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2022 Kansas Football Post Mortem: Offense

by:Paul Wadlington•11/19/22
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(Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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With that touchdown run four minutes into the third quarter — Bijan Robinson’s 4th journey to the blue paint — the Top 5 all-time leading runner in Texas history had already accumulated 230 yards rushing at over 10 yards per carry. He would finish the game with 243 rushing yards, with no single run longer than 32 yards, a statistical testimony to his consistent gouging of the Jayhawk defense. 350+ rushing yards was a near certainty for #5 if Texas wanted to chase history, but Sark wisely chose to preserve his bell cow. Frankly, things didn’t slow down much without him. The Longhorns totaled an amazing 57 rushing attempts for 427 yards, stubbornly running the ball irrespective of down and distance and even with seconds on the clock during an end of half two minute drill.

That hard-headed persistence paid dividends in the form of a 55-14 thumping and the finest Texas performance of the year. The Longhorns utterly dominated the Jayhawks like they were the David Beaty circa 2015 version instead of a dangerous bowl team that had not lost a game by more than two scores this season. It also demonstrated that the Texas offensive brain trust is capable of being less dogmatic in running the offense it wanted and implementing the offense it needed.

How did the Longhorn offense turn it around after a truly disheartening performance against TCU?

First, game plan. Texas had a great one. One as focused on mindset, physicality and proper asset deployment as scheme. This game plan wasn’t laudable for amazing scheming and gotcha plays, but for Sark’s introspection about his larger philosophical approach. Sometimes simpler is better. Complexity can be a prison. Texas shifted its emphasis on offense from a freshman QB chasing theoretical open shots while trying to conduct a complex symphony to a star running back and offensive line with physical advantages at every position banging out repetitive violent chords like a punk rock band. Quinn Ewers ran a pared down Longhorn passing offense; the game taken off of his shoulders and dispersed to his teammates. Namely, the offensive line and running backs. This was a great game plan because it was truthful. About the offense and the opponent.

The Texas offensive line and support personnel at tight end and wide receiver were much more physical than the Jayhawk defense. In my preview, I mentioned that the KU defensive line was just bodies. They lived up to that meek billing, though corpses may have been a more apt description. Kenny Logan was their only tackler in a small weak secondary and when Longhorn runners broke to the next level, Kansas struggled to limit yards after contact, and as the game wore on, limit their own individual business decisions.

Instead of blindly honoring the gods of balance or seeking downfield shots when Kansas crowded the box, Sark just kept handing the ball off, running through nearly the entire repertoire of Longhorn running schemes. Kansas wasn’t just physically dominated. They also never got a feel for the Longhorn running game and the improvisational melding of backs to blockers that turned concepts like counter and duo into a head-I-win and tails-you-lose proposition.

Unsurprisingly, simplicity in game plan favored execution. The Texas offense had only one penalty all game (on Sanders near the goal line and it was a fabrication) and zero turnovers. Texas was 3 of 3 on 4th down until their last give up run of the game. The Horns scored between 10-17 points in every quarter. The Longhorns had only 11 offensive possessions. 9 of the 11 ended in Longhorn scores. The first possession was a punt. The next 9 all scores. The last a “let’s go home” clock runner featuring the 3rd team offense.

Texas was content to stubbornly maul Kansas for four quarters.

Was the absence of a second half lull coincidental to that fact? I suspect not.

QB

After the game, a smiling Ewers looked like a young QB who had the weight of the world – or at least an entire offense – taken off of his shoulders. Ewers was a very modest 12 of 21 for 107 yards and a touchdown running a minimalist passing offense meant to limit mistakes and extend a drive or two. Crucially, he had no turnovers and took no sacks while doing a keeping the offense moving. He even converted a third down offsides with cadence. I’m not sure he even drove the bus so much as he made sure the bus driver got coffee and he didn’t try to push the wheel into oncoming traffic.

His touchdown throw was emblematic of the Longhorn game plan. Not asking much here and the result is good:

RB

Bijan ate early and often and it only got worse for Kansas as the game wore on. That was a phenomenal performance. Perhaps one day the defender’s jocks littering the field will take root, bloom and form large healthy groin trees.

Bijan finished with 243 yards on 25 carries and 4 touchdowns. Jonathon (Don’t Call Me Jonathan) Brooks got into the act as the Robin to Bijan’s Batman when Roschon Johnson (7 carries, 34 yards) went out with an injury and he looked as herky-jerky and weird to tackle in space as he usually does, totaling 111 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns, including a 70 yard coup de grace late in the game. That was a fine run against a beaten down defense, but I really liked what he did here even more:

Note the offensive line push above. That comment will apply to several clips.

OL

Dominant. Just note the line push inside on this Bijan touchdown run. How many blue jerseys are being driven five or ten yards down the field here? There’s no chance of pursuit from the backside and the edge is completely rounded off due to Gunnar Helm’s dominant block and a Kelvin Banks linebacker pancake served up with frozen syrup.

The Texas offensive line was extremely physical for four quarters and they did the best job of moving their feet and staying on blocks that I’ve seen all season. Singling out individuals for their effort would be a long list, but I was particularly impressed with Jones and Conner at the point of attack and Majors and Hutson had several winning pulls on counter plays. Kelvin Banks deserves to be 1st team All Big 12 as a true freshman. What a freak.

WR/TE

Worthy had only two catches, but one was a nice skinny post on a key 3rd down for 24 yards beating man coverage and he also drew a PI on a slant. He had a semi-contested drop on the sideline. Whittington was the primary chain moving target, congruent with the keep-it-simple-stupid game plan. Jordan had 6 catches for 56 yards and his blocking was on point. Speaking of blocking, Savion Red is an extremely physical kid with some bully in him.

Gunnar Helm was top notch in limited action and I saw him dish out some Uncle Buck sized pancakes on a few Bijan runs. Sanders was also solid blocking on the perimeter and as a screen lead on counter plays. Karic also got some nice run and got after it. The relative absence of Billingsley in this game plan should be noted.

Here’s a nice example of Karic taking a 315 pound defensive lineman’s lunch money on goal line on the first touchdown drive. Watch him methodically drive him from the green into the paint.

Hint to #11: if a blocker starts kicking your ass, it doesn’t get better for you by turning sideways.

Final

Texas did a great job understanding the identity needed to win this game and fashioned the game plan and got the player buy-in to do it. Some earlier revelations in this area might have Texas getting ready for both Baylor and a rematch with the Horned Frogs in Dallas, but a promising end to the season is still in play.

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