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AUSTIN – Charlie Strong said on Monday he made some defensive tweaks during the team’s recent bye week.

Specifically, Strong said there will be personnel changes coming and he'll have a major say in who's on the field when 22nd-ranked Texas takes the field on Saturday against Oklahoma State (11 a.m., ABC). Strong promised the defense would get fixed in the wake of a 50-43 loss to California and personnel appears to be the area that he’s changing the most in an effort to make things right on that side of the ball.

If the Longhorns have altered the depth chart ahead of this weekend’s Big 12 opener, only those inside the Moncrief Complex know what it looks like.

The program’s weekly game notes package released on Monday didn’t include a depth chart. Strong didn’t get into why wasn’t released and didn’t divulge much information about who will or won’t be on the field for the Longhorns (2-1) against the Cowboys (2-2).

“I’ve got some guys,” Strong said. “You’ll get a chance to see them. It’ll be fun watching them.”

The goal of evaluating personnel during the open date was so Strong and the defensive staff can make sure the right players are playing and that the Longhorns can have playmakers on the field. Texas has only forced one turnover in three games and while the Longhorns are among the national leaders in sacks (12th with 3.67 per game) and tackles for loss (25th with 7.7 per game) there aren’t enough big plays being made.

Sophomore defensive tackle Chris Nelson said Monday that as far as he knows defensive end Malcolm Roach and defensive tackle Jordan Elliott will get more playing time against Oklahoma State.

Roach is second on the team in tackles for loss (2.0) and he’s tied for the team lead in sacks (2.0) having made an impact in relatively low number of snaps. Elliott didn’t record any statistics against Cal but the 6-foot-4, 318-pound former U.S. Army All-American is expected to bring both size and athleticism to the end position in the Longhorns’ three-man front.

Fox end Breckyn Hager, who’s tied for the team lead in tackles for loss (2.5) and sacks (2.0), is also a good bet to get more action among players in the front seven.

On the back end the most likely change is expected to come at safety. Sources have told Horns247 throughout the last week that true freshman Brandon Jones, who’s blocked two punts over the team’s last two games, has been running with the first unit.

Sophomore safety DeShon Elliott and sophomore cornerback Kris Boyd could also see their workloads increased.

The Longhorns have to get more speed and playmaking ability on the field. The burnt orange faithful will unfortunately have to wait until Saturday to see exactly who Strong and the staff thinks those players are and what will be different about the Texas defensive lineup.

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