Inside Texas September 2018

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in this issue

Welcome Mr. Ingram |

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by Mike Blackwell

Kaeontay Ingram brings dynamic skills to the RB position.

Texas Drops Second Straight Opener to Terps

10

Game Story by Joe Cook On Second Thought by Eric Nahlin

The Wolf |

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by Mike Blackwell

Caden Sterns doesn’t play like a Freshman.

22

Longhorns Outlast Tulsa Game Story by Joe Cook

26

Texas Wins Rubber Match with USC Game Story by Justin Wells 5 Quick Thoughts by Ian Boyd

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Texas Wears Down Frogs Game Story by Joe Cook Post Mortem by Scipio Tex

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Purple Curse No More Game Story by Joe Cook

Publishers -- Michael Pearle, Clendon Ross | Managing Editor--Clendon Ross | Editor-- Mike Blackwell InsideTexas.com Editor -- Justin Wells | Lead Writer -- Joe Cook | Contributor -- Ian Boyd Designer/Photographer -- Will Gallagher | Recruiting Analyst -- Eric Nahlin To Subscribe/Customer Service -- Phone: 512-659-8167 | Email: help@insidetexas.com September - 2018

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WELCOME TO THE

By Mike Blackwell

The play took just under seven seconds or so.

Six-point-seven-eight seconds, to be exact.

A simple handoff, like thousands of others you’ve seen. Ball is shotgun-snapped to the quarterback, quarterback hands ball to running back. Simple.

And then, Keaontay Ingram happened.

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E 40 MR. INGRAM!

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- keaontay ingram -

T

he Texas true freshman broke the line of scrimmage

is-on-offense running back that if he remains healthy can

heading due north, then quickly turned east. Just

leave a searing legacy on the Forty Acres.

as quickly, Ingram juked a defender, a move that was almost imperceptible to the camera’s lense. In a blink, he

Keaontay Ingram is happening.

stepped east again to the boundary, then punched his motor north up the sideline.

He first happened, technically, in the opener against Maryland, yet was held out late in the game as Tom Her-

A couple of poor Tulsa defenders appeared to have,

man chose experience over raw talent at running back in

ever-so-briefly, an angle on the freshman from Carthage.

going with Tre Watson.

And then, again, Keaontay Ingram happened.

But the true announcement of his arrival came for good with the run against Tulsa when he showed the gifts that

Cue Smokey the Cannon.

Texas fans hope will keep giving for another three years: vision, slippery feet, power to break tackles and break-

Texas fans have longed for a back like Ingram since Mr.

neck speed.

Jamaal Charles used to run the rock. Yes, D’Onta Foreman was awesome, but he played on a cursed team.

And he followed that introduction by solidifying his position as the best running back on the team when he

And Ingram is...different. Blazing fast, seemingly with

stepped off 68 yards on 10 carries, including several

eyes on the sides of his head, he’s a 205-pound home

when the Longhorns needed him in the fourth quarter to

run hitter, a don’t-you-dare-go-get-a-beer-when-Texas-

keep the Purple Wizard of Kansas State from beating the burnt orange yet again in Manhattan.

In addition to his 68 yards rushing, he caught five passes for 27 yards. A wondrously-talented but limited-carry young back who couldn’t be trusted has transformed himself into a four-quarter stick of Keaontay Dynamite in the last month.

“We felt like he would be really good at breaking the tackles of the extra guy,” a relieved Herman said after the game against the Wildcats, a 19-14 gut-wrenching win in which the Longhorns didn’t score at all in the second half. “He gave us the best opportunity to make the extra guy miss when they knew we were going to run the ball.”

BJ Foster

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Ingram’s success is certainly no surprise,

- keaontay ingram considering how heavily he was recruited. His talents in high school were obvious and coveted.

He was All-American and All-State in high school, had 76 career rushing touchdowns, stepped off a pair of 2,000-yard seasons, and finished his time there with over 5,000 yards. Oh, and he also won two state championships, so there’s that.

His high school career was nothing short of legendary. He has followed that with what is, admittedly, a very small sample size of college work that has shown clear bursts of brilliance.

What’s next for Ingram?

Oklahoma.

Anyone who knows anything about anything knows that to truly cement your place as a Texas running back, you must confront and conquer the Sooners.

Think Earl Campbell in 1977.

Think Edwin Simmons in 1983.

Think Ricky Williams in 1998.

Think Jamaal Charles in 2005.

Ingram will walk down the tunnel for the first time Saturday at Fair Park. Texas fans are in “heavy like” with Ingram right now. He’s got everything Texas fans - and fans of all teams - covet. They know he’s got the ability.

They want “like” to become “love.”

But, Oklahoma.

Tom Herman and your mom has won the same number

of games against the Sooners: big, fat zero. Texas folks LOVE to beat Oklahoma, except for the Texas folks who allow themselves to be kidnapped by the land barons so they can play football in Norman and ensure the crimson and cream can be competitive on the field.

We see you, Keaontay. We like all of your gifts. We dream of who you can become, and what it could eventually mean for the Longhorns. We want to love you.

But Oklahoma awaits. When your teenage self takes the walk down the ramp toward your destiny, realize that in order to truly - truly - make your mark at Texas, you need to run like hell against and over Oklahoma. You need to go swag-stepping down that ramp and brazenly believe you are the best player on the field.

You need to see, and cut, and hold on to the ball, and sprint and find the end zone, preferable the red one surrounded by all of their fans.

You need - we need - to make Keaontay Ingram happen.

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LANDOVER, MD – DESPITE OFFSEASON EMPHASIS, FAMILIAR FAILINGS FINISH TEXAS, 34-29 10

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REBOOT

BY JOE COOK

Devin Duvernay

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- texas vs maryland -

D

evelop and finish.

added passing, rushing, and receiv-

first half.

ing touchdowns in the Terrapins’

Those two words were placed

34-29 victory.

The Longhorns took the lead with a

around the practice fields, inside the

Kyle Porter run late in the third, but

facility, and even on t-shirts for play-

“To end the game with three straight

Maryland took it right back in the

ers to wear in the offseason.

turnovers, it’s not good,” Herman

first minute fourth quarter on another

said. “It’ll get you beat.”

touchdown run.

year because they could not take

Texas battled back after falling 24-7

Right after that score, the game was

advantage of opportunities to get

through a quarter and a half. Jones

sent into a one hour and 26 minute

ahead before the final whistle. To

ran for the first touchdown, caught

delay. Texas had plenty of time to

open 2018, Tom Herman’s Long-

the second touchdown, and found

think about not only how to finish, but

horns had the same failing.

Tavion Jacobs for a 20 yard pass-

how to avoid losing to a team without

ing score after taking a handoff on a

it’s full-time head coach.

Texas lost several close games last

Sophomore Sam Ehlinger led an

sweep.

offense that turned the ball over in

“We relaxed,” Herman said. “We

each of its final three possessions,

Touchdowns for the Longhorns from

knew we only had 14:45left to play.

the last an interception trying to force

junior Devin Duvernay and fresh-

Your possessions are going to be

a play on 3rd and 10 with more than

man Keaontay Ingram brought the

limited. We did not get great field

a minute to go.

game within 10, and the Longhorns

position in that fourth quarter. I think

cut it down to a two point game with

we started at our minus-15 or our

a safety and a touchdown late in the

minus-10 a couple of those drives,

Maryland freshman Jeshaun Jones

Kaeontay Ingram

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- texas vs maryland -

Charles Omenihu

which is pretty disadvantageous

back with no timeouts. After driving

“Our last three possessions, down

when you talk about percentages of

to the Maryland 33, Ehlinger was

by one score, we turned the ball

scoring.”

faced with a 3rd and 10. He tried to

over,” Herman said. “A lot of people

force a ball into a window, but he

are going to want to say this feels a

Maryland added a field goal with

overthrew it into the arms of Antoine

lot like last year. It doesn’t to me.”

just under seven minutes left to

Brooks.

make it a five point game. Texas

Because of the failings in the area

took the ball over, and Ehlinger

“It’s awful to have three turnovers

the team worked so hard to ad-

followed a 10 yard rush with an

in the last three drives,” Ehlinger

dress, this one might have been

interception after a defender made

said. “The first one, arm got tipped.

tougher than any of the six losses

contact with his arm.

