Texas Football: Herman says ‘we’re still playing a lot of catch-up’ on offense

A big win for head coach Tom Herman and this Texas football team over the Baylor Bears by a double-digit margin on Oct. 24 could build key momentum.

To say the least, the win over first-year former LSU Tigers defensive coordinator and head coach Dave Aranda and his Baylor Bears was an absolute must for fourth-year Texas football head coach Tom Herman. To keep more pressure from mounting on his shoulders, Herman needed to get this Texas team up to take down a slipping Baylor team out of the bye week at home on Oct. 24.

What the Longhorns got for most of the game was pretty solid to bounce back from the two-game skid they came in with. Coming into the weekend, the Longhorns boasted a record of 2-2 (1-2 Big 12) after falling short to the TCU Horned Frogs in their Big 12 home opener and the Oklahoma Sooners in the annual Red River Rivalry game in four overtimes, to start the month of October.

This was the first triumph of this calendar month thus far for the Longhorns. And it was very much needed given the timing of their schedule. Still remaining in this Big 12 slate for Texas are the Oklahoma State Cowboys, Kansas State Wildcats, and Iowa State Cyclones.

But what did Herman have to say following the win over Baylor, by the final score of 27-16, over the weekend (monologue courtesy of 247Sports)?

What Texas football HC Tom Herman said following the win

"To hold that team to 64 yards rushing and only one explosive play — we’ve got a lot of work to do. We’re still playing a lot of catch-up from the installation of a new offense, a new defense, some new special teams stuff. Still playing a lot of catch-up, but [Texas] was very, very productive over the bye week and our guys really, really bought in. Then, the third point of emphasis — again, punt team, run the ball/stop the run — third quarter. We came out, scored a touchdown in the third quarter to start the third quarter and held our opponent to a three-and-out."

That was just part of what Herman had to say in his post-game press conference following the win over Baylor. The key part there is that Herman still realizes that namely the offense has a long way to go. He mentioned too that the installation of the new offensive and defensive schemes is pretty much a patient process and could still be a work in progress.

Hopefully this is a point where the Longhorns can turn a corner in what is a really difficult portion of their schedule. Starting off the month with Oklahoma and TCU, and then having to face undefeated and top 10 ranked Oklahoma State is no easy task.

Up next for Herman and his 3-2 (2-2 Big 12) Longhorns is the aforementioned Halloween matchup on the road in Stillwater against head coach Mike Gundy and the Pokes. Oklahoma State will come into that game with a record of 4-0 (3-0 Big 12) after they knocked off No. 17 ranked Iowa State in a thriller at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, by the final score of 24-21 on Oct. 24.

To say that Herman is off the hot seat at this point might be a bit premature. He needs to at least split the Longhorns next two games with a record of 1-1. The next two for Texas come against Oklahoma State and then the West Virginia Mountaineers at home on Nov. 7.