Five questions: TCU

By Steve Habel/Senior Editor

FORT WORTH, Texas — A Texas offensive attack handcuffed by an inexperienced and overwhelmed offensive line and a non-existent rushing game has its share of challenges with even middling defenses, an unescapable aspect to the 2017 season that has kept the Longhorns from at least three wins.

Given that realization, trying to move the ball consistently — much less score — against an opponent as strong on defense as No. 8 TCU proved to be too daunting a task Saturday, a result illustrated by a 24-7 Horned Frogs win over Texas before a crowd of 48,042 fans at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

The Horned Frogs (8-1 overall, 5-1 in Big 12 play) didn’t do a lot [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]on offense, either — TCU only outgained Texas, 343-263 — but that amount was more than enough to overcome the Longhorns’ attack. Texas ran for just nine yards on 26 attempts and got its only score of the game on two big pass plays when it already was in a 17-0 hole that was, in reality, a deep chasm.

“It was very evident that you saw the two best defenses in our conference battle it out,” Texas coach Tom Herman said. “From my perspective, the biggest difference was, early we gave up a couple big plays. We didn’t match that offensively.

“We have to get better — surprisingly, I think we have. I know it doesn’t feel that way tonight, but I think we are steadily improving in that area. Offensive football is really hard when you have to be perfect. We’ve got to find ways to not get ourselves in third-and-long and we’ve got to make some more plays down the field, too.”

The Horned Frogs’ Darius Anderson (99 yards, including a 31-yard scoring run, on 18 carries) and Kyle Hicks (41 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries) combined to rush for 140 yards and helped keep Texas’ offense off the field and avoid any chance at a comeback. TCU quarterback Kenny Hill passed for just 146 yards but hit on of 18 of his 26 throws and did not throw an interception.

In fact, neither team had a turnover, although Texas did have six big penalties for 65 yards including two personal foul calls on the opening drive of the game.

Longhorns quarterback Shane Buechele got the start for the second week in a row and threw for 254 yards and a touchdown, but also suffered seven sacks and spent more time on the ground than many of the Texas linemen. Freshman quarterback Sam Ehlinger missed his second straight game for the Longhorns with complications from a concussion he suffered against Oklahoma State. Running back Toneil Carter and center Zach Shackelford (head) and defensive back P.J. Locke III (ankle) also did not dress for Texas Saturday. All were listed as questionable before the game.

Eleven Texas players caught passes Saturday, led by Lil’Jordan Humphrey’s six receptions for 109 yards. Freshman Daniel Young led the Longhorns’ rushing game with 31 yards on 12 carries.

TCU rebounded from its only loss of the season (the Frogs lost last week, 14-7, to Iowa State), staying tied for the Big 12 lead and in contention for a playoff spot in advance of its showdown at co-leader Oklahoma next Saturday.

“It was big that the offense didn’t turn the ball over, and we got what we needed,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said. “If you want to win you have to be the best defense. Tonight we played well and were the best defense on the field.”

Texas (4-5 overall, 3-3 in Big 12 play) suffered the largest losing margin in Herman’s first season on the 40 Acres and is now 0-4 this year against teams ranked in the top 25.

TCU drove 75 yards in nine plays on its opening possession before Hicks dove in from the 1-yard line to grant the Horned Frogs a 7-0 lead just three-and-a-half minutes into the game. The big play on the drive was a 20-yard wide receiver pass on fourth-and-2 from KaVontae Turpin to Sewo Olonilua to the Texas 1-yard line.

Meanwhile, Texas’ first two possessions resulted in a combined minus-15 yards on just six snaps.

The Horned Frogs added to their advantage in the first minute of the second quarter, settling for an 18-yard field goal from Jonathan Song at the end of a 16-play, 84-yard march. Texas’ Malcolm Roach stopped TCU’s hammerhead running back Olonilua on the UT 1 to force the field goal.

Texas followed with its best sustained drive of the first half, moving from its own 25 to the TCU 30 in 12 plays before three straight Buechele incompletions stalled the drive. Joshua Rowland’s ensuing 47-yard field goal attempt into a headwind fell just short, meaning the Longhorns got nothing for all their work.

TCU then pushed its lead to 17-0 as Hill rushed for 13 yards and connected on three consecutive passes, including a 33-yarder to John Diarse, to set the table for Hicks’ second rushing touchdown of the half, this one from 14 yards away with 9:19 to play before intermission.

Buechele and the Longhorns answered with two big passing plays, a 37-yard strike to Humphrey and a 33-yard scoring connection to Collin Johnson to cut TCU’s lead to 17-7.

Anderson finished off the Longhorns with a 31-yard, fourth down scoring run with 4:23 to play, sending Texas to its fourth straight loss to the Horned Frogs by a combined score of 153-33.

 

Is it too late to fix the running game?