Second one, a fumble. Third one,

in 2017.

I had to take a chance. Obviously, Texas forced a punt and got the

we need to protect the football to

“It hurts,” said junior Collin Johnson,

ball back with 4:35. On third down,

win, but before that we should have

who had three catches for 59 yards

senior Tre Watson caught a pass

never been in that situation.”

and a score. “Finish was a huge

reached the first down marker.

word for us in all of the offseason.

Upon review, Watson was ruled

The offseason emphasis was

to have lost the ball prior to being

developing and finishing. Herman

Things didn’t turn out the way we

down and Maryland was given the

said after the game he didn’t think

expected it and the way we wanted

chance to ice it.

the team failed in the development

it to turn out, obviously. But being

area, but it was difficult to see

a mature team, we have to move

The Texas defense made one more

evidence of that with a late turnover

forward and not look back at it.”

stand to give the offense the ball

once again costing the Longhorns.

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TAKE 2

THOUGHTS AFTER MARYLAND by

Eric Nahlin

There is no excuse for the team no-showing versus Maryland. The total lack of readiness can only fall on the shoulders of Tom Herman and as far as I could tell he fell on the sword in the press conference.

The team played incredibly slow and you could even see it in their timid movements early on. They were running in mud because they were thinking slowly -- again.

F

or the second year in a row the defense was ill-pre-

but not always. Again I felt the coordination was off. Texas

pared for the motion run-game. PJ Locke again had

was trying to throw into loaded secondaries and run into

his struggles, as did the linebackers. In the game thread on

loaded boxes. That’s backwards. Are we sure they’re count-

Inside Texas many lamented the quiet game of Hager and

ing numbers out there?

Omenihu, but they aren’t going to shine in this game, at least not with pressure on the quarterback.

Refusing to use the quarterback run game really put the offense behind the 8-ball. Obviously they have Sam on a pitch

While the front was struggling with the run, we saw some

count but he has no chance of being a difference making

familiar breakdowns in the passing game. Notably, true

quarterback if he’s not allowed to run. He may not even be

freshman BJ Foster got caught out of position. But that was

average if he can’t run. At least run it early and make them

a 3rd and long play where you might just want to play it

defend it.

more straight up and keep guys in front of the sticks rather than expecting a true freshman to rotate to help.

The negatives are obvious and there are more I didn’t list.

Penalties -- egregious. Turnovers -- egregious (Watson’s

Coordination in the game will be much better dissected by

was a terrible call despite what some think they saw).

others, but one thing that irked me on offense was it seems

Tackling -- embarrassing. No wrapping up.

like Herman/Beck are too jumpy to capitalize on a play that works, rather than just keep running the play that works.

SOME POSITIVES

Make Maryland REALLY commit to stopping something

Brandon Jones was really good. That was an All American

before trying to punish them. The reverse to Jamison was

type of game. He was stellar as a returner -- he ran with

a drive killer. They also tried to hit some play actions off the

strength, quickness, speed, and determination. He showed

run game when they should have just kept running the ball.

range as a tackler.

I firmly believe the offensive line is improved over last year.

Keaontay Ingram showed the promise evident from his high

We saw that more clearly in pass protection. They were

school days. When Texas briefly grabbed momentum in the

sometimes aided by Maryland dropping guys into coverage,

2nd quarter he was a big part of it. He’s nifty on the cut-

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September - 2018

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back. Wait until he’s not running cautiously. Then wait until he’s doing all this at 215 pounds.

D’shawn Jamison as a returner showed sparq. He’ll break one this year, but as he gets stronger with the ability to run through trash without losing much speed he’ll be even more dangerous.

The offensive line in pass protection was good. I bet it looks better running the ball in the Big 12 than it did today. The line was absolutely horrendous last year versus Maryland.

Offensive variation was much more than what we saw last year. It didn’t flow very well at times, or build sequentially, but there’s a lot more in the playbook than last season.

A couple of players on defense seemed to play well. McCulloch missed a bad tackle in space, but for that being his first real action at linebacker since his freshman year? Not bad.

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Taquon Graham did some things too. Even playing from 4i he was able to beat OT’s to the outside a few times. Davante Davis was playing well before he went out with what looked like a stinger.

Last year after the disheartening loss to Maryland I blamed the coaches. This year one would be hard pressed to not do the same, but these players have to show up more mentally prepared. There’s no way that’s entirely on the staff.

Following Maryland last year was San Jose State and USC on the road. This year it’s very similar with Tulsa and USC at home.

Herman said in his press conference he knows this team is better than last year. We should already definitively know that answer but will have to wait a while to know for sure.

Even then, how much better? Better isn’t good enough.

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THE WOLF

By Mike Blackwell

A wolf is usually not seen until it’s too late.

He lives mostly in the shadows, and is highly intelligent.

He sights his prey, then instinctively activates the guile he will need to hunt, to pounce, to devour.

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- The Wolf -

A

wolf roams long distances with his pack during his

life. He has physical speed, for sure, but survives

primarily with his mind, which combined with his keen

earlier in the year, when asked if he had ever seen any defensive back make such a strong impression at such a young age.

sense of survival makes him one of the most feared and admired - of all predators.

“And you could see in the spring, the minute we put pads on that this kid was always around the ball. And there’s

Caden Sterns knows about the wolf. In fact, he has one

one thing to be around the ball. It’s another thing to make

tattooed on his arm, a lone wolf howling presumably at

plays on the ball and actually come away with it and

the moon. And he will know even more about the wolf

PBUs and all that stuff.”

now that he has been nicknamed - after less than onehalf of one season in his college career - the Wolf of

Sterns’ three interceptions are already tied with Kyle

DKR.

Richardson (1994) for the third-most by a true freshman in Texas history. And he needs just one more pick to tie

It’s a nickname that fits perfectly.

Quandre Diggs (2011) and Chris Carter (1993) for the most in Texas history for freshmen.

“They know how to lead,” answered Sterns when he was asked the inevitable question of what he feels about the wild dog breed.

“They come together. They have teamwork to get the job done, which is to eat.

As a defense, that’s what you’ve got to pride yourself on.”

Sterns, who initially committed to LSU during his recruiting process, has already done plenty to make himself - and his defense - proud.

He already has three interceptions and 18 total tackles, and has the team’s only blocked kick. His sideline interception against the

All of his early success is undoubtedly a surprise to plen-

TCU Horned Frogs was all wolf: he was stealthily unseen

ty of folks who understandably expect freshmen to arrive

in the secondary, then swooped in quickly at the last

and learn their way with patience and observation. But

minute, using his speed and grace to pilfer the ball and

a true wolf knows he must adapt immediately in order to

get his feet down quickly inbounds.

surprise. A wolf has to eat, and a wolf has to eat NOW.

The Wolf needs to eat.

“What do I remember about Caden?” Herman repeated.

“Probably his maturity level is the one that sticks out. His

“Not that way. No way,” said Texas coach Tom Herman

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mother, Brandi, phenomenal woman. I think - and Caden

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- The Wolf would be the first to admit that having an older brother that played Division I football was probably a big help to him in terms of his maturity level and how he approached the game. But he was a really, really mature guy that his mom - I mean all the moms - in that class fell in love with.”

One of seven children, brother Jordan played for Oklahoma State and is now with the Kansas City Chiefs. Wolves, after all, pick up many of their traits genetically.

The safety who was named Newcomer of the Week after his performance against the Horned Frogs, Sterns was also picked as the Jim Thorpe Award Player of the Week as well. Sterns appears to be more than a little worthy of returning the University of Texas to its rightful place as Defensive Back University (DBU).

