AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -Coming off a 39-point win in the first game, it could be easy for No. 2 Texas to coast right into their trip to play Wyoming.
A look at the stat sheet suggests a tough week of practice for the defense, though.
Linebacker-defensive end Sergio Kindle had a quiet night with three tackles and no sacks.
The Texas secondary, which is missing two players awaiting clearance to play from the NCAA, gave up a 75-yard touchdown pass. And Louisiana-Monroe’s 20 points were the most given up by Texas in an opener since 1999.
“We don’t want to give up 20 points. Ever,” said defensive coordinator Will Muschamp.
Muschamp dismissed any suggestion that 10 of those points came against reserves after the game was well in hand. He was disappointed that the younger players who will be counted on for valuable depth gave up a field goal and touchdown on ULM’s last two possessions.
“We didn’t finish the game,” Muschamp said. “Regardless of who is in the game, you’ve got to make stops.”
ches said Kindle played well, even with a paltry stat line for a player billed as Texas’ next great pass rusher.
Kindle is supposed to be the kind of dominating playmaker Brian Orakpo was last season. Kindle had 10 sacks in 2008 and has the kind of athleticism at linebacker or defensive end to give opposing quarterbacks nightmares.
Kindle played 31 snaps against Louisiana-Monroe and was double-teamed by blockers on almost every play.
“That’s going to happen to him this year. People are going to know he’s a dominant player. He knows that’s kind of what you get when you’re the guy,” coach Mack Brown said.
Kindle said he was rarely double-teamed last season when teams had to worry about covering up Orakpo.
“Coach Muschamp told me it was going to happen,” Kindle said.
All the attention paid to Kindle opened up the line for other pass rushers. Lamarr Houston had two tackles for loss and two quarterback pressures and Sam Acho forced one fumble and recovered two.
In the secondary, Muschamp also wasn’t pleased with the long touchdown pass over cornerback Chykie Brown in the second quarter. The play came when ULM quarterback Trey Revell scrambled to his right. Brown broke coverage just before Revell launched a deep ball to Luther Ambrose for an easy score.
ed safety at Georgia.
The Longhorns announced before the game that cornerback Deon Beasley and safety Christian Scott will not be allowed to play pending unresolved academic issues with the NCAA.
Brown declined to elaborate on what the problem or when it might be resolved. The school has said the players are in good academic standing at the university. Both are allowed to practice but they were not listed on Monday’s depth chart for Wyoming.
Although defensive back is considered one of the deepest positions on the team, their absence could become worrisome if they do not return in time for Texas’ home game against Texas Tech on Sept. 19 in the Big 12 opener.
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