Why Charlie Strong is the right fit for Texas
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Former Texas coach Mack Brown's fall from grace began when quarterback Colt McCoy went down with a shoulder injury Jan. 7, 2010 in the BCS National Championship Game against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Without McCoy, Brown's Longhorns were overmatched, and fell 37-21.
The following year everything fell apart. Texas went 5-7 in 2010 (the most losses for the Longhorns since 1988) and failed to reach 10 wins in any of Brown's subsequent years. The lack of success for the storied program came to a head last season, with many fans and analysts calling for an end to Brown's tenure.
Brown stepped down just prior to the Alamo Bowl, putting an end to his 16 years in charge and paving the way for a new coach to be the face of the university. What ensued was a flurry of rumors, with every big-name coach from Nick Saban to Art Briles to Jim Harbaugh linked to the job.
The Longhorns eventually went with Louisville's Charlie Strong; a move questioned considering he came to Texas with just four years of head-coaching experience. But for a program in need of a revival, and a change of culture, Strong was the right fit for the position, and has what it takes to return the Longhorns to their past glory. Here's why:
Discipline
Though Strong has yet to coach a game for Texas, one thing he brings to the table is already quite clear: discipline. The atmosphere around the team during the past few years with Brown at the helm was lax to say the least, which can wreak havoc on a squad.
Strong made sure there would be no such issue with his team - he cleaned house before fall camp got underway. Gone are running backs Joe Bergeron and Jalen Overstreet, wide receivers Kendall Sanders and Montrel Meander, as well as safety Chevoski Collins.
Offensive lineman Desmond Harrison, wide receiver Daje Johnson and safety Josh Turner were also suspended for at least one game, as Strong made it clear to his players that violating team rules and running afoul of the law would not be taken lightly.
With players across the NCAA getting into trouble on a seemingly daily basis, Strong's strict enforcement of the rules is the step that needs to be taken in order to show players that poor behavior will not be tolerated.
Getting the most out of his players
When Strong arrived in Louisville, the Cardinals had gone 9-15 over their previous two seasons, including a 2-12 record in Big East conference play. Strong turned that around in a hurry.
By his second season, he had guided Louisville to a tie atop the Big East standings. The Cardinals went a combined 23-3 over Strong's third and fourth seasons, including a victory in the Sugar Bowl in 2012, bringing Louisville its second BCS Bowl victory in school history.
Brown went 37-15 in total as Louisville's head coach despite a lack of top-end talent. Only four Cardinals were drafted to the NFL (and none before the third round) during his first three seasons, and though four players were selected in 2014 (three in the first round), Strong proved he could help his players make the most of their abilities.
Now in talent-rich Texas with a program that has historically drawn some of the nation's most elite players, Strong should be able to help gifted athletes reach that next level.
Commitment to defense
To say the Texas defense has struggled in recent years would be a massive understatement. In 2012, Texas gave up 5,254 offensive yards, the most allowed in the history of the program. The next year was even worse, with the Longhorns allowing 5,294 yards, placing them 85th among the FBS's 124 teams.
Texas's lack of defense was on full display during an embarrassing 40-21 loss to BYU in 2013. The Cougars put up 679 yards on offense, including 550 rushing yards, and Texas fired defensive coordinator Manny Diaz the very next day.
Louisville, on the other hand, was a pain to play against under Strong. After being ranked 26th or better during his first three seasons, the Cardinals defense was the best in the nation last year, allowing 3,280 yards - almost 300 less than any other FBS team.
The Louisville run defense was especially good, holding opponents to just over 80 yards per game on the ground. If Strong can impose his style of play on a Texas defense that has talented players but lacks direction, it should lead to massive improvements in 2014 .