Shortly after ending the season with a win over Texas Tech, the Longhorns got rid of a few coaches and one of those was offensive coordinator Tim Beck. There was speculation of LSU’s Joe Brady and USC’s Graham Harrell taking over, but both of them seem set to stay at their respective schools. While it has not been confirmed by the school yet, there have been reports that Mike Yurcich will be taking over the offense starting next season.
Currently at Ohio State, he has spent most of his D1 coaching career as the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State. Wherever he has gone, he has been apart of some electrifying offenses, producing stars at all of the skill positions. Even with his past, the question becomes: Can it translate to success at Texas? Was he the right hire for the Longhorns? While it may not be the flashiest name, Yurcich is going to have great success in Austin. Here is why.
Yurcich’s first big-time job was actually in the Big 12, spending time as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Oklahoma State. Running the offense from 2013 to 2018, the Cowboys were flying on offense, averaging 38 points or more per game in every season but 2014.
One thing a Mike Yurcich offense had in his final three seasons in Stillwater was over or near a 4,000-yard passer and a 1,000-yard rusher. Mason Rudolph and Justice Hill balled out in 2016 and 2017, only behind in Oklahoma in most offensive stats. With more traditional pocket passers like Rudolph and Tayler Cornelius, the Pokes were able to sling the ball around the field.
Something else that worked well at the beginning of his time with Oklahoma State was running with the quarterback. In 2013, between Clint Chelf and J.W. Walsh, the two quarterbacks ran for a total of 663 yards. Against the Longhorns in 2013, Chelf killed Texas on the ground, rushing for 95 yards on 10 attempts while adding two touchdowns. With a dual-threat quarterback like Sam Ehlinger or any of the guys behind him, running the quarterback could become a big part of the offense.
When a quarterback that can run has an elite level running back to compliment them, they become that much more dangerous. That is exactly what happened this season during Yurcich’s one season at Ohio State. While he was not the offensive coordinator, he still played a huge part in the offense as the passing game coordinator. With Justin Fields under center, J.K. Dobbins elevated his game to a whole new level.
Running the read option with those two is nearly unguardable, as you lose either way. You cover Fields, one of the best running backs in the country is getting the ball. If you cover Dobbins, the former No. 1 recruit in the country is going to blow right by you. The system ran by the Buckeyes is something Yurcich can bring over and implement in Austin.
The run game will be huge for the Longhorns next season as two of the best receivers of the decade in Devin Duvernay and Collin Johnson will be leaving for the NFL. Sam Ehlinger will remain at quarterback and we have seen what he can do running the ball, having 1,453 career rushing yards in his three years. The only question will be who will be the main running back to compliment Ehlinger?
Running back was a weird position for Texas this season, using third-string quarterback Roschon Johnson with Keaontay Ingram. Ingram will be back for his junior year, but two five-star caliber running backs will also be competing for touches. After spending the 2019 season injured, Jordan Whittington is scheduled to be back next season, ready to make an impact.
Possibly an even bigger player will be five-star running back Bijan Robinson. Coming in with the 2020 class, he has the opportunity to be a player than can turn around this Longhorn program.
Past Ehlinger, players like Casey Thompson, Roschon Johnson, Hudson Card, and Ja’Quinden Jackson all will be competing for the starting job in 2021. All five of those guys are considered dual-threat quarterbacks and can continue to run a similar type of offense. With freshman running backs like Whittington and Robinson, the future is bright in the backfield.
If the same offense that Ohio State runs is implemented to this Texas team, it has a chance to become one of the best in the country. Fields and Dobbins are excellent players, making it as Heisman finalists, and it may be difficult to replicate exactly what they do. However, the Longhorns will have highly skilled guys to replicate what they are doing.
Yurcich has run different types of offenses as the offensive coordinator with Oklahoma State and as the passing game coordinator with Ohio State. Finding success in with pocket passers and dual-threat quarterbacks, no matter who Texas has under center, they will be set up for success. Getting players at running back and wide receiver to make the explosive plays is the only question.
If the Longhorns become anything like the Cowboys or Buckeyes on offense, they could push towards the level they expect to be at.
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