Talking through Texas' 3-game stretch of Ok St, OU, and Iowa St

Get some of my thoughts on each of these teams and how they currently appear to match up to Texas by following this link.

My take on the coaches' poll top 25

This poll came out a few days ago but I'm only just now getting around to glancing at it to see what the conventional wisdom is on the upcoming college football season. The interesting thing about the modern information age is how much you can control the information you have access to. This is, no doubt, a part of why politics are becoming increasingly hostile as everyone is largely insulated.

Anyways, here's the top 25 per the coaches' poll with my own annotations on these teams:

1. Alabama

Fair enough, right? Who's their QB again? Doesn't really matter unless it's Jalen Hurts and then this season gets really interesting.

2. Clemson

I'm betting on Florida State to win the ACC but Clemson is just a no-brainer. They're insanely loaded on offense and you don't to bet against Venables on defense.

3. Oklahoma

I think there's little chance that Oklahoma justifies this ranking. Their offense will blow the doors off most of the Big 12 and the defense will be athletic enough for that to be enough more often than not but they won't be as lucky as they were in 2015 and they may not be as good either.

4. Florida State

Like I said last week, I'm high on the 'Noles this year. This is a team that is perfectly assembled to allow Francois to do tremendous damage by just competently getting the ball outside to their underrated receiver corps when they're facing favorable match-ups. Thanks to Dalvin Cook, that will be occurring on the reg.

5. Ohio State

I don't think it's reasonable to put tOSU this high unless you simply have a ton of faith in Urban Meyer's ability to fashion young talent into a team very quickly. I suppose we've seen him do it before. This is a team that could be a rolling ball of butcher knives late in the year if they can hang on early when the young defenders are still figuring things out.

6. LSU

There's actually quite a lot that has to come together for LSU to justify some of their loftier rankings. Aranda's confusing scheme has to translate (not unlikely), their DTs need to play better (not unlikely), Maea Teuhema needs to transition from a phenom freshman guard to a phenom sophomore left tackle (still not unlikely), and Brandon Harris needs to master Cam Cameron's pro-style offense (iffy). Should be easy to tell early in the year if LSU is going to underachieve and join the Tom Herman sweepstakes or keep rolling with the grass-eater.

7. Stanford

I was generally dismissive of concerns about Stanford replacing Kevin Hogan until I noticed recently that the Cardinal finished 5th in the nation last year in 3rd down conversion rate and were one of two power 5 conference teams in the top five. I think a lot of that had to do with McCaffrey, who returns, but certainly Hogan must have played a part as well.

I still think Stanford will be strong, but I'm less bullish on them going to the playoffs now.

8. Michigan

The only questions with Michigan are if they can find a pair of reliable linebackers to replace the decent guys they lost and if Harbaugh can make something of John O'Korn. I wrote an article for MGoBlog's annual publication "Hail to the Victors" where I explained why I think that latter point is a very good bet.

I'd rank Michigan in the top 4, personally. Do you feel better about Harbaugh molding O'Korn or Meyer developing his defense? Michigan overcoming the Big 10 or Oklahoma winning out in the Big 12?

9. Notre Dame

Interesting. This is a team that lost seven guys to the NFL and currently aren't sure which of their two very talented quarterbacks will be the starter. Meanwhile, their defense is largely rebuilt and has struggled with VanGorder's complicated schemes for a few consecutive seasons now. I'm sure they'll be good but top 10 seems generous.

10. Tennessee

They're going to be nasty on defense, that's for sure, but that was also true a year ago. I'm less sold on their offense and am just not confident that they'll put together a season that puts them amongst the nation's elite at the end of the year.

11. Michigan State

This is a "respect Dantonio" choice more than a rational take on the likely prognosis for a team that just lost Connor Cook and several other key pieces from a highly underrated offense that carried them in 2015. The assumption is that the defense will pick up the slack but I've not been convinced that will happen. This looks like an 8-9 win team in a competitive division to these eyes.

12. Ole Miss

It's sorta of disrespectful to Hugh Freeze that although, like Ohio State and Notre Dame, he returns a talented starting quarterback and little else, his team is ranked outside of the top 10. As it happens, I think all three will have some struggles and Ole Miss' schedule is too brutal to bet on them finishing this high.

13. Houston

The Cougars have a fun chance at a special season if Ward is healthy, they beat Oklahoma, and the Sooners go on to beat Ohio State. That will give them a ton of credibility to pad whatever they end up doing to the rest of the AAC. There's a surprising number of good athletes on this team, but Herman and Orlando are also just really good at bringing that out through scheme.

14. TCU

I picked TCU to win the Big 12 and I think they'll end the year ranked higher than this thanks to piling up wins in conference play.

15. Iowa

Iowa wasn't great last year, they were just very solid and impossible to beat unless you had something special about your own roster. This year they face a schedule with more elite talent on the opposing squads so some of their key figures are going to need to make a leap.

