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DOUBLE presents
COVERAGE Friday, September 11, 2015
A STRONG MESSAGE page 5
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SCENARIOS
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Friday, September 11, 2015
By Jillian Kushner @jilliankushner
Texas wins if…
The offensive line blocks. Against Notre Dame, the offensive line looked like an offensive clump. The line dissipated every time the ball was snapped. The Fighting Irish sacked Texas’ quarterbacks three times in the first half, and Texas only had 103 passing yards while Notre Dame had 313. While some of this is due to the quarterbacks, some is due to the lack of time in the pocket. Junior quarterback Tyrone Swoopes barely had time to drop back before a defender came running into him. It uses senior running back Johnathan Gray. Gray has so much talent and it is not utilized nearly enough. If the offensive line can play better, maybe Gray will be able to get more yards. Texas only had 60 rushing yards against Notre Dame’s 214 rushing yards. Gray accounted for 40 of the Longhorns’ yards on eight carries. Gray has to be used for Texas to win, as he is the Longhorns’ greatest weapon.
It gets first downs. Notre Dame scored two touchdowns before Texas got a first down Saturday. The go-to play of three-and-out cannot fly any longer. Texas must convert on each set of downs. Texas had eight first downs on Saturday compared to the Fighting Irish’s 30. That number will make winning against Rice impossible. It gets rid of the hurry-up offense. This fast-paced offense has its benefits and works really well for some teams — Texas is not one of those teams. Swoopes is not fast enough for that pace, and the offense does not get set fast enough. The point is to get the defense off its game. That was not happening against the Fighting Irish. What ends up happening is that the hurry-up offense makes Texas three-and-out even faster, which puts the defense back on the field after a short break. This style of offense is destroying the defense. The defense does not stand a change when the offense continuously goes three-and-out. Texas’ time of possession was a little under 21 minutes, whereas Notre Dame had the ball for 39 minutes. Senior running back Johnathan Gray fights for yards against Notre Dame on Saturday.
Texas loses if…
Amy Zhang | Daily Texan Staff
It plays like it did last week. If we see the Texas that was in South Bend, the Longhorns might lose to Rice. The offense failed to produce anything, and Swoopes was 7 for 22. The secondary couldn’t cover a receiver. The only score for Texas was a field goal. The defense allowed 38 points. If Texas comes out looking like that, it cannot and will not win.
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DOUBLE
presents
COVERAGE
Writers: Claire Cruz Jori Epstein Jason Epstein
Friday, September 11, 2015
Jillian Kushner
Double Coverage Editor...................................Nick Castillo
Jacob Martella
Vol. 10, Issue 3
Design Editor..................................................Iliana Storch Photo Editor......................................................Amy Zhang Copy Editor.............................................Blanche Schaefer Cover Photo.......................................................Amy Zhang
Akshay Mirchandani Blanche Schaefer Ezra Siegel Aaron Torres
EDITOR’S NOTE Texas head coach Charlie Strong sent a decisive message by stripping assistant head for offense/quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson of his play-calling duties after its loss to Notre Dame. Wide receiver coach Jay Norvell will become the sole play-caller. Strong’s message is clear – the offense must improve.
fourstarevents@trudys.com
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Friday, September 11, 2015
Walter leads Rice’s dynamic running game into Austin By Aaron Torres @aaron_torres95
Rice running back Austin Walter went two years without playing in a game. In Rice’s 56-16 drubbing of Wagner on Saturday, the redshirt freshman rushed for 107 yards on 12 carries and one touchdown. In his first collegiate game, he averaged nine yards per carry. There to watch his dazzling debut was his twin brother, Aston Walter. “I’ve been seeing [Austin] do this my whole life, so I’m pretty used to it,” said Aston, a redshirt freshman wide receiver for the Owls. “I’m glad that he’s doing it on a great stage, but my whole life I ex-
pect that out of him.” Aston may have expected that out of his brother, but for other players and coaches who haven’t known Austin, his performance speaks for itself. “We were very pleased with [Austin’s] performance as a redshirt freshman,” head coach David Bailiff said. “We still have to get him better in his pass protection where he can be an every-down back, but he had a very dynamic performance.” How did Austin prepare to have such a dynamic performance? “Honestly, I just did a lot of praying,” he said. “And making sure that I stayed focused on what I needed to do.”
Redshirt freshman Austin Walter rushed for 107 yards on 12 carries and one touchdown in Rice’s game last week against Wagner.
