Texas football is now on its second bye week of the season. Here are three things the Longhorns need to improve on before their matchup against Kansas.
Passing game
Sam Ehlinger has struggled a bit since the Longhorns came off their first bye week. This must change immediately for Ehlinger and the Longhorns sake. He’s played decent and Texas is on a win streak right now, but Ehlinger must step up and lead the offense.
He’s the best player on this Longhorns right now but isn’t playing like it. Texas needs to see the guy that was playing at a Heisman level and people were really talking about the possibility of him winning it. Ehlinger can lead Texas back to the Big 12 Championship, but college football fans will just have to wait and see how this one is going to shape up.
Texas defense
Yes, the Longhorns defense has played outstanding since their first bye week ended. However, outside of Oklahoma State, Baylor and West Virginia are outside the level of competition Texas is used to playing. They’re the type of opponents you would expect a talented team like Texas to blow out.
The Longhorns’ best defensive game this season was against Oklahoma State. Yes, they allowed 34 points and it took overtime for Texas to win. However, if you can force multiple turnovers and get multiple sacks in the same game, then you don’t play close to that level against lower skilled opponents, and you’re going to be in a world of hurt when you play against tougher competition.
Running game
The running game is fine in terms of the statistics it puts up every week. However, when you don’t have a main running back that takes a bulk of the carries, it can be difficult for the main running back, whoever that may be, to get in a groove.
Bijan Robinson needs to be that guy. He has been the more efficient and consistent running back out of him, Keaontay Ingram and Roschon Johnson. This running game can be great, and Robinson is going to be the guy to make it happen. An efficient running game will make opposing defenses prepare for Texas differently.
Looking forward
Texas has its easiest game of the season next Saturday against Kansas. If the Longhorns don’t win that game by a big margin, it’ll be hard to be optimistic about the rest of the season. Texas has to win out the rest of the season, then needs a couple of teams to lose to have a chance to qualify for the Big 12 Championship.
This next game against Kansas will tell a lot of how the rest of the season will turn out. There is absolutely no margin for error. The Longhorns need absolutely everyone if they’re going to accomplish the goals they have for this season. Tom Herman and his players will have to get them there and prevent playing down to the competition, which is something Texas has done multiple times this season.
Photo courtesy of WVUSports.com
