Quarterbacks
Texas: It took four games, but quarterback Colt McCoy finally looked at ease in the first half against UTEP. McCoy and the Texas offense racked up 639 yards of offense against the Miners en route to a 57-point victory. With 28 of 35 passes completed against UTEP, McCoy brought his season completion percentage up to 71 percent — still off mark when measured against his record-setting performance in 2008.
Colorado: Cody Hawkins is off to a sordid junior campaign as the No. 6 passer in the conference. Hawkins, the son of head coach Dan Hawkins, is exactly 100 yards behind McCoy in total passing yards but has 42 more attempts. Due to recent accuracy problems, the Colorado quarterback’s completion rate has dropped to just over 52 percent, and he has the most interceptions thrown in the Big 12. with seven.
Running Backs
Texas: Vondrell McGee became the first Longhorn rusher to hit the century mark in a game this year, but that hasn’t earned him a starting spot on the roster. Texas coach Mack Brown indicated last week that the No. 1 place on the depth chart is still up for grabs and will go to whoever performs the best any given week. The Horns simply don’t have a consistent running threat, and the coaches will continue to utilize the committee approach.
Colorado: Rodney Stewart compiled his second consecutive 100-yard game against West Virginia, whose rushing defense is ranked in the top 20. Stewart had a host of third-down conversions and breakout runs and was one of the few bright spots in the Buffs’ 35-24 loss. Despite his slight stature, Stewart is fourth in the Big 12 in rushing average.
Receivers
Texas: Jordan Shipley has 36 catches, leading to a projected finish of 100-plus receptions this season, which would put him No. 1 all-time in catches at UT. Shipley is McCoy’s safety net and the top receiving threat. Filling the void for the ineligible Brandon Collins are converted flex tight end Dan Bucker, who is second in receptions and first among receivers in touchdowns, and former backup quarterback John Chiles, who has 15 snags for 155 yards.
Colorado: The Buffaloes have two experienced receivers in Scotty McKnight and tight end Riar Geer. Both are among the Big 12’s top receivers in catches per game but have only four touchdowns between them. In addition, neither has a reception for more than 30 yards.
Offensive Line
Texas: The Longhorns are first in the nation in scoring offense thanks in part to a healthy and skilled offensive line. The line is big enough (average size is 6 feet 5 inches and 310 pounds) to push around opposing fronts and open up running lanes, which is why Texas has a top-25 rushing offense despite no marquee back. After some injury scares early on, all of Texas’ offensive linemen are healthy and peaking as the Horns enter conference play.
Colorado: Colorado’s offensive front allowed just two sacks against West Virginia, but Hawkins was hurried enough to complete only 51.9 percent of his passes, and many of Rodney Stewart’s 105 rushing yards came after the first tackle attempt, belying the success of the offensive line. The Buffaloes are 109th out of 120 teams in rushing offense.
Defensive Line
Texas: Last year’s weakness has become this year’s strength. With three returning starters, including preseason All-Big 12 safety Earl Thomas, the Texas secondary has allowed only four touchdowns through the air in 2009. While Texas gave up 420 passing yards to high-flying Texas Tech, the corners and safeties improved dramatically last week by limiting the Miners to just 44 passing yards.
Colorado: Cornerback Cha’pelle Brown actually leads the Buffs in sacks. He is also second on the team with 30 tackles and Colorado’s most explosive playmaker on defense. But, Brown stands just 5 feet 7 inches, almost a foot shorter than Texas’ Dan Buckner.
Linebackers
Texas: Senior linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy has stepped up as a vocal leader for the defense with the departure of locker-room generals Brian Orakpo and Roy Miller. Muckelroy is not the type of all-star linebacker that Derrick Johnson was, but he exemplifies the subdued intensity that has come to shape this year’s linebacking corps. While Texas runs a base 4-3 defense, the speed of Muckelroy, Emmanual Acho and Keenan Robinson allows the Longhorns to constantly pack the box.
Colorado: The Colorado defense collapsed in the final quarter against West Virginia, and it started with the linebackers. West Virginia put together a seven-minute drive that ended with a game-winning touchdown. Mart is an imposing inside linebacker and one of the most experienced Buffs with 23-straight starts but he receives little support in the middle, and as a result Colorado has the worst scoring and rushing defenses in the Big 12.
Defensive Backs
Texas: Sergio Kindle has filled Orakpo’s spot at buck end with much success. On the other side of the line, Sam Acho has benefitted from the double teams on Kindle, and tackle Lamarr Houston and has netted three sacks through four games—the team total is 13, two fewer than at this point last year.
Colorado: Even though Colorado’s defensive line gets to play against Rodney Stewart every day in practice, they obviously weren’t ready for West Virginia’s Noel Devine, a running back of similar size and strength. Devine rushed for 226 yards against the Buffaloes, his best performance of the season despite playing prior games against teams such as Liberty University and East Carolina.
Special Teams
Texas: A blocked punt is the only mar on Texas’ special teams record. For the first time in Mack Brown’s tenure at UT, two kicks have been returned for touchdowns in one season, and it’s only week six. D.J. Monroe has a pair, with one coming in the opener against Louisiana-Monroe and the other versus UTEP, while Shipley converted a Texas Tech punt for a score on Sept. 19.
Colorado: Kicker Aric Goodman is perfect on point-after attempts but has only hit half of his field goals, including 0-for-3 between 40 and 49 yards. Punter Matt DiLallo has a respectable average of 41.0 yards per kick, but the average return of Colorado’s opponents is 35.7 yards.
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