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DOUBLE presents
COVERAGE Friday, October 30, 2015
‘THE 18 WHEELER’
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Friday, October 30, 2015
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KEYS TO THE GAME By Akshay Mirchandani @amirchandani41
THROW MORE Texas won its last two games by playing ground-andpound football with the running game. But it might be time for the Longhorns to air it out. Redshirt freshman quarterback Jerrod Heard completed 10-of-15 passes for only 99 yards against Kansas State last week. Heard has thrown for just 813 yards and three touchdowns on the season. He’s typically made plays with his feet so far. Iowa State is ranked No. 8 in the Big 12 in pass defense, allowing 278.1 passing yards per game. Yes, Texas has success with the run, but this is the chance to give Heard some chances to make plays through the air and put Iowa State away early.
Joshua Guerra | Daily Texan Staff
Head coach Charlie Strong walks back to the players’ bench during the game against Kansas State. Texas won 23-9.
DOUBLE
presents
COVERAGE Vol. 10, Issue 9
Friday, October 30, 2015
Double Coverage Editor...................................Nick Castillo Design Editor..................................................Iliana Storch Photo Editor......................................................Amy Zhang Copy Editor.............................................Blanche Schaefer Cover Photo.................................................Joshua Guerra Writers: Jacob Martella Claire Cruz
Akshay Mirchandani
Jori Epstein
Blanche Schaefer
Jason Epstein Jillian Kushner
Ezra Siegel Aaron Torres
EDITOR’S NOTE The Longhorns are slowly clawing their way back to a .500 record, and they can get there with a win over Iowa State on Saturday. The Longhorns can continue their success running the ball against the Cyclones. Texas has rushed for 587 yards and six touchdowns in its two Big 12 wins against Oklahoma and Kansas State. Texas can continue building momentum in its bout for bowl eligibility.
SCORE EARLY Iowa State isn’t very good. In fact, it has the secondworst overall record of Big 12 teams — only Kansas’ 0-7 record is worse. Meanwhile, Texas is riding high after consecutive wins. The Longhorns can’t afford to come out flat against an inferior foe. Texas needs to make a statement early. Quick, early scores will do just that. This could be a potential trap game for Texas but getting off to a fast start could quell that.
TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS The key is making sure this isn’t a trap game for the Longhorns. Texas wants to become bowl eligible, so it has to play up to par. The Cyclones are making a change at quarterback and a change at offensive coordinator. Remember when Texas did the same thing several weeks ago after a terrible loss to Notre Dame and then came out strong in its next game? The Longhorns have to come out strong again and make sure they establish themselves early.
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SCENARIOS
By Jillian Kushner @jilliankushner
Texas wins if…
It can move the ball. Texas doesn’t necessarily need to throw more or run more to beat Iowa State. The Cyclones played Baylor last weekend, so they are coming off a high-yardage game. Iowa State allowed 485 total yards last weekend — 276 rushing yards allowed and 209 passing yards. If Texas’ offense is balanced, it will be able to wear down the Cyclones defensively, similar to what Baylor did. Texas only had 99 passing yards against Kansas State. This number will have to go up in order to balance out the offense. Texas had 274 rushing yards Saturday, but that does not mean they should rely solely on the running game. Iowa State’s biggest weakness this season is its pass defense. Texas should exploit this weakness by getting a passing game going and moving the ball down the field. The Cyclone defense is an easy one to put up big numbers against. Texas needs to take after the other teams that have beaten Iowa State and put up a couple hundred yards on both passing and rushing fronts. The secondary can make stops. The Texas secondary has been a huge weakness on the defensive side of the ball. The defensive line stepped up in recent games. Iowa State passed for only 156 yards against Baylor on Saturday. If Texas’ secondary also can hold Iowa State to a low yardage, the Longhorns could walk away with a win. The Texas secondary allowed 107 passing yards against Kansas State. The Texas defensive backs need to stay on their receivers and be aggressive. The defensive backs are often losing their receivers, and this lack of coverage allows for big plays.
