Film room: Analyzing Quinn Ewers' targets of Xavier Worthy at Oklahoma State
After Texas’ 41-34 loss to the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Stillwater, Okla., Longhorn quarterback Quinn Ewers said the OSU defense had a “pretty good plan” in place for defending his favorite target, Xavier Worthy.
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Worthy finished with four receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown catch, but it came at the expense of 16 targets. Even if a couple of those targets had questionable attribution to Worthy, that figure shows how often Ewers locked in to No. 8.
It also indicates Worthy’s ability to get open, and Ewers’ inability to find him at least inside Boone Pickens Stadium.
The latest edition of Inside Texas’ film room assesses what went right and what went wrong when Ewers looked for Worthy against Oklahoma State.
Q1 – 1st and 10 (-25)
The opening play of the opening script involves a simple crossing route that Ewers throws behind Worthy. It did hit Worthy in the hands, but there isn’t much of a reason to throw behind here. He’s underneath the zone and doesn’t need protecting from a big hit. It goes down as the first of many incompletions.
Q1 – 1st and 10 (-48)
Ewers stands in the pocket and throws the deep corner to Worthy, taking a big hit after getting rid of the ball. This is one of his best throws of the day from the near hash to the far sideline, and it sets up what turns into a scoring drive a few plays later. Jordan Whittington runs a stop route against the corner, and Worthy turns the safety’s hips.
In this instance, Ewers and Worthy had no problem connecting on a downfield pass, though this is a portion of the stadium that was very sheltered from the crosswind blowing north.
Q1 – 2nd and goal (+12)
The Cowboy cornerback on the near side of the field has one of the more obvious “oh no” moments when trying to track Worthy’s motion. His mishap gives Worthy plenty of space to operate in before he makes defenders miss and finds the end zone.
Q1 – 1st and 10 (-41)
It’s important to note how the motion from Bijan Robinson affected the coverage on this play. Robinson splitting wide puts a safety against Worthy. The protection holds up enough for Ewers to be able to step into his throw, although he does take a shot at the end. It’s not a bad throw, but judging by Worthy’s helmet he looks a couple different places before he appears to finally track it. By that point it’s too late, and he can’t reach or dive for it. This drive would end in a punt.
Q2 – 1st and 10 (+44)
Worthy is formationed onto a safety yet again via the 2×2 look in 12 personnel. He runs past his man, but pressure in the face of Ewers again forces him to throw a little quicker than he would have liked. It’s an impressive throw off his back foot with pressure in his face, but it overshoots Worthy and Texas can’t make this into a 28-17 lead.
Q2 – 2nd and 17 (+19)
This one for some reason went down as a target to Worthy. Worthy was on the right hash in the end zone. Ewers threw over the left hash. There was a miscommunication somewhere, but finding Worthy’s involvement in this play to credit him with a target was quite a leap.
Q2 – 3rd and 5 (-25)
Tough to tell what happens here aside from this being a quick pass to Worthy in space for the first.
Q2 – 2nd and 10 (-34)
At least with Worthy, this is the first uncatchable errant throw from Ewers. It doesn’t appear from this look or from the end zone replay that the ball is tipped. This ball is just sailed.
Q2 – 2nd and 9 (-26)
Remember, the wind is blowing from the bottom of the screen to the top of the screen here, with a very slight 5 o’clock to 11 o’clock tilt. Ewers sees Worthy, despite double coverage, running downfield. Worthy gets past both but an off throw knocked down by the wind falls to the ground without an attempt at the catch.
Even after motion, OSU stayed in double-coverage on Worthy and Ewers still looked his way. At the top of the screen is an open receiver.
Q3 – 2nd and 5 (+47)
Ewers has a clean pocket from which to step and throw out of. Only two receivers, Worthy and Whittington, run a route. At the bottom of the screen, it’s possible to see Whittington breaking on his deep whip route. Ewers had already thrown to Worthy by that point, and the pass is again errant.
Q3 – 2nd and 10 (-28)
This one is another throwaway. Ewers was under pressure, and chunked it deep to where no one could get it. Worthy was in the area, more so than the earlier example.
Q3 – 1st and 10 (-20)
Look familiar? This is pretty close to Ewers’ first target of Worthy that fell incomplete. Despite the double-clutch, Ewers and Worthy connect for the long gain of 27 yards. Not much happens after this play, as Texas would eventually punt. It did flip the field, however, as Daniel Trejo’s punt went out of bounds at the OSU one.
Q3 – 3rd and 10 (-47)
It’s tough to tell what’s happening here downfield, and if Worthy was the original intended receiver considering Ja’Tavion Sanders looks open. But note what’s happening with Ewers’ base. The OSU defensive end bowls over Christian Jones. When diving to the ground, he manages to knock Ewers’ back foot off platform. It has an obvious effect on the throw, making Ewers essentially throw without a base.
Q4 – 3rd and 10 (-25)
This play follows a good example of freshmen mistakes to be expected with Ewers, unless it was a Steve Sarkisian decision. The game clock is running out to end the quarter on the play prior and there’s not much of a reason to run another play after a seven-yard first down gain. Jake Majors‘ snap is fine, but Ewers drops it. Roschon Johnson has to jump on it, setting up the 3rd and 10.
On the following play, Ewers looks left but returns his gaze to Worthy, who has three defenders around him. Their presence doesn’t matter considering Ewers overthrows everyone in frame.
Q4 – 3rd and 7 (+28)
Likely the most painful miss from this game. Worthy and Whittington switch at the line of scrimmage to get Worthy matched up with a safety once again. He turns the safety around and runs toward the corner. Ewers makes a good throw, but Worthy has a small stumble that throws off his gait and his attempt at the football comes up short. The next play, Bert Auburn would miss a 46 yard field goal. On the ensuing drive, Oklahoma State would score the go-ahead touchdown.
Q4 – 1st and 15 (-41)
A simple “let’s take a deep shot to our guy” play that falls incomplete during Texas’ final desperation drive. A few plays later, Ewers would be intercepted to quash the Longhorn threat and seal the game for the Cowboys.
Ewers and Worthy each had ups and downs throughout the game, but their ability to both find success on the same snap was fleeting. Of 16 targets, more needed to work for the Longhorns to walk out of Stillwater with a win.
It’s part of a growing process for a freshman quarterback working with a sophomore wide receiver for the first time. Unfortunately for Texas, that growing process came at the expense of a conference loss.