You’ll certainly get no argument about that from Texas defensive coordinator Todd Orlando. In addition to his obvious physical skills, Sterns - like a good wolf - is highly intelligent and a born leader. Enjoy him while you can.

“That’s a lot of thinking back there at that position, and just a lot of communication,” says Orlando of Sterns, who is also a film wolf. “When you’re a young guy coming into it, especially with vets that have played in the system, you can be a little hesitant. He’s taken over. He’s got big speed and big range. We’re very, very fortunate to have him.

“He’s a real good ball player. That’s the part that I see.

He’s always had the tools, but in this system, to me the hardest position is at safety. There’s a lot of thinking and a lot of moving parts that go into it. During the spring, there was ‘what’s going on?’ Now, going into fall camp, he’s really picked it up. He’s one of the guys now.

They’ve accepted him. They know how talented he is

and they’ve helped him along.”

He arrived in Austin and made an immediate impact he’s shown an obvious willingness, and eagerness, to work. He watches film and already is respected enough to show his teammates - even his older teammates what he has seen in those many hours of film study. He’s even made verbal note of his personal reverence for those who have preceded him as proud alumni of DBU. He’s done every right. So far.

But a successful wolf, of course, realizes that the most recent meal won’t last forever. Finding prey is good and all, but it must be done again and again. And again. Most folks are starting to believe that Sterns is much, much more than a one-hunt wolf. “ So the great thing about him is he’s always around the ball, run or pass,” Herman says. “And he will come downhill in the run game and he will hit you.

“And I’m glad he’s on our team.”

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TEXAS HOLDS O

BY JOE COOK

Three rushers with more than 50 yards, two total rushing touchdowns, and 241 total yards on the ground at 5.1 yards per carry?

Check.

21-of-27 passing with no interceptions for 237 yards and 8.8 yards per attempt? Check.

Out-gaining the opponent, winning the turnover margin, and having the opponent miss all three field goal attempts?

Check.

Winning the time of possession battle by nearly nine minutes? Check.

Doing all that and the result being a 28-21 win over Tulsa?

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Check?

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OFF TULSA 28-21

Sam Ehlinger

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T

exas head coach Tom Herman’s team surged to a

in that first half, and I was really, really proud of that.”

21-0 lead at the halftime whistle thanks to rushing

touchdowns from Keaontay Ingram and Sam Eh-

Something changed drastically during halftime. Herman

linger, and a scoring connection between Ehlinger and

said he pressed the team to make sure they didn’t get

Lil’Jordan Humphrey.

complacent when they returned to the field for the second half. As a result, he believes the same symptom of

The Longhorns went back into the locker room looking

“trying too hard for each other” crept back into the team.

like they were doing all the right things against a Tulsa team that worked to beat Central Arkansas one week

“I wanted to make sure that we came out and played

prior.

hard,” Herman said. “I was pretty hard on our guys at halftime, and I think you sensed a little bit of that press-

“Was really excited about the way that our players

ing again. So I’ve got to remember what brought us to

responded to what we challenged them to do after last

that point of being up 21-0 and that was playing loose

week, which was to come out and have fun and they

and care free.”

did,” Herman said after the game. “They played loose.

They played free. They played with a smile on their face

A sloppy Ehlinger fumble on the second drive of the half didn’t help. That drive was one of three beginning in the third quarter that ended in a Ryan Bujcevski punt, not all of which were high quality kicks.

After Bujcevski’s second punt, a 24 yard effort, Tulsa capped off a 33 yard drive with a Shamari Brooks touchdown run.

Texas stalled out once again early in the fourth quarter on a drive that lasted 1:56. Tulsa scored on the ensuing drive to make it a one possession game at 21-14.

Texas then put together one of its best drives of the season. Ehlinger found Humphrey twice and Ingram once before handing it off to Ingram to set up third and three.

With his receivers covered downfield, Ehlinger bowled over a couple of defenders for a pivotal first down. Without a conversion, the momentum would have swung in Tulsa’s favor.

“I honestly wasn’t thinking that we needed a spark,” Ehlinger said. “I was thinking shoot, it’s third and four, no one’s open, this guy is coming down hill, and I need to get this first down.”

The Longhorns moved the football, but were faced with another long third down in Tulsa territory. Ehlinger improvised again, rushing for 14 yards when he only needed

BJ Foster

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seven. Two plays later, Ehlinger found Watson in the flat,

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and the grad transfer scampered into the end zone to put Texas ahead 28-14.

The Golden Hurricane didn’t give in there, scoring on the very next drive to make it a one score game once more. That lead to what was Texas’ best drive of the season.

With 4:53 left in the game, Texas began the drive on its own 25. A screen pass started it off before Watson gained the first down on the ground.

Watson rushed again, leaving Texas with one yard to go on third down.

Failure to get it could have resulted in Tulsa getting the ball back with some momentum, but Ehlinger got three yards when he needed one.

Daniel Young

Then, Daniel Young came in.

Young rushed for 39 yards over the next two carries and flattened a Tulsa player in the process. As a result, Texas was able to kneel the ball twice on the Golden Hurricane 11 yard line to close out the 28-21 victory.

“In a one score game to get the ball back with 4:53 on the clock, your opponent with two timeouts, and to end it in victory formation, that’s a sign of a team that can finish,” Herman said. “Was really proud of that.”

According to Herman, the same issues that plagued the Longhorns in Maryland to open the game plagued them upon their return to the field in the second half in Austin.

Despite having a stat line that would have indicated an easy win, Texas had to grind this game out until the very end.

He didn’t blame it on pressure. Rather, he once again said it came from an emphasis on players trying hard for

“I don’t think it’s the pressure of Texas. I think it’s more of the wanting so badly to play well for their teammates that we tense up a little bit.”

The “wanting it so badly” resulted in Texas almost getting into full-on a scrap fest with a game they dominated on the stat sheet.

Two dropped balls by Golden Hurricane receivers in the end zone and the three missed field goals are more evidence this game could have been a lot worse for the Longhorns despite the statistical dominance.

If it’s a mental thing rather than a on-field thing, Herman has a tough psychiatric task ahead of him prior to welcoming the talented USC Trojans to Austin next week.

“We’ve got a lot of lessons to learn and a lot of things to clean up, but those pills are a lot easier to swallow when you win.”

their teammates.

“I think they know that they are prepared,” Herman said.

September - 2018

25

LONGHORNS THUM by

Justin Wells

Joshua Moore

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MP TROJANS 31-14

AUSTIN, TX — Following two uninspiring performances to open the season, Texas decided to turn it on.

And did they ever.

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- Texas vs USC -

T

exas dominated in all three

When USC put up 14 points in the

thought we were going to need because

phases of the game as the

opening stanza, it would’ve been easy

of the structure of the defense to use the

Longhorns knocked off No. 22

for doubt to creep into the minds of the

quarterback in the run game and for our

Southern California 37-14 in front of a

players and staff. But this isn’t the last

defense to shut them out in the second

record 103, 507 fans on an electrically

few years’ Mack Brown team, or Charlie

half and score points on the blocked

charged Saturday night at DKR-Texas

Strong, or even the 2017 version.

field goal was — again, it was a great

Memorial Stadium. And Texas coach Tom Herman was all smiles.

team win.”

