JD PicKell: Why Quinn Ewers could take Texas' offense to another level in 2023

Quinn Ewers looked good early on at Texas last year before an injury sidelined him for a few games. Now in his second year in the system — and with plenty of playmakers around him — Ewers could be gearing up for a big leap, according to On3’s J.D. PicKell.

In Steve Sarkisian’s run-pass-option offense, Ewers has to make decisions quickly. That’s why a year of experience could be big for him, especially considering he showed flashes last year after transferring from Ohio State. In 10 games, Ewers threw for 2,177 yards and 15 touchdowns, including 134 yards on 9-of-12 passing against Alabama before leaving with an injury that sidelined him for a few weeks.

Now, PicKell said it’s all about decision-making.

“Why I’m excited about Quinn Ewers in this offense, it’s gonna be his second year. And last year, you saw it,” PicKell said on The Hard Count. “There were times where it wasn’t like he was making the wrong decision, but he would make the right decision too late, which would eventually result in being the wrong decision. And then, this run pass option offense, in this RPO scheme, it happens quick, fast and in a hurry, man. You take the snap, you go and put the running back and you put the ball in his belly, and there’s the mesh point, and you got like a second and a half to make that decision. It’s not five steps and a hitch, gather, read the field. There’s some deep concepts baked into what Steve Sarkisian does.

“But the bread and butter is, ‘Hey, you better know what you’re looking at and you better get the ball out quick, fast as soon as you know where to go with it because that window is closing quickly. You don’t have a long time to make a decision. So being in the second year of the system, now, the expectations for Quinn Ewers they start to go up.”

JD PicKell: If Quinn Ewers takes the next step, it’s ‘gonna be a lot of fun on the Forty Acres’

Ewers looked solid in Texas’ spring game last month, throwing for 195 yards and a touchdown on 16-of-23 passing. Sarkisian has also talked about how things feel more “natural” and “the gears” are moving better this time around.

That’s a good sign, PicKell said, and Ewers’ success under center would have a ripple effect across the roster.

“What we saw in the spring game is encouraging, and the way they’re talking about Quinn Ewers is encouraging,” PicKell said. “… He’s understanding the scheme better, he’s getting a better feel for the offense is how it sounds. If that’s the case, Quinn Ewers in his success — I 1,000% believe — is parallel to the success of this offense, to the success of this Longhorn football team.”

Texas’ run game was the straw that stirred the drink for the offense last year. The Longhorns averaged 188.2 yards per game on the ground as Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson led the rushing attack. Now, getting the pass game going will help take the offense to the next level and really have it firing on all cylinders. After all, Texas not only has its two leading receivers back in Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington, but added AD Mitchell from the transfer portal. Mitchell came in as the No. 5-ranked transfer to hit the portal this cycle, according to the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings.

All that should help the offense hum this season, according to PicKell.

“For Quinn Ewers, it all starts with him,” PicKell said. “It all goes through him. Decision-making not just being improved, but being quicker. In this RPO scheme, it happens fast. If he does take that next step, [it’s] gonna be a lot of fun on the Forty Acres. Too many pass catchers. The defense just can’t align accordingly. You can’t stop the run and stop the pass at the same time. Not how Texas plays, at least.”