Slow Start In Austin...

What is happening with the Texas offense starting off slow this year? I think this is the question most fans in Austin, sports analysts, and anyone that has been following the Texas Longhorns this year have been asking themselves. This was supposed to be the year that Texas would be a dominant #2 or even the #1 team in the country and have a great chance to play for the national championship. Especially with 4 returning starters on the offensive line, a 6^th year senior in Jordan Shipley, a group of talented running backs and lets not forget the Heisman runner-up Colt McCoy leading the way. The Texas offense has been less than impressive so far, so what seems to be the problem in Austin?

First, Texas must establish some sort of a running game. Injuries in their backfield obviously haven’t helped them any. Just this week Tre Newton and Vondrell McGee won’t play against Oklahoma, because of a concussion suffered by Newton and a shoulder sprain for McGee. They both have been getting most of the snaps, except for Cody Johnson in short yard situations. So now, Fozzy Whitaker and Cody Johnson will get the start against Oklahoma. Whitaker starts after nursing a hamstring injury back to health that goes all the way back to the spring. Whitaker and Johnson are the 3^rd pair of running backs to start for Texas in recent weeks, no wonder the running game is suffering there is a no consistency week to week. Someone must establish themselves as the starter and stay healthy to help the running game overall. Whitaker, who is a slash type runner and can catch the ball out of the backfield, is a good choice if he can stay healthy and produce against a stingy Oklahoma defense.

Second, the play calling definitely has to change. I understand being conservative when you have an offense with an identity, right now Texas is trying to establish that. The play calling isn’t helping the offense whatsoever. Calling a play that consists of throwing the same 5 yard pass to Jordan Shipley is not helping McCoy get confidence in any other of his receivers. Dan Buckner and James Kirkendoll have stepped up big in other games, but they don’t touch the ball enough for McCoy to have confidence in them. I don’t know if that is the play calling or if it’s the reads that McCoy is doing. Either way, the offense has to open up their playbook and he has to use all of his targets. Last year Colt McCoy had Quan Cosby, Jordan Shipley, and Chris Ogbonnaya take some of the pressure off him.  This year he needs a supporting cast to help him again. Unfortunately so far he only has Jordan Shipley, someone else needs to step up.

Third, the offensive line coaching must get better. An offensive line with 4 returning starters should be dominant and it’s usually the core of the offense. It all starts and ends with the offensive line. The offensive line has looked bleak at times and totally outmanned. The coaches this week have emphasized how much they need their running game, but let’s hope they are looking at the guys leading the way.  The coaching has to get better overall and I’m glad that they are addressing it, but let’s hope they fix it. Just last week against Colorado, Texas had 314 total yards in offense and only 47 of those yards were rushing. Only one game so far have the Longhorns had over 200 yards rushing and that was against UTEP. If the Longhorns have any chance to get to Pasadena that offensive line must be fixed immediately.

Finally and most importantly, stop preparing Colt McCoy for the NFL. What do I mean by that? Simple, the offense in recent years behind Colt McCoy has been in a shotgun or a rollout pocket situation offense. We have gotten used to seeing McCoy make great plays over the years while throwing on the run, making great reads, and readjusting the play with his feet. Even though he’s a great pocket passer as well, you must call and design plays for his strengths. Right now that is lacking severely. The offense this year has become a very drop back passing offense, even putting McCoy under center at times when it doesn’t make sense for the type of offense Texas needs to produce yards and most importantly points. McCoy hasn’t rushed nearly as much as he did last year and part of that is because you want him healthy until the end of the year, but at some point you got to turn him loose. Everyone understands that you must prepare him as best as you can for the next level, but when it becomes detrimental to your offensive production things must change.

I don’t know if this will answer the offensive slow starts, but I do know that it’s not as simple as blaming it on one thing or one person. The bottom line is that if Texas looks to make a run, they need to find the run first. There are a lot of problems that need to be addressed obviously, but should they fix them this week in Dallas against Oklahoma, look for them to carry that momentum into Pasadena.