11-24-2019, 11:47 AM
Less than a year ago Texas went to New Orleans and hit Georgia in the mouth for a Sugar Bowl win. That victory sparked a rousing proclamation by Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger: “Weâ€re baaaaack.†Flash forward 11 months, and the Longhorns are decidedly not back following a 24-10 loss to No. 14 Baylor (10-1). Itâ€s not exactly a surprise to see the Bears handle the Longhorns at home. Thatâ€s also the issue. Texas isnâ€t supposed to lose to Baylor. Texas isnâ€t even supposed to play Baylor close.
Welcome to Texas†new reality.
There are a myriad of things wrong with the Longhorns. Injuries are a big problem. Youth is too. Yet it's hard to look at Baylor, a team that finished 1-11 just two seasons ago, and make any sort of excuse for a program with Texas†talent to faceplant in this manner. The Longhorns rank seventh in 247Sports Team Talent Composite. The Bears rank 35th. This is a coaching and development issue. Itâ€s evident when Texas has 104 penalty yards. Itâ€s evident when Texas punts on fourth-and-5 from Baylorâ€s 44 in the first quarter of a tie game but goes for it on fourth-and-3 from Baylorâ€s 39 facing an 11-point third-quarter deficit. Itâ€s evident when you watch Texas†offense continually run the same quarterback power and zone-read rushing plays from the same formation. It's evident when defenders miss tackles and miss their run fits.Â
This was the year the Longhorns were supposed to take a step forward. Instead, theyâ€ve fallen flat.
A long offseason full of critical decisions awaits Tom Herman... https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/Co...39085709_4
Welcome to Texas†new reality.
There are a myriad of things wrong with the Longhorns. Injuries are a big problem. Youth is too. Yet it's hard to look at Baylor, a team that finished 1-11 just two seasons ago, and make any sort of excuse for a program with Texas†talent to faceplant in this manner. The Longhorns rank seventh in 247Sports Team Talent Composite. The Bears rank 35th. This is a coaching and development issue. Itâ€s evident when Texas has 104 penalty yards. Itâ€s evident when Texas punts on fourth-and-5 from Baylorâ€s 44 in the first quarter of a tie game but goes for it on fourth-and-3 from Baylorâ€s 39 facing an 11-point third-quarter deficit. Itâ€s evident when you watch Texas†offense continually run the same quarterback power and zone-read rushing plays from the same formation. It's evident when defenders miss tackles and miss their run fits.Â
This was the year the Longhorns were supposed to take a step forward. Instead, theyâ€ve fallen flat.
A long offseason full of critical decisions awaits Tom Herman... https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/Co...39085709_4