Rough Week for Former Texas Defensive Coordinators

The last 3 defensive coordinators at Texas were: Greg Robinson/Dick Twomey; Gene Chizik and now, Duane Akina.

This has been a rough week for all involved. Consider this-- the first three names all left one of the strongest programs in the history of college football surrounded by a talent pool so deep, no one can see the bottom. The unfortunate fact is that they left for places where the talent depth was equal to the uncomfortably warm kiddy pool at most country clubs-- Tomey to San Jose State, Robinson to Syracuse, Chizik to Iowa State.

While Tomey has been able to get the Spartans to respectability (they won a very quiet 9 games last year), they started off this season by being runover by Arizona State, 45-3.

Robinson seems mired in the muck of Upstate New York (going 5-18 over the past 2 years and 1 game). Losing at home 42-12 to a Washington team that battled Stanford for the bottom of the Pac10 last year and was breaking in a new QB, doesn't get any of the heat off of his squad.

Chizik, who had created nightmare defenses at both UT and Auburn, promptly took the Iowa State job, changed the uniforms and then went on to lose his debut, 23-14 to Kent State at home. Consider that Kent St had 3 turnovers inside the Iowa State 20 yard line and it gets scarier.

And finally, Akina, the man that is now holding the reigns on the defense for the Longhorns. A loyal soldier who has more than paid his dues, Akina, may feel the most heat. His defense looked unimpressive against lowly Arkansas State in Austin. Yes, their were suspensions. Yes, new starters were in place (especially since last year's swiss cheese secondary sent 3 players to the NFL draft). Yes, his charges held off 3 penetrations by the Indians with no points.

However, Akina's job is the toughest. He is at a school ranked in the Top 5. Mack Brown has recruited talent well, so much it seems like the Horns simply restock the secondary like a teenager restocks lima beans at a grocery store. The others left Texas and its success for places that haven't seen the success that has happened at the 40 Acres. Luckily, Akina will get a great chance next week matching up with a ranked TCU squad coming to town. Hopefully, that will turn down some of the pressure...