PLAYERS TO WATCH By Blanche Schaefer @schaefer_bb
recorded a tackle-for-loss in every game he’s played this season for a total of 10 for a loss of 57 yards. Pierson has 27 total tackles this year, and he’ll likely be a key part of the Cyclone defense as it looks to stop Texas’ tough run game Saturday. Receiver Allen Lazard Sophomore Allen Lazard is making an impact for Iowa State as a wide receiver and on special teams. Lazard is currently the Cyclones’ top receiver with 406 yards and three touchdowns on 29 catches. He’s averaging 16.9 punt return yards per game – the most in the Big 12 — and has 152 yards as a punt returner. Lazard could be dangerous for the lackluster Longhorn special teams and secondary.
Texas loses if…
It gets down. Texas is the type of team that beats itself up when it gets down. If Iowa State gets the lead, this will beat Texas up mentally. Against Kansas State and Oklahoma, Texas had the lead the entire time. In the past two games, the Longhorns have shown they can keep the momentum going when they’re in the lead. Had Texas fallen behind in either of those games, it may have been a different outcome. Because this is an away game, Iowa State will have the home-field advantage over Texas. The Cyclones will have the crowd on their side to help build momentum. Texas will have to rely on its own passion for momentum Saturday.
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RB Mike Warren / Courtesy of Max Goldberg | Iowa State Daily
Running back Mike Warren Texas faces the top freshman rusher in the country in Iowa State running back Mike Warren. The redshirt freshman began the season quietly with only nine carries for 28 yards in his first two games. Warren had a breakout game in Week 3 against Toledo, putting up 126 yards on 21 carries. He’s been rolling since then and is the No. 2 rusher in the Big 12. Warren’s 153.8 average rush yards per game is third in the nation. Warren was also added to the Doak Walker Award watch list earlier this week. He is the only freshman candidate for the award, which is given to the nation’s top running back. The Longhorn defense needs to be prepared for Iowa State to utilize Warren heavily in its running game. Defensive end Dale Pierson Warren isn’t the only Cyclone receiving national attention. Senior defensive end Dale Pierson was named to the Ted Hendricks Award midseason watch list this week, which honors the top defensive end in the country. Pierson is 11th in the nation in sacks per game with 0.93 and has 6.5 total sacks on the season. He also
QB Joel Lanning / Courtesy of Korrie Bysted | Iowa State Daily
Quarterback Joel Lanning Redshirt sophomore Joel Lanning just found out this week he would start for the Cyclones. Redshirt senior quarterback Sam Richardson struggled against Baylor, completing 3-of-11 passes for 12 yards. Lanning took over for Richardson in the second quarter and led a Cyclones comeback in the second half. He completed 12-of-17 for 144 yards to cut Iowa State’s deficit from 35-0 to 4527. Lanning’s solid performance in the loss to Baylor landed him the starting job against the Longhorns. Texas’ defense will need to capitalize on Lanning’s inexperience and put pressure on him to force mistakes.
fourstarevents@trudys.com
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SWOOPES SHINES By Nick Castillo @Nick_Castillo74
Tyrone Swoopes enters Texas games in short-yard situations. The defense knows what’s coming – a simple run from the 6-foot-4, 244-pound quarterback for a first down – yet they have trouble containing the bruising rusher. The soft-spoken junior from Whitewright — a small Texas town of 1,612 — plays a key role in the Longhorns’ offense, despite being listed as the second-string quarterback after starting 12 games in 2014. The short-yardage package, nicknamed the ‘18-wheeler package’ for Swoopes’ No. 18 jersey number, has been an important part of Texas’ recent success. Swoopes has rushed for five touchdowns and 124 yards in the ‘18-wheeler’s’ four-game debut. “[Swoopes] has done a great job,” head coach Charlie Strong said. “Now when he comes in, the whole team gets excited. If it’s third-and-1, you know he’s going to fall forward and get a first down … He’s so physical and strong. Great thing about him, he can throw the football, too. It’s a good package for us.” Swoopes had an up-and-down year in 2014. He threw for 2,409 yards, 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He had a two-game stretch against Oklahoma and Iowa State where he passed for more than 600 combined yards and three touchdowns. But Swoopes finished on a sour note with a fourinterception game against TCU and a 57-yard passing game against Arkansas in the Texas Bowl. He could’ve checked out on the Longhorns after a disappointing season opener against Notre Dame, when he threw for only 93 yards. Redshirt freshman quarterback Jerrod