“To go down 14-3, there was no hanging of heads, there was no discouragement,

Behind the arm and legs of Sam

“I want to start off by thanking our

no negativity on the sideline,” Herman

Ehlinger – 15 of 33, 223 yards, two

student body,” said Herman. “What an

said. “We started playing better, made

TDs and one rushing score – the Horns

unbelievable display of support by them.

a few adjustments offensively and

rattled off 34 consecutive points. Collin

That’s two weeks in a row that they have

defensively and we scored the last six

Johnson and Lil’Jordan Humphrey com-

showed up en masse and really had

scores. We scored the last 34 points of

bined for 163 yards on 10 catches with

a direct impact on the game. I want to

the game, obviously shut them out in the

one TD, while Tre Watson and Daniel

thank our fans. What an incredibly elec-

second half. We knew offensively that

Young added 129 yards on 30 carries on

tric atmosphere that DKR was tonight,

it was going to be ugly at times but that

the ground.

and our guys feed off that. Our fans

we needed to keep taking shots. They’re

have a direct impact on the game by the

a very aggressive defense. And you’re

“We’re just happy,” said Ehlinger. “We fi-

energy that they give our team, and I

not going to hit every shot. We knew our

nally proved ourselves right. We fired off

was really, really, really proud of the way

completion percentage was probably

on all cylinders, played good football on

that our fans and students supported us.

not going to be great but when we hit

both sides of the ball and special teams

It was really a good team win.”

they were going to be for big plays. We

for the majority of the game. Really just

did just enough in the run game that I

happy to see the confidence grow and everyone to understand that we can do this and we can be a really good team.”

For Ehlinger, he’s played 12 quarters of football in 2018, with only the 4th period of Maryland viewed negatively.

“I think it’s part of the development of the position, still learning and getting more experience every week,” Ehlinger said.

But you can’t forget the defense, even though they had a first quarter to forget, giving up 14 points to the Trojan offense.

Then Gary Johnson happened. And Caden Sterns. And Kris Boyd.

“It was about finishing for us tonight,”

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said Gary Johnson. “The coaches have preached all spring, summer, and fall

- Texas vs USC camp about the importance of finishing. Last year, USC got up on us and we were in a dog fight. We knew we didn’t want to give up anymore after the first quarter. We told the offensive and defensive guys, ‘no more points, do your job, make plays, and execute.’ We were not giving up anything else and we didn’t.”

Boyd noticed some changes during last year that made him more prepared for this final campaign on the 40 Acres.

“There’s one thing I really started focusing on last year was watching film,” said Boyd. “I always asked the older guys Brandon Jones

‘what’s the most important thing I should do and what do you wish you’d have done different while you were here.’

They all said ‘watch more film.’ So I did.”

Johnson played like a mad man. He tallied six tackles, four TFL, one sack, and one forced fumble. Sterns covers the secondary like a hawk. Apparently he blocks field goals like Dikembe Mutumbo, too. Brandon Jones, who is at the beginning of breakout tour, led the squad in tackles with nine and two TFL. Both were part of a defensive effort that allowed -5 rushing yards.

And let’s not forget the freshman place kicker Cameron Dicker. He was 3 of 3, including two from 46 yards, and kept the Horns close in the first half.

It didn’t take long for USC to get on the board. They opened with a nine-play, 75-yard drive that took under five minutes, and staked the Trojans to an early lead, 7-0.

Texas answered with its own 12-play,

72-yard drive. Three first downs from

quarter, hitting Amon-Ra St. Brown for

Sam Ehlinger to Collin Johnson or

a 36-yarder inside the 10. But Brandon

Andrew Beck lead to a Cameron Dicker

Jones’ TFL on Stephen Carr’s 4th down

20-yard field goal, and a 7-3 mark.

carry gave Texas the ball and stopped the Trojan march.

USC came back when Daniels hit Velus Jones Jr. for a 35-yard seam. Then

With three seconds remaining in the first

Vavae Malepeai punched it in from three

half Dicker came through again, this

yards out giving the Trojans the 14-3

time from 46 yards, and gave UT the

advantage.

16-14 lead heading into halftime.

Southern Cal owned the first quarter.

Texas didn’t let up to begin the third

Texas took the next three.

quarter either. After a roughing the passer/targeting call on USC LB Porter

The Longhorns used their first posses-

Gustin, Ehlinger went back to the skies

sion in the 2nd half in style. Ehlinger hit

hitting freshman Joshua Moore for the

Humphrey on two big plays – 35-yarder

27-yard pitch-and-catch score. After 20

and a 47-yarder – with the latter hitting

consecutive points, UT’s lead increased

paydirt. UT went 75 yards on six plays,

to 23-14 at the 10:45 mark of the 3rd.

and got within four, 14-10.

Then the UT defense made a play.

After a Boyd interception, Texas went 22 yards in six plays before a Dicker

Freshman Caden Sterns blocked a

46-yard field goal and a 14-13 margin.

Chase McGrath field goal attempt, then

The momentum continued after USC

Anthony Wheeler picked up the loose

drove the field midway through the 2nd

change and went 46 yards to the house.

Jean Delance

September - 2018

29

It marked 27 consecutive points by the

What was the first reaction after such a

“However we prepared, do it again and

Longhorns and a 30-14 lead midway

big win on a big stage in front of a big

keeping doing it. Other teams will see

through the third.Ehlinger added the

crowd at DKR tonight?

our tape and adjust. So that means you

final score on a 4-yard scamper with 1:42 left in the third.

have to put in that much more effort to “Do this again,” said Charles Omenihu.

keep it up. This is just a stepping stone to greater things. If you like this winning feeling, you’re going to have to put in more work.”

With TCU coming into Austin next weekend and the start of Big 12 play, I asked Omenihu what needed to be done to use this momentum towards thwarting the Horned Frogs of Fort Worth.

“Find what the good (film) was, multiply by 10, then subtract the bad and don’t make the same mistakes,” said Omenihu.

Sounds like the beginning of a good game plan heading into next week. This game was a great start.

Sam Ehlinger

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5

QUICK

vs

thoughts

E

by Ian Boyd

vidently that was Texas’ 900th victory in program

Perhaps most important was that Texas didn’t have to

a lot of reasons. The Longhorns now have a lot more

but wrestled control of the game back from the Trojans

history. It was a good one and an important one for

confidence going into Big 12 play than they would have had if the record read 1-2 and they were dealing with

more questions about an inability to win for whatever reason.

The recruits that attended the game were treated to a big time, passionate atmosphere and a dominating win.

eek out a game and didn’t play down to the opponent before the half before pounding them into the ground

like a tent peg in the second half. It’s very satisfying

to end a game by protecting a sizable margin over a ranked (not for long, but still) opponent by running the ball down their throats and then lining up in the victory formation.

#1 Domination in the Trenches Texas won this game with their big men up front. The stat line

The domination by the defense in the trenches was clear and

for the Texas run game wasn’t amazing, they finished with

in no need of qualification or closer review. The Trojans ran

160 rushing yards on 48 rushes, at 3.3 ypc. Some of that was

for -5 yards in this game and most of the occasions in which

the gameplan for USC, which involved packing the line of

they tried to call runs in order to try and ease pressure from

scrimmage with all the usual suspects while also actively and

freshman QB J.T. Daniels were unmitigated disasters that only

aggressively involving a safety or two to swallow up any runs

served to put Daniels in even more dire situations.

that threatened to break through.

More careful eyes than mine will have a good account for what The Longhorns were still able to run the ball effectively and

occurred but it was easy enough to see that Texas’ DL was

mostly avoid negative plays while regularly getting coverage

moving around a lot and generating a ton of confusion and

and push on the Trojan front. Now is as good a time as any

penetration against the Trojan OL. I don’t know what Breckyn

to mention the QB stretch play, which made a highly effective

Hager’s stat line was but he was a huge problem for USC,

appearance last week against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane and

Gary Johnson’s stat line was surely excellent and Daniels will

was wildly successful against the Trojans. Texas could get at

likely see him racing after him in his nightmares. From the

least four yards whenever they needed them running that play

goal line stand on, that was it for USC at the line of scrimmage

for Sam Ehlinger, it seems to be Tom Herman’s go-to play in

against this defense. They did nothing after that.

place of the QB split zone that was similarly automatic for Ohio

32

State with J.T. Barrett. Future opponents are going to have to

The Trojans didn’t play a great game in the trenches today but

craft their plan for third and five or less to make sure they can

they have a lot of big time players that will have their chances

handle that one.

in the NFL and Texas made them to look bad.

