Kansas vs. Texas Complete Game Preview
Hoping to erase the memory of another bad loss, the Texas Longhorns get the Kansas Jayhawks at home in Week 10.
Just when it looked like the Longhorns had figured it out, they go and let Iowa State manhandle them. The Cyclones shut out Charlie Strong's team by a 24-0 margin, marking the first time since 1961 that the Horns dropped a goose egg against an unranked opponent.
Texas' issues were wide-ranging, but the eyes are back on the quarterback position. Jerrod Heard and Tyrone Swoopes combined for just 85 passing yards on 22 attempts, which wouldn't even be considered an efficient day for a running back.
According to the Longhorn Network, Heard will get the start again in a great spot. The Kansas Jayhawks, his Week 10 opponent, are 0-8 and rank near the bottom of the Big 12 in almost every statistical category. Following its 62-7 plastering at the hands of Oklahoma, David Beaty's squad is just trying to play with pride every week.
Date: Saturday, November 7
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Royal Memorial Stadium; Austin, Texas
TV: Longhorn Network
Line: Texas -29, according to Odds Shark
Kansas Keys to Victory
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Grab an Early Lead
As we saw against Iowa State, Strong's team is not built to play from behind. Not only are his Longhorns 0-11 during his tenure when the opponent scores first, but they lack a passing offense that can bring them back. Per CFBStats.com, Boston College is the only Power Five team that puts up fewer passing yards per game. If the Jayhawks can get a double-digit lead, they have a chance.
Spy Jerrod Heard
The book is out on Heard. As noted by SB Nation's Wescott Eberts, Oklahoma State, TCU and Iowa State each went all-out to keep him in front of them. Said approach has completely stumped Heard in all three contests, where he has combined for 277 total yards. There's your blueprint.
Get the Running Game Going
It took some injuries for Texas to give up 238 rushing yards to Iowa State, but the Jayhawks have to try to run on the Horns. Per CFBStats.com, they're by far the worst team in the Big 12 in terms of total rushing yards and yards per carry. Going three-and-out against Texas is a good way to let the Longhorns out-athlete you.
Texas Keys to Victory
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Take What's There
In terms of both scheme and execution, Texas' offense was wholly awful against Iowa State. This pre-snap image of a Texas run play, courtesy of HornSports.com's Ryan Bridges, pretty much says it all. There are easy plays to be made, especially if teams are going to stack eight guys in the box. Don't make this harder than it has to be.
Let Foreman, Warren Carry This Backfield
If it's been said once, it's been said 100 times: Texas needs to stop letting Johnathan Gray lead its backfield in carries. Texas' senior has value as a solid senior presence and pass protector, but he had four of his eight runs against Iowa State go for two yards or less.
Meanwhile, D'Onta Foreman, who should now be healthy, is averaging almost six yards per carry. Freshman Chris Warren has also shown well in his limited opportunities. Stop wasting time on the least talented runner.
Play Like a Desperate Team
Not to take anything away from ISU, but Texas underestimated the Cyclones on Saturday. When you're 3-4, no matter whom you've beaten, you just can't afford to take anyone lightly. No matter what the stats say about Kansas, the Longhorns can't treat this one like an automatic win. Play desperate, and take care of business.
Kansas Players to Watch
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DE Ben Goodman
Quietly fourth in the Big 12 with 4.5 sacks, Kansas' strong-side defensive end gets a matchup against a Texas offensive line that's once again in turmoil. The Longhorns yanked senior Sedrick Flowers in favor of transfer Tristan Nickelson in their loss to the Cyclones, shifting Kent Perkins over to left guard. The strategy seemed to work, but Kansas would be wise to move Ben Goodman around and test the cohesion of this new iteration.
RB Ke'aun Kinner
A smaller, springier back at 5'9", 180 pounds, Ke'aun Kinner has been a bright spot for the Jayhawks. The junior ripped off consecutive 100-yard games to start the season before myriad ailments slowed him down. He's not in the same class as Iowa State's Mike Warren, who flamed the Longhorns in Ames, but it's worth seeing what he can get against an inconsistent Texas front.
