Texas’ offense was built to be one of the best in college football under Steve Sarkisian, but you would not have guessed that from the Longhorns’ opener against Ohio State last season.
The No. 1 team in the country came away with only seven points against a Buckeyes defense that was as tough as advertised, then turned around and averaged 32.4 points per game the rest of the way. That contrast is what makes the September 12 rematch such an interesting test, and it also puts Sarkisian’s approach under the microscope.
Yes, Arch Manning and left guard Connor Stroh drew their share of blame. But the playcalling deserves a hard look too. Texas spent too much of that first game trying to protect Manning instead of letting him attack.
The script was conservative from the start. Sarkisian leaned on under-center snaps, two-tight-end packages and a clear effort to stay away from the middle of the field. The idea was simple: give Manning help against a loaded Ohio State defense and keep the pressure off his first season as the undisputed starter.
Texas lined up with two tight ends on 12 plays across its first six drives last August, and Manning went under center eight times. That was a much different look from the Longhorns’ first six drives against Vanderbilt, when they used two-tight-end sets only four times and Manning stayed in shotgun on every snap.
Those choices were supposed to create better run-game angles and improve the blocking in front of the quarterback. Instead, they made Texas easier to read. And by moving Manning under center, Sarkisian also took away part of what makes him dangerous: his legs.
The caution extended beyond formation. Sarkisian also held back from attacking the middle of the field or leaning on screen passes, likely because of Ohio State’s linebacker group and Caleb Downs.
Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese and Downs were all eventually selected in the first 11 picks of this year’s draft, and that talent clearly shaped the way Texas called the game. But the restraint came with a cost, because it narrowed the playbook even more.
Even after Texas shifted later toward lighter personnel and more shotgun snaps, the game had already tilted. Once the Longhorns had spent so long trying to play Ohio State’s style, they never fully got back to their own.
The adjustment halfway through that game points to the cleaner answer for Texas going forward: stay in shotgun and use three-wide receiver sets. More importantly, Sarkisian cannot let the matchup scare him out of what his offense does best.
Texas has to open fast and keep the pressure on teams like Ohio State. That means putting Manning in the best possible position to use his strengths instead of hiding them. Sarkisian made real progress in that area as the season went on, and with another offseason of work with his quarterback, the Longhorns should be ready to attack from the first snap on September 12.
If they are not, another frustrating result could be waiting.
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Texas Suddenly Has A Fall Camp O-Line Problem
Texas offensive line picture took a sudden turn in fall camp, with two projected starters dealing with injury setbacks at a time when the group is trying to settle into a rhythm. Trevor Goosby was hurt in practice, and Laurence Seymore also had a minor issue during the first scrimmage, forcing the staff to keep adjusting combinations up front while the rest of the offense keeps moving toward the season opener.
The result has been a new-look first unit in recent practice, with Dylan Sikorski getting extended work alongside the starters as the Longhorns sort through their depth. For a line that was supposed to be building cohesion, the timing is less than ideal, and the coming days will say plenty about how stable Texas can feel when the games begin. [Read more 🡒]
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Mannings own movement has helped keep the damage from looking worse than it could have been, since his elusiveness has limited sacks even when plays have broken down. Still, the concern for Texas is obvious: if the protection issues keep showing up, the numbers may not tell the full story for long, and the Longhorns will need more than quarterback escape ability to keep the offense on schedule. [Read more 🡒]