Heard was named the starting quarterback shortly thereafter. But Strong told Swoopes to keep his head up, help Heard make the transition to the starting role and wait for an opportunity to make an impact. The Longhorns began running Swoopes’ package against Oklahoma State, which is similar to a package that wide receivers coach and play-caller Jay Norvell ran during his time at Oklahoma. Norvell said Swoopes is a better athlete than previous quarterbacks to run the package. “Tyrone has got more speed than [former Oklahoma quarterback] Blake Bell ever had,” Norvell said. “Tyrone’s just a unique athlete. He’s a big, physical, competitive guy. The things that we’re doing with him are natural for him.” With a new opportunity to play with the ‘18-wheeler,’ Swoopes has embraced his new role. “I enjoy [my role],” Swoopes said. “It’s fun. When we go out there, everybody kind of knows what’s going on, so our offensive linemen, the running backs, the tight ends do a great job of blocking it. We just go out and do our thing.” After Swoopes’ breakout game against Kansas State, when he scored three touchdowns and rushed for 50 yards, his teammates are excited to see him get his chance. “I get so excited when the 18-wheeler gets up there,” Heard said. “I know he’s going to score. Nobody’s going to stop him. When they call the 18-wheeler package, we already know it’s a touchdown.” The Longhorns hope to expand Swoopes’ role as the season progresses. They hope he continues his success. They look forward to the ‘18-wheeler’ trucking his way to first downs and touchdowns.
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ber 30, 2015
Defense finding its stride after tough start By Ezra Siegel @SiegelEzra
Ethan Oblak | Daily Texan file photo
Then-sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Iowa State in 2014. Texas won the game 48-45.
Texas’ defense seemed like a liability in its first five games. Big plays, assignment mistakes and porous run defense all contributed to the team’s early 1-4 record. But the unit is making nearly a complete turnaround since its underwhelming start. The defense surrendered 38.2 points per game in its first five contests. Since, it’s given up just 13 points per game — including holding No. 14 Oklahoma’s top-7 scoring offense to just 17 points. “Just everybody is being more confident in themselves, in this team,” senior linebacker Peter Jinkens said. “I felt like everybody is on board now with what we’re trying to do.” Texas’ defensive success stems from its stout play up front. Junior defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway and sophomore defensive tackle Poona Ford consistently cause chaos up in the trenches on both run and pass plays. The duo also commands double-teams, leaving the outside rushers in one-onone opportunities to blow up runs and pressure the quarterback. The defensive line’s improved play is most apparent in the pass rush. The Longhorns racked up 11 sacks in the last two games after notching seven in the previous five contests. “Every team moves at a different pace,” Ridgeway said. “I mean, once we get our groove, we’ve got our groove. [We’ve] got to keep it going.” The Longhorns are also taking a more aggressive approach with a variety of blitz packages. Opposing offensive lines are preoccupied trying to contain Texas’ pass rushers, and the Longhorns’ linebackers have easier routes to the quarterback. The linebackers alone have 3.5 sacks in the past two games. “We have to call an aggressive game,” defensive coordinator Vance Bedford said. “If you go back to [the Oklahoma game,] the key was we got after them and hit the quarterback early.” Bedford attributed some of the blitzing success to a new personnel package where a cornerback – usually senior cornerback Duke Thomas – comes off the edge. He said that the extra speed is key to getting to the quarterback. It showed when redshirt freshman cornerback John Bonney recorded a key third-down sack against Kansas State. The newfound pass rush is also yielding a massive turnaround on third down, as quarterbacks are unable to get the ball off in the face of pressure. Texas ranked No. 126 in opponent third-down conversion percentage through September. In October, the team is top-20 in that same category. “A lot of balls are coming out because the pressure’s coming,” head coach Charlie Strong said. “We’re getting some guys where we’re creating a good pressure package on third down. We’re bringing a lot of pressure, so we’re not allowing the quarterback just to hold the football.” The Longhorns will look to keep their defensive surge going on the road against Iowa State. The Cyclones present an ideal opportunity for Texas to sustain momentum. Iowa State ranks No. 7 in the Big 12 in sacks allowed and No. 9 in the conference in third-down conversion rate. Team morale is up after two outstanding performances. However, the Longhorns are still focusing on preparation and fundamentals to sustain momentum. “Confidence is preparation, and that’s what we have been taking to heart,” junior safety Dylan Haines said. “We’ve been preparing not better, but harder. We’ve been taking things more seriously after we started the season 2-4 … now we’re just trying to roll through the rest of the conference undefeated.”
