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Texas Football: 5 takeaways from the 2018 regular season

By Andrew Miller

DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 06: Tre Watson #5 of the Texas Longhorns during the 2018 AT&T Red River Showdown at Cotton Bowl on October 6, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 06: Tre Watson #5 of the Texas Longhorns during the 2018 AT&T Red River Showdown at Cotton Bowl on October 6, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TX – NOVEMBER 10: Sam Ehlinger #11 of the Texas Longhorns passes the ball during the 2nd half of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on November 10, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Texas defeated Texas Tech 41-34. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX – NOVEMBER 10: Sam Ehlinger #11 of the Texas Longhorns passes the ball during the 2nd half of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on November 10, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Texas defeated Texas Tech 41-34. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

4. Breakthrough for the passing game

Something that was missing for the entire offense for Texas football last year was the reliability of a consistent passing game. Texas couldn’t get much rhythm going in the passing game, due to the inexperience of then true freshman quarterback Sam Ehlinger, and switching between him and Shane Buechele all the time.

This year, Texas was able to turn things around completely thanks to more consistency from the signal caller and a huge year from the receiving corps. Ehlinger was extremely efficient during his sophomore campaign. He posted a completion percentage hovering around 65 percent and a quarterback rating just shy of 150.

The success that the Horns saw this season wouldn’t happen without the progress made by Ehlinger and the receiving corps. Junior wide receivers Collin Johnson, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, and Devin Duvernay, all had career seasons. Senior tight end Andrew Beck and senior running back Tre Watson even had some of the best years of their careers to boost the Texas passing game.

All in all, the efficiency out of the passing game this year was unmatched by any for the Horns since the departure of Colt McCoy. Texas averaged more than 262 passing yards per game and 2.2 touchdowns, with only 0.5 interceptions. Those are the type of numbers that will allow the Horns to beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

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