Joshua Moore on Texas' offense, adding weight, the quarterback battle
Junior Joshua Moore was the leading wide receiver for the Texas Longhorns in 2020, hauling in 30 catches for 472 yards and nine touchdowns in 10 starts. Those aren’t bad numbers, but they fail to paint the picture of his season.
Against TCU, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, and Iowa State, games in which Texas was 2-2, Moore caught no more than one pass. He recorded zero catches against the Horned Frogs and Mountaineers. No. 1 receivers, which Moore in essence was last season, can’t go on three-game stretches where they record two total receptions.
Moore knows he and the rest of the receivers need to bring it week after week, day after day, rep after rep in order to provide what Steve Sarkisian is looking for from his pass-catchers during his first season as Texas’ head coach.
“He’s really big on consistency,” Moore said Saturday. “The way I see it, if you’re making plays, especially in fall camp every single practice and you have no drops offs and you’re improving every practice, then you’re going to be on the field. Everybody’s just trying to compete.”
After playing at 162 pounds last season, Moore realized one way to help him be more consistent was adding physicality. His quickness and speed are the hallmarks of his game, but those tools can’t be utilized if the defender is able to push him around near the line of scrimmage.
Now he’s at 174 pounds, drawing recent praise from Sarkisian as one of a handful of players who added good weight and made progress with their bodies during the offseason.
But adding size and gaining muscle wasn’t Moore’s top priority, though it certainly ranked close to the top.
“The thing I wanted to improve on most from last season was just reading the defense,” Moore said. “In this offense, it’s definitely necessary because whatever defense they run, we have to adjust our route and stuff like that.”
According to Moore, if he and the other receivers can read the defense properly, there should be plenty of playmaking opportunities in Sarkisian’s offense
“What makes it so unique is that every receiver who runs a route, it doesn’t matter what defense they play, somebody will be open no matter what,” Moore said. “It’s all up to the guy to make the play. I mean, that’s the best way to put that. It’s literally, somebody will be open every play. That’s what makes it so exciting.”
Moore, Texas’ WRs are a key part of the QB battle
Texas’ wide receivers know they have to perform well in practice to give Casey Thompson and Hudson Card, two players competing for the starting quarterback position, their best opportunity to win the job.
That is the most high-profile position battle for the Longhorns this preseason, but the depth chart at wide receiver is by no means set in stone. Xavier Worthy, who Moore mentioned reminds him of himself, is making plays and drawing praise behind the scenes.
Moore, Worthy, and the rest of the receivers credit their playmaking ability to the quality throws they’ve received from Thompson and Card.
“Both of them sling the rock,” Moore said. “They make us look good. It’s not that we make them look good. If you come to practice, you’ll see for yourself. They’re putting it right where it needs to be, and it’s a strong battle right now.”
Is there a preference among the receivers for who wins the job? Moore diffused that notion, and said the receiving corps will be ready to roll with anyone.
“Whoever ends up winning the starting spot, they deserve it,” Moore said. “Or they both deserve it in my opinion. I’m just looking forward to the season now. Whoever the quarterback is, I’m fine with it, and I speak for all the receivers.”
Cover photo by Will Gallagher for Inside Texas