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TEXAN STAFF PICKS
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NICK CASTILLO
CLAIRE CRUZ
JORI EPSTEIN
JASON EPSTEIN
Overall Record
48-22
48-22
42-28
Last Week’s Record
7-3
5-5
Texas 27-21
Notre Dame vs. Temple
Friday, October 30, 2015
JILLIAN KUSHNER
JACOB MARTELLA
AKSHAY MIRCHANDANI
BLANCHE SCHAEFER
42-28
45-25
49-21
50-20
41-29
47-23
47-23
6-4
4-6
6-4
6-4
4-6
6-4
5-5
5-5
Texas 31-17
Texas 37-30
Texas 35-24
Texas 24-21
Texas 35-14
Texas 35-17
Texas 31-21
Texas 37-23
Texas 24-20
Notre Dame
Notre Dame
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Temple
Oklahoma St. vs. Texas Tech
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Texas Tech
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Stanford vs. Washington St.
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Ole Miss vs. Auburn
Ole Miss
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Ole Miss
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Auburn
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USC vs. California
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Florida vs. Georgia
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Tennessee vs. Kentucky
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Clemson vs. NC State
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Miami vs. Duke
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Texas vs. Iowa St.
EZRA SIEGEL
AARON TORRES
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BY THE NUMBERS By Jason Epstein
11
2,497
n
5
The number of sacks recorded by the Longhorns last week against Kansas State.
0
The number of career rushing yards by senior running back Johnathan Gray. Gray moved into 13th all-time for the Longhorns last week. Gray needs just 168 yards to pass Hodges Mitchell and crack the top ten.
51
The number of road wins Texas has this season. The Longhorns seek their first road win of the year this week against Iowa State, which is 2-2 at home.
6.5
The number of sacks by Iowa State defensive end Dale Pierson. Pierson is ranked No. 2 in the country in sacks per game.
The number of seconds left when Case McCoy scored the go-ahead touchdown to top the Cyclones 31-30 in 2013.
260
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@jwepstein96
The number of wins the Longhorns have over the Cyclones. Texas holds an 11-1 advantage.
a
ky
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Friday, October 30, 2015
21
The number of yards of senior kicker Nick Rose’s game-winning field goal last year over the Cyclones with three seconds left.
2.8
The number of yards per game the Longhorns have surrendered to opponents in their last two games. This The number of yards alis an improvement to the first five lowed per punt return by games when the Longhorns allowed the Longhorns, putting more than 500 yards of total offense them at No. 10 in the FBS per game. and No. 2 in the Big 12.
Men and Postmenopausal or Surgically Sterile Women 18 to 65 Men and Postmenopausal or Surgically Sterile Women 18 to 55 Men and Postmenopausal or Surgically Sterile Women 18 to 50
Men and Women 18 to 55
Up to $5000
Up to $3000
Up to $3000
Up to $3500
Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI 18 - 32 Weigh at least 110 lbs. Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI 18 - 30 Weigh at least 110 lbs.
Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI 18 - 30 Weigh 110 - 220 lbs.
Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI 18 - 30 Weigh 132 - 220 lbs.