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#2 Texas stuffed the run in dime Cameron Dicker left the clear impression with his consecutive kicks of 46-yard field goals that Texas has a legit kicker. If and when Texas gets in a spot where they need those points it’ll be immensely valuable that they have a dude who seems to be close to automatic after crossing the 35 or 40 yard line.

Texas completely dominated special teams tonight. Ryan Bujcevksi had a mixed game, he’s still not a guy that can be counted on to carry the team but he’s getting close to being a reliably solid college punter. Obviously the blocked kick was more or less icing on the cake in that game.

Meanwhile USC was having big struggles, beyond the blocked punt they also several terrible punts, some of which bounced backwards for sizable chunks of yardage. USC and their coaching will be facing some tough questions heading back to Cameron Dicker

Los Angeles.

For Texas though, it appears that they have the pieces to Dicker and dime their way through the upcoming Big 12 slate.

Chris Nelson (97) and Taquon Graham (49)

September - 2018

33

#3 Ehlinger on 3rd Down Ehlinger either threw the ball or ran it on 16 third downs and he converted eight of them while picking up another with a fourth down carry. While 15-33 on the day for 223 yards at 6.8 ypa with two TDs and zero INTs won’t blow anyone away, he was 6-10 on third down for 122 yards at 12.2 ypa with one TD occurring in that situation.

He ran the ball on six other third downs and picked up two more conversions there plus the other when he picked up nine yards with a draw on third and nine and then picked up the fourth down immediately afterwards (on QB stretch for four yards).

USC’s gameplan was daring Texas to beat them over the top in the passing game. Ehlinger did so at times, not to the extent that you’d like to see because either his pass or his targets’ hands were just a little off, but his ability to keep drives alive on third down was special.

Texas needs to keep finding ways to get Li’Jordan Humphrey some space on third down since he’s such a reliable target and I imagine we’ll continue to see more of young Josh Moore who reeled in a 27-yard pass for a score when he beat a USC DB on a seam route.

The Longhorn offense still needs to play tighter but they’re showing a lot of potential and they have a couple of aces up their sleeve for league play. One is the return of Keaontay Ingram, who will make a lot out of the improving blocking of this OL, the other is Ehlinger’s ability to keep drives alive with his unique ability on both third and long and third and short.

34

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insidetexas.com

#4 Targeting and Officiating Needs Some Adjustment

BJ Foster

I’m sure the major takeaway from USC fans,

him ejected for another clear violation of the rule.

egged on by Joel Klatt, will be that they were

The NCAA needs to figure out something akin to

robbed on the safety. At Colorado they taught

the NBA’s flagrant system or soccer’s red/yellow

Klatt that it’s physically impossible for a QB who

cards, then they can throw something else in

has a defender landing on him to keep his knees

that is largely trivial so it doesn’t seem like they

off the turf for however long would have been

are moving away from prioritizing player safety.

necessary to get the ball back across the goal

This game doesn’t work properly when defenders

line. It looked close but it’s understandable that

trying to make a play in live action can be thrown

the officials didn’t have enough to conclusively

out of the football game and even future contests.

say “when the knee was down, the ball wasn’t across” so they couldn’t overturn.

On a side note, it was interesting to see him put his helmet on Ehlinger’s chin without the

Whoever has been making sacrifices to the foot-

QB showing any effects whatsoever, he has a

ball gods so that Texas would finally benefit from

fighter’s jaw.

a review had a very good night.

The reviews were not overly burdensome. The This is the second time in two years that Texas

review of Andrew Beck’s potential fumble on

didn’t have to face Porter Gustin down the stretch

Texas’ opening drive seemed totally needless

of the game (wouldn’t have mattered this time)

and allowed the Trojans to catch their breath

and in this case it was because of a targeting

and regroup on the goal line. Overall I don’t think

call. It was a blatant foul and an easy flag, but

officiating was the difference in this game, Gary

the rule needs to be changed. I’m sure Texas

Johnson and Todd Orlando were the difference in

fans are sympathetic after losing B.J. Foster for

this game.

the first half of the TCU game when a big shot Sam Ehlinger

he landed on a player running down the field got

September - 2018

35

#5 The Todd Orlando Defense is Back Nothing like a pro-style team with a pocket passer to fill a Todd

If you try to handle this team and Gary Johnson’s improving timing on

Orlando defense with confidence. Perhaps my favorite moment of the

the blitz by having the QB drop back 40+ times, God help you. Their

game occurred when B.J. Foster was ejected and Texas brought in

ability to cover windows and generate pressures from the dime pack-

Chris Brown to play dime and immediately blitzed him and got a sack

age could be the most dominant facet of a lot of games this season.

on Daniels.

Daniels was lethal early, connecting with HS teammate at Mater Dei Amon-Ra St. Brown and fitting some third down throws into tight windows that Texas was struggling to close. They won a few 50-50 plays early but Daniels also has elite arm talent. But Texas stayed calm, the offense helped them out some, and then the pressures started to really dial in. Before long Daniels couldn’t even hit his check downs because he was so hurried and out of sorts running for his life.

The offense still isn’t good enough to win shootouts against the best teams in the Big 12 and the punting isn’t going to dominate any games, Texas needs to play great defense to have a chance to win the league. That looks plausible after the unit picked up some needed confidence with this dominant win.

Breckyn Hager

36

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Kraken_Texas_mechanical.indd 1

5/19/11 2:17:09 PM

HORNS HANDLE HO

AUSTIN, Tx — In its last two home games, Texas went into halftime against ranked opponents in a close game where the second half would determine the outcome.

38

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Tre Watson

RNED FROGS 31-16

by Joe Cook

September - 2018

39

Photos by Will Gallagher

- TEXAS vs TCU -

A

nd on both occasions, UT (3-1,

Texas safety duo of Caden Sterns (2 INTs)

the second half, taking a 16-10 advantage

1-0) earned decisive victories,

and Brandon Jones (INT, FR) led the

with 8:44 left in the third. That was before

only this time it opened Big 12

Longhorn defense to its first win over TCU

Robinson threw two interceptions, and

since 2013.

ended coach Gary Patterson’s attempt at

play and ended a four-game skid against the TCU Horned Frogs.

topping UT five consecutive years, most “This was going to be an ugly, hard fought,

since 1930.

Last week it was due in large part to an

physical game as all games against TCU

excellent run defense. This week against

are, and the defense kept us in it when we

The Longhorns responded with a drive

No. 17 TCU, it was big plays en route to a

were finding our way a little bit offensively,”

down the field and got within range for

31-16 win at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium

Texas head coach Tom Herman said after

Cameron Dicker, but he missed his second

on Saturday.

the

attempt of the evening. That moment of

game. “I can’t credit the defense or the of-

disappointment was left in the past.

Texas forced TCU QB Shawn Robinson

fense enough for responding.”

into three turnovers in the second half, with the Horns capitalizing on the latter two.

Two plays later, Jones intercepted RobTCU scored on its second possession of

inson and brought it back to the TCU 45.

Texas orchestrated a seven-play, 45-yard drive capped off by an outstanding diving touchdown catch by Collin Johnson.

Quarterback Sam Ehlinger stepped up in the pocket and fired the ball between two defenders to find Johnson in the end zone.

“They gave me a post,” Johnson said. “I was like ‘I’m not the fastest but I’m just going to lay out and try to make the play.’

I was happy just to make the play for the team and help the team out.”

That gave UT a 17-16 lead they wouldn’t surrender and although Herman claims momentum is an illusion, it appeared to loom around the Longhorns for the remainder of the game.

If it had simply tipped on Texas’ side at that point, the very next play made it go fully in the Longhorns’ favor.

Robinson dropped back on a 1st and 10 and fired a ball in the heart of UT’s defense.

