Texas Football: Halftime thoughts vs. Baylor Bears

Texas football didn’t come out with the offensive production needed in the first half on the road against the Baylor Bears in Week 13.

A really bad start for the Texas football program on the offensive side of the ball in Week 13 against the No. 14 Baylor Bears (College Football Playoff Rankings) put them down 7-3 at half. Thankfully, head Texas football coach Tom Herman and defensive coordinator Todd Orlando saw a nice bounce back in the first half on the other side of the ball.

A game that had the Texas Longhorns football program as a 5.5-point underdog to Baylor before kickoff held true by halftime. Yet, the over/under set at 59.5-points didn’t hold true for the Longhorns and Bears by halftime. Neither offense really was able to move the ball consistently in the first half.

However, Texas wasn’t able to get as much total yardsarge in the first half as Baylor. Texas finished with around 175 total yards from scrimmage in the first half, while Baylor sat with more than 200. But a little bit less than half of those total yards came on a 68-yard rush from sophomore running back Keaontay Ingram on the final play before Texas finally put points up on the board.

Sophomore kicker Cameron Dicker put the Longhorns within four points of Baylor before both teams went into the locker room. That led to one of the lowest scoring games in the first half of the regular season so far for the Longhorns.

Here’s a look at my three thoughts for Texas at the half.

1. Texas misses Collin Johnson

With the Baylor secondary blanketing senior Texas wide receiver Devin Duvernay for most of the first half, and coming with a lot of pressure on junior quarterback Sam Ehlinger, there wasn’t much room for this passing game. Duvernay had only three legitimate looks in the first half.

Fellow senior star wide receiver Collin Johnson is a focal point of this Longhorns offense, and missing him in yet another game this season hurts the spacing of the passing game. Texas needs him back as soon as possible.

2. The offensive line is still a work in progress

Texas has allowed the most sacks in the Big 12 this season. Given a wide open conference of offenses and not the best offensive line recruiting of all the Power Five within the Big 12, that is a statement to how bad offensive line coach Herb Hand has his group playing this season. Texas allowed three sacks in the first half alone, which says a lot given Ehlinger’s playmaking and scrambling ability.

1. Sam Ehlinger still needs help, and some is coming from the defense

For what seems like the first time in Big 12 play this season, Texas is getting solid play from their defense. Holding junior Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer mostly in check and limiting their ground game is a testament to adjustments made from Orlando.

Ehlinger was scrambling for his life often, partially thanks to not getting in rhythm and also thanks to the poor play of the offensive line. It didn’t really seem like he was able to ever get his feet set and make a solid throw at any point in the first half.