Dolezal: McCoy to pick apart Blackshirts in Texas win

Nebraska has been going through the motions of the college football season. On Saturday, the Cornhuskers take on Texas in a game that will be regionally televised by ABC (Columbus Channels 7 & 8). Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. in Austin.

The Longhorns are 6-2, while the Huskers are 4-4. Texas, coached by Mack Brown, is a team that has few weaknesses against a Nebraska squad that is searching for a spark to turn around a very mediocre season.

Texas is paced by quarterback Colt McCoy (6-feet-3, 205 pounds, Sophomore). He has a real set of leadership skills that keeps the Longhorns moving up the Big 12 Conference standings. On the season, McCoy has completed 67.3 percent (185-of-275) of his passes and averages 271 yards passing per game with 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. When McCoy does not force the ball into coverage, he is extremely effective.

The top receiver for the Longhorns is Nate Jones (6-2, 195, Sr.). Jones leads the team with 49 catches for 552 yards and four scores. Wide receiver Quan Cosby (5-11, 200, Jr.) also is a threat in the passing game with 41 grabs for 359 yards and three touchdowns.

Recently, tight end Jermichael Finley (6-5, 240, So.) has become a much bigger target through the air. Finley has 28 receptions for 396 yards. This combination of receivers can certainly cause problems for the Husker defense.

The running game really is a one man show for Texas. Tailback Jamaal Charles (6-1, 205, Jr.) is the biggest challenge to the Nebraska defense. Charles averages 90.2 yards per game on the ground. He also leads the team with eight touchdowns.

As a team, the Longhorns rush for 164 yards per contest. McCoy has the second most yards rushing with 172 total for the year. The Texas running game has not been overly impressive, but the Longhorns are likely to get healthy against the soft Nebraska defense.

On the offensive line, Texas has allowed 14 sacks through eight games. Traditionally Texas has one of the biggest offensive lines in the nation.

By Longhorn standards, this group really doesn't match up. From tackle to tackle, Texas averages over 6-5, but only 301 pounds per man. In the recent past, it has been common for the Horns to average around 320 pounds per man.

Senior left tackle Tony Hills (6-6, 305) has the job of protecting McCoy on the blind side. Right tackle Adam Ulatoski (6-8, 300, So.) has the frame to grow into a future star for Texas. If this group plays well, it will be a long afternoon for Nebraska.

Defensively, Texas only allows 89 yards rushing per game, but nearly 217 yards passing per contest. The defense has a nice mix of speed and size. Up front Frank Okam (6-5, 320, Sr.) has 34 career starts and is known as a major run stopper. Defensive end Lamarr Houston (6-2, 275, So.) leads the team with four sacks.

The linebackers are a very solid unit for the Longhorns. Outside linebacker Robert Killebrew (6-2, 230, Sr.) has the ability to run well all over the field. He is a talented veteran with 30 starts for Texas.

Middle linebacker Rashad Bobino (5-11, 228, Jr.) is the leader of the Texas defense. He has 40 total tackles as does Scott Derry (6-3, 230, Sr.) as the other starting outside linebacker.

In the secondary, Texas has 11 interceptions on the season.

Safety Marcus Griffin (6-0, 202, Sr.) has three of those pickoffs, including a 91-yard return for a touchdown. Cornerback Ryan Palmer (5-10, 190, Jr.) leads the entire team with 57 total tackles and 11 passes broken up.

The secondary is probably the weakest part of the Texas defense.

Special teams are very good in the kicking game, but not very impressive in the return game. Kicker Ryan Bailey (6-2, 200, Jr.) is 11 of 14 (78.6 percent) on field goals and perfect on 34 PAT’s.

Justin Moore (6-2, 197, Sr.) and Trevor Gerland (6-2, 190, So.) split the punting duties. Moore averages 39.9 yards on 15 punts, while Gerland averages 37.7 yards on 15 attempts this season.

Cosby handles almost all returns, averaging just over nine yards on 14 punt returns, and 24.6 yards on 22 kick returns.

Texas has been not as effective in the return game as the coaching staff would like.

Nebraska has traditionally had difficulty playing Texas. With the recent struggles on both sides of the ball and going on the road, this is a dangerous mix for the Huskers.

Texas has very good talent, but has underachieved so far this season. The Longhorns will look to keep the ball away from the Nebraska offense and wear down a withering Husker defensive unit.

I believe Colt McCoy will have plenty of time to pick apart the Nebraska defenders in posting a 38-13 Texas win Saturday in Austin.

Jim Dolezal is a local Husker football fanatic as well as a part-time sports writer for the Telegram. He will analyze the Huskers’ opposition from a hometown perspective every Thursday throughout the season.