Longhorns Update: Reality Check In Dallas

Reality – what a concept. If you were around in 1979, it was the name of a Robin Williams album. Good laughs, indeed. If you were at the State Fair this past weekend, it was what you embraced following the Longhorns’ 55 – 17 loss to Boomer Sooner. No laughs there.

It was, without doubt, a reality check.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have made light of the Texas A&M Aggies for their recent inability to play for more than two quarters. I may have to apologize – at least they got 2 quarters in. The University of Texas Longhorns mustered a sum total of one quarter of good play against Oklahoma this past weekend.

For one quarter, they were in the game. The defense had managed to shut down the OU rushing attack, and they did a lot of bending and not much breaking in the red zone. The score was 6 – 3. But then reality set in.

The Longhorns gave up 3 touchdowns on offense. Yes, the OU defense scored 21 points. They outscored the Texas team. If we overlook the silliness of that, it is still a 34 – 17 game.

The defense looked great – for one quarter. Then the pass defense flood gates opened, and Landry Jones lit up the UT secondary. Inexperienced? Absolutely – and it showed.

Strangely enough, the offensive game plan was totally unimaginative - after the first quarter. It was a lackluster use of the playbook on the offensive side of the ball. All the wrinkles that had been gradually appearing from week to week? Gone. Ash and McCoy were put in too many third-and-long situations, and their inexperience became apparent under the duress. The offensive line somehow couldn’t find the right people to block. Find someone, anyone, and block – please.

Once again, DJ Monroe had the highest number of yards per carry – a 7.7 yard average – but they only gave him the ball 3 times. I thought that the ghost of Greg Davis had made an appearance. He had 58 all-purpose yards, which on this team is solid. I don’t care if he breaks all the “rules” or not – not big enough, not strong enough, not whatever enough – give him the ball, please.

The one bright light – well, modestly bright – was Fozzy Whittaker. He had one great kick return for a touchdown, 6 carries for 43 yards, and one reception for 15 yards. It was a solid day for Whittaker, who has seen more than his share of injuries in seasons past.

In hindsight, it was perhaps one of the worst total game performances I have seen from the Longhorns in recent memory. Yes, it was against OU, which always make a loss just that much worse. But Oklahoma State comes to town this weekend, and they know how to get up and down the field.

It might be time to get another copy of that Robin Williams CD. It could be a long October.

Photo credits: nualabugeye