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Jerrod Heard could save Texas’ season, Charlie Strong’s job

ByMichael Taglienti|

Texas’ freshman quarterback Jerrod Heard single-handedly turned around the trajectory of the Longhorn football program during their 45-44 loss in Austin.

There are times that the numbers on the scoreboard at the end of a game are not the most important statistic. The Texas Longhorn may have lost against Cal, but quarterback Jerrod Heard ‘s performance in the loss could change the entire momentum of the Texas program.

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Heard started his second career game and set the school record for total yardage if the Longhorn’s 45-44 loss to the Golden Bears. He passed for 364 yards and rushed for 163 yards with three touchdowns in the game. The 527 yards of total offense represents more than just a gaudy statistic.

Heard’s game against Cal represents hope to the burnt-orange faithful. The Texas offense had been completely anemic before Heard’s breakout performance against the Golden Bears. To put that number in perspective, consider that in the three previous games the Texas offense had produced 499 total yards combined.

The fact that Texas now appears to have an offensive player who is a weapon, and is only a freshman is sending a much-needed jolt to the program. During the first two games of the 2015 season, the Longhorns appeared lost and offense and destined for many long Saturdays against their high-scoring counterparts in the Big 12.

The emergence of Heard gives the Texas coaches and fans a glimmer of hope they that can score with their conference opponents. It gives Texas coaches a figurehead they can point to and claim progress as a program.

Before the game against California, there was public conjecture over whether Texas head coach Charlie Strong would last more than two seasons. Texas appeared headed for a losing season with an offense that was boring fans and recruits alike.

Heard gives the Texas coaches a player they can point to in recruiting. It is impossible to go into the living room of a college football recruit and get them excited over the prospect of playing with Tyrone Swoopes. The junior quarterback had started consecutive games in which the Longhorn offense produced 59 and 163 total yards respectively.

He constantly appeared lost on the field and did not excel in any facet of the game. There are very few, if any coaches in America who would be able to sell that to a high school football player as a positive. The Texas coaches should be able to sell Heard.

They can point out to running backs how his scrambling ability will open rushing lanes for them to gain big yardage in. Wide receivers want to play with quarterbacks who can extend plays and increase the likelihood of a long gain.

The emergence of Heard also gives the fans something to be excited about. No one likes to watch boring football. When an offense is producing 163 yards in a game, it is not very exciting. The lack of buzz around the Longhorn program has resulted in 25,000 unsold tickets to Texas’ first two home games.

This was a program that was going nowhere fast. The team was playing poorly and no one wanted to bother to show up and watch them play. That all changed with Heard’s scintillating performance on Saturday night. He gave hope for a fan base that has starved for anything to be positive about.

It is important to keep Heard’s game in perspective. Cal was 5-7 in 2014 and their defense allowed 529.6 yards and 39.8 points per game.  The only defense worse in college football in 2014 was New Mexico State.

The Golden Bears used a 3-2-6 defense for much of the game in an attempt to contain Heard. The freshman quarterback was able to run wild against a defense that only had five men in the box to contain the run.

Cal will probably represent the worst defense that Texas will face all season. Heard will face tougher defenses in his next nine starts against Big 12 opponents. He had 24 rushing attempts against Cal which is far too many for a quarterback. Texas will need to find some balance in the running game or risk getting Heard injured.

The Texas defense continues to struggle immensely. The Longhorns are allowing 512.3 total yards and 37 points per game. They cannot win shootouts in the Big 12 if they fail to get any stops.

Longhorn football still has many issues to face in 2015. Their defense is poor, the offensive line is suspect and they have been forced to play true freshman throughout the lineup. The emergence of Heard represents hope for a brighter future. He and the abundance of youth on the Longhorns’ roster indicate better days are ahead in Austin.

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