Growing confidence on the side of the Texas Longhorns
While there are questions about whether or not OU quarterback Dillon Gabriel will start this weekend because of a concussion he suffered last Saturday, I sense that most of the focus among Texas fans right now is actually about the strengths of the Longhorns themselves, not that of their opponents.
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And that’s a good omen.
It’s a sign of a team starting to round into shape in multiple areas of focus, one that can take on all comers and one that goes into this weekend’s matchup in the Cotton Bowl with a measure of confidence.
Yes, the Horns are dealing with a QB conundrum of their own. But that’s just a sideshow to other factors. And even that has been mitigated by Steve Sarkisian adapting his play-calling somewhat to the skill set of two slightly different quarterbacks.
What’s more, there’s also talk in Austin about a more cohesive defense that is still getting better despite periodic setbacks. It’s not a devastating defense, but it is better than a year ago and you don’t sense any general dysfunction.
There’s also a collection of offensive skill players unlike anything Texas has seen together in perhaps a decade or more.
As an aside, I ask this question seriously: Is there a single Texas offensive skill position that has had more talent in the last ten years than it does today? I can think of possibly only one, and that’s at receiver with Colin Johnson, Devin Duvernay and LJ Humphrey as a trio compared to the duo of Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington.
When combined, the level of talent on offense and the idea of an improving defense in the face of what we’ve seen from OU thus far this season, it gives Texas a level of confidence heading into Red River that I personally haven’t felt in a solid decade.
What about you?
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As we all know, despite any level of confidence, unexpected things can and will happen in the Cotton Bowl.
There’s a reason they say “throw their records out the window” when these two teams meet.
In short, I’m hopeful for Saturday. But never certain. This game surprises me somehow, some way, nearly every single year.