16. Georgia

I wish I had paid more attention to how terrible Greyson Lambert was before choosing Georgia to win the championship last year. He was terrible and he's still there. I think Smart is going to have to endure some growing pains before they really get this thing off the ground.

17. USC

I think USC belongs a big higher. For one, Pendergast over Wilcox is a considerable upgrade and the Trojan defense has not been good since he left and Wilcox replaced him. The return of elite defense to Southern Cal would make for a noticeable difference in the win-loss column. Secondly, I'm a fan of their offensive system which is run-centric but well augmented by RPOs and play-action passing. That's how you do pro-style in today's college game. Cody Kessler didn't have that hard a job, I think they can replace him more easily than some might guess.

18. Washington

I didn't watch Washington play last year so I have no comment.

19. Oklahoma State

If they don't start running the ball half-decently then they won't finish in the top 25.

20. North Carolina

The Tar Heels? Where's Arkansas in this? Who's afraid of the Tar Heels?

21. Baylor

Sure, if Kendal Briles is actually coaching this unit and not arranging interviews then Baylor will score points but it's going to be hard to own the trenches like they've been accustomed to with a totally depleted OL and DL.

22. Oregon

The Ducks are being criminally underrated. This is one of the most dangerous offenses in the country with FCS superstar Dakota Prukop stepping in to keep their run game going while Brady Hoke turns their defense into something respectable once more. When they're scoring 40 points a game next year and actually making stops on defense this ranking is going to start to look really silly really fast.

23. Louisville

Some of these teams outside of the top 20 look better to me than much of 10-20. Louisville could compete for the Big 12 crown with that defense combined with Lamar Jackson after another offseason with Petrino.

24. UCLA

Until we see how well their new offense is coming together this seems about right to me. The defense has a few question marks but that defensive backfield is going to be very good so I'm not betting against them.

25. Florida

This seems more an homage to what Jim McElwain has accomplished in his career rather than something based off what the Gators have proven on the field. I can dig it though, I'm sure there's tons of talent still stockpiled on that roster and McElwain has won in the past without tons of it.

Previewing Florida State vs Ole Miss

I'm pretty high on Florida State for this coming year. They look like they might be absolutely loaded in the secondary again, the DL has a bunch of physical freaks, and they are plugging in an ultra-talented QB into a loaded offense again.

Their first test comes against Ole Miss, and I previewed that match-up for SB Nation here, I think we may see a sort of coming out party for Deondre Francois in this one. Deondre Francois and big, athletic WR Auden Tate.

Don't sleep on the Seminoles as playoff contenders, just tune in for this game and I think you'll see what I mean.

Previewing the Texas schedule: Part I, the non-conference

I previewed Texas' non-conference slate of Notre Dame, UTEP, and Cal at Inside Texas. Check it out.

Ranking the +1 defenders in the Big 12

The Big 12 is becoming fairly uniform these days in terms of the schemes they run with Over-quarters serving as the dominant system across the league.

Over-quarters means a 3-technique defensive tackle set to the strong side of the offense (determined as opposite the back or with the TE/H-back) backed by some variety of cover 4 (quarters coverage). Most teams are using split field coverages these days (as Gary Patterson has done forever) so they can mix in one variety of cover 4 to one half the field and another to the other half.

Perhaps the best and most common combination you see in football these days is for the defense to play the nickel/sam linebacker and boundary safeties as the force defenders but to ask them to play with depth and a touch of hesitation before they crash towards the line of scrimmage so they don't get burned by run/pass option plays like inside zone mixed with a bubble screen:

In this instance, the boundary safety (labelled here as the strong safety "$") is the extra man against the run. In this instance of a strongside inside zone run paired with a backside bubble screen he's gotta force the ball inside to the linebackers and maintain the edge. This assignment is made easier by the fact that his primary coverage assignment is the tight end, who will give him a pretty clear read on if he's defending a pass or run if he's blocking.

Different schemes and formations will call for different defenders to take on the roll of serving as the extra defender that isn't accounted for by an offensive blocker, but for most Big 12 teams most of the time that +1 defender against the run is that boundary safety.

The ideal +1 player can play with depth but still cover ground and make tackles near the line of scrimmage. He needs to be able to tackle in space but he also needs to be big and sturdy enough to fill the alley against a power back. This player needs to be either really smart/instinctive or have good COD (change of direction) so that he can handle everything on his grocery list in terms of coverage and where he fits against a given run scheme. Finally, this guy needs to have enough burst and power to blast through the wash to make tackles in traffic.

Typically a guy of 200 pounds or more, good downhill acceleration, fearlessness, and the hips to break down in space is going to be the best at executing in this role.

