On Texas Football: Looking at the Longhorns on third down and other areas of needed improvement
In the latest On Texas Football, Ian Boyd and Bobby Burton discuss Ian’s recent answers to Inside Texas subscriber questions and some of the major areas the Longhorns need to improve in 2023.
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In this episode, Ian and Bobby discuss…
Ian recently wrote an article answering Inside Texas subscriber questions, and one of the topics he covered had to do with how third and fourth down defense was an issue for the Longhorns last year. Boyd spotlighted pass rush from the Buck position, a lack of communication in the secondary, and the need for tighter coverage from linebackers and safeties.
Boyd said Texas used Match Quarters coverage, an area of expertise for former special assistant to the head coach Gary Patterson. Match Quarters created tighter coverage in the boundary, where the receiver is closer to the passer. Boyd identified a problem with trading routes last year and said the Longhorns need to do better in that area, something possible in year two in the system.
In addition, EDGE pass rush is a place Texas can improve. The Horns got 1.5 sacks from the weakside pass rusher last year, and need more to create more havoc in the upcoming season. Ethan Burke and even Justice Finkley could be options to create that havoc.
The two then talk about the next question Boyd received from IT members. He was asked about how the Horns made a 9.5 point improvement in scoring defense from 2021 and 2022 as part of other statistical improvements.
Those were all part of incremental improvements in individual areas, something that raises the aggregate defensive performance.
“Everyone got a little bit better,” Boyd said, who singled out Jaylan Ford and DeMarvion Overshown as some of the biggest risers.
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Boyd then highlighted the interior offensive line as needing improvement. He said Steve Sarkisian and Kyle Flood protected that area last year with redshirt freshman quarterback Quinn Ewers under center, but it needs to improve for Ewers to reach his ceiling this year. Boyd and Burton then talk about the people in that interior.
Question No. 3 was what Burton called the most important question for this team. Veteran quarterbacks behind stable protection and surrounded with weapons like Texas is can dominate games. Does that mean doing what’s easy with the personnel available?
“I think when a lot of college offenses really function well, it’s not because the quarterback can execute a lot of complicated reads,” Boyd said. “It’s because he can execute consistently on simple reads on a very high volume of offensive plays.”
Ian then goes into detail about defending Texas for teams of decently similar talent, not opponents like Rice or Wyoming.
“If I was one of the earlier teams, I’d like to know if that Ewers to Worthy connection is really fixed or not before I devote a lot of attention to keeping that covered up,” Boyd said. “If those two guys are hitting consistently, I’m immediately going to play back and we’re going to make sure Texas can run the ball without Bijan Robinson and without getting extra blockers on the field.”
