A tough Texas football team to figure out

Usually by this time of the season, I have a real sense of where a Texas football team is. Heck, we all usually do.

[Get ONE MONTH of Inside Texas Plus for $1!]

But right now, I personally don’t.

I wish I could say otherwise. But I have more questions than answers.

Understandably, some may take that as pessimism or unnecessary concern on my part. Others may see it as a lack of perceptiveness.

Whether that’s because the Texas defense that I thought was markedly improved gave up 34 points in 60 minutes to a Tech offense last Saturday that scored just 14 and 20 in regulation to NC State and Houston, respectively, or that we still don’t have a firm grasp of what this offense is without the team’s first-string quarterback playing more than a quarter against a Power 5 school, I don’t know.

I think it’s actually that there are a number of factors that don’t allow me to pinpoint any single one.

**

So here’s what I think I know, the good and the bad…

Offense

– The Texas passing game feels muted with Hudson Card. Whether by design or because of personnel, the Horns are not making enough plays when throwing the ball. While Card is getting more competent each week, he’s not exactly lighting the world on fire when doing so.

In my view, with Card at the helm, Texas would not have a decided advantage at the QB position in any remaining games this season (except maybe Iowa State?). That is unsettling if Quinn Ewers’ injury lingers and is unable to return soon.

– The Texas OL is ok in pass protection, perhaps better than anticipated, but struggles moving people in the run game. Is that a biproduct of youth? Probably. Whatever the case may be, it’s also muting the ability of two of the team’s best players – Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson.

The Horns need more consistency in the run game. But how are they going to make that happen, or can they?

– Jordan Whittington continues to be solid and is probably the team’s non-Bijan MVP on offense at this stage. And that’s also part of the problem. The team’s most explosive player is Xavier Worthy. Texas needs to get the ball in his hands.

– In all, it’s a Texas offense that lacks an identity they can lean on in difficult times.

They can’t run consistently in the second half when boxes tighten against better defenses. And they don’t scare folks in the passing game with Card.

It’s hard for me to make sense of a team without an identity.

Defense

– The biggest positive? The run defense is dramatically improved. The Horns have allowed just one big run all year from a running back.

– Is the pass rush improved? Yes. Is it to a level that it strikes fear in any opponent? No.

– Is linebacker play improved? Yes.

– Is the secondary improved? Yes. They are tackling better and filling run lanes better. And they’re not getting beat badly over the top.

But they are not, as a collective group, very strong in coverage. They don’t contest nearly enough passes. They allow receivers to sit in zone coverages, too often guarding open grass instead of the receiver in their area.

– Texas doesn’t have a A+ playmaker on defense. Not every team does. So what are reasonable expectations for the Horns?

– In all, I see a defense that is improved but not overwhelming anywhere, and perhaps a day late and a dollar short in coverage.

A better pass rush might help. Coverage improvement is possible, even likely with experience, but more nuanced.

Overall, I see a defense that lets the competency of the opposing offense too often dictate the outcome.

So what can anyone really make of that? The success or failure is more often predicated on the ability of the opponent than the Texas defense itself.

**

As Texas prepares to take on West Virginia Saturday night at DKR, I don’t know which way this game will go.

The Horns are favored by ~9.5. But Texas was favored by 7 in Lubbock and two touchdown underdogs against Bama.

Figuring out this team is a conundrum I have yet to crack. I don’t think I’m alone in that fact.