Texas Football: Inside the Longhorns Advanced Stats
By Shane Black
Explosiveness
In this context explosiveness is just another way to say yards per play. Yards per play is not a very analytical statistic but it certainly is an important one.
The Texas offense averaged 6.4 yards per play, good for 21st nationally. Texas has not necessarily been a big play threat under the tutelage of Coach Herman. In 2018 they did not have an offensive play over 50 yards. In 2019 only 7.2 percent of Texas pass completions went for 30 yards or more, 84th in all of college football.
I think that speaks to how impressively consistent the offense has been with Sam Ehlinger at the helm. Texas does not have those 40 and 50 yard touchdowns to boost their average but instead methodically works their way down the field.
That should not change in 2020.
Keaontay Ingram and Roschon Johnson return in the backfield after averaging 5.9 and 5.3 yards per carry, respectively. The Horns picked up 10 yards or more on 17.7 percent of their carries last season, eighth best in the country. Adding five-star Bijan Robinson to this room should only help.
The Longhorns do lose their top two receivers but bring back great playmakers in space like Jake Smith, Jordan Whittington, and Marcus Washington. They should prove to be elite after the catch. Ehlinger will be important to connect this group together too.
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On the defensive side of the ball Texas gave up 6.1 yards per play ranking 99th nationally. Only 11 teams in the Power Five gave up more yards per play. This must change.
There is not much else to say that has not already been said. A revamped defense under a new defensive coordinator should see the 6.1 yards per play given up decrease.