Athlon Sports posted their annual Big 12 coaches talk anonymously about their conference opponents article and this is always fun. Normally, I take offense to a lot of what opposing coaches say, but I think this year they are pretty well spot-on except for one thing. Let’s get to it.

“They’ve lost a ton of production on defense; that really jumps out at you.”

This is true and this should worry you about the defense. It lost a ton of talent, from the secondary to the defensive line. The only returning spots are at linebacker. Head coach Joey McGuire has said multiple times that this will be the “No-Name Defense” and that worries me a bit. You win with dudes and names that you remember, I am thinking that perhaps this is a bit of McGuire thinking that no one knows their names other than Ben Roberts and Jacob Rodriguez because no one has had an opportunity to play.

“This season is going to test the staff’s ability to develop their guys. It’s Year 3, so all the hype about being better tied in with Texas high schools has to start showing up.”

Also true, it’s time for the most part for these guys to show up. It may be a bit early for some of these guys, but it’s time. The secondary is largely built with guys who are in this spot.

“Offensively, it’s hard to criticize their scheme or the overall production because it seems like they’re always getting a backup QB ready to play after an injury.”

I know a lot of you don’t like the offense last year, but the offense was decent in the grand scheme of things and considering the quarterback injuries, it could have been worse. I do think that Behren Morton will be okay (that’s not exactly going out on the ledge) and I think that recruiting Cameran Bowman was the right thing, the quarterback room needed more competition and freshman quarterbacks are a rough ride.

“They lost all their good receiver talent to the portal, so there’s a lot of rebuilding to do there.”

This is the part I disagree with, although a lot of the receiver rom did leave, I think that Josh Kelly is the best receiver on the roster and he would have been the best receiver last year by a mile. Coy Eakin replaced the starters, Drae McCray is the inside receiver, and then there’s the freshman Micah Hudson who could be the next big thing. I’m not worried about the receiver room. I also think that the tight end room is one of the best in the nation, perhaps an over-statement, but Jalin Conyers, Mason Tharp, Johncarlos Miller, III and high-end athletes.

“Best-case scenario is that they cobble together a line from the portal to help out that running back [Tahj Brooks] because he’s a legit dude.”

This is also true, the offensive line is going to have to be cobbled together with transfers. We do not know if those transfers will be as good as they need to be and on a Big 12 level, moving up isn’t easy and I am worried about how quickly Vinny Sciury and Sterling Porcher adjust to the left side of the line, the most important to a quarterback who has an injured shoulder.

I encourage you to read all of the thoughts on the other Big 12 teams, they are incredibly high on Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Kansas, Utah and West Virginia and I can’t figure out if WVU’s success last year was a fluke or the real deal.