough. The proof is in the pudding. Tre is not going to be a guy who wows you with his speed. He’s had several long runs this year. He’s probably faster than you think.” The burnt orange crystal ball says Senior Day was not a one-night stand for Newton. He just might be Texas’ starting RB for the better part of the next three seasons. Obviously, redshirt RB Chris Whaley will have a say in that but, chances are, QB Garrett Gilbert will a bigger factor. The physical, strong-armed Gilbert will likely be the face of this program for at least the next two seasons. The 2010 offense will be built around Gilbert and — even without Shpley — a loaded arsenal of receivers more so than a power running game. In other words, the more things change, the more they will remain the same. It means coaches will have the off-season to figure how Whaley fits into the mix and that Johnson, a-gain, becomes the situational, short-yardage back. Brown has a stated preference for a power back who gets of the carries and who has a dependable understudy. For now, the ball is in Newton’s hands. “Before it’s over, we may need all our running backs,” Davis concluded. “But, at this point, Tre gives us the best opportunity.”