How next game shapes up for transformed Longhorns
Horns feel like they’re now playing how they should’ve all season.
This has been a transformative month for the Texas football program. Perhaps the key moment came when coach Charlie Strong finally saw anger in the Longhorns’ eyes after starting the season 1-4.
“Yeah, it really does bother them,” Strong said the Monday before the Longhorns faced 10th-ranked Oklahoma. “It eats them alive.”
Two victories later, the Horns (3-4 overall, 2-2 Big 12) aren’t exactly beaming about their improved status. They’re mad, mainly at themselves. This is how the Longhorns should have been playing from the start, several players said after Saturday’s 23-9 win over Kansas State.
For the second straight game, Texas dominated the line of scrimmage. The offense ran for 274 yards in ridiculous conditions, and the defense smashed the Wildcats, totaling five sacks and allowing only four of 14 third-down conversions.
“This is how we should’ve looked in the first game (against Notre Dame),” defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway said. “It’s the whole team. It’s not on the young guys or old guys. It’s on the team.”
Receiver Daje Johnson echoed that sentiment. “But it is good that we finally found ourselves,” he said. “We are becoming a good team on both sides of the ball and special teams.”
Next comes a Halloween trip to Iowa State, a 2-5 team that held up well against No. 2 Baylor in a 45-27 loss. The Cyclones are fighting for coach Paul Rhoads’ job.
Two weeks ago, Iowa State had TCU on the ropes before the fifth-ranked Frogs came alive in the second half.
Iowa State fans probably believe they’re due to get one against Texas.
In 2013, the Cyclones felt robbed when UT’s Johnathan Gray fumbled at the 1-yard line in a close game. Iowa State recovered the fumble and celebrated as if the game was over.
After a long review, it was determined Gray’s knee was down.
Gray fumbled on the next play, too. He recovered that one with no controversy. Then, Case McCoy plunged over the goal line on a 1-yard quarterback sneak with 51 seconds left, and Texas captured a 31-30 win.
Last season, the Cyclones thought they were headed to overtime after tying the game on E.J. Bibbs’ 11-yard touchdown catch.
But UT’s Tyrone Swoopes threw back-to-back whoppers, a 39-yarder to Jaxon Shipley and a 29-yarder to John Harris. Kicker Nick Rose hit a 21-yard field goal with three ticks left, and Texas escaped with a 48-45 win.
Texas is 11-1 in the all-time series against Iowa State. The only loss came in 2010 during UT’s miserable 5-7 season.
Strong delivered a hard message to his players before facing Kansas State.
“I said, ‘Let’s get something straight, guys,’ ” Strong said. “‘I know we beat Oklahoma, but we’re still sitting here at 2-4. So let’s not get full of ourselves and let’s not start believing what everyone is saying. Or, just don’t buy into it.’ ”
The Horns still have room for improvement, mainly in the passing game.
Texas mustered only 55 passing yards against Oklahoma under a blue-clear sky. The conditions Saturday were dreadful.
Jerrod Heard didn’t complete an overhanded pass until late in the third quarter. He finished with 99 passing yards, many coming on short underhand flips to Johnson.
It’s worth exploring whether backup Swoopes can execute different passing plays out of his short-yardage “18 Wheeler” package. K-State wisely packed the line of scrimmage whenever he came in, and made him earn three rushing touchdowns.
More than anything, the players have established a clear identity.
The Horns believe they’re on the right track.
“It’s really about taking that emotion and that pride we played with against OU and keep it going the rest of the season,” cornerback Duke Thomas said.