Texas, though, has a quarterback fully capable of exposing a West Virginia defense that was shredded for 700 yards by the Bears. David Ash, who's second behind Smith with a 184.0 passer rating, threw for 304 yards in a 41-36 win at Oklahoma State on Saturday, making him just the fourth quarterback in Texas history to post consecutive 300-yard games.
The Longhorns (4-0, 1-0) have a 45-0 shutout of New Mexico on their resume, but also have a glaring habit of missing tackles and giving up long touchdowns, trouble signs in a matchup against a quarterback of Smith's caliber.
A unit that was supposed to rank among the best in the Big 12 and the country is now talking about inexperience at linebacker and the middle of the defensive line.
That doesn't explain the missed tackles and broken coverages in a secondary filled with game-tested veterans. The Longhorns have surrendered five touchdowns of 44 yards or longer this season. Smith had four touchdown passes of 39 yards or longer against Baylor just in the second half, and his top receivers -- Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin -- have totaled 298.8 yards per game while scoring 17 TDs.
Texas coach Mack Brown says his team missed 12 tackles during the win in Stillwater, giving up 109 yards and two touchdowns. It wasn't clear if he was including the second play from scrimmage when Cowboys running back Joseph Randle juked Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro on a 69-yard touchdown run.
Vaccaro's whiff could hardly be called a missed tackle because he was nowhere close to laying a hand on Randle.
"It is frustrating to give up so many points and big plays," said Texas cornerback Carrington Byndom, who insists the Texas defense hasn't lost the swagger it started the season with.
"We still know the kind of defense we can play," Byndom said.
Texas ranks just 63rd nationally in total defense. The Mountaineers are No. 106.
Brown says the missed tackles are part of the spread offense era of college football. Offenses are designed to put defenders in one-on-one matchups and one broken tackle can lead to a touchdown.
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