UT’s four running backs — Chris Warren III, Toneil Carter, Kyle Porter and Daniel Young — have combined for 761 yards on 186 carries this season, an average of about four yards per carry.

But Warren’s output against San Jose State skewed those numbers (he had 166 yards on 16 carries, more than half of his whole season total against the Spartans), as did with the Longhorns’ good work, especially in the fourth quarter, against tired defenses at Iowa State and Baylor.

TCU did what all great defensive teams do: the Horned Frogs made Texas one-dimensional by taking away the run. Once that was accomplished, it was a feeding frenzy on Buechele, who hung in there but never had a chance.

“We weren’t expecting to see this many twist plays [from the TCU defense],” said Texas guard Patrick Vahe, the most experienced member of the offensive line. “That was something we were working on all week. We saw a bunch of twists, a bunch of movement up front, and it’s something that we had to react to.”

Herman said he understands that the run game has to improve, but also understands he has to play the hand he’s been dealt.

“This is not the NFL — we can’t go on the waiver wire and pick up some free agents that could help us on the offensive line,” Herman said. “We have to coach the players we have and get them in situations where they can succeed.”

 

What’s the easiest way for Texas to improve on offense?

As easy as it sounds, the Longhorns’ coaches have to get their playmakers into positions to … make plays.

The offensive line has struggled to give runners the holes they need to gain yards, for the quarterbacks enough time for routes to develop downfield and subsequently for the bevy of good receivers a chance to work across the middle. The offense needs to move to on something that works, quick plays that get the defense guessing and reacting rather than dictating the action.

How about spreading the field and getting players out as wide as the numbers on each side and getting the ball out quick? Or how about letting the Longhorns’ massive, fast and strong receiving corps to go one-on-one with the defensive backs downfield? Or get in the shotgun, rear back and chuck the ball up to Johnson or speedster Devin Duvernay?

“In our offense, one-on-one means you’re not covered,” Herman said. “If we’re placing the ball in the right place at the right time 50-50 balls are 75-25 balls. We have to teach the quarterbacks to trust the process as much as they trust their own eyes.”

Humphrey and Johnson went up and got the ball on UT’s only scoring possession, but Herman argued that such a just-heave-it-and-go-get-it strategy was taken away by TCU with adjustments in the second half.

“We can’t chunk it deep all day,” Johnson said. “In my eyes, I’ll make the play when the opportunity presents itself. I fully trust the coaches and what they’re doing. I have to wait for my number to be called and be the best I can be on each and every play.”

 

How good is this Texas defense?

It’s really, really good — maybe the best since the mid-1980s and at least as good as the ones from 1998-2009, the most recent glory years for Texas football.

Malik Jefferson is one of the best defensive players in the nation and led the Longhorns with 10 tackles against TCU, marking the eighth time in nine games he has paced Texas. He leads the team with 86 tackles, including 61 solo stops. He also is going after the quarterback, recording team highs of 8.5 tackles for a loss, four sacks and five quarterback hurries.

But Jefferson isn’t the only standout. Roach makes big play after big play on the line and Holton Hill continues his ascent to becoming one of the best defensive backs in the Big 12.

Then there is junior college transfer Gary Johnson, who has made the most of his time on the field in the Longhorns’ dime package. The package positions Jefferson and Johnson as the only linebackers on the field and gives them the freedom to run the field and make plays.

“It’s consistency,” Texas defensive coordinator Todd Orlando said about the key to the success of the defense. “To me, it’s about playing hard all the time and being physical. It’s not even about the actual team we’re playing. We’re battling ourselves every time we go on the practice field and every time we compete.

“Like I always say, you don’t trick people in this profession — you just don’t do it. When you get into week eight and nine, you are what you are. You’re not going to reinvent a new defense. You go out there and you play harder for longer than your opponent.”

 

Who is UT’s MVP this season?

There’s no doubt this season’s MVP is punter Michael Dickson, who kicked nine times against TCU for an average of 50.8 yards and booted one for 76.

Where would Texas be without Dickson? He continues to flip the field for the Longhorns and keeps opponents in negative field position. The few times he didn’t do his job well this season — a shank in both the USC and Oklahoma State games — cost Texas.

The pressure on the Australia native is immense, but he is handling it well. He even made a tackle during Turpin’s one real chance to make something happen with the return.

 

What’s next for Texas?

The Longhorns will have to win two of their final three games, beginning with next Saturday’s contest at home against woeful Kansas, to earn a bowl game.

“We have an opportunity to go 1-0 this week and be one step closer to getting to a bowl game,” Herman said. “These seniors deserve to a bowl game. That’s big picture. We have to worry about Kansas this week. We understand that it puts us one step closer to that big-picture bowl. I’m very confident. If we keep playing defense that way, we will find a way to gut out a couple wins here.”

[/s2If] [s2If !current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)] [article-offer] [/s2If]