Longhorns understand time is running out to make something happen

By Steve Habel/Senior Editor

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas football team must win two of its final three games to earn a bowl invitation for the first time in three seasons but time is short for the Longhorns to produce the kind of record that more accurately reflects the improvements they have made in coach Tom Herman’s first year at the helm

Texas returns home this Saturday after two straight weeks on the road to face woeful Kansas, with kickoff at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium set for 5:05 CST. The Longhorns have won just once in their past four outings, and most recently lost to then-No. 8 TCU, 24-7, Saturday in Fort Worth, a situation that has their backs firmly against the wall as far as any postseason hopes are concerned.

Yes, Texas (4-5, 3-3 in Big 12 play) has played a [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]brutal schedule: four of its five losses have come to teams that have been ranked in the top 25 when they played or since they’ve faced each other and three of those defeats came by a combined 11 points.

But despite the Longhorns’ unending gumption and a never-say-die attitude, Herman understands that it is past time to produce wins as tangible evidence that things are getting better and to take the next step forward.

“This is a team that, again, really, really believes in what we’re doing,” Herman said about the Longhorns in his Monday media availability. “It’s a team that has bought into the truth and reality of that if you play really, really hard, and really, really physical, and you play with a purpose greater than yourself, regardless of talent level, you have an opportunity to be in every game.

“I’ve said before: we need to find ways to win those games against top-10 opponents.”

Texas is playing well enough on defense to beat anyone, but its offense is stuck in neutral (or maybe even reverse) because of myriad injuries to the offensive line, a non-existent run game and a game-by-game platoon situation at quarterback created by injuries to both sophomore Shane Buechele and freshman Sam Ehlinger.

Buechele started against TCU and passed for 254 yards and a touchdown but endured seven sacks and spent more time on the ground than many of the Texas linemen did. Ehlinger suffered a concussion Oct. 21 against Oklahoma State and missed last week’s game with an inner ear injury that has compromised his balance.

Herman said after the loss on Saturday that the Texas coaching braintrust would consider shortening the rushing game plan to just a few plays that its patchwork offensive line and its four running backs could muster and execute as almost second nature.

This comes after Herman said earlier in the year that the offensive playbook already had been condensed to allow Ehlinger and the Longhorns’ offense to be a “master of something rather than a failing jack of all trades.”

“Do you want to try to try to master a couple of things and hope that you can execute better than your opponent?” Herman asked. “There’s a fine line there, but right now we’re not mastering anything offensively. We’ve got to figure out some things that we can get good at, whether the defense knows it’s coming or not.”

THIS AND THAT: Texas announced Tuesday that cornerback Holton Hill has been suspended for the rest of the season for violation of team rules. Hill will be allowed to practice with the team but will not play in the final three games or a potential bowl game. It’s a huge blow to the defense. … Herman said Monday that left tackle Connor Williams, who suffered a left knee injury late in the first half against USC and is undergoing rehab of his sprained MCL, a torn meniscus and sprained PCL, is continuing to participate in football drills and could be back in the lineup before the end of the season, but not likely by the Nov. 11 home game versus Kansas as hoped. … Ehlinger and sophomore center Zach Shackelford have been cleared for non-contact drills after going through concussion protocol and are back practicing with the team. Shackelford is expected to play and likely start Saturday against Kansas; Ehlinger is still a question mark with an inner ear injury that is affecting his balance. … Freshman running backs Toneil Carter (who is back from a head injury) and Daniel Young are now listed as “or” starters along with junior Chris Warren III and sophomore Kyle Porter. … Junior defensive back P.J. Locke and linebacker Jeffrey McCullough (ankle) did not practice with the team Sunday and are unlikely to play this week against Kansas.

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