Habe on the Horns – By Steve Habel/Associate Editor
If there’s been one constant theme in each of Texas coach Charlie Strong’s Monday press conferences this season, especially after the team’s five losses, it’s been the Longhorns’ lack of execution.
Strong is quick to point out that Texas [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]has had opportunities to make plays and win games but just can’t get out of its own way, committing vital mistakes or penalties at the worst of times. It’s a manta of teams everywhere that have won just three of their first five games: “we have to play better.”
On Monday, he outlined – in graphic fashion – the plays that have cost the Longhorns, and admitted that he remains frustrated that the team continues to make some of the same mistakes game to game to game.
“It’s never about what (the opposition) is doing – it’s always about us,” Strong said. “I really believe that we are better that a 3-5 team, and I told the players that yesterday. We have had chances to make plays that could win games for us and we haven’t done it. We have to go get it done.”
Against Kansas State on Oct. 25, the Horns were moving the ball toward a potential lead touchdown midway through the second quarter when they committed a holding penalty and then allowed a sack of quarterback Tyrone Swoopes that took away the chance for even a field goal.
Although it was early – and the Horns were still down only 6-0 – it set the tone for ineptitude for the rest of the game.
In the third quarter, Texas fumbled while trying to run a reverse and then got stopped on a fourth and 1 from the K-State 14-yard line early in the fourth quarter.
“Those are plays we have to have if we are going to win games,” Strong said. “And really, K-State didn’t stop us on any of those occasions – we just stopped ourselves.”
Strong said he is disappointed that the Horns are 3-5 and admitted that such a record is not acceptable at the University of Texas.
“If I was grading my coaching at this point of the season it wouldn’t be very high because the team is not winning,” Strong said. “The team has not checked out. We still have four games to play and the goal is to get our seniors into a bowl game.
“We will see how good we are as coaches to keep the players from checking out,” Strong added. “We are not going to change the way we’ve been doing things as coaches – we just need the players to stick to the game plan and execute.”
Texas will have a chance to right its sinking ship on Saturday on the road against a reeling Texas Tech team, but don’t expect the game to be an easy win for the Horns. The Red Raiders always play Texas tough on the South Plains and – for the Tech faithful – there’s never been a better time to catch the Horns when they are really down.
Other noteworthy items from the presser included:
Strong said suspended offensive tackle Desmond Harrison will not play against Tech, missing his ninth straight game this season. Strong said no decision has been made about redshirting Harrison, who’s listed as a senior.
Guard Kent Perkins, who hurt his left knee in the first quarter against Kansas State when he was rolled up on by a teammate, is listed day-to-day in preparation for the Tech game. Perkins returned to the game Saturday but was not at full strength and played only a handful of snaps.
Wide receiver Daje Johnson, who is suffering from a hamstring injury he suffered against Baylor, is back at practice and should be available for the Tech game.
According to Strong, Texas blitzed on 20 of the first 30 snaps of the game against Kansas State.
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