Here's a ranking of the best +1 defenders in the Big 12 heading into the 2016 season:

No. 1: Denzel Johnson, TCU

6-2, 210. Senior

2015 season: 79 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 interception, 8 pass break-ups

Gary Patterson always develops hard nosed safeties that play the run well and are physical enough to allow the defense to get away with having smaller personnel on the field. His "strong safety" position is really more of a nickel spot and always plays around the box.

Whereas for most other teams I'm listing the boundary safety as the +1 defender, the Frogs much more regularly involve their nickel/strong safety in that role, especially with Denzel because he's a great run defender. Johnson is excellent at forcing the edge, filling cutback lanes with lateral quickness and power, and he's totally at home playing in the box or blitzing.

Derrick Kindred was one of the better defenders in the Big 12 conference but when the Frogs can put more of a coverage-minded defender at that free safety spot behind Johnson they'll be really tough to beat.

No. 2: Jordan Sterns, Oklahoma State

6-0, 200. Senior
2015 season: 108 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 3 pass break-ups, 1 forced fumble

Sterns is more or less the standard for the position in the Big 12 and can regularly make tackles at or near the line of scrimmage playing at 10 yards deep or so. Sterns excels playing as a rover that spends most of his time reading flow and attacking the ball or the QB's eyes and he has the strength and short area speed to reach the ball and avoid the wash.

He's not a sensation but he's tailor made for this role and has been a dependable tackler with 100+ tackles each of the last two years plugging away in Spencer's defense the last two years. He's like Orion Stewart but better in the run support role of this position whereas Stewart is better in the coverage elements.

No. 3: Kendall Adams, Kansas State

6-1, 217. Redshirt sophomore.

2015 season: 41 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 

Adams was my favorite recruit in the 2014 K-State recruiting class and it seems the staff likes him quite a bit as well. He was pushed into action last year as a redshirt freshman due to injuries and is now the frontrunner to play opposite Dante Barnett for the 2016 Wildcat defense.

Due to youth and inexperience, the Wildcats were not their typical selves on defense last year and were prone to the kinds of errors in leverage and fundamentals that will gift offenses easy yards. Normally that's not the case at all and they can be defeated only through superior talent. However, if K-State can find a corner and a good tackle to add to the party next year and get back to playing great team defense in 2016 then they will be excellent on defense.

Kendall Adams is a big reason for this as he's both big and powerful but also rangy and fast. He's one of the few legitimate 4.6 safeties in this league and that speed allows him to play with the kind of safe depth that Snyder loves while still reaching the ball close to the line of scrimmage. The better he understands Big 12 offenses and where his help is in the Wildcat defense, the better he's going to become.

No. 4: Ahmad Thomas, Oklahoma

6-0, 215. Senior
2015 season: 75 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 3 pass break-ups

Thomas is going to be transitioning in 2016 from playing more as a deep man to getting involved near the ball thanks to the Sooners' move to more of a 3-3-5 nickel approach. Both Thomas and his partner Steven Parker will probably spend some time as the extra man in the 8-man front but at 215 pounds this is more in Thomas' wheelhouse.

He should be quite effective here as he has some nice burst closing on the ball as well as the size to bring down backs and receivers even when they have some momentum. His experience and size combined with a more prominent role than "drop deep and clean up what Striker leaves behind" could result in some bigger numbers this year.

No. 5: Jah'Shawn Johnson, Texas Tech

5-10, 180. Sophomore

2015 season: 85 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 3 pass break-ups, two forced fumbles

You'd like your enforcer and free-hitter in the middle of the field to be a big, intimidating player but Jah'Shawn Johnson has a lot of fight and he's pretty ferocious. He was the best run-support DB on the Tech roster last year as a freshman and they got into real trouble when he wasn't on the field.

As a sophomore playing behind a more experienced front and with a year of Big 12 play under his belt he could be quite good. Again, it's a hard life bringing down power backs when you're only 180 but with the right amount of fearlessness and leverage it can be done and Johnson brings that to the field. If this pup ends up reaching 190 or 200 then his bite will be really nasty.

No. 6: Kyzir White, West Virginia

6-3, 215. Junior

JUCO

The third White brother is another big, athletic freak just like his siblings. Of course, if he has a huge impact in Morgantown it'll be tempting to call him Keyser Soze and forget about the familial connection...sorry, anyways he plays the "spur" (nickel) position in the Mountaineer 3-3-5 which has many duties but amongst them are tending the edge.

Some of his JUCO highlights look like extra footage from "the Longest Yard" and include some forearm shivers that could have knocked some people out. He's just a big, nasty guy that should thrive in the moderate amounts of space that he'll find himself in when playing in their schemes.

A 6'3" 215 pound savage that can move like this is worth his weight in gold in the Big 12 where defenses are often faced with the challenge of getting more speed on the field without going soft.

