Heard, offense setting sights on improvement
AUSTIN — Some eyes betray the soul. Jerrod Heard’s betray Texas’ playbook.
He tries not to give too much away, but defenses catch everything. On almost every play, opponents assign at least one linebacker or safety to spy the Longhorns’ redshirt freshman quarterback, and they watch his eyes.
If he locks in on a receiver too quickly, they notice. If he glances at a potential opening to run, they step up to fill it. So Heard keeps reminding himself not to give them any help.
“Don’t show where I’m going,” Heard said. “Don’t put my eyes straight to where I want to go.”
These days, his preferred destination — and that of the entire staggering UT offense — is no secret. Heading into Saturday’s game against Kansas at Royal-Memorial Stadium, the Longhorns keep casting their eyes toward the end zone, but getting there has been a problem.
Iowa State setback
After last week’s offensive abomination in a shutout loss at Iowa State, UT (3-5, 2-3 Big 12) ranks 108th out of 128 NCAA Division I FBS teams in scoring. In the Longhorns’ last four games combined, they’ve had a total of three plays covering at least 30 yards. On Thursday night at Kansas State, using its secondstring quarterback, Baylor had five.
Many of UT’s problems stem from predictability. Although the Longhorns had success in victories over Oklahoma and Kansas State with speed sweeps out of a two-back formation, the passing game has been almost nonexistent.
UT has averaged only 96 passing yards in five Big 12 games, and neither Heard nor fellow quarterback Tyrone Swoopes has thrown for at least 100 yards in a game in more than a month.
Play-caller Jay Norvell, who claimed responsibility for the Iowa State debacle, said downfield pass plays have been called but haven’t come to fruition. Heard said he’d like to take more deep shots but admits it isn’t always easy.
“I’m looking to pass, then scramble to pass, then scramble to run,” Heard said. “That’s how it’s always been. (But) sometimes you do sit in the pocket, and you’ll be like, ‘Oh, snap. Look at this hole. I can just take it. I’m going to get the first down the right way, the safe way, and not take a lick.’ ”
But far too often the licks have been delivered without the Longhorns having gained any yardage to make them worthwhile. Heard’s rushing totals are on a decline. The effectiveness of Swoopes’ special “18-wheeler” wildcat package vanished at ISU, too.
And the results made everyone in the locker room miserable.
“We all have to live with it,” Norvell said. “That’s how this works. You have to live with it until you change it.”
Even so, Heard insists his confidence is unshaken (“I’m never going to lose it,” he said), while Norvell and coach Charlie Strong have reaffirmed their belief in him.
The arrival of the Jayhawks (0-5, 0-8) should present no shortage of opportunities for progress. UT needs to win three of its final four games to finish with the six victories required for bowl eligibility, and beating one of the worst teams in major college football should be a good way to start.
“But we’re not in position to take anyone lightly,” UT cornerback Duke Thomas said.
VY not here anymore
In what has been a familiar story over the past couple of years, Longhorns coaches said they constantly remind their players they can’t assume they’ll have success just because of UT’s name and history.
“Quit thinking you’re Derrick Johnson and VY (Vince Young),” UT defensive coordinator Vance Bedford said. “You’re not those guys.
“It’s not acceptable to be where we are. Quit walking around saying ‘I have this uniform on’ and being content to put that uniform on. I get passionate; I get upset about that. Go put your stamp on what it means to be a Longhorn.”