UT: Chiles Making Contributions Through The "WildHorn" Offense

When Texas head coach Mack Brown was presented with the question whether or not his Longhorns will follow the trend of performing the “Wildcat offense,” Brown’s reply was, “We want the ball in Colt’s [McCoy] hands.”

Brown gave into the “Wildcat offense” faster than my parents joining the online Twitter sensation.

Dubbed “WildHorn,” it’s not the first time the Longhorns experimented with this offense.

Offensive coordinator Greg Davis installed the “Q package” last season when John Chiles, then a backup quarterback, was utilized for his speed and mobility. McCoy would line up as a wide out. It wasn’t anything to write home about.

However, Davis busted out the “WildHorn” against Texas Tech and found some instant success with Chiles in the shotgun.

“I like it because it puts two fast guys in the backfield,” Davis said. “John is comfortable with what we’re asking him to do.”

Sure he dropped a snap that resulted in some lost yards, but when executed properly, it really throws the defense off.

Chiles kind of snuck into the game, replacing McCoy, and I didn’t notice he was under center until he broke away from the line of scrimmage for his long run.

It caught the Red Raiders off guard completely.

Davis is salivating over the opportunity to put two speed demons in the backfield, giving Chiles an endless number of opportunities. Maybe in the near future we’ll see some option play from Chiles, which will really get the fans up off of their seats if they haven't already .

Don’t get me wrong, what McCoy does on Saturdays is a work of beauty. However, I miss the trick plays and speed option that separates the student-athletes from the professionals. I hope to see a little more of the “WildHorn” in the offense.

One thing the Longhorns did with their variation of the “WildCat” offense was that they didn’t line McCoy as a receiver. I never got why offenses would lineup their starting quarterback as a receiver, because he’s more vulnerable to an injury. Also, it’s not like he’s going to make a spectacular grab and juke the entire secondary. 

Essentially, the Longhorns had receivers and running backs on the offensive side, it just turns out that one of those receivers is an ex-quarterback.

And you'd think by now, especially within the conference, teams are prepared to know what to expect from the Longhorns and McCoy.

It’s like when you are discussing the Sport’s Illustrated swimsuit models with your buddies. They are all very attractive, but they all bring something a little different to the table. They might have different curves, hair color, complexion, but no one doubts their beauty.

Like I said yesterday, I think it’s great that Chiles is finally getting the opportunity to make contributions to the team. I always thought he was an asset waiting to be utilized within the system and now he’s getting his chance. Instead of coming off the bench cold, Chiles is more in the flow of the game.

Look for the “WildHorn” offense in the games to come.