There are many questions surrounding the Longhorns as they prepare for the Red River Rivalry. One issue, however has been settled. With David Ash out indefinitely, Texas’ offense rests indisputably in the hands of Case McCoy. [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]
Call it the ultimate good news, bad news scenario. Bad news first. With McCoy, the Longhorns go into the game forced to start their backup. McCoy has played in the last two RRR games, outings everyone associated with bunrt orange would sooner forget. McCoy started the game in 2011. Oklahoma jumped on Texas early and cruised to a 55-17 win.
Last year McCoy stepped in after the Sooners knocked Ash from the game with an injured arm in the third quarter. The outcome had long been decided at that point, and McCoy did put points on the board late in the 63-21 loss.
What’s the good news? The fifth-year senior is no stranger to what lies immediately ahead. He’s seen plenty of the Red River Rivalry, and he can turn to older brother Colt for some advice. Colt started four games against the Sooners, winning three. True, Case isn’t Colt athletically, and these 2013 Longhorns, while talented, haven’t come together as Colt’s teams did in 2008 and 2009.
At Dallasnews.com, Alex Apple wrote about the younger McCoy’s desire to beat his school’s greatest rival.
“He knows it could be a legacy-defining game as he seeks to halt the Sooners’ three game win streak against the Longhorns,” Apple wrote.
On Monday McCoy was asked directly if he’s looking at this as a legacy game.
“I’d lie to you if I said it wasn’t,” McCoy said. “This could be the game I’m remembered for for the rest of my life. I’m prepping and playing and getting ready as if it is a game I’ll be remembered for forever. But also these seniors…a big win on this night can change a lot of the past and what our class is remembered as.”
For the McCoy-led Longhorns to end the streak and earn this senior class’ first win over the Sooners, several things must happen. First and foremost, the defense must rise up and slow the Sooners. If the game turns into a track meet, well, that hasn’t gone so well for the Horns lately.
Looking at Texas’ offense, three keys could keep the Longhorns in the game.
First, as McCoy pointed out with the media this week, taking care of the ball is the utmost concern. In the six quarters since McCoy most recently relieved Ash, the Longhorns haven’t turned the ball over. Continuing that trend on Saturday is vital.
“I’m a coach’s son and I’ve been around the game, and you can look at every stat of every team, and I think the number one stat is the turnover ratio,” he said. “You look at a game and you can not rush the ball real well, you can not pass the ball real well, but if you have less turnovers and your defense plays well and causes turnovers; look at A&M several years ago, just taking care of the ball, we did nothing that whole game.”
Texas hasn’t been able to follow that formula against OU lately. In 2011, McCoy started and lost two fumbles. Ash relieved him and the Horns committed three more turnovers, two of which came back for touchdowns. The result was resounding. Last year the Horns threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. The result was resounding.
Oklahoma hasn’t been perfect protecting the ball, but the Sooners own a plus-6 advantage in turnover margin.
“I can’t throw picks,” McCoy said. “We’ve got to hang onto the ball, and when we get into a situation, and you look at the end of the game, I guarantee especially in rivalry games, whoever wins the turnover battle is usually who comes out the winner.”
Underdogs have to stay close if they want to pull an upset, and Texas definitely falls into that category this year, but taking a lead will go a long way toward boosting the Horns’ confidence against OU.
Texas hasn’t led this game since it won in 2009. Oklahoma scored the first 14 points of 2010 and led 28-10 before Texas cut into the lead and threatened late. In 2011, Oklahoma led 6-0 before the Horns got a field goal. The Sooners then ran off three straight scores to lead 27-3 before Fozzy Whittaker returned a kickoff 100 yards. Last year Texas gave up an opening touchdown and Quandre Diggs returned the blocked extra point for a defensive conversion, cutting the Oklahoma lead to 6-2. But the Sooners scored the next 30 points and led 36-2 at the half.
McCoy completely understands.
“I think we need to get [off] to a fast start,” he said. “That’s big. That’s something we’ve talked about year-round, and like I said, it’s a rivalry game, and I think in rivalry games there’s so much emotion and so much momentum that goes in there. I think it’s key when you can get going early and build the confidence that we need throughout the first quarter that will sustain you through the whole game. That’s what we’re harping on.”
Finally, Texas’ offense must find a balance between conservative and aggressive. To do that, the offensive line will need to protect McCoy in order to allow plays to develop. The Sooners pass rush has spent too much time in the backfield – nine sacks in the last two blowouts – for Texas to take shots. A double-move on the outside is hardly a trick play, but with opposing defenses tightening up on Texas’ wideouts because they think McCoy doesn’t have the strongest arm to burn them deep, it could be just the type of play Texas can make work. McCoy will just need the time to take the shot.
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