You have to bulk up so your body can maintain the wear and tear at the college level. —Austin Walter, Running back
Bailiff says they try to redshirt most of the freshmen at Rice based on the university’s academic demands. The year off can have its benefits, such as making the transition smoother. “We all may not want to redshirt,” Aston said. But Austin looked at it differently.
Courtesy of Sean Chu Rice Thresher
“I looked at it as my ability to get my body ready to play college football,” Austin said. In his year off, Austin gained 11 pounds of solid muscle – he came into Rice weighing 179 pounds, and now weighs 190 pounds. “You have to bulk up so your body can maintain the wear and tear at the college level,” Austin said. “[In
college], everybody’s bigger, everybody’s faster, everybody’s stronger.” Austin, along with his teammates and his brother, would work out with the strength and conditioning coach to help them get stronger and faster. He had a nutritionist help him plan his meals so that his plates would be healthy and “colorful.” He
ate fruits and vegetables with most of his meals and made sure he remained hydrated throughout the day. Now Austin gets ready for a Texas defense that is tough, fast and athletic, according to Austin, Aston and Bailiff. Austin will get ready like he did last week — focusing on what he can do, with the occasional prayer.
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Friday, Septem
Strong sends clear me Confusion rampant on offensive line By Jori Epstein
Daily Texan Columnist @JoriEpstein
In Texas’ 38-3 loss at Notre Dame last week, confusion abounded. The offense seemed confused which plays it was running. The defense didn’t maintain its coverage, despite studying the routes prior, head coach Charlie Strong said. Junior quarterback Tyrone Swoopes looked confused as the Fighting Irish defensive line nearly trampled him every play. He looked further confused when they did, in fact, trample him – Swoopes was sacked two times in the contest, despite playing just 52 snaps. And amidst this air of confusion hid possibly the most confused unit of all: Texas’ offensive line. The group – which started nearly from scratch a year ago and promoted freshmen to starting positions in the offseason – seemed largely ineffective. The line’s weakness gave both Swoopes and redshirt freshman quarterback Jerrod Heard mere seconds to execute plays. The result: Texas managed to get off just 23 passes, completing just eight. Even its run game fizzled, as lead running back Johnathan Gray received just eight carries. Often, Swoopes was left scrambling. He had no time to do or think of anything else. “They’re not going to give you a perfect pocket every time, so I’ve just got to work with what I’ve got,” Swoopes said Monday. Valiant of him, but he shouldn’t have to work with what he got in South Bend. Senior offensive guard Sedrick Flowers agreed that the line needs to step up. “Especially being an O-lineman, you don’t want to see your quarterback running around for his life, running around from
defenders,” Flowers said. “That’s on us. We’ve got to play a whole lot better than we did the last game.” Flowers is right — the 2015 Texas offensive line, even with new blood, should be miles ahead of the talent level it showed Saturday. Entering Texas’ second game of 2014 vs. BYU, the offensive line was understandably weak. It boasted just five combined starts, lost its stalwart center to a season-ending ankle break and lost two starting linemen to discipline suspensions. But without those excuses or shortages this year – and with months to practice together as a unit, anticipating game play – the disjointed, gap-heavy offensive line came as a surprise. Personnel changes made this week should improve the offensive coordination. Wide receivers coach Jay Norvell was promoted to offensive coordinator Wednesday. Norvell’s familiarity with up-tempo offense should enable smoother play-calling against Rice this weekend. And without mixed signals, all offensive players – the quarterbacks, running backs, receivers and linemen – should find themselves executing the offense more smoothly. Against Rice, fans hope, the Horns will look a little less confused. They’ll have a weaker opponent, homefield advantage and nearly 100,000 fans. Norvell will guide their moves. But even with clear messages, the action-makers won’t be able to pull off their game plan without time. That onus falls on the offensive line. This week, they best step up. According to Flowers, they know it. “We were trying, just to help the guys out, but we were letting them get inside of us,” Flowers said. “We can’t do that. We’ve got to play with good technique.
