UCLA welcomes Texas back to rebuilding mode

he day.

UCLA 34, Texas 12. It was no secret that Texas came into the year facing something of an identity crisis with its new quarterback, Garrett Gilbert: After four years in a pass-heavy spread to take advantage of Colt McCoy's accuracy, athleticism and quick wits, the Longhorns were hoping for a revival of the conventional running game that all but disappeared with McCoy in the shotgun, while also finding ways to take advantage of Gilbert's big arm downfield. They needed only to find a steady back, a go-to receiver and a reasonable freshman-to-sophomore progression from their young quarterback.

Four games in, they're oh-for-three, and it's beginning to look like an actual crisis. Not to take anything away from UCLA, a scrappy bunch that somehow has revived its season with a pair of impressive upsets after being written off at 0-2 two weeks ago. But the Bruins are the same outfit that was pounded into submission to start the year by both Kansas State and Stanford, and mighty Texas got nowhere fast.

It turned it over four times. The only true tailback who touched the ball, Foswhitt Whittaker, picked up 16 yards on eight carries. Gilbert's big arm failed to complete a pass of longer than 14 yards. The only points in the first half came on a short field following a UCLA fumble, and the only touchdown came on a meaningless, garbage-time march in the fourth quarter. The Bruins' four touchdowns were answered by a punt, a fumble, a turnover on downs and a fumbled kickoff, respectively.

This isn't exactly a program-shaking loss: It was pretty clear after the first three games that the defense was going to have to carry a lot of water for an uninspiring offense, and believe it or not, it was occasionally just as uninspiring in Colt McCoy's first year as a starter, too. (And in his second year.) Given the expectations, though, "growing pains" doesn't sound like much solace with the season-defining tilt with Oklahoma coming up fast next week in Dallas. Not that the Sooners have been lighting it up, either, but if today is any indication, Texas needs answers pronto if it wants to salvage any goals beyond the Cotton Bowl, max.

UCLA welcomes Texas back to rebuilding mode

UCLA welcomes Texas back to rebuilding mode

UCLA welcomes Texas back to rebuilding mode :: Comments