If you don't do anything about it, Texas prefers to power over you. The offense wants to test your DL by bashing the RB. If you can't stop it with the front, or won't commit extra players, Texas will keep doing that quite gladly. Most teams step up to plug that leak, so Texas tries to exploit the attention to the run by schematically attacking with the pass game. Receivers will run patterns designed to complement each other and pull the defense apart. Whether they were slow learners or personal availability kept it from growing, this part of the game didn't develop into a threat until the last 4 games or so. It's largely unproven against a playoff caliber defense.
On its own defense, Texas starts with Sweat and Murphy creating a clog in the middle. Both players are capable of shedding blocks and making tackles, even sacks, but their main value is crushing the interior of the OL backwards. The running game just isn't going there. Pulling OL can't run around it either. It forces a team to run laterally. Since they face so many run-capable QBs in the Big 12, Texas' edge defenders are adept at keeping runners (QBs, RBs) contained. Running laterally usually results in extra defenders rallying to the ball and a loss.
Texas has had a rough time getting secondary defenders to complement each other in pass defense. No one questions Penix's ability to intelligently throw through miniscule windows NFL style, and this is Texas' true vulnerability in this game. However, he'll have to do it honestly and consistently. Slow developing play-action won't help much since Texas by and large considers the running game stopped. Those edge defenders are seeking to contain until the pocket implodes.
Executive Summary: Texas holds advantages in all phases but one. However, Washington holds a sizable advantage in that one - downfield passing. Is it a large enough advantage to overcome the other deficiencies?
