QUARTERBACK SCRAMBLE

THE STARTING TEXAS quarterback, people say, is under more scrutiny and stress than the Lone Star State’s governor. The Longhorns’ signal caller — thanks in part to the 24/7 coverage provided by Texas’ very own cable network — stands under the brightest of all spotlights. As the key player to the team’s success and one of the program’s most visible figures, the quarterback faces unrealistic expectations. For the past 11 games, two players shared the spotlight — sophomore David Ash and junior Case McCoy. And head coach Mack Brown stands by his two-quarterback decision. “You need two quarterbacks,” Brown says. “Everybody talks about the guy, and we’ve had that guy. [But when] he gets hurt, we lose the game. We have to put an emphasis on being two-deep and improving in that area.” The quarterbacks are under pressure this season to make a difference. Texas’ defense topped the Big 12 last season and looks to improve in 2012. The Longhorns’ offense includes a pounding running game with three potential superstar backs and a handful of quality receiving threats. The offensive line may be the best line Texas has seen since they played Alabama in the BCS Championship game, following the 2009 season. The quarterback spot remains a question. Both Ash and McCoy encountered bumps….

[s2If current_user_is(s2member_level2)] in the road during the 2011 season, as Texas went 8-5 and finished with a losing record in the Big 12 for the second consecutive season.

McCoy — the younger brother of former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy — was 3-2 as a starter last season. He rallied the Longhorns to a last-second win over Texas A&M in the final game of the storied rivalry. But the following week at Baylor, McCoy committed five turnovers and looked overwhelmed in a lopsided loss to the Bears. Ash was 3-3 as a starter and after playing the entire Holiday Bowl game, fans believed he won the starting position. He also started for the Longhorns in the annual spring game and performed better than McCoy. However, Ash still needs to create the separation that many expected him to do prior to the fall season. During the 2011 season, both McCoy and Ash received a handful of chances to become the primary quarterback: McCoy fulfilled the role in seven games, while Ash took over the position in eight. Compared against one another, McCoy comes out as the winner. As the primary quarterback, he completed 62.4 percent of his passes while gaining 7.5 yards per pass attempt and 12.0 yards per completion. In his seven games, he had a 4.5 percent touchdown percentage and a 3.0 percentage for interceptions. Ash completed 55.8 percent of his passes while gaining 6.1 yards per pass attempt, and 10.9 yards per completion as the Longhorns’ primary quarterback. He posted a 2.4 touchdown percentage and a 4.8 interception percentage. In every important statistical category, McCoy was superior to Ash. But Ash makes fewer mistakes, manages the Texas offense with more authority and is considered to have a higher ceiling. He completed just 98 of 173 passes for 1,068 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman, receiving the majority of his reps with the first-team offense in actual games. And as the 2011 season moved along, the coaches gave Ash more and more plays to run from the Texas playbook. McCoy meanwhile hit on 89 of his 145 passes for 1,045 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. However, McCoy’s turnovers may stand in his way — an aspect he knows he can’t afford. “We all know that to run [the quarterback] position, you can’t turn the ball over,” McCoy says. “That was part of the problem last year — each one of us would turn the ball over at some point. You can paint all the pictures you want, if you turn the ball over, you’re not going to play. We’re both maturing and getting better.”

COMPETITION IS HEALTHY, BUT THE LONGHORNS NEED A LEADER.

To his credit, Ash says he welcomes the competition. He even insists that he still needs to prove himself before he receives the starting position. “At any Division I college, there should be competition at the quarterback position,” Ash says. “If there isn’t, something is wrong or one quarterback plays at another level. I haven’t reached that level yet, but winning the bowl game was definitely a positive.” McCoy helped recruit Ash to the 40 Acres. “I want to see David do well,” McCoy says. “We both want that for each other and for Texas.” Brown remains adamant about starting two quarterbacks and says he’s confident that either Ash or McCoy could lead the Longhorns in the upcoming campaign. “Either one of those quarterbacks can run our offense,” he says. “We’d like to see both quarterbacks take over the team and lead them.”

Ash needs to improve his decision making and reading defenses. Through extended film work with co-offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin, he’s getting a better feel for when to extend the play down field and when to just dump it down. “The play isn’t always the big throw,” Ash says. “Sometimes you have to take what the defense gives you, and sometimes you have to give up on the play and get back in the huddle.” “I learned a lot last season, and I’m taking a lot into this season,” Ash continues. “I’m getting a better grasp of the offense and getting to a point where the offense isn’t even a thought. Once I break the huddle my only thought is on the defense, the calls and adjustments I need to make at the line.” McCoy spent the offseason working on his mechanics, adding some weight, getting stronger and focusing on getting the ball out quicker. “That’s what the end of spring and summer are all about — tweaking things out,” McCoy says. “All I can do is try and get better. You want everything to go perfect out there, but it’s a game.”

As a backup to the departed Garrett Gilbert and now a co-starter with Ash, McCoy learned a lot about himself over the last two years. “I’ve learned how to handle hard times and how to handle great times,” he says. “That’s how our season went [in 2011]. We were young. We would win a big game and get so excited that we wouldn’t show up the next week. That is something we all have learned — it’s about maturing.” Whoever garners the starting quarterback job will need to make sufficient plays to take the heat off the Longhorns’ running game. If he can be an average Big 12 quarterback and avoid making a bevy of mistakes, the Longhorns have the potential to earn double-digit wins this season. The battle for Texas’ starting quarterback job, said Brown, will boil down to a short list of goals and accomplishments. “It will come down to who scores touchdowns, protects the ball and who’s the best leader,” Brown says. “That’s what our quarterback position will be about.” Given the performances on the field over the past nine months, a flip of a coin could place McCoy or Ash in the quarterback position. And like it or not Longhorns’ fans, you better get used to Texas playing two quarterbacks. [/s2If]
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