Texas needs to take care of business against Iowa State
TCB. Take care of business. That’s what the Texas Longhorns need to do this weekend versus Iowa State.
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Yet it’s not something the Horns have done often enough in the past three years and definitely not against Iowa State.
The Horns are prohibitive, two-touchdown favorites even though the Cyclones (3-3) have not lost a game this season by more than one score. And ISU took Texas to the woodshed a year ago 30-7 in Ames, which gave us the glorious rant from Texas DL coach Bo Davis.
But perhaps the tide is changing in Austin.
Perhaps the Horns are ready to mature into a program capable of winning 8, 9, or even 10+ games in a season moving forward.
The signs are there. Texas is clearly building an offensive juggernaut, one good enough to help carry the team at times. And the defense is building cohesiveness.
But the proof is only in the pudding.
Beating Iowa State is imperative. Otherwise, this program and its fans will be back to asking more questions than thinking they know the direction things are headed.
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One of the more intriguing questions for me this week…
How exactly will Texas successfully incorporate Jahleel Billingsley into an offense that is already flowing?
Billingsley will probably replace Gunnar Helm in the lineup when the Horns go to a two tight end look. But the two have very different skill sets.
Helm lacks the athletic explosiveness of Billingsley, but may be a better run blocker and more sure-handed. Billingsley certainly has more downfield speed and an ability to beat man coverage.
I’m not quite sure what Sark will do with Billingsley.
But then again, neither are opponents.
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The home-field advantage of DKR used to be almost non-existent.
There have been sporadic instances of electric crowds through the years.
But I think this year, from a consistency standpoint, has already been one of the best in memory.
Every home game has not only been well attended, it’s been a raucous environment.
Making DKR a truly tough place to play only helps the Horns, and every little bit helps.