It was there Sterns snagged his second INT of the game, as his intended receiver Sam Ehlinger

40

inside texas

appeared to give up on the route, and the

insidetexas.com

- TEXAS vs TCU -

freshman phenom returned it to the TCU 2.

One play later, Ehlinger pulled the ball from Tre Watson’s stomach and waltzed into the end zone with a smile on his face, and a 24-16 lead with five seconds remaining in the quarter.

The Horns held the ball for more than 10 minutes in the third quarter, tiring out the TCU defense. The Horned Frogs had one more opportunity late, but a missed field goal by Jonathan Song ended any hope of a comeback, especially considering what Texas did next.

In the style of football Herman prefers, Texas went on a 10-play, 76-yard drive. The Longhorns converted two 3rd downs with

Texas defense stops TCU QB Shawn Robinson

the latter being another big play, a 38-yard pitch-and-catch to Lil’Jordan Humphrey,

three consecutive games since Colt McCoy

some players, and a sign for members of

who raced to paydirt sealing the win.

in 2008.

the program that progress is being made at a steady pace.

“We were expecting that because we

Johnson was the only receiver in the game

wanted to control the game and control the

to break 100 yards, with 123 on seven

“This is important to us,” Sterns said. “The

game on the ground,” Watson said of the

receptions and one score.

culture is starting to change, and we’re just

drive. “Our o-line was getting great push off

starting to put all the little pieces together.

the ball and they were competing the entire

“I think we were confident in the way that

game. In that fourth quarter, we knew we

we prepared and that were were confident

were going to have to handle the ball on the

that if we just went out and continued to

Texas goes on the road next week to

ground. We did pretty well.”

stick to the game plan, the plays would start

face Kansas State. The Longhorns have

going our way,” Herman said. “We did that.

struggled in Manhattan over the years,

Watson finished as Texas’ leading rusher

It’s just amazing to see.”

lasting leaving with a win in 2002, but Her-

with 60 yards on 15 carries. On the whole,

Texas notched its first victory over TCU

man’s team is ready to continue to change

the Longhorns rushed for 112 yards and

since 2013 with today’s win, and also

the direction of the program.

two scores at 2.5 yards per carry.

achieved its first three-game win streak since 2014.

The sophomore Ehlinger delivered another

“We went 1-0 against a really good opponent and we’re going to have to wake

efficient performance going 22-of-32 pass-

“I really like the grit of this team and the

up tomorrow and take another step and do

ing for 255 yards and two scores, adding

tenacity that they have shown especially in

it on the road against another really good

one on the ground. He was the first UT

the last couple of weeks.”

opponent,” Herman said.

signal-caller to rush and throw for a score in

It’s a black cloud off no longer hanging over

September - 2018

41

POST-MORTEM | TCU

O F F E N S E

by Scipio Tex

T

he Texas offense had three performances in one game.

that yielded 3 touchdowns and another missed field goal.

One solid, one horrific, one excellent.

31-16 - Texas

In the first third of the contest, Texas moved the ball well running tempo offense. The first four drives of the game totaled 30

WHAT HAPPENED TO TURN THINGS AROUND?

plays for 163 yards and featured drives of 51, 65, 17 and 30 yards. Collin Johnson dominated TCU’s single coverage and the

On Texas’ first productive possession of the second half, they

Longhorn running game was just effective enough. Three of the

stubbornly ran Keaontay Ingram four consecutive times at

four drives ended in scoring opportunities and Texas converted

tempo for 8, 7, 2 and 9 yards. That four carry 26 yard outburst

on two of them (TD, FG, missed FG). At the end of Q1, Sam Eh-

seems marginal in the big picture, but it got TCU out of their

linger was 8 of 10 for 101 yards. CJ had 4 catches for 78 yards.

scheme and it made their LB, DE and S run forces play honestly. Texas began throwing the ball effectively again. That 14

10-6 - Texas

play, 69 yard drive also reset the Texas defense. That the drive ended in a missed field goal proved immaterial. Texas was back

In the middle third of the contest, Texas played as putrid a level

on track.

of offense as you’ll find in the Herman era. Ben Banogu and LJ Collier dominated on the edge with honest pressure and Sam

Success begat success as TCU began to tire. Banogu slowed

Ehlinger was repeatedly sacked and hurried as TCU dropped 7

down just enough against a hobbled Calvin Anderson and big

or 8 into coverage on most downs. The seeming bane of our of-

LJ Collier flat tired out. TCU’s quick LBs had to react rather than

fense. Over five possessions spanning the 2nd quarter into the

dictate. Suddenly, the weak links in the TCU secondary were

middle of the 3rd quarter, Texas ran 14 plays for...wait for it...-2

exposed again. Just like in the first quarter.

yards of offense. Texas stayed stuck on 10 while TCU added 10 of their own. Texas fans started to get that sick feeling of how

Virtuous circles ensued. The play of the Texas offense helped

this was going to play out...

the Longhorn defense. With some time to adjust, the Texas D set up the Longhorn offense with short fields of 2 and 45 yards.

42

16-10 - TCU

Both resulted in Texas touchdowns.

But it didn’t play out that way at all. Texas found its feet again.

Up 24-16, the coup de grace was a gorgeous 10 play 76 yard

Over the final four meaningful drives of the contest beginning in

drive that ate up over 6:00 of late 4th quarter clock and ended in

the mid 3rd quarter, Texas ran 32 plays for 192 yards (69, 45, 2,

a Sam Ehlinger 38 yard touchdown pass to LJH that seemed to

76) at 6 yards per pop that resulted in four scoring opportunities

encapsulate the game’s flows and ebbs: Ehlinger had six sec-

inside texas

insidetexas.com

LIL’ JORDAN HUMPHREY

onds in the pocket against TCU’s three man rush, LJH broke off his route instead of accepting coverage, and an exhausted Frog

#1

The 4th and 1 call in the 2nd quarter was bad. Real bad. I liked going for it near midfield (your D playing

D tapped out. Before that, heady plays from Devin Duvernay

well is a reason to go for it, not to shell up as fellow fans so

and Tre Watson showed them purposefully fighting to stay in

commonly urge) but running a pitch toss to Danny Young to the

bounds to burn clock. It was smart football.

short side of the field against a defense you know you can’t run on horizontally and you know we’re not very good at moving

A Texas offense that had been 0-9 on 3rd downs converted 5 of

the edge is football strategy of the “We know, but you know

their last 6.

we know, but we know you know we know, so we know that you know we know you know and...wait, what were we talking

I’m not sure how to characterize a Texas offensive performance

about?” variety. I mean, c’mon. “Hey Khabib, you should only

that ranged from competent, as bad as I’ve ever seen, and

fight Conor McGregor standing up! He’ll never expect it!”

finally will-imposing, but that’s why we have scoreboards. And Todd Orlando’s defense.

#2

TCU decided that LJH was more dangerous than CJ. So they doubled him early and blitzed. We threw to CJ

No Festivus or post-mortem is complete without an airing of

and he killed TCU in the first quarter. So TCU dropped 7/8 and

grievances, so here are two things to examine critically.

bracketed both of them. They did it with the corner in a loose trail position and the safety just hanging on the top. It took us

September - 2018

43

five possessions to have our receivers stop jogging into the

with some big passing plays if we were more inclined to use him

safety and have them run option routes, which is a fancy way

there and #11 could hit his upfield shoulder in stride. 15 carries

of saying that we asked them to run to green grass between

for 58 yards and a touchdown isn’t winning any fantasy champi-

or outside of the coverage. That’s about three possessions too

onships, but in a reality contest, he’s a very useful runner for us

long.

and I’m glad he’s here.

Beyond that, lots of good to call out.

