Longhorns Update: Missed Opportunities

I am sure that we really shouldn’t have expected much this season. Considering that the Longhorns have played 20 freshman over the course of the first few games, it appears that they are thinking about the long term plan. But the University of Texas got off to a fast start, and lulled everyone into a Top 25, errr, fringes-of-the-Top-10 ranking (depending on the poll you read).

That was the mistake. This team really shouldn’t be looking at a Top 25 ranking. What makes matters worse is that they would be forced to play two Top 10 teams in consecutive weeks. The truth would be revealed. Quickly. The Longhorns have been 7 – 0 the week after an OU loss. Until now.

A good team can take advantage of turnovers and opportunities. An inexperienced and young team typically won’t. This Longhorns team is currently the latter. The defense managed to force a number of 3-and-out situations on the high-scoring Cowboys offense.

But two big plays put 14 points on the OSU side of the scoreboard. Two long runs from scrimmage, in which the running back was untouched, killed them. Where were the linebackers? A good, experienced team just doesn’t make those mistakes, at least not that many and not in consecutive weeks. Eliminate those miscues, drop those 14 points, and you really have a game on your hands.

But that is why the games are played, and even with the best of intentions, we still can’t drop points from the tally.

The offense arrived with new starting quarterback David Ash, a true freshman. The next four years certainly look promising, but for now, we are seeing signs of brilliance balanced with signs of inexperience. Ash’s numbers really weren’t bad: 22 of 40. But when the total is only 139 yards, you can see that all the passes were short and safe. The game plan was conservative at best, even for co-offensive coordinators Harsin and Applewhite. But based on what I have seen over the past few weeks, the future success of the program lies in Ash’s hands – at least for the time being.

Unfortunately, the offense couldn’t take advantage of the solid work (for the most part) that was done by the defense. Against a team like Oklahoma State, that was simply flirting with disaster. Missed opportunities eventually turned into the normal Cowboys offensive juggernaut. You can only hold them for so long, and you need to convert on the opportunities when they exist. The Horns didn’t, and they paid the price for it.

Signs of brilliance have also returned to the UT running game. Non-existent in recent years, they now have Malcolm Brown, who appears to be growing into the big shoes that he was asked to fill when he was recruited. Brown had 135 yards with a 7.1 yard per carry average. But once again, DJ Monroe – he of the 8.3 yards per carry average – somehow doesn’t get the ball very often given his numbers. There has to be more to this story than meets the eye – I mean, seriously, how do you continue to ignore those numbers?

Saturday’s game was one of missed opportunities, indeed. But the future does look bright. If I look down the road to 2013 and 2014, then I can see 20 or more freshman becoming well-seasoned juniors and seniors. I can also see a dynamite offense just itching to score 40+ points a game.

With any luck, their next game against Kansas will put them back in the win column and one step closer to being bowl eligible again.

Photo credits: abesselink