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mber 11, 2015
essage after blowout Offensive changes send shock wave By Ezra Siegel @SiegelEzra
Head coach Charlie Strong isn’t waiting around for change. He’s said this season is about winning, and he’ll do whatever it takes to put that wheel in motion. Strong sent a shock wave through the program when he relieved assistant head for offense/quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson of his play-calling duties in favor of wide receivers coach Jay Norvell after one game. Since Watson took over Texas’ offense last season, the team has struggled to move the ball, resulting in regular three-andouts and a consistently tired Longhorn defense. After another abysmal performance in the season opener against then-No. 11 Notre Dame, Strong had finally seen enough. “It’s about productivity and we just need better and we have to do better,” Strong said. “It’s about building the program and building it the right away.” The blowout against the Fighting Irish was far from what Strong was expecting heading into the season. From the coaching staff to the players, the Longhorns preached that Texas fans would see improvement from last year’s 6-7 team. While the staff change was made because of poor on-field results, it signals that Strong’s patience is dwindling. Strong emphasized that the Longhorns can’t afford another down year with so many supporters expecting them to win games. Now, with three straight blowouts going back to last season, the pressure to turn the ship around keeps mounting. “After last week, that was not the Texas standard,” senior running back Johnathan Gray said. “I think as a team, we know that. We are just trying to get this team back on track, and we’ve got to
step up to the plate, and bring it.” Texas also faces pressure to perform in regards to recruiting. Strong said that he has used the Longhorns’ new spread offense as a selling point to recruits this offseason, and those recruits are expecting to see positive changes on the field. With the current lack of execution, Strong admitted that it’s fair for those recruits to ask questions. In the state of Texas alone, the Longhorns are competing with several top-25 ranked programs in No. 3 TCU, No. 4 Baylor and No. 16 Texas A&M for the same talent pool. According to 247Sports, the Longhorns still finished with the top-ranked recruiting class in the state this offseason, but the team emphasizes that winning is key for maintaining that momentum. “At the end of the day, sometimes you have to win,” freshman linebacker Malik Jefferson said. “You have to put your foot down and win.” Aside from the pressure of winning and recruiting, Strong’s urgency to win also stems from his goals as a competitor. Despite having talented rosters, the Longhorns haven’t flexed their muscles on the national stage in several years. While many are already counting out the Longhorns after their brutal season opener, Strong still has his sights set on big accomplishments. “Our goal is to win the conference championship,” Strong said. “But we have to go play well and we have to compete and go move the football.” Strong’s decision to shake up his coaching staff is resonating through the program. Everyone in the program knows they are being held accountable for their mistakes and there’s no more leniency for poor performance. The motivation is there, but now it’s about producing on the field.
Photo by Amy Zhang | Daily Texan Staff
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BY THE NUMBERS
6
512
56
By Jason Epstein @jwepstein96
The total number of yards in the Longhorns’ offense the past three games. Also Austin’s area code, it is the lowest offensive performance in the FBS.
1965
Friday, September 11, 2015
2:35
15
The number of consecutive home openers the Longhorns have won coming into this week.
The last time Texas lost to Rice. Overall, the Longhorns are 40—2 over the Owls.
PLAYERS TO WATCH By Blanche Schaefer @schaefer_bb
Running back Darik Dillard Rice returns its leading scorer in redshirt junior Darik Dillard, who amassed 12 touchdowns and ran for 652 yards in 2014 with a team-high 4.9 yards per carry. He ran for a career-best 141 yards in a 28-14 win over Hawai’i last season. Rice continued to utilize Dillard in the running game last week against Wagner, as he rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns, adding to Rice’s 401 yards on the ground. While Rice’s offensive line isn’t near the caliber of Notre Dame’s, Texas’ defense needs to be prepared for the Owls’ run game and prevent the talented backs such as Dillard from breaking through and doing some serious damage.
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The Longhorns’ longest drive against Notre Dame last week.
The number of points Rice scored last week against Wagner. Also, this is the number of points the Owls scored in their last season opener victory in 2008.
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94,000
The total number of points Texas scored last week.
The average attendance at DKR last year. While the numbers have dropped in recent years, it still tops the number of fans attending Owls’ games by nearly 70,000.
3.13
The number of yards per play by the Longhorns this season. Texas recorded 163 total yards last week—the fewest by an FBS team.
15.5
Quarterback Driphus Jackson Texas faces a dangerous offensive weapon in Owls quarterback Driphus Jackson. The redshirt senior had a breakout 2014 season, passing for 2,842 yards and leading Rice to an 8-5 record including a 30-6 win over Fresno State in the Hawai’i Bowl. Jackson ranked third in the nation with an average 14.88 yards per completion, and he also had 401 rushing yards on the season. Jackson is on track to repeat last year’s success, as Rice blew past Wagner 56-16 in its season opener in Houston. Jackson threw for 123 yards and a touchdown and added a 43-yard touchdown on the ground with 79 rushing yards. After the Texas defense’s inability to contain quarterback Malik Zaire and the Notre Dame offense, dual-threat Jackson could pose problems for a sleepy Texas secondary.