Keaontay is the best talent in the stable and that’s obvious. He needs to learn, however, than on a 3rd and 1 when our blocking

QB

scheme is to cover up the DL and leave LBs unblocked, you

I think we all see the inaccuracy on some lay-up throws (Tre

can’t run parallel to the LOS hoping to spring the corner. He got

Watson lost out on about 30 yards of receiving because of

submarined by sprinting TCU LB and Texas had to punt. Ingram

Ehlinger’s lack of ball placement), but please see with very clear

has to lower his pads and get small for 1.5 yards and a fresh

eyes that Sam took a beating for five straight frustrating pos-

set of downs. He’ll learn. Obviously, if healthy, he represents

sessions and just kept plugging away, not shying in the pocket

significant upside for this running game.

when he started delivering strikes. On the other side of the ball, TCU’s QB - facing a less withering pass rush - tapped out

WR/TE

mentally and physically. Sam finished 22 of 32 for 255, 2 TDs

Finally, both primary Texas WRs played well in the same game

passing, 1 rushing and no turnovers. On the season, he has a

and used their size and route running in ways that created

4:1 TD/INT ratio and has protected the ball. We can win a lot of

mismatches. LJH scored his 3rd consecutive TD (4-78, 38 yard

games with this version of Sam Ehlinger.

TD) of the season and CJ dominated single coverage 7 catches for 124 yards and a spectacular diving TD catch on a post route.

44

RB

Duvernay had two catches and played smart. We really need

Under appreciated Tre Watson gave us yards after contact

him to punish teams more when CJ and LJH draw attention, but

again running bigger than his size and could’ve had topped it off

that’ll involve getting on the same page deep with Sam.

inside texas

insidetexas.com

SAM EHLINGER battled through an injury out there while drawing arguably the We’ve significantly reduced our WR rotation and I think that’s

best speed rusher in the Big 12.

paying off with the players learning and having a better feel for how they’re being covered. Further, if we can create some un-

Overall, there is a clear difference in this unit four games in. Not

derstanding between Ehlinger and our WRs that cloud coverage

really even arguable anymore. Like their QB, they’re not perfect,

means option routes and adjustments to green grass (paired

but they’ll certainly battle for four quarters.

with an effective running game) then we can punish defenses appropriately for the Drop Errbody approach.

OVERALL

I’d like to see more contact from Beck driving through a smaller

Overcoming TCU is a big mental boost for this football team.

defender and less screening. Brewer isn’t being physical

TCU may be in a bit more of a transitional phase than many

enough and I wonder how much his knee bothers him.

expected or we might care to admit (The Frogs going 5-4 in the Big 12 looks far more likely than 7-2 right now), but beating

OL

them is an important step. Texas was the more physical team on

They really struggled against TCU’s speed outside for a stretch

Saturday and if they can continue to show better execution and

(TCU had 3 sacks during that time and 4 tackles for loss) when

adjustments in the passing game while tapping upside in Ingram

Ehlinger had to hold the ball against coverage, but they acquit-

in the running game, there may be more big plays available to

ted themselves well against the blitz and asserted their will late

complement the current grinding approach.

in the game. Not many outright busts and the negative plays that TCU inflicted in the running game were either good guesses

Now it’s time to put our next Purple demon to bed.

on stunts or just really good individual plays from the TCU defender. TCU is legit quick - it’s part of the deal. Anderson clearly

September - 2018

45

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POST-MORTEM | TCU

D E F E N S E

Here’s a little industry knowledge that’s likely of no interest to

I boldly assert that defense represents 50% of the football team.

you: offensive recaps always garner 20-50% more reads than

When you add in special teams, you’ve got the majority of your

a defensive recap. On all platforms, at all levels, almost without

game performance. So consider this your vegetables and lean

exception, because that’s how most fanbases relate to the

protein and I’ll do my best to be generous with the garnish, but-

game. Credit touchdown plays, glamorous QBs, and everyone

ter and cheese. Dessert comes later.

having an opinion on play-calling (i.e. any play that doesn’t work

The Longhorns are 3-1 for the first time since 2012 and have

is a de facto bad play call).

beaten ranked opponents back-to-back for the first time since 2008. The Longhorn defense is the primary reason why.

September - 2018

47

CADEN STERNS

As expected, Shawn Robinson hurt us running the ball in the

show off.

first half. He had 7 carries for 42 yards at halftime with some key conversions on money downs that allowed TCU’s TD drive (he

DBs

had carries of 17, 11 and 7 yards, including two money down

Kris Boyd had a rough first half, as TCU WR Jalen Reagor

conversions on the drive that gave TCU a 13-10 lead). He only

notched 6 catches for 81 yards and a touchdown. He had 3

carried twice for the remainder of the game after the Bimage

catches for 79 yards in the first quarter, including a 50 yard

strip fumble (which was a great effort by #42). The TCU coaches

scorching that set up a TCU score. He also mesmerized #2 for

lost some confidence in him and Robinson just got plain beat

a half-ending fade route TD where everyone knew TCU had to

up. Orlando played the long game and traded yards for punish-

throw it immediately to a spot and Kris didn’t get a jam or play

ment. It worked.

off and drive on the ball, but sort of just hung out. He also didn’t seem to grasp that a PI in that situation is a 4 point differential in

Against TCU, the Horns forced four turnovers, knocked TCU’s

play result.

QB out of the game and dominated the second half, surren-

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dering one field goal on TCU’s seven second half posses-

Reagor was also robbed of a long score by Caden Sterns on the

sions. While there’s no question that TCU’s domination of the

Turpin pass when Boyd bit on a double move. While I appreci-

Longhorn offense has been the story of the last four years of

ate the REAGOR IS BETTER THAN ANTONIO BROWN crowd,

Purple Reign, the larger script being written for this season post-

once you stop waving pom-poms for TCU’s wide out, it’s notable

Maryland is all about the Texas defense and their ability to keep

that Reagor disappeared from the game (2nd half: 2 catches,

acronym opponents (USC, TCU) largely stuck on their first half

15 yards) after Orlando had Boyd play off coverage, gave him

point total while the Texas offense plods along and wears down

a little safety help on the back half, and Kris stopped getting

the opposing D. It’s winning football. If we could get the offense

caught in the no-man’s land of squatting in “on” coverage while

playing with a significant lead earlier, this defense might really

not attempting to get a jam and stopped jumping everything

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without a safety cover over top. Basically, from a technique and

the ball on a parallel pattern scored him some points for game

scheme standpoint, he got unf***ed. That helped Jerry Rice

awareness. BJ Foster played a very good half of football. When

crossed with Odell Beckham Reagor become mortal again and

he tackles, you can hear it. PJ didn’t play consistently well and

Robinson lost his single read security blanket.

Chris Brown brings aggression but he was caught a little flatfooted at times in his first start.

Caden Sterns has the highest football IQ on the entire defense.

He’s a true freshman and that was his third interception of the

LB

season (along with a blocked field goal). Safeties who turn over

Gary Johnson is terrific at see-ball, chase-ball and blitzing. As

the other team - whether through interceptions, forced fumbles,

long as we continue to use him that way, he’s going to keep

or special teams value add - are as game-changing as any

having game impact. He led Texas in tackles with 11. I think his

player on the field. Enjoy him for 2.8 more years. He’s as in-

effort level when he’s in that mode is terrific. Anthony Wheeler

stinctive a football player as I’ve ever seen. The hesitation move

had a great pop on Robinson in the pocket on a second half

he put on Reagor on his interception return was sweet as well.

blitz, but what little running game TCU mustered was attribut-

He should have just fallen to the ground being in his presence.

able to him getting caught up on blockers.

In the name of balance, I will point out that he missed an open field tackle. Inexcusable. BENCH HIM.

Jeffrey McCulloch has come into his own at B-Backer. While he moves well for a 250 pound man, the thing that distinguishes

Brandon Jones had his best tackling game as a Longhorn.

him is his strength and ability to shock and control bigger OTs.

