OTF (Vogel):
Practice Nuggets from Saturday Evening
Wanted to follow up from my late night post regarding the Texas defense and its performance Saturday. I posted, the first text I received regarding the Longhorns' defensive performance had my source enamored by the forecast of the defense in 2025.
For those that missed it, this was the text:
“The defense is going to be unbelievable.”
But to more notes.
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If you have not read @Bobby Burton post from this morning, be sure to check it out. There are great tidbits regarding the Longhorns' third practice in there.
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Starting with the defense.
I mentioned coming into camp I expect the defense to be the superior side of the football early in fall camp, and so far that has held firm. This is not to create concern regarding the offense, the unit just needs time to gel across the board. New faces and pieces coming in and out of the starting unit who have yet to see extended snaps with one another is just part of the growing process.
But for now, in large part due to creating turnovers, the defense is winning the 11-on-11 battles pretty handedly.
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The pads come on this week, and based off a couple of recurring conversations, this week is going to be huge for the offensive line picture. I don't believe the unit generated as push displacement as hoped in the spring and so far it remains a work in progress. To be blunt, this is my largest concern at the moment regarding the 2025 team.
The experience difference in the trenches is where the differential lies currently.
Cole Hutson has seen most of the snaps at right guard with Connor Robertson filling in at center as DJ Campbell remains limited. Originally I had heard Campbell may miss time, but that does not appear to be the case as reported by others here at OTF.
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CB Warren Roberson has really come along. Roberson had two interceptions on Saturday, with one mentioned as the most athletic play of the day.
LB Liona Lefau has been mentioned as uber consistent in his play both in run and pass support.
Freshman TE Emaree Winston had a remarkable leaping reception on a corner route which was heavily contested by Jordon Johnson-Rubell during 1-on-1's.
Some positive returns on Derek Williams Jr. as well. I have heard he's been ramping up his intensity each day physically. Conditioning is a large key of his full return and those steps are being taken.
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Wide receiver position is working on who else can join the group of four – Wingo, Moore, Livingstone, Mosley.
Again, I am going to sound like a broken record, but Parker Livingstone remains a name that is popping up in these settings.
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Texas has incorporated more under center snaps for Arch Manning than what we were previously accustomed to with Quinn Ewers.
My expectation is to see a lot of play action involving Arch's back fully turned to the defense at times this fall. RPO's will remain a piece of the puzzle for the Longhorn offense, but true boot legs, waggles and seven-step drops out of a play action set are expected to increase compared to 2024.
For those wondering, I have been told Manning has done a fine job of protecting the football, despite the Texas defense creating a number of turnovers (specifically interceptions) early on in camp.