The number of points by which Texas is favored this week.
Running back Austin Walter Redshirt freshman Austin Walter had a collegiate debut to remember. Walter rushed for a game-high 107 yards and scored his first career touchdown with a 32yard run en route to Rice’s blowout win over Wagner. The redshirt freshman averaged 8.9 yards per carry and could be a key part of Rice’s offense if star running back Jowan Davis is not healthy enough to play this weekend after injuring his ankle in the season opener.
Running back Austin Walter
Linebacker Alex Lyons Redshirt junior Alex Lyons leads a fairly young Rice defense in rebuild mode this year. Lyons anchored the Owls’ defense in 2014 with a team-leading 71 tackles, 44 of which were solo. Lyons registered seven tackles last week against Wagner as the Rice defense held the Seahawks to only 86 rushing yards and 16 points. Texas’ weak offense will need to work around Lyons and take advantage of a Rice defense that lacks experience. Running back Jowan Davis Junior Jowan Davis led the Owls in 2014 with 956 rushing yards, averaging 73.5 yards per game and exceeding the 100yard mark in three games. A consistent piece in Rice’s offense, Davis’ career-best 150 yards came in a 45-42 loss to Old Dominion last season. However, Davis suffered an ankle sprain in the first half of last week’s game against Wagner. There is no word on whether he’ll play against Texas.
Courtesy of Sean Chu | Rice Thresher
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Friday, September 11, 2015
GAMES TO WATCH
By Jacob Martella @ViewFromTheBox
(7) Oregon vs. (5) Michigan State Saturday — 7 p.m. — ABC The game of the week features a rematch of last year’s contest which saw the Ducks pile on 28 points in the second half en route to a 46-27 win. There is, however, one noticeable difference this time around — no Marcus Mariota. Senior quarterback Vernon Adams proved he belonged as the starter for Oregon with 246 passing yards and two touchdowns and 94 rushing yards, but he’s going up against a traditionally stout Spartans defense. That, along with one of these teams’ playoff hopes going down with a loss, makes this the must-watch game of the week.
(19) Oklahoma vs. (25) Tennessee Saturday — 5 p.m. — ESPN This game will get overshadowed by the Oregon vs. Michigan State game, but this is an intriguing matchup between two dark-horse teams for the playoffs. Oklahoma finds itself in the odd position of not being one of the favorites in the Big 12. But with a number of returners and transfer quarterback Baker Mayfield, this is the kind of statement game that can get the Sooners back in the mix. Meanwhile, Tennessee has been in the cellar in the SEC East, but a win at home against a Power Five opponent could change that perception. It’s not the sexy matchup that it would have been a decade ago, but this is an important game for the perception of each school.
(23) Boise State vs. BYU Saturday — 9:15 p.m. — ESPN2 The luster of this game wore off a bit following BYU quarterback Taysom Hill’s injury in the Cougars’ win over Nebraska last week, but this will be the best of the late-night viewing. After TCU’s move to the Big 12, these two teams have been biggest of the “midmajors” hoping to crash the Power Five’s playoff party. Boise State barely walked out of Washington with a win last week and BYU backup freshman quarterback Tanner Mangum has big shoes to fill at the position, but these two sides still should put on a show in Provo, Utah.
(14) LSU vs. Mississippi State Saturday — 8:15 p.m. — ESPN The SEC schedule gets an early start with LSU traveling to Starkville, Mississippi, with revenge on its mind. Last year, Mississippi State went into ‘Death Valley’ and pulled off what many opponents only dream of doing — walking out with a win. But pulling off a win over the Tigers two years in a row will be no easy task. LSU sophomore running back Leonard Fournette is poised to take over the SEC this year, while Bulldogs senior quarterback Dak Prescott is looking to rekindle his success from last year. And even though Mississippi State isn’t getting the hype it was a year ago, as we saw last year, anything can happen in the SEC.
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Friday, September 11, 2015
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TEXAN STAFF PICKS Overall Record NICK CASTILLO
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8-2
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Rice vs. Texas Texas 20-10
Boise St. vs. BYU
Oregon vs. Kansas St. Michigan St. vs. UTSA
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Texas 34-24
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Kansas St.
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Boise St.
Michigan St.
UTSA
JACOB MARTELLA
9-1
Texas 14-10
Boise St.
Oregon
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7-3
JILLIAN KUSHNER
BLANCHE SCHAEFER
7-3
7-3
Texas 27-10
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