PJ LOCKE

ATNHONY WHEELER

While he was rewarded with a gift interception and hustle

His remarkable - 7 yard TFL in the red zone when TCU had it on

fumble recovery to round out the box score, his tackling work

the Texas 4 yard line and was seemingly headed for 6 demon-

in the open field is what really impressed me. Davante Davis

strated just how much punch #23 packs. He’s a junior, but he’s

had a really good game overall, giving up only one hickey on a

just now starting to get it.

double move. Seeing him come off his man to make a play on

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CHARLES OMENIHU (90) AND BRECKYN HAGER (44)

DL

SPECIAL TEAMS

Winning isn’t always expressed in sacks or tackles. Orlando

Problematic. Dicker missed two field goals and had a bad

repeatedly played light boxes so that the Texas secondary could

kickoff. The punter continues to struggle and isn’t demonstrating

play multiple coverages, jam up the middle of the field and run

an awareness of when to take his time and boom it and when

some exotic blitzes; the 3 DL were asked to take on 5 OL at the

to kick it quickly. Jamison probably needs to be fired as a kick

point of attack and win. They did that much more often than not.

returner until he can show better decision-making. Returning a kick from three yards deep to “make something happen” and

TCU’s losses in the OL were evident from last year and Nelson

forcing a hold by Josh Thompson so that the Texas offense

and Wilbon did a great job controlling the C-G gaps, making

starts on the 5 isn’t the happening we’re looking for. Fortunately,

Darius Anderson irrelevant (8 carries, 18 yards) and taking away

TCU didn’t hurt us much with their own ST performance as their

any credibility in TCU’s play action game. TCU got pretty pre-

punter also struggled, their return game didn’t hurt us, and Song

dictable in the second half and became a conventional offense.

missed one of his 4 field goal attempts.

Not good for them.

OVERALL Hager hit us with two off-sides but he played big inside and

Texas played smart D for the most part. Very few penalties

didn’t give up ground. Same for Omenihu. Graham continues to

and once the coverage approach on Reagor was corrected at

play really good football and he drew a hold that saved a TCU

halftime, Robinson lost his single read security blanket. I wrote

skill player from a decapitation.

about the importance of making TCU turn to Page 2 in my preview and when they were forced to do so after Texas took away

I think these guys are getting a little too much grief from what

their inside running game and misdirection “Texas beaters”, and

I’ve read on the boards. The game plan was to beg TCU to run

put the game on Shawn Robinson’s shoulders playing behind an

on favorables boxes and alignments (sometimes we got a little

inexperienced OL, he broke.

carried away there with the 5 men in the box stuff) and use speed and bodies in the back 7 to turn over Robinson. Hard to

Kansas State on the road will present its own unique challenges

argue with the results.

next week, but by way of quick preview, the purple plague in Manhattan ain’t what it used to be.

50

HORNS BREAK P

BY JOE COOK

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52

PURPLE CURSE

MANHATTAN, KS — It was almost purple misery.

After the No. 18 Texas Longhorns shut out the Kansas State Wildcats in the first half, KSU head coach Bill Snyder made the decision to switch from singlewing runner Alex Delton to passer Skyler Thompson at quarterback.

D’SHAWN JAMISON

The decision almost paid off, as Thompson helped organize drives leading to 14 unanswered points in the second half. However, he needed one more score he never got, and Texas won in Manhattan, 19-14, for the first time since 2002.

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T

exas controlled the game in the opening 30

Thompson trotted out with the Wildcat offense under

minutes, specifically on the defensive side of

center to begin the second half, and when the stadium

the ball. The Wildcats managed just 64 yards

public address relayed that he was under center to the

of total offense, while Texas put up 191. That defensive

crowd, most of the 49,916 let out a loud cheer.

effort paid off on special teams, as freshman D’Shawn Jamison returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown to

Snyder’s decision immediately paid dividends, Thomp-

give Texas an early lead.

son led a 10 play, 82-yard drive to the end zone, running it in from seven yards out for the score. That drive was

Sophomore Sam Ehlinger found junior Collin Johnson

18 more yards than the Wildcats amassed in the entire

for a second quarter score to make it 14-0, and junior

first half.

Charles Omenihu sacked Delton in the end zone on the ensuing series to make it 16-0.

“The kid was playing really good,” Texas head coach Tom Herman said of Thompson’s performance. “We

“They were rolling out, and I recognized it pretty quickly,”

had guys in position. I remember one out route that PJ

Omenihu said. “On those kind of plays just try to get

(Locke) had. He was right on the guy’s hip and he put it on the perfect shoulder. He eluded pressure well. I don’t think it was any slowness to adjustment. I think their quarterback played really, really well.”

After a good first half, the Longhorn offense struggled mightily in the second half. It went four and out on its first drive, and it could have been worse.

Freshman Ryan Bujcevski had to jump to field a deep snap, and was forced to quickly get off a punt in the face of pressure that only went 17 yards. Texas’ next drive ended with a missed Dicker field goal.

After that kick sailed right, Texas had at that point undertaken two of its four second-half drives.

Kansas State scored on its drive that spanned the third and fourth quarters. A heavy dose of running back Alex Barnes and efficient passing from Thompson put the

CHARLES OMENIHU

Wildcats within one touchdown of taking the lead.

It was a lead they would not get. They had an opportunity

upfield as fast as you can. I saw the lane between the

to drive for the go-ahead score following a Texas punt,

guard and the tackle and shot it. The quarterback was

but senior Breckyn Hager made sure that didn’t happen.

right there.”

On a 3rd-and-6 from K-State’s own 20, Hager knocked down a pass at the line of scrimmage forcing the Wild-

Freshman Cameron Dicker hit a 28-yard field goal to

cats to punt.

make it 19-0, and after Kansas State failed to convert a

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goal-line opportunity at the end of the half, everything

The Wildcat crowd was into the game at this point after

looked in Texas’ favor.

remaining silent for much of the second quarter. If Texas

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didn’t succeed on its final drive beginning with 6:20 remaining

SAM EHLINGER

in the game, a strong possibility existed that Texas’ woes in Bill Snyder Family Stadium would continue. If the Wildcats got the ball back, they had momentum and an offense under Thompson the Longhorns struggled to contain all afternoon.

They would not get the ball back. Texas bled clock over the last 6:20 to end the game in possession of the football, and end K-State’s win streak over the Longhorns at home.

“To end the game the way that we did when things were looking fairly bleak there for most of the second half, for the defense to get the offense the ball back up by five, and then I believe for the fourth straight week, our offense getting a few first downs and ended it taking a knee against the defense,” Herman

to be extra guys,” Herman said. “We felt like he was our best opportunity to make that guy miss.”

It also had its struggles. Ehlinger completed 29 of his 36 passes, but missed several open receivers and only accumulated 207 yards. Texas didn’t play it’s best game,

said. “That’s pretty tough to do.”

but still won.

With that, Texas achieved it’s first victory in Manhattan

“It probably does,” Herman said when asked if it was a

since 2002 under Mack Brown. Coincidentally, a piece of advice that Brown told Herman prior to the game in Manhattan was one of the main points he gave to his team prior to the trip to Kansas.

“He said make sure you tell your team that the Kansas State team that you see on video is not going to be the same Kansas State team you see in Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Saturday afternoon,” Herman said. “You’re going to get a more aggressive, a more cohesive, a more physical outfit. He was exactly right.”

The offense had it’s bright spots this game, including Ingram. The freshman had 68 yards on 10 carries, and touched the ball four times on the game-ending drive.

sign of improvement that his team could win with a ‘C+ performance.’ “That’s to take nothing away from coach Snyder and the job that his team did. We won ugly I guess is a better way to put it, but the key word in there is ‘won.’”

In the end, it still resulted in a Longhorn victory. Texas now enters the Red River Shootout 4-1 against an undefeated Oklahoma.

There doesn’t need to be any additional motivation for that game, and the players know it.

“We’ll definitely enjoy this win and then focus on that team on Sunday,” Omenihu said. “Everybody knows what this game means. Ain’t too much talking about it.”

“When you’re in those situations and everybody in the stadium knows you’re running the football, there’s going

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