It has been more than 48 hours since the Texas Longhorns defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers. So why are we still discussing this game? Frankly on a bye week you can let things marinate a little bit before pointing the game firmly behind you. With the Longhorns not set to play again until next Saturday in Lawrence, Kansas we take one final look back as we hand out game grades.
The Quarterback
Grade: C+
Sam Ehlinger didn’t look his best in this game against West Virginia. Let’s be fair he has looked inconsistent at best. Ever since the game against Texas Christian, it hasn’t looked like the first two games of the year. During that first stretch Ehlinger threw for 10 touchdowns while completing 71.2% of his passes. He was looking like a Heisman Trophy candidate. Since then, Ehlinger has completed less than 50% of his passes twice. Against TCU and then on Saturday against WVU.
He has throw for 12 touchdowns and four interceptions over those five games. His completion rate has dropped to 53.7% over that five game stretch with an average of 229.2 yards per game. Before this run, he averaged 344 yards and five touchdown passes per game. Sure UTEP and Texas Tech aren’t exactly doomsday defenses but the fact remains, Ehlinger is struggling.
Against WVU he did complete less than 50% but Ehlinger did have two touchdown passes. Plus he didn’t turn the ball over. The passing game struggled when they asked the senior to throw 20+ yards down the field. He threw incompletions on three consecutive attempts. The wide receivers didn’t exactly help him.