Returning Sack Production For The Longhorns

I think with the influx of talent (portal & recruits) at edge, there may be more production on sacks next year.  Coupled with a more talented (faster) secondary that might be able to hold up in coverage longer could allow for that increase in talent at the edge to get home more often, IMO.  I aslo agree with you guys from the video earlier that PK may be able to unleash Hill more in the pass rush with some of that edge talent having ability to also drop back in a desguised blitz package.  

Good stuff Blake! Stopping the run might be the biggest challenge for this defense but we could also be surprised. 

Hearing rumors Michigan DT Kenneth Grant is in the portal, Can anyone confirm?

I try to pay attention and I haven't heard anything. Where are you hearing this? I certainly hope it's true.

I think we can jump to the mid 30s in sacks this year 

If we could pick him up that would be nice. Relieve some question about the DL. I have faith in what they have working, but to sure it up would not hurt my feelings.

I think you'll see this # a lot bigger moving forward for Texas. We're just looking for the guys in that room to get bigger, stronger, etc. The room was quite young last year, outside of Sorrell. Burke is going to be a monster, imo. Vasek will, too, imo. Maybe not next year but he's got all the tools. Simmons will be a monster, too. Moore is a great addition and I think Sorrell will contribute.

Key players I want to see take major steps forward (besides Vasek), are Akana and Walton. But also Guillette. We've heard so much about this young man, I really want to see him get a run somewhere. 

One thing to note, is we've been pretty high on getting pressure on opposing QB's the last 2 years. But we haven't been able to get home. I think this is the year we see that pressure continue but we finally get home a lot more often. 

7 hours ago, SuperDave0805 said:

Hearing rumors Michigan DT Kenneth Grant is in the portal, Can anyone confirm?

He's not in the portal, but he has been following Texas and Oregon stuff on X, apparently. But if there is truth in the S&C coach leaving, as well as multiple defensive coaches. It will be hard to keep all those defensive guys there, imo. Unfortunately, most of them won't be able to enrol until later and will miss spring ball. 

11 hours ago, SuperDave0805 said:

 

That's a sock account.

It could end up being true eventually but it wasn't true when the guy wrote it.

6 hours ago, AusMOJO said:

He's not in the portal, but he has been following Texas and Oregon stuff on X, apparently. But if there is truth in the S&C coach leaving, as well as multiple defensive coaches. It will be hard to keep all those defensive guys there, imo. Unfortunately, most of them won't be able to enrol until later and will miss spring ball. 

Given the timing issues, I think Michigan players will be forced to be more measured in their portal decisions. There isnt a lot of benefit of hitting the portal now (its too late to participate in spring for most colleges). I am of the opinion that most will likely give the new coach at least Spring Ball and then make a decision. 

17 hours ago, Blake Munroe said:

For the 2023 season, the Longhorns ended up with 32 sacks, which was a six-sack improvement from the year before.  However, they now are losing three defensive linemen, including arguably two of the best players on defense in T'Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II, along with two linebackers.

So just how much sack production will be lost as the Horns move forward to the 2024 season?

In short: Not much.

In somewhat of a surprising result, Texas returns over 65% of that sack production, including three of their top four defenders who recorded the most sacks.

Let's also not forger that, due to the transfer portal and recruiting, the Longhorns have added pieces such as defensive end Trey Moore from UTSA (14 sacks last season), defensive tackle Tiaoalii Savea from Arizona (1.5 sacks) and some very talented high schoolers such as five-star edge prospect Colin Simmons.

 

 

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I am not to bullish on sack numbers growing. I think Texas has solid Edge pieces, but I dont see that explosive edge rusher with great bend. Burke and Sorrell are going to have to become master technicians. Simmons and perhaps Tapp have the athletic upside, but we will have to see when and if the lights turn on there. The other path to more sacks is schematic. Perhaps a better secondary will make PK more comfortable dialing up different pressures. That case you may see the LB/secondary sack numbers grow.. Some how Texas did not get a single sack from the secondary last year, which is amazing