Longhorns roll OSU, face UCF

November 5, 11:00 AMTexas Longhorns ExaminerZeke Cuny

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HI! I'm the best player on the team! Maybe for the last 20 years! AP: Sue Ogrock

Before the season started, the scariest game on the schedule was Halloween in Stillwater. OSU had offensive weapons to spare, and an improving defense. Last weekend the Texas went to Stillwater and curb stomped the Cowboys.

The defense was its usual stellar self, while the offense found a grove, albeit a small one. Not much more one can say about the domination of the defense. There aren't enough superlatives. Current man-crush Earl Thomas is well on his way to being the best defensive back to ever play at UT, and last year's scapegoat Blake Gideon now has four (!?!) INTs on the season. If one has to pick nits, it's now apparent that Sergio Kindle is not a pass rushing specialist. He's got elite strength and quickness, but no moves. He is disruptive with a great motor and a holy terror for running backs on the edge, but a sack artist he is not. I think if Muschamp could get a do-over, he would have left Kindle at LB and let him blitz behind Sam Acho or Eddie Jones. No worries though, because he is exactly the type of player than can destroy Florida's run game.

Before they face Florida though, the 'Horns must first get past the UCF Golden Knights. UCF, like virtually every team in Florida, has athletes to spare. Thus far the Knights are 5-3 with victories over Rice, Marshall, and Buffalo, and losses to Miami, Southern Miss, and East Carolina. Miami is the best barometer for Texas success, and a good showcase for what to expect.

UCF is a hellacious pass rushing team with a terrible secondary. They sacked Jacory Harris six times, and still gave up nearly 300 yards passing - so don't be surprised if Colt gets beaten up while completing 80% for 270 yards. The UCF offense is decent if average, although they have size and speed at WR. One or two big plays is possible, but they will have a total inability to drive the field. Expect to see a lot of three and outs while attempting to set up a play-action deep throw. That's really the only hope to score.

This would be a great game for the Texas offense to work the run game mercilessly. It keeps Colt off his back, sets up our own play action, and gives our guys reps in the trenches. Cody Johnson is our new starter, and it's well earned. Talk on the interwebs is that he has a bad per carry average and doesn't fit the "system." If you hear that, dont go all Brandon Spikes on the person. Cody is an excellent runner for our "system" because he doesn't dance around, he's decisive, and he can make his own crease. Just remember: when Cody runs nothing bad ever happens.

What I want to do while watching our run game

With apologies to Kansas and whatever sacrificial lamb the Big 12 North trots out, the only speed bump left on the schedule is Aggie. If you are still scarred from '06 and '07, you are not alone. The game is at Kyle field, and the Agros will be fired up. Their team is Tyler Durdenesque. They could sit meekly at their desk watching us fire bomb their apartment, or they could show up with a bunch of space monkeys and go Operation Mayhem on us. Not even they know.