Texas Football: 2017 Season preview, predictions and more

Texas Football has a new head coach, a new defensive coordinator, and plenty to prove in the 2017. Could this be a breakout season for the Longhorns?

The Charlie Strong era has ended in Austin and the Tom Herman era has begun. With their new head coach the University of Texas enters the 2017 season with a bit more swagger than most 5-7 teams would. Herman is the latest and greatest and things are starting to look up again in Austin.

The Longhorns have reason for optimism. They return a talented roster and an established quarterback. In a league predicated on throwing the football, Texas is positioned to take another step forward in that department in 2017.

More: 5 reasons to believe Texas can win the Big 12 in 2017

Momentum can be a tricky thing to quantify, but it certainly has its role in a season. Texas might not be “back”, but a big victory or two right off the bat will have this team (and the nation) believing that Herman has resurrected the program that Strong couldn’t save. If Herman could help lead Ohio State to a national championship with two backups, imagine what he can do with a veteran quarterback with a few games under his belt.

Texas is going to be dangerous in 2017. Their roster is loaded with some of the best talent in the state. With new schemes on both sides of the ball and a revamped attitude, the Longhorns are ready to avenge the disappointing years under Strong and put the rest of the Big 12 on notice. It won’t be all sunshine and rainbows, nevertheless there are a few reasons for fans in Austin to be excited about the upcoming season.

Offense

With the No. 89 pick of the 2017 NFL Draft the Houston Texans selected D’Onta Foreman. Foreman’s decision to enter the draft occurred far before the selection, but when the commissioner announced his name the finality of his leaving seemed to stick. Foreman wasn’t just a part of the Longhorn offense in 2016, he was the Longhorn offense.

Foreman carried the ball 323 times last season. That more than 100 carries more than any other player in the Big 12. His 2,028 yards on the ground was second most in the country, second most in the history of Texas football and second most in Big 12 history. Foreman is one of 28 players in the history of D1 Football to reach the 2,000 yard mark in a single season.

And he’s gone.

Veteran quarterback play

That leaves the weight of the Texas offense resting solely on the shoulders of sophomore quarterback Shane Buechele. The number four ranked dual threat quarterback in the class of 2016, Buechele had stretches where it looked like he had what it took to carry a team. His biggest moment came late in the Longhorn’s game against Baylor. In that game he led two scoring drives in the final quarter to hand the 6-0 Bears their first loss of the season.

Buechele’s 21 to 11 touchdown to interception ratio leaves something to be desired, as does his yard per attempt (7.6). However, those numbers are bound to jump up when he’s asked to do more for the offense in 2017. He returns four of his top five leading receivers and has the mechanics to make all the throws he’ll be asked to make. If Buechele can click in Herman’s offense he should easily top the 2,958 passing yard he tallied in 2016.

Defense

Defense in the Big 12 shouldn’t be evaluated like it is in the Big 10 or the SEC. But the numbers can’t be completely ignored. One of the reasons Strong isn’t coaching in Austin this year is the ugliness of the Longhorn’s defensive numbers in 2016. Texas finished No. 94 in the nation in total defense (448.3 yards per game allowed) and No. 90 in scoring defense (31.5 points allowed per game).

Texas stands to make a significant improvement against the run in 2017. They return a likely 2018 first round NFL draft selection in Malik Jefferson as well as Anthony Wheeler and sack-master Breckyn Hager. Don’t be surprised if Gary Johnson, the top rated linebacker in the class of 2017, competes for a starting position right out of the gate and turns some heads.

Improved secondary play

There is also hope for the Longhorn secondary. The ‘Horns are led by jack-of-all-trades defensive back John Bonney. A redshirt junior, Bonney saw playing time at what might as well have been every position in the secondary last year. His versatility will go a long way in helping the new coaching staff evaluate the secondary.

After being reinserted at corner following the Oklahoma game, Bonney was credited with nine passes defended. That was tied for fifth most in the Big 12. He’s quick. He has experience. And he’s going to be asked to do a lot for Texas this fall.

New defensive coordinator Todd Orlando could be the biggest boost to the burnt orange defense. Orlando’s defense in Houston was known for their tenacity. The Cougars finished fourth in the nation in rushing defense, 51st in passing defense, and 30th in scoring defense. That included a 36-10 dismantling of No. 5 Louisville and a 33-23 win over No. 3 Oklahoma. Orlando’s defense came up big in big games. A key forced fumble of fourth down stop could be enough for the Longhorns to earn a few monumental victories in 2017.

2017 Texas schedule and predictions

Final thoughts

Just like Herman did at Houston, he’s going stun some people with a few big wins in Austin. With the retirement of Bob Stoops it seems only natural to pick the ‘Horns to upset the Sooners in Herman’s first taste of the Red River Rivalry.

Don’t get too carried away. The bulk of this team still consists of players that lost to Kansas in 2016. Will they stumble to that degree in 2017? Probably not. But there are some roster holes, particularly at running back and the defensive line, that still need answering. That’s going to rear up and bite them as the season goes on.

Every game that the Longhorns win will fuel the fire of a Texas comeback hype-train. They won’t need any added incentive, but the wave of anticipation for Herman’s Longhorns is going to impact the on-field product in some way next year. It’s entirely possible that Texas could enter their game against Oklahoma 4-1 (with a loss to USC). A win against the Sooners would vault them into the top 25 and build momentum towards a run at the Big 12 title.

Prediction: 7-5

There isn’t one singular team in the Big 12 that seems unbeatable this season. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have done enough to earn the benefit of the doubt. That leaves the door open just a crack. The Longhorns should be in the thick of the Big 12 conference title race immediately.

Next: 50 best Big 12 players of all-time

The biggest detractor is Herman’s newness to the head coaching world. He just hasn’t shown enough staying power yet after losing to Memphis and SMU last year. It will be a better season in Austin in 2017, but 2018 will be where the bulk of the expectations rest.

***Stats from Sports Reference, NCAA, ESPN***