No. 7: Kamari Cotton-Moya, Iowa State

6-1, 205. Redshirt junior
2015 season: 40 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 pass break-up

Cotton-Moya had a really promising freshman campaign in 2014 and was expected to break out in 2015 but suffered an injury that cut his season short. Also notable, in 2015 the Cyclones moved to a 3-4 defense that put more of the run-support responsibilities on the outside linebackers while using the safeties either in coverage or as "check deep, then fill alley" defenders. It essentially worked like the Katy Tiger weak eagle defense but without the same measure of effectiveness.

He doesn't have quite as much burst as you'd like but he's similar to Orion Stewart in that he's a versatile player that can do a lot of things pretty well and he also brings more power to bring people down in traffic. One thing Paul Rhoads was always good at in Ames was finding and developing 2nd tier players like this that could be effective if positioned well.

If Iowa State could line him up for kill shots more consistently he'd be a menace. In 2016 he'll probably spend more time down in the box again while also playing in the deep 1/3 and as a deep 1/2 guy.

No. 8: Orion Stewart, Baylor

6-2, 205. Redshirt senior

2015 season: 64 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 3 pass break-ups, 1 forced fumble

I think Stewart is a fine football player and a real asset on passing downs but he's just never been a particularly forceful player against the run. He's 6'2" 205 now and his wiry frame has just never been one to fly down and lay the wood against the run. Another problem for the Bears is that he's now standing in the way of converted WR and star athlete Davion Hall finding starting snaps.

I assume Hall will replace Stewart after he graduates but then Baylor will have only gotten one good scholarship year from the former four-star. You have to wonder if the Bears will tinker and find a way to get them on the field together. I'd certainly be experimenting to see how Stewart holds up in their cover safety role where Chance Waz was less than inspiring a year ago (although Waz was quite good in run support). You don't want to take Orion off the field, because he's a legitimately good football player, but they could get more out of that position if they had a more intimidating physical presence.

Another possibility is that with another year of S&C and a healthier season, Stewart is even better against the run in 2016 and proves he belongs much higher on this list.

No. 9: Jason Hall, Texas

6-2, 215. Junior
2015 season: 51 tackles, .5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 2 pass break-ups, 1 forced fumble

Hall has great size for the free safety role at Texas at 6'2", 215 pounds, but he's never proven to be very instinctive or aware of how to make the best use of his size. He was fourth on the team in tackles a year ago and is in danger of losing his job in 2016 to young pups like DeShon Elliott or Brandon Jones if he can't make more of the opportunities presented in Texas' schemes for wreaking havoc.

That said, Hall has had a signature knockout blow in each of the last two seasons and is only just now entering his junior year. As a freshman he met Samaje Perine in the hole and drove him off his legs and into the ground. As a sophomore he met Joe Hubener in the hole and seriously reduced the impact from the Wildcat QB run game for the rest the contest with the blow he delivered.

No. 10: Tevin Shaw, Kansas

5-11, 206. Redshirt senior.

2015 season: 65 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, 3 pass break-ups

The Jayhawks were at their best in 2015 playing what I call "Aggro-6" which is cover 2 on the boundary and then an aggressive variety of cover 4 to the field that gets (usually) the nickel (sometimes the free safety) quickly involved in the run fits. The nickel was the man for the Jayhawks and that man was Tevin Shaw.

When your nickel is loosed on the edge in this fashion he can do a lot of damage, especially on blitzes where the offense doesn't always have him picked up. Shaw's compadre on the boundary, Fish Smithson, was the more effective edge blitzer while Shaw didn't add as much. It's not clear to me why K-State didn't just use a space-backer here to get more of a physical presence on the perimeter, I suppose their roster is rather limited.

Can Tech improve on defense in year 2 with Gibbs?

The common perception on Tech, especially by opposing fans eager to dismiss the return of Pat Mahomes, is that they are going to fantastically suck on defense in 2016.

After all, they're losing all four starters on the D-line, inside-backer and leading tackler Micah Awe, and up and coming backer Dakota Allen from a defensive front that was next to useless in 2015. However, they return five experienced components from a secondary that took well to Gibbs' philosophy of forcing turnovers, are promoting young trench warriors Breiden Fehoko and D'Vonta Hinton, and are now in year two of a somewhat complicated scheme.

Head over to Football Study Hall to read about why Tech might make enough of a leap on defense to make the most of an already formidable offense.

Previewing Houston vs Oklahoma

The Cougs and Sooners' opening match-up is a big one, probably a much more challenging game than the Sooners bargained for when they scheduled it to take place in the same non-conference schedule that included a visit from the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Both of those programs are smashmouth spreads of the sort that gave Oklahoma trouble in 2015, it'll be very interesting to see how their approach to handling them has changed for this coming year. Especially with the 3-4 no longer the best option for getting their best 11 defenders on the field.

Read about this battle at SB Nation here.