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Sonny Dykes Reveals What is Special About Texas Offense

Originally posted on FanNation Longhorns Country
By Matt Galatzan | Last updated 11/9/23

The No. 7 Texas Longhorns are facing a major test on Saturday against the TCU Horned Frogs in Fort Worth.

Heading on the road for a night game against a conference rival, with Big 12 title and College Football Playoff hopes on the line, and likely their backup quarterback under center, the Horns have little margin for error vs. the Horned Frogs.

However, despite the challenge facing the Horns in Fort Worth, TCU head coach Sonny Dykes thinks this Texas team is special, particularly in the trenches.

“To me, the biggest difference is the way the team is built," Dykes said. "Texas teams in the last decade have probably not been as strong as this team is up front on both lines of scrimmage. I think the strength of this football team is both of their lines."

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has done a great deal of work to get the Longhorns SEC ready in the trenches as well, not only through recruiting, where he has landed offensive linemen such as Kelvin Banks and DJ Campbell but through development as well.

As a result of that work, the offensive line is perhaps the best the Longhorns have fielded since the Colt McCoy or Vince Young eras in Austin.

And it seems it is going to stay that way for a long time.

"Typically, when you have a team you can say that about, that’s a good football team. I think they’re constructed the right way, built the right way. That’s the way you want to build football teams — from the line out. Their offensive line is big, and starting to get more and more experienced. A lot of those guys have played a lot of snaps and they’re athletic."

However, it is not just the line that Dykes is impressed with.

Texas running back Jonathon Brooks, who currently sits sixth in the nation in rushing, with 166 carries for 1,067 yards and eight touchdowns, is firmly on the Horned Frogs' radar as well.

“Runs hard. That’s what I’m impressed with, just how physical he runs and how he finishes runs," Dykes said of Brooks. "Has strength, speed, and power, and just like a lot of their players, just a really, really good athlete that’s playing well."

At the end of the day, on paper at least, the Longhorns will be the superior team at just about every position and have the advantage at nearly every matchup offensively against the Frogs.

And if they can put it all together on Saturday, Dykes and TCU could be in for a long night.

"You’ve got to give them credit," Dykes said. "They’ve got a lot of weapons, and the guys are performing, playing well, and figuring out how to win ballgames."

Texas and TCU will kick off at 6:30 pm CT from Amon G. Carter Stadium.

This article first appeared on FanNation Longhorns Country and was syndicated with permission.

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