Horns Have to Do More, Learn on the Fly | Horns Illusrated

Habe on the Horns – By Steve Habel/Associate Editor

For much of the first five games of the 2014 season, the Texas football team has suffered from the “one-step-up, two-steps-back” syndrome. For every one of the Horns’ dominating defensive performances, there’s been a counterbalance of poor play on offense, or – as in UT’s 28-7 loss to Baylor on Oct. 4 – a breakdown on special teams, too.

The key to Texas winning games it’s not supposed to be like those against BYU, UCLA and Baylor (the Horns’ three losses) the key is to bringing every aspect of play – offense, defense and special teams – together at the same time.[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)] 

It’s imperative that Texas packs its offense and its special teams in the same suitcase as the defense when the Horns travel north up I-35 for the annual Red River Rivalry this Saturday in Dallas.

Anything else might end up in disaster for a team in dire need of a signature win.

“The defense is the strength of our team, but even that unit has to improve for us to be successful,” Texas coach Charlie Strong said Monday during his weekly media availability. “Those guys played well against Baylor but yesterday I showed them five or six plays where they could have made the difference and didn’t.

“Now we have to get the offense and special teams to the level they need to be,” Strong added. “We have to have all three areas playing well to beat a team like Oklahoma.”

With back-to-back games against two of the strongest teams in the Big 12, Texas has to learn on the fly.

Strong said that the Horns (2-3 overall, 1-1 in Big 12 play) had their chances to beat Baylor.

“We played hard and that’s what makes losing so frustrating,” he said. “There are a handful of players that have taken ownership of this team and are making sure there is no finger-pointing in the locker room. I like the way we fought, but we still have a ways to go before we can beat teams like Baylor.”

Texas needs to get off to a good start to stay in the game with Oklahoma (4-1 overall, 1-1 in Big 12). Strong said the UT offense had a chance to hit for a big play on its first offensive snap against Baylor, but quarterback Tyrone Swoopes, running the read-option, handed off the ball instead of opting for a pass.

“If Swoopes pulls the ball there and reads things right, he had (tight end) Geoff Swaim wide open in the seam for a touchdown, and off we would have gone with an early lead,” Strong explained. “Once (Swoopes) gets a little more experience, he will make that read correctly.”

Texas stunned OU last season 36-20 in this game behind a seminal performance from quarterback Case McCoy and an early defensive touchdown. It will take a like performance – and maybe even more – from the Horns this year to pull off another upset.

Other noteworthy items from the Monday presser:

Suspended tackle Desmond Harrison has not been reinstated for the OU game and will miss his sixth straight outing.

Wide receiver Daje Johnson, who returned from a suspension to play against Baylor, injured a hamstring in the first half of the Bears’ game and had an MRI Sunday to determine his availability for this week. He will be a game-time decision in Dallas.

Strong lauded the play against Baylor by linebacker Steve Edmond, who had career-high 17 tackles against the Bears. “He’s playing well and we need him to continue to do so,” Strong said.

Texas linebacker Jordan Hicks confirmed that he’s applied for medical redshirt, which – if granted – would allow him a sixth year of eligibility. Hicks, who already earned his Bachelor’s degree in advertising, is working on his Master’s degree; another year of eligibility would allow him to finish school under scholarship.

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