Analyzing Texas Longhorns QB Maalik Murphy vs. BYU Cougars
Texas Longhorns quarterback Maalik Murphy made his first career start last weekend versus the BYU Cougars. Let’s break down his game pass by pass.
Murphy's first pass was a quick screen to JT Sanders out of the backfield, but it ended up losing two yards. His first downfield pass of the game came on the next play when he hit Adonai Mitchell over the middle on a small route for 16 yards.
After that, he attempted a pass to Xavier Worthy into triple coverage, but luckily it fell incomplete.
Getting back to rhythm, he hit a quick pass out of the backfield to Savion Red. Steve Sarkisian settled him in early with screen passes and quick throws like this, and it helped establish an early offensive rhythm. His next pass was incomplete and into tight coverage to Worthy.
On the next drive, Maalik started with one of his best throws of the day, lobbing the ball into a tight window to JT Sanders where only he could make the catch. His first big mistake though came on the next play when he threw the ball straight to a BYU defender for an interception. As a freshman, Murphy was bound to have some turnover-worthy plays, but this was costly and set up BYU with great field position.
Maalik Murphy vs. BYU
© Sara Diggins, Austin American-Statesman
After a screen to Keilan Robinson to start the next drive, he had a costly fumble in the red zone, turning the ball over once again. This cost Texas a potential touchdown and gave the ball right back to BYU.
On the next drive, Maalik bounced back nicely with back-to-back completions to Worthy for gains of 14 and seven. Then on a third and eight, he found Adonai Mitchell down the field for a 30-yard touchdown. The throw was right on the money and right on time, and gave Texas a 21-3 lead heading into halftime.
To start the second half, Maalik hit Jonathan Brooks for eight yards out of the backfield, but his pass to Worthy on third down was incomplete. His next completion came on the next series on a 17-yard pass to Brooks, getting him back in rhythm. The drive would end on a turnover on downs in the red zone though, when Texas failed to convert on fourth and goal. Texas is one of the worst teams in the country in red zone scoring, and it is key that it improves down the stretch.
The same thing happened on the next drive when Texas was stopped again on the goal line. The following series, however, saw Maalik's second touchdown of the day to AD Mitchell on a smooth 8-yard slant route, which was his last throw of the day.
Overall, for his first start, Maalik Murphy had a solid performance. He was able to make plays and get into a rhythm at times, but he also turned the ball over twice.
If Texas is going to beat the Kansas State Wildcats on Saturday, he will need to limit the turnovers and stay in rhythm. If he can do that, it will open up Texas’s rushing attack and wear down the K-State defense.
Maalik doesn’t need to play hero ball on Saturday, and if he stays consistent good things will come from the Texas offense.
