One in a row. The Longhorns are on a winning streak again.

Texas defeated Rice pretty handily last week (34-9) despite a very slow start in the first half and they learned a few things about themselves in the process.

• On defense. Texas learned their linebackers are as good as advertised. The D managed to keep Rice out of the end zone, but there is still a significant hole to be filled on the defensive line. While senior tackle Kheeston Randall played well, the rotating bunch of young’uns playing tackle next to him didn’t show much. The starting defensive line—ends Jackson Jeffcoat and Alex Okafor, tackles Kheeston Randall and Calvin Howell—picked up only five tackles between them. All of the heavy lifting happened behind them. Someone needs to step up, and this would be a good week to do it.

• On offense. Head coach Mack Brown argued the slow start last week was due to players getting used to a new offense. He suggests the second half, in which Texas scored three touchdowns, was more reflective of the offensive firepower they possess. It’s hard to disagree—the Longhorns found a second half running game with Malcolm Brown working behind a healthy offensive line; and Garrett Gilbert found his arm could throw a nice deep ball. Texas also confirmed what coaches hoped; they have some real offensive weapons both at receiver (Jaxon Shipley and Mike Davis) and running back (Malcolm Brown).

And they added another weapon this week: Marquis Goodwin is back. The speedster wide receiver left the team over the summer to pursue Olympic gold as a long jumper. He changed his mind, and he brings a whole new weapon to the offensive arsenal. His speed stretches the field and forces the defense to account for him on every play. Add in a decent running game and it all means opposing defenses have more than one thing to worry about on every play.

It is said a college football team improves the most between the first and second team. As Brown said when asked, “Hopefully that's the case. It needs to be.”

It certainly does.

Brigham Young University will not be confused for a powerhouse national championship caliber football team, but they are whole lot better than Rice. BYU is big up front on both the offensive and defensive lines—bigger than Texas. They play hard-nosed physical football, and they have a terrific quarterback in sophomore Jake Heaps. They will be quite a challenge for Texas’ offensive and defensive linemen.

BYU does not have much of a running game although tailback J.J. Di Luigi can run (56 yards against Ole Miss averaging 4.7 yards per carry) and will if given the holes to run through. Texas needs be better against the run this week considering the way Rice gouged the Texas defense for almost 230 yards rushing.

BYU brings a much more balanced offense. In other words, unlike Rice, BYU can throw the ball effectively.

Here are my three Longhorn goals for the BYU game:

Play under control. Texas played 25 freshmen against Rice. Those young players, many of whom start, will be on a confident high. Overconfidence will destroy them. Young, overconfident players will over-pursue on defense, missing tackles; and will over-run blocking assignments and pass routes on offense.

Keep the offense balanced. Fozzy Whitaker and Malcolm Brown compliment each other really well. Whitaker has great hands, great speed and the ability to pick through holes; Brown runs with brute strength and the ability to create holes himself. Rotating these two backs will keep the BYU defensive line and linebackers on their toes.

QB Garrett Gilbert enters the game with some confidence, but the BYU defense is big and strong and will test a young Texas offensive line. If BYU manages to get after Gilbert, it will be a long miserable day for the Longhorns.

Don’t get carried away with trickery. Co-offensive Coordinator Bryan Harsin brought a fun, wide-open playbook with him from Boise State. Let’s not get crazy—yet. The Longhorns have not fully developed the fundamentals they need—a powerful running game and a shut down defensive line to name just two. Double reverses and bring-the-house blitzes are great when everything is working, and occasionally to keep your competitors off-balance, but banking on them to win you the game probably won’t.

Want some specifics? Here are my statistical keys to the game:

• Run the ball at least 40 times. Give Malcolm Brown the ball 24 times and average over 4.5 yards per carry. Texas has a running game with a potential star in Malcolm Brown. Running the ball helps keep the BYU offense off the field, and will open the deep passing lanes…
• Allow Gilbert to throw deep at least six times and keep him off of the ground (no more than one sack). Marquis Goodwin is back, Mike Davis is on a roll—they create one of the most dangerous deep tandems in college football.
• Defensive dominance. Sack BYU’s Jake Heaps three times. Do not allow more than one big play beyond 20 yards.
• Win the turnover battle. Get at least two, do not lose any. The running backs must hold onto the ball, Gilbert must avoid interceptions. It would be nice to see those young cornerbacks pick-off a pass this week.

BYU will be a true test of this Longhorn football team, and they are more than capable of blowing Texas out if the Longhorns do not play their best game.

It’s way too early to start declaring the Longhorns good or bad. But think of Rice as the preseason game. If Texas learned their lessons, they will win, if not look out; a road game against UCLA is right around the corner and a loss to BYU opens the floodgates to trouble.