Kyle Flood explains key to opening up explosive passing game in 2023

As Texas heads into the 2023 season with lofty expectations, one key question is whether the program can develop a bit more of an explosive passing game.

The Longhorns didn’t have a single passing play go for more than 50 yards in 2022, one of only three FBS teams that could say that along with Ball State and Northwestern. Not the kind of statistic you want to be a part of.

But the pieces in place are there to be more explosive this fall.

“I don’t see it as a responsibility of the quarterback or a responsibility of the running back, I think that’s the responsibility of all 11 players on the field to create those types of opportunities,” offensive coordinator Kyle Flood said. “We are certainly going to call those types of plays, there is no question about that.”

With a weapon like Xavier Worthy at receiver, to say nothing of Jordan Whittington or Ja’Tavion Sanders as pass-catchers, Texas has the pieces to have an explosive passing game.

Veteran starting quarterback Quinn Ewers is also back and healthy again.

“Those plays are going to get called and now we have to 11-man execute those plays to be able to have the 50-plus yard completions that I think this offense is used to having,” Flood said.

But there will also be a challenge in building an explosive passing game this season. Unlike last year, the surefire ground game might not be so rock solid. Gone are Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson, who combined for more than 2,000 yards rushing and 23 touchdowns last season.

Take that away and what does the offense look like?

“I think for us having 10 returning starters on offense, I think that’s great. That’s good. We like that,” Flood said. “But the players that are not here, Bijan and Roschon, both starting-caliber players for sure. Bijan being really a transcendent player.”

Flood outlined exactly what Texas will have to do to cope with the losses and still produce an explosive passing game, even if the run counterbalance isn’t quite as strong.

“The first thing is we’re going to have to be really efficient running the football and we’re going to have to make people defend the run, because that’s part of it,” Flood said. “Now we were able to do that last year, so the next part becomes, all right, we have to make sure that we are protecting the quarterback the way that he needs to be protected to allow the receivers to get down the field. And then when the ball’s in the air we’ve got to make contested catches. So we’ve got to make good throws and contested catches.”