Texas Longhorns' offense comes out of the fog

Posted Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009 Comments   (0) Print Share Share Reprints
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By JIMMY BURCH

jburch@star-telegram.com

COLUMBIA, Mo. — So, this is what the Texas offense is supposed to look like. When the game was in doubt Saturday against Missouri, which did not last long, the third-ranked Longhorns unveiled offense unseen — or untapped — in recent weeks.

The list included:

A crisp passing game, starting with quarterback Colt McCoy’s 11 consecutive completions to start the game.

Some timely runs by tailback Fozzy Whittaker, who seems fully recovered from the knee ailment that caused him to miss the first three games.

Another playmaker in receiver Malcolm Williams, who has languished on the bench most of the season but responded to his promotion into Saturday’s starting lineup by posting season highs for catches (five) and yards (51).

And just in the nick of time. Saturday’s 41-7 romp over Missouri marked the first stop in a Texas Two-Step through a pair of dangerous road venues that will determine whether the Longhorns (7-0, 4-0 in Big 12) validate themselves as national title contenders.

The acid test comes next week, at No. 14 Oklahoma State (6-1, 3-0). Lose that one, and all the good vibes and momentum generated by a decisive thumping of Missouri (4-3, 0-3) are for naught.

Saturday proved to be a feel-good night for the Texas offense, which raised more questions than it answered during back-to-back victories over Colorado and Oklahoma. That changed against Missouri, and from the get-go.

For the first time this month, the Longhorns finished a game without offering any postgame medical updates or shrugged shoulders to explain an erratic passing performance or an inconsistent ground game. None were needed after the Longhorns reached the 400-yard plateau for the first time this season against a Big 12 opponent.

"It’s amazing what not being sick will do for you. I felt great out there," said McCoy, who posted a season-low completion percentage (53.8) while battling cold-like symptoms and a bruised thumb in last week’s 16-13 escape against Oklahoma. "Just to be able to go out there with free spirit and play and have fun. That’s what we did tonight. It was awesome."

McCoy, who has played himself down the list of Heisman Trophy candidates in recent weeks, connected on his first 11 passes and threw for 269 yards against Missouri, his highest yardage total of the season against a Big 12 defense. He directed touchdown drives on the first three possessions, matching Texas’ combined total of offensive touchdowns against Colorado (two) and Oklahoma (one).

McCoy finished with an 83.8 completion rate (26-of-31), his highest of the season, and mixed in three touchdown passes. He had the Longhorns ahead 21-0 by the end of the first quarter and 35-7 at the half.

"We’ve got the Colt of old back now," said coach Mack Brown, who cited the team’s fast start as crucial to boosting the offensive psyche.

"We thought it was key to come in with a swagger," Brown said. "We did that. The kids came out of the OU game with confidence and that confidence showed tonight."

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