INSIDER: E-Newsletter Game 8 – Kansas

 

Five Questions – Kansas

By Steve Habel

When Mack Brown laid out the operational plan for the 2013 season, he focused on power running from a series of backs, [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level1)] clutch quarterback play, a hard-hitting defense and a solid kicking game. All he wanted was a chance to be in the mix for a Big 12 Conference championship and BCS bowl game.

Some of the cast members have changed but the team still successfully executed the plan against Kansas on Nov. 2. The Longhorns rolled past the Jayhawks, 35-13 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on a glorious afternoon. And because Texas won its fifth straight conference game, the carrot at the end of the stick remains within reach. The victory marked the Longhorns’ 11th win — out of 13 contests — against Kansas.

“The objective was to get a W and we did,” Brown said. “When you can win, but still have things to fix, it’s wonderful. [This game] was better than last year’s.”

Texas, starting slowly, assumed a 14-0 lead late in the second quarter on a 3-yard touchdown run by Malcolm Brown — the second of his four touchdown runs on the day. The Jayhawks countered with field goals from 21 and 27 yards by Ron Doherty that bridged halftime.

The game was suddenly one or two plays away from being up for grabs. But the Texas defense made the play that ended any doubt. Kansas quarterback Jake Heaps, trying to scramble away from defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat, ran right into Cedric Reed who poked the ball away. The fumble bounced once and then straight into the hands of running back-turned-defensive tackle Chris Whaley, who carried it 40 yards for a touchdown. Halfway through the third quarter, Texas led 21-6.

Brown added another touchdown on a 1-yard plunge with 45 seconds to play in the third and then put a capper on his big day with a 30-yard scoring burst early in the fourth quarter. He carried the ball for all five plays of the 63-yard drive.

“We want to run tough every week,” Malcolm said. “Our offensive line did a great job and made it easier on me. We just want grind those yards out and that’s what we came out and did today.”

The Longhorns (6-2, 5-0 Big 12) out-gained Kansas 418-306, had 21 first downs to the Jawhawks’ 13 and rushed for 221 yards.

Texas’ win and the overall results look even more impressive considering that the Longhorns started the game slow.

“Let’s credit our defense for keeping us in there until the running game was able to establish some things on the ground,” offensive coordinator Major Applewhite said. “But we want to start off faster and we want to be more explosive; the way Kansas played had something to do with that.”

The Longhorn defense has established itself as a force, especially in the past three games. Texas has allowed a league-low 10 touchdowns (just three in the past three outings) and have surrendered only 91 points (18.2 points per game) in its five conference contests.

“Things are clicking more and we’re starting to understand what the coaches want from us,” Jeffcoat said. “Everybody has each other’s backs. We realize that there’s going to be down times, but through adversity you have to keep fighting.”

Case McCoy played efficient at quarterback, hitting 20 of 29 passes for 196 yards with two interceptions and no touchdowns. Seven of his throws went to Daje Johnson, which at times included shovel passes as Johnson ran from one side of the formation to the other.

Six of McCoy’s passes went to Jaxon Shipley, who increased his number of consecutive games with a reception to 31 — tying his brother, Jordan, third place in the record books.

In past years, Texas used the Kansas game to set the pace for the remainder of the season. And although the Longhorns didn’t runaway with the game, they got what they needed to move forward.

“This was the true trap game,” Brown said. “Everyone talks about the struggles of Kansas and brags about [our players] and how well they’ve been playing. [The win against Kansas] is a good lesson for them. They came out and did what they needed to to win the game decisively.”

 

1. How big was the Reed-Whaley play?

Whaley’s fumble recovery and touchdown return kick-started the Longhorns, both on offense and defense. He turned a game that was still in question into an eventual win for the Longhorns.

“[The play] changed the game’s momentum completely,” Brown said. “We were challenging the guys — somebody had to step up and make a difference. After that play, it really wasn’t a game.”

Whaley, with two touchdowns on the season, has more touchdowns than Kendall Sanders and Shipley, and as many as Joe Bergeron and Marcus Johnson.

“I came here as a running back and I finally got a chance to run the ball and score in this stadium,” Whaley said with his characteristic smile. “[I have] some speed and it helps me out there. Being a big guy and being able to run is a thrill.”

The bottom line is that Whaley has a knack of being where he needs to be. On a team full of great defensive players, Whaley remains a standout among the alphas.

