RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Texas game week is officially here . Many of the lingering questions around this team have been answered but not all. As they enter Week One, there are a few positions that are still unanswered(to varying degrees). By my estimation, there are two positions that could see a change in starter this weekend. On top of that, there are three position groups that will develop a true “pecking order” this weekend.
Let’s get into those positions and the candidates to watch against the Bobcats:
Left Guard
This is the obvious(and most stressful) one. Longhorn fans watched all last season as the LG spot was a position that plagued the OL, and the issue being unanswered heightens blood pressure are Austin. It seems it’s a fairly straightforward Laurence Seymore vs. Dylan Sikorski competition. I’d expect both to see time this weekend, with the better performer winning the job for the Ohio State game. If neither plays at a high level, Texas could turn to a known commodity in Cole Hutson.
If I were to make a prediction, I’d expect Seymore to earn the start, perform very well and earn the job moving forward. One way or another, the competition has to be decided before Ohio State comes to town.
Field Safety
This isn’t a battle I expected heading into Week One, but it seems Kobe Black has done enough to push Derek Williams Jr. I still fully expect Williams Jr. to get the start across from Jelani McDonald, but Black will see consistent snaps. This is a “battle” that can carry well into the season, simply because both are capable of high-level reps and rotation in the secondary is normal.
While they are “battling” for the starting job, I don’t expect either to dominate the snap counts any given week. This could very well be a 50/50 split between Williams Jr. and Black all throughout the season.
Linebacker Pecking Order
This is a position where the starters are well spoken for. Rasheem Biles and Justin “Juice” Cryer will be the two starting LBs, with Brad Spence joining them in three LB sets. Beyond them, there is a question of how the rest of the LBs will be rolled out. Brad Spence is likely the backup to Justin Cryer at MLB, giving them more experience at that spot. Behind Rasheem Biles at WLB, it seems more up in the air, with Kosi Okpala, Darius Snow and Tyler Atkinson factoring in. Then, Colton Vasek being moved to SAM LB puts him as the backup to Brad Spence, with Okpala factoring in there as well.
The LB room has gone under a reshuffling after Ty’Anthony Smith’s dismissal. This weekend will be telling on which LBs come in, and the order in which they find the field. That could be very telling for how the unit will stack up against Ohio State.
Playmakers Pecking Order
Once again, it’s well known who the starters are at RB and WR. Smothers and Brown are listed as dual-starters, which could be the case in a popular “Pony Package” for Texas.
At WR, it’s clear Cam Coleman, Ryan Wingo and Emmett Mosley V will lead the way. Beyond those leaders, how will the rest of the skill players be rolled out? At RB, it seems Derek Cooper, Ryan Niblett and Michael Terry III could be next in line, but how they are used could be telling.
At WR, Jermaine Bishop Jr., Sterling Berkhalter and Daylan McCutcheon have set themselves as the backups, but how much does Kaliq Lockett get on the field? All of these questions need to be answered this week in case you need it against Ohio State.
I’m very confident this will be a remarkable group of playmakers. The balance and rotation could dictate the ceiling of this unit. This week, while many playmakers should see the field, the order they find the field and their usage will be important.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Texas 'position battles' to watch this weekend against Texas State
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