Comparisons between what TCU's Gary Patterson did entering the 2014 season and what Charlie Strong is doing heading into his second season at Texas have been running rampant throughout the offseason.

Both are defensive-minded coaches who've achieved tremendous success in their careers have had to give in to the offensive-dominated culture of the Big 12. The Horned Frogs, coming off of a 4-8 season in 2013, switched to an offense fitting the skill set of quarterback Trevone Boykin like a glove resulting in TCU finishing with a 12-1 record and a share of the Big 12 title.

But the one noticeable difference between the approaches by the two coaches is Patterson brought in Sonny Cumbie and Doug Meacham as co-offensive coordinator. Strong stuck with Shawn Watson as the assistant head coach for offense in addition to keeping the title of offensive coordinator on Joe Wickline.

While the Longhorns didn't change their offensive hierarchy, Strong isn't making the offensive shift without help and hopes the two hires he did make can have make a huge different. Watson confirmed recently what sources have mentioned to Horns247 since the spring, which is that Jay Norvell and Jeff Traylor have been instrumental in helping the Longhorns shift to an offense capable of Texas' ability to put strain on a defense in space and play fast.

The experiences both coaches bring the table have proven to be invaluable tools for Watson, who recently said it's been “absolutely awesome” to have the Norvell and Traylor in the meeting room. The quarterbacks coach will continue to call the plays but Texas' new wide receivers coach and the man now over the tight ends and H-backs are huge reasons why the Longhorns have been able to advance the offense through spring practice and into preseason camp.

“Couldn't have done it without them,” Watson said. “They've been great. They each bring a different background to the table in it.”

Norvell's experience as the co-offensive coordinator at Oklahoma over the last four seasons, where he was heavily involved in the Sooners' weekly game plans, helps Texas' transition to a tempo offense in a big way. In the four years where Norvell was doing his part to lead the offense in Norman the Sooners averaged 24.4 per seconds between snaps, but he's been quick to point out when asked about Texas playing fast that it has to be done in moderation as to not lead to quick three-and-outs or be the reason a team wears down late in games.

“Any style of offense is a tool,” Norvell said. “We just have to use it properly and use it to our advantage. We'll do our best to do that and our kids will understand it better the more we do it.”

Traylor's time at Gilmer saw him lead one of the state's most prolific offensive attacks, including his 2014 state championship team that scored 950 points in 16 games. As has been the case with many high school coaches across Texas, Traylor remembers when he moved Gilmer to an up-tempo spread and is thrilled to be involved with the genesis of the current regime's shift to a more wide open offense.

“It's been really exciting going back through it again,” Traylor said. “I think it'll help since I came in and we were on ground zero working our way up on it.”

If the offense succeeds and is able to carry its weight more often than not, which wasn't the case last season, the impact of the two new hires offensively will deserve their share of the credit and then some.