S Fish Smithson
Leading the Big 12 in tackles per game, according to CFBStats.com, Fish Smithson has been fun watch this season. Per KUSports.com's Matt Tait, the junior safety has five games with double-digit tackles, and he also leads the conference in solo tackles. He'll have a big role in whatever the Jayhawks decide they want to do to the scrambling Heard.
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Texas Players to Watch
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RB D'Onta Foreman
Expounding on a point we brought up earlier, Texas needs more Foreman in the game plan. He should be good to go after a toe injury limited him to two carries against Iowa State, giving Texas a more physical presence out of the backfield. Going up against a Kansas defense that's giving up 5.44 yards per tote, the Longhorns have every reason to ride their 241-pound back to gain an early edge.
WR John Burt
John Burt has been frequently mentioned in this space, mostly because he's criminally underutilized. Averaging 17.5 yards per catch, he's Texas' only legitimate outside threat. Also, as we showed earlier, he's getting soft single coverage. Let this guy do something other than block.
QB Jerrod Heard
We're going all offense because, well, the defense really isn't the problem. It all starts with Heard, who has thrown for just 345 yards in his last five starts. He has to do a better job of reading the field and taking what's being given to him. If he can do that, and the coaches set up some easy throws to rebuild his confidence, then he should bounce back at home.
What They're Saying
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Kansas
KUSports.com's Matt Tait on the makeup of these Jayhawks:
"It doesn't matter much on the scoreboard or in the stats, but it's pretty impressive to watch these guys never get down. Now, I'm not saying that the Jayhawks enjoy these beatings, but you really don't see guys hanging their heads or sulking on the sideline any longer. They stay up and they keep playing. That's not easy. And they should be applauded for that if nothing else.
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"David Beaty said it’s going to take Kansas three-plus years to get back to the full 85 allotment of scholarships. Sixty-seven scholarship players now," ESPN.com's Jake Trotter tweeted after Beaty's Big 12 conference call.
Texas
Strong commented on Texas' anemic passing offense, courtesy of ASAP Sports:
"The throws could have been made, and they were on the outside, the corners were eight yards off, and the secondary, they rolled down, they dropped eight people, and like I said, when they drop eight, just be patient, just hold onto it because somebody eventually is going to come open. A seam is going to open up to you because the linebackers are not going to carry the seams that deep. But it was there to be taken, and we just didn't take advantage of it.
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"If today's presser is any indication, these Longhorns are mentally broken. Stunning lack of confidence," the Austin American-Statesman's Brian Davis noted after interviewing the Longhorns players and coaches on Monday.
Prediction
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We've seen this before from Texas.
Following their 50-7 loss to TCU, the Longhorns were in the pits. They were going after each other in press conferences and on social media, which was only slightly prettier than their on-field showing. Heading into a matchup with then-No. 10 Oklahoma, it looked like things were about to get way worse.
Then Texas won that game by a score of 24-17, and the narrative changed. The team had somehow sorted out its issues, come together and discovered a physical identity. With a softer second-half schedule, things were looking way up after the team's next win over Kansas State.
But Iowa State put things back in perspective in Ames in that 24-0 blowout. The Horns are still a young team without much offensive firepower. Just like you can't ignore what led to the big wins, you have to acknowledge the issues that have led to the team's blowout losses this season.
That said, it's a good time to be playing these Jayhawks at home. The Longhorns have averaged 32 points in non-road games, and the Jayhawks are Football Outsiders' third-worst FBS team by its S&P+ ratings. Seriously, there are 67 scholarship players on this team.
Texas has shown us it can bounce back, especially within some friendly confines. The Longhorns will get it together for this week. The question from there is whether they can build on a comfortable win.
Texas 27, Kansas 7
Unless otherwise noted, all stats and information courtesy of TexasSports.com and KUAthletics.com.
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