 "Photo: Chris Kominczak")
KANSAS CITY - One overwhelming theme for Texas at Wednesday's Big 12 media day was turning people loose.
Once hampered by a knee brace, senior defensive end Brian Orakpo is finally free. After struggling most of last season, Texas' offensive revival started with the Holiday Bowl win over Arizona State and the team hopes to continue the momentum from it this season. And new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp will unleash the hounds on that side of the ball.
If last year was a season of frustration, this year is all about relieving it.
It starts with junior quarterback Colt McCoy.
"I'm really excited about this season because the coaches are going to let the players play," McCoy said. "It's going to be like backyard football. We've put a lot of work into get to this point where they trust us. Our guys have the chance to go out there and play like headbusters."
McCoy struggled last year, throwing 18 interceptions behind an inexperienced offensive line. The line will be a strength for the team this year.
"It can't get any worse than last year," McCoy said. "Honestly, there's nowhere to go but up. Personally, I think going through those struggles is going to make me a better quarterback this year."
After Texas ranked 109th in the nation in pass defense last year, Brown brought in Muschamp from Auburn to help get pressure on the quarterback. Muschamp was also once a defensive coordinator in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins.
"With all of the spread offenses and outstanding quarterbacks in our league, we've got do a better job of stopping the passing game and trying to force more turnovers, and we feel [Muschamp's] the guy that will get that done," Brown said. "After coaching in the NFL he has the ability that some college guys do not of disguising things. He coaches with so much emotion and passion. I feel our defense will really feed off that."
Senior defensive end Brian Orakpo will be key to getting pressure on the quarterback. Orakpo suffered an injury against Arkansas State in the first game of last year that plagued him the rest of the season.
"My knee feels good now and it's great to move around without the clanky brace slowing me down," Orakpo said. "I'm ready."
Brown said that in preseason Orakpo looked as good as any defensive end he's ever had.
"We've had some good ones at North Carolina and at Texas, so it's saying a lot about him," Brown said. "No one was able to block him in preseason. We haven't stopped the pass consistently for two years now, so his ability to rush the passer is a vital part of what we need to do to be successful."
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