“Whaley’s making plays,” Jeffcoat said. “He’s doing what he’s supposed to do and extra. You have to applaud him.”

 

2. Is Malcolm Brown the team’s best runner?

If Brown is not No. 1 in the backfield, he’s No. 1A.

The one-two punch of Johnathan Gray (who’s more of a slasher) and Brown (who seeks out the contact) has carried Texas through the first two-thirds of the season — and they’re only getting stronger.

“Our coaches want guys that are tough, like the contact and aren’t backing away from it,” Malcolm said. “In this past year I’ve taken pride being a short-yardage guy and a goal-line guy. That is the type of runner I want to be.”

Brown is finally fully recovered from an ankle injury that limited him for the first part of the season. Injury-free, he’s making an impact for the Texas offense.

“Mal is practicing better, getting healthier and [driving forward],” Gray said, who ran for 68 yards on 18 carries. “He’s producing and that’s the big key for him.

“As backs, we all have our moments and Malcolm had his moment tonight,” Gray added. “He did a great job with four touchdowns and a tremendous job of just reading his keys and playing a hell of a game. He’s moving forward, and I’m glad for him.”

Texas guard Trey Hopkins said Brown is showing fans what he shows his teammates every day.

“Right now, Malcolm is putting on a show for everyone else,” Hopkins said. “He’s been the same Malcolm Brown every day in practice. He’s a great back, a selfless guy and he’s getting a chance to perform.”

 

3. Aside from the defense, what’s the other key to the Longhorns’ resurgence?

The offensive line’s play has been paramount to Texas’ continued ability to run the ball and giving McCoy the time to make the right decisions at quarterback.

Texas guard Mason Walters said everything starts with the Longhorns’ ability to produce a solid and punishing ground game

“As offensive linemen we love to run the football. We know that if we can run the ball, that opens up some big plays in the passing game,” Walters said. “It’s our identity right now, but there are things that we can do better than we did today.”

The Longhorns’ offensive line did allow Kansas to get to McCoy twice, once for a sack (Texas entered the game without allowing a sack for nine quarters) and another time for a big hit that caused an interception. But the overall effort from the group continues to be outstanding.

Hopkins said the group has added focus and confidence to its talent and potential.

“It’s all up to us being consistent with our assignments,” Hopkins explained. “We always had this potential and we’ve gotten better as we’ve played more together. We have a lot of new guys playing, but we all bought into Coach Applewhite’s system. You can get excited for every play as an offensive lineman, whether it’s a run or a pass, and that comes from confidence in your coordinator and what he sees in the defense.”

 

4. How did McCoy play against Kansas?

McCoy is holding his own and is growing in proficiency and confidence.

After throwing two third-quarter interceptions against TCU, McCoy was picked off twice (both by safety Isaiah Johnson) against Kansas. Both were excusable because of the circumstances and neither was a result of a bad decision by McCoy.

The first pick came on the Longhorns’ opening drive and was a result of a miscommunication between McCoy and Johnson. Johnson slowed in his route and allowed the Kansas defender to step through him for the pick. The second interception happened when McCoy was hit while passing and the ball fluttered into the secondary.

“I need to play better,” McCoy said. “The first pick wasn’t acceptable; that’s a route that a lot of different guys run from that position. The second one, I honestly didn’t even see it. Those are things that can be fixed — that’s the good part. I got us in the right run checks, and we were able to run the ball like we needed to.”

Brown said McCoy did a good job of not becoming frustrated after the turnovers.

“Case did a good job of leading the team in the second half when things weren’t going well,” he said. “Everything has worked well for him for the last two or three weeks. He had a little adversity today, and he stepped up and handled it.”

 

5. What’s up next for the Longhorns?

Texas hits the road again and will play for the first time in West Virginia since the Mountaineers joined the Big 12 in 2012.

“None of us have ever been to West Virginia, so this game will be fun but tough,” Brown said.

After the trip to Morgantown, the Longhorns — now bowl-eligible and ranked 26th in the latest AP poll — come home for games against powerful Oklahoma State (which shellacked Texas Tech in Lubbock on Saturday) and the Red Raiders on Thanksgiving night. Texas will the travel to Waco to play Baylor in the final game ever in Floyd Casey Stadium.

“This bunch knows who we are and they know what we have in front of us. We have as good a chance as anybody to win the next four games,” Brown said. “We’ve just got to do it one game at a time.”

 

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