Joel Buchsbaum's key college games

Another big test awaits Simms as Texas visits College Station

By Joel Buchsbaum, Contributing editor
As published in print Nov. 19, 2001

Longhorns QB Chris Simms

Last year’s game was sort of a coming-out party for Chris Simms and established him as the Longhorns’ No. 1 quarterback. This year’s game will go a long way toward determining if Simms is an elite player or just a good, very gifted player who puts up monster numbers against the Baylors and Missouris of the world but comes up a little short in the big games. Despite their loss to Oklahoma, the Longhorns still can make this a rather successful season if they win this game and their bowl game. For A&M, the year got off to a very promising start, but after being shut out by Texas Tech, the Aggies are now in danger of losing three in a row and finishing 7-4, with their four losses being to the four best teams they played this year.

Quarterbacks — Simms’ worst game was against Oklahoma with everything at stake. Since then, he has been as hot as any quarterback in the country. But he has great talent around him, and the only team Texas has faced with top personnel since the Sooners game was a Colorado team that never seemed to get untracked. Texas A&M’s Mark Farris is a mature former baseball player who throws the ball better than any Aggies quarterback in recent memory and has been asked to carry the offense at times this year. However, he also will make the big mistake at times and really has struggled in the Aggies’ last two games.

Running backs — After the Oklahoma game, the Longhorns started featuring true freshman Cedric Benson and have been almost unstoppable on offense. Benson hardly played against Oklahoma because head coach Mack Brown was worried about his blitz pickup, but it finally dawned on him that blitz pickup or not, Benson was the missing piece on offense. The Aggies have a great RB tradition, but they don’t have someone like Benson and are a more pass-oriented team than I can ever remember them being.

Receivers — No one has better young receivers than Texas. Roy Williams can be as good as anyone in the country, and B.J. Johnson is another excellent sophomore pass-catcher with great talent. Bo Scaife is one of the best pass-catching tight ends around, and the Longhorns’ trio of backup receivers could start for most teams. On the other hand, the Aggies lost their go-to receiver when Robert Ferguson decided to go pro after only one year at A&M and their second-best receiver when Bethel Johnson suffered a season-ending injury. They also lost their top four tight ends to injuries, and starter Michael de la Torre had to retire from football.

Offensive linemen — Massive ORT Mike Williams leads a huge and talented Texas line that makes life good for Benson and Simms. However, C Matt Anderson will have his hands full if Aggies DT-NT Ty Warren is at the top of his game. A&M has a terrific center in Seth McKinney, but the rest of the line is not so terrific.

Defenses — Texas is a lot smaller and faster on defense this year and still has the best bump-and-run cornerback in the college game in Quentin Jammer and experienced linebackers. Up front, the Longhorns are very young, active and talented with DT Marcus Tubbs and DE Cory Redding leading the way. A&M’s defense is built around Warren, who can be a dominating inside player; pass-rushing OLB Jarrod Penright; cover corner Sammy Davis; and heady ILB Brian Gamble, who runs the defense.

Special teams — A&M will need some big plays and no bad plays from this unit to have a chance because Texas has an edge on both sides of the ball. The Longhorns’ overall special-teams play has not been special this year.

Prediction: Texas 30, Texas A&M 16

Washington cost Miami a chance to play for the national championship last year when the Huskies won in Seattle and really did a number on Miami QB Ken Dorsey. However, the Hurricanes have done nothing but get better since then, and Dorsey has emerged as a so-called Heisman Trophy candidate. The real strength of this Miami team is the players they put around Dorsey. He has great receivers and even better backs, as well as an offensive line that rarely lets him get touched. For the second year in a row, Washington has done a great job of pulling games from the jaws of defeat.

Quarterbacks — I am still not entirely sold on Dorsey, who has average arm strength and mobility and puts too many passes up for grabs. If he can drop back and throw in rhythm from the pocket, he’s fine. But if you can get him outside the pocket or on the move, he will have trouble, and you will see his lack of arm strength. Washington’s Cody Pickett is a big, tough, gutty player who handles pressure well and often comes up big at the end of games. He may have had his best passing outing last week against Washington State, throwing for 371 yards.

Running backs — Miami had a great stable of backs to begin with, and freshman Frank Gore looks like he could be better than any of them and another Edgerrin James type of talent. However, he will fumble at times, which may keep him from playing a prominent role in this game. Clinton Portis and Willis McGahee are big-time runners in their own right, and nobody in the country has two fullbacks with better running skills than Najeh Davenport and Jarrett Payton. Washington’s young backs have not taken the bull by the horns, and the Huskies’ older backs, such as Willie Hurst, are not special.

Receivers — If Washington’s Jerramy Stevens (foot) plays, this game will feature two exceptional junior tight ends with excellent size and hands. Miami’s Jeremy Shockey is a top receiving tight end who, like Stevens, is a nice, big target with enough speed to split the zone. On the outside, Miami has a budding superstar in Andre Johnson and the fastest player in the Big East in oft-injured Daryl Jones, who at times looks like another Santana Moss. Washington has a super freshman in Reggie Williams, who caught 11 passes for 203 yards last week. The move from running back to wide receiver has really helped sophomore Paul Arnold, and Todd Elstrom is a big, reliable, possession receiver with soft hands.

Offensive linemen — Miami has the best pass-blocking line in college football, led by huge OLT Bryant McKinnie. The Hurricanes also are OK run blockers. Washington has an average group.

Defenses — The Hurricanes have terrific team speed and the best secondary in college football, led by cover CB Phillip Buchanon and ball-hawking S Edward Reed, but they still can be inconsistent up front. Washington needs a great game from DT Larry Tripplett and big plays from players such as CB Omare Lowe, but Miami may have too much talent and speed for the Huskies to handle.

Special teams — The Hurricanes’ special teams are very athletic and make game-breaking plays. Even their holder can run like the wind and make big plays.

Prediction: Miami (Fla.) 38, Washington 10

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