Question of the Week: What can be done to solve Texas' offensive woes?

Bobby Burton, Publisher

Texas must find a smarter, quicker passing game to complement the running attack. Anything the Horns can find that allows them to convert in a third-and-5 situation would do just find. Texas will never really get the downfield passing game going this year; the Longhorns just can't pass protect well enough against decent teams to do that. Unfortunately for Texas, it doesn’t have all the answers available this year. The Longhorns will continue having issues moving the football at times. The best thing they can do is feed the running backs and find a couple of go-to pass plays in certain yardage situations.

Jeff Howe, Senior Writer

Entering the season, this offense was never going to be elite. But during the Oklahoma and Kansas State games, the Longhorns found something. One thing Jay Norvell and the staff did well against Oklahoma was using base plays in the offense to set up bigger plays later in the game. We also saw this against Kansas State as the two-back set with Daje Johnson coming in motion, a set with Texas started to develop counters off, yielded an explosive play in the passing game when Jerrod Heard hit an open Caleb Bluiett coming off of the goal line. My issue with the Iowa State game plan is there wasn’t an attempt to establish any sort of rhythm or a definite plan of attack. They were just out there running plays just to run them, at least it seemed from afar.

Texas has to have a clear, concise way to attack an opponent every week. Against better teams that won't be good enough to with all the offensive issues, but it would have at least given the team a chance against the Cyclones. Heard has an elite tool – his ability to run the football. You can be a run-first offense without being overwhelmingly one-dimensional, and there are effective concepts for a quarterback limited in the passing game like Heard, but the staff did a poor job of putting that type of plan together against Iowa State.

EJ Holland, Lead Recruiting Reporter

It all starts with the play calls and quarterback play. Despite his subpar performance against Iowa State, I still believe Jerrod Heard is the answer moving forward. But you have to let Juice be Juice. What I mean by that is you can’t be afraid of injury. I want to see more designed runs for Heard to utilize his best asset – his legs. As the play-caller, Jay Norvell needs to adapt to Heard’s strengths – get him outside of the pocket, more pass/run options, incorporate more two tight end sets, run some inverted veer, line up in the pistol. Literally do whatever it takes to get this offense rolling under Heard, because right now, there isn’t a better option under center and jobs are on the line. Charlie Strong didn’t think the loss to Iowa State was embarrassing, which is up for a debate, but falling at home to a team like Kansas would be an absolute disaster. There is no way the Longhorns can afford to play like they did on the offensive side of the football for a second consecutive week. I’m not sure if there is a definitive answer to the question, but as mentioned, the staff needs trust Heard and do whatever it takes utilize his skillset and help this team win.

Chris Hummer, Managing Editor

There’s no quick fix for this Texas offense, and there aren’t many tricks left to play. But there are some moves that can help the offense improve, specifically opening up the passing game. Texas’ identity can be run-first, but becoming a one-dimensional offense isn’t the solution. Instead of 80-20 run to pass ratio, it should look more like 60-40. In addition to that, even if it means moving back to Tyrone Swoopes, the Longhorns need to find the passer who can throw intermediate routes. There are open wide receivers for Heard or Swoopes to hit, but right now, it’s not happening. The coaches certainly know more about route trees or combos than me, but it’s easy to tell Heard is hesitant to do more than throw the ball short. He’s got the arm to make the throws; he’s just got to let it go. If he can’t, let Swoopes do it. In terms of the wide outs, the group has potential, but why not cycle in everyone? Give Lorenzo Joe his chance, give Armatni Foreman more looks or let a guy like Rodrick Bernard get more touches. The Longhorns need to find out what they have offensively. Really the same can be said at every position. If it’s not working, go young. It’s those players who are going to make or break the staff’s success next year. Oh yeah, Caleb Bluiett is a mismatch in the passing game, use him more.