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Texas football fans may love the deep ball but QB Quinn Ewers’ efficiency on shorter throws moving the offense

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Brian Davis | Last updated Oct 28, 2024 5:23 PM ET

If Texas fans have an issue with Quinn Ewers’ short throws, blame the defensive backs, according to coach Steve Sarkisian.

“Tell them to move up, and then we'll throw it over,” Sarkisian said Monday.

He means that literally. Tell the defensive backs to move closer to the line of scrimmage. Vanderbilt was the latest team to play its safeties deep, an acknowledgement there was little fear of the run but a sign of respect for the Horns’ big-play potential.

“They played man-to-man on one snap that wasn’t in the red area,” Sarkisian said, “We threw a touchdown pass over their head.”

Ewers threw mostly short passes against the Commodores and had another strong day. He completed 27 of 37 passes for 288 yards with three touchdowns. Ewers’ two interceptions were the result of tipped balls that floated into defenders’ hands.

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The Horns managed 104 yards rushing with Quintrevion Wisner and Jaydon Blue. But Sarkisian also found ways to get them involved via quick-hitting screen plays. Ewers also took shotgun snaps, turned and fired almost immediately to receivers out wide.

Ewers completed 23 of 27 passes that were nine yards or shorter in depth, according to Pro Football Focus’ post-game analysis. While those quick throws may not look exciting, it generated 203 passing yards and two scores. Ewers was moving the chains.

Ewers attempted nine passes that were targeted for 10 yards or more and completed four, including a 27-yard touchdown throw to DeAndre Moore Jr. as part of his tremendous day. On Ewers’ four passes longer than 20 yards, the average target was 32.3 yards downfield.

Moore had a team-high six catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns total. Wisner and Blue combined for eight catches for 63 yards. Tight end Gunnar Helm also had four catches on six targets for 24 yards.

“The screen game’s critical to what we do. The shallow cross game, the check downs to the running backs are so big to what we do,” Sarkisian said. “I don’t know if people know this, we don’t throw it deep all the time, but every team we play seems to think that we do. It’s like they just love to back up.”

Ewers is almost automatic on shorter throws. He’s completed 106 of 127 passes where the target is nine yards or less. Put another way, he’s getting the ball to the Horns’ playmakers in open space and letting them get creative. On those throws, Texas has generated 875 yards and eight touchdowns.

On deep throws of 20 yards or more, Ewers has completed six of 17 passes this season. The average target depth was 30.5 yards.

For comparison, backup Arch Manning completed eight of 17 deep passes earlier this season. His average target depth was 33.1 yards.

There may be other quarterbacks who throw it farther than Ewers. There may be quarterbacks who can run faster than him, too. But for the Longhorns, Sarkisian firmly believes that Ewers is playing winning football.

“Quinn played lights out,” Sarkisian said after the Vanderbilt game. “I was really proud of him.”

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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