Texas punted into its own red zone, and then it got worse

Here’s how not to execute a two-play sequence.

The following is a real-life, two-play sequence carried out by the Texas Longhorns on Saturday against Maryland:

1. UT punter Ryan Bujcevski punted 15 yards, from his own 5 to his own 20. That’s a punt into his own red zone. The Longhorns dearly miss all-world punter Michael Dickson.

2. Maryland receiver/running back Jeshaun Jones took a jet sweep and threw a halfback pass for a 20-yard touchdown to Taivon Jacobs.

The Horns thus fell behind 24-7 to Maryland, which upset them in Week 1 last year in Austin. Maryland was out-gaining Texas 246-50 after that touchdown pass. UT did answer with a quick TD on its next drive, somewhat mitigating the damage caused here.

Jones is a true freshman, and Texas hasn’t figured him out at all. His passing touchdown was his third score of the day. He also had a 28-yard TD run ...

... and a 65-yard TD catch:

The Longhorns couldn’t stop Maryland in the opener last year and figured it out later in the season. They’d rather not wait that long to get their house in order in 2018.