Texas fans and media react to a 16-3 first half lead against Rice
The Texas Longhorns have kicked off the season for 2023. The Texas offense was well below standard in the first half.
To start the game, Texas failed to secure a first down in the first series. Compounding the issue, Sarkisian went for it on fourth and two from his own 33-yard line only to fail to convert.
The Texas offensive line and overall pass protection was poor at best in early action. So, too, was blitz pickup from the Texas backfield. The running back unit will need to figure out how to put together a competent performance in its second game against Alabama.
Xavier Worthy, Jonathan Brooks and Jordan Whittington were seemingly the lone bright spots for the Longhorns on offense, but the defense did its job. Defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski suffocated the Rice offense in the first quarter before the Owls got loose on a mesh crossing route. The fun stopped there for Rice.
Texas leads 16-3 at halftime. Here’s a look at how Texas faithful took in the game.
A Quinn Ewers underthrow
Quinn under throwing again, leaving points off the board.🤦🏾♂️
— Rude Wayne a LEGEND if I ever leave (@Dewayne42005783) September 2, 2023
Texas is not sharp in Week 1
Steve Sarkisian loves the deep passes.
Adonai Mitchell never turned to look for the football. It falls incomplete
— Joe Cook (@josephcook89) September 2, 2023
Jonathon Brooks drops a potential touchdown
The dropped pass by Brooks is where we really miss Bijan.
— Imagine Losing 49-0 (@Doc_Texas) September 2, 2023
Kwiatkowski dials it up with depth
PK is playing ALOT of different guys on defense right now.
— 40AcresLandLord (@40AcresLandLord) September 2, 2023
Third down Ford INT
TURNOVER MACHINE JAYLAN FORD IS BACK WITH AN INT!! #HookEm
— HornSports (@HornSports) September 2, 2023
We're all making sense of the lineup
Is Jerrin Thompson hurt???? Michael Taffe has been the starting safety aside Catalon
— 2x World Series Champion Hamberdler* (@Whata_Berger) September 2, 2023
Laughing off the first half
1Q take. Rice is really underrated pic.twitter.com/uPONThEQqZ
— D (@txforever) September 2, 2023
Officiating crew steals from Worthy
Umm Xavier Worthy caught that…
— Hook'em Headlines (@HookemHeadlines) September 2, 2023
Baxter breaks through
Longhorns freshman RB CJ Baxter with a BIG 32-yard run and appears to be a little shaken up #HookEm
— HornSports (@HornSports) September 2, 2023
Shaking off rust?
Not the start I was expecting on offense. This is the game to get this worked out.
— 40AcresLandLord (@40AcresLandLord) September 2, 2023
Defensive front stepped up
What we like to see 🤘 pic.twitter.com/wSenPD9eVA
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 2, 2023
Receivers not lending a helping hand
It’s not the easiest of catches when the ball is already in the air when you turn your head… but it’s one that has to be caught especially when it hits your hands.
— Joe Cook (@josephcook89) September 2, 2023
Defense coming together
Gbenda Sack & Ford INT back to back 🤘🤘
— LonghornFocus (@Longhornfocus) September 2, 2023
Baxter hits locker room
Longhorns freshman RB CJ Baxter now heads to the locker room #HookEm
— HornSports (@HornSports) September 2, 2023
Offensive line lays an egg
The Texas o-line has been suspect.
— Justin Wells (@justinwells2424) September 2, 2023