Tue. 11/10 - Mon. 11/16 Multiple Outpatient Visits
Mon. 11/16 - Fri. 11/20 4 Outpatient Visits
Tue. 11/17 - Sun. 11/22 4 Outpatient Visits
Wed. 11/18 - Sun. 11/22 Multiple Outpatient Visits
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Friday, October 30, 2015
HEISMAN WATCH By Claire Cruz
Daily Texan Columnist @claireecruz5
1. Leonard Fournette, LSU RB 2015: 1,352 yards on 176 carries, 15 TD This week: Bye It wasn’t his best performance, but Fournette still sits atop most Heisman watch lists after Week 8. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry against Western Kentucky and scored one touchdown in LSU’s easy win. Fournette isn’t putting up the mind-blowing numbers he was earlier in the season, but I don’t think it’s because he’s slowing down. He’s still great at finding holes, evading defenders and putting up consistent numbers. The bye week will give him a chance to rejuvenate before LSU battles Alabama on Nov. 7. 2. Trevone Boykin, TCU QB 2015: 166-of-250, 2,539 yards, 25 TD, 5 INT; 440 rushing yards, 5 TD This week: vs. West Virginia The Horned Frogs didn’t have a game last week. This could work in their favor as they play a team that nearly upset them last season. West Virginia isn’t very good at defending the pass, and Boykin and the Horned Frogs will definitely use that to their advantage. I expect Boykin to come out and have another Heisman-quality performance after getting some rest. 3. Derrick Henry, Alabama RB 2015: 1,044 yards on 180 carries, 14 TD This week: Bye Tennessee almost knocked off Alabama last week, but fortunately for the Crimson Tide, one of the best players in college football is in their backfield. Henry struggled in Week 8, but he still managed to run for 143 yards on 28 carries. He scored the only two Alabama touchdowns in the game, including a 14-yard, game-winning score. He showed off his elusiveness, acceleration and ability to read a defense in the game. Alabama’s bye week came just in time as it gets ready to face LSU. 4. Deshaun Watson, Clemson QB 2015: 131-of-189, 1,553 yards, 15 TD, 7 INT; 332 rushing yards, 3 TD This week: at North Carolina State If you didn’t know already, you do after the 58-0 win over Miami — Clemson is a very good football team this season. Watson’s consistent production is a big reason why. Against Miami, he racked up 241 yards of total offense and two touchdowns — one
Daulton Venglar | Daily Texan Staff
TCU senior quarterback Trevone Boykin sets back to pass in the Horned Frogs’ 50-7 win. Boykin is in the midst of a Heisman campaign in 2015.
passing and one rushing — and had just four passes hit the ground. His completion percentage is one of the highest in the nation, and he runs Clemson’s offense extremely well. Baylor quarterback Seth Russell’s season-ending injury may be what triggered me to finally put Watson on this list, but he definitely belongs here. 5. Greg Ward Jr., Houston QB 2015: 133-of-186, 1,734 yards, 10 TD, 2 INT; 677 rushing yards, 15 TD This week: vs. Vanderbilt In my mind, Ward definitely belongs somewhere in the Heisman conversation, but since Houston is a lesser-known school, I’m going to call him a wild card pick. He’s a dual-threat quarterback who boasts 15 rushing scores — tied for best in the nation with Fournette — and a top-five completion percentage. He had a rough start against UCF last week but still ended with 256 total yards of offense and two scores without playing in the fourth quarter. As Houston starts gaining a following, I think Ward’s Heisman campaign will, too.
GAMES TO WATCH By Jacob Martella @ViewFromTheBox
No. 12 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech Saturday — 2:30 p.m. — ESPN Last Saturday was a rough one in Stillwater for a school that’s had more than its share of tragedies this decade. The Cowboys will no doubt come out playing for their university like they did last week. But Lubbock isn’t the easiest place to win — just ask 2008 Texas or 2015 TCU. The Red Raiders’ season might be unraveling before their very eyes, but head coach Kliff Kingsbury will have them up and ready to pull an upset. The shootout on the plains will be one to keep an eye on.
No. 9 Notre Dame at No. 21 Temple Saturday — 7 p.m. — ABC
No. 8 Stanford at Washington State Saturday — 9:30 p.m. — ESPN
If you had this game as Week 9’s only matchup between ranked opponents, you’re lying. The Fighting Irish lost their starting quarterback and running back early in the season and lost at Clemson. Nevertheless, Notre Dame remains in the top 10 behind sophomore quarterback DeShone Kizer and senior running back C.J. Prosise. But Temple has been the most surprising team this season. A decade ago, the Owls were knocked out of the Big East for not being competitive enough. Now — with a little bit of luck — they could potentially make it into the New Year’s Six bowls. Mark this as a sneaky good game to watch Saturday.
Texas fans have very strong memories of Mike Leach during his tenure at Texas Tech, but after getting the boot from Lubbock, he’s more or less fallen off the face of the earth. But Leach appears to have the Wildcats turned around, winning three-straight Pac-12 games for the first time since 2003. A win over stout Stanford would put Washington State into the driver’s seat to get to the conference title game, and possibly put an end to the conference’s playoff hopes. It’s not a flashy matchup, but it’s a must-watch late Saturday night.