AUSTIN Chris Ash isnt going to point fingers. Texas defensive coordinator will point out mistakes and missed opportunities and straight-up bad play, but hell stop short of leveling blame in one direction or another.

Ash also wont make excuses for an uninspiring 2-2 start. Not that he could, given everyone in college football has been operating under the ubiquitous pall cast by 2020.

When you lose a game, its easy to blame, Ash said Wednesday. Its easy to blame the virus issue and the lost time. I take the stance, we lost the game, lets evaluate why we lost a game, lets get better at it. Theres no blame. Everybodys gone through the same thing.

Ash said theyve evaluated everything after a 63-56 overtime win over Texas Tech and consecutive losses to TCU and Oklahoma.

The biggest problems are up front with the defensive line and linebackers, who have combined for two just sacks in three conference games.

Junior Joseph Ossai has been a force at times he leads Texas with 31 tackles, including 6 for loss, two forced fumbles and two hurries but the line, a supposed strength entering the season, has struggled to contain and harass opposing quarterbacks.

The Longhorns also havent had much luck shortening opposition drives theyre ninth in the Big 12 in both opponent third-down conversion percentage (45.1 percent) and average time of possession (27:54).

But Ash is looking to build on the more encouraging aspects from that four-overtime loss to Oklahoma ahead of Saturdays game against Baylor (1-1, 1-1 Big 12) at Royal-Memorial Stadium.

A lot of things that we did well, Ash said. We got three takeaways. We gave up too many yards rushing. But when I look at the 55 rushing attempts, at 3.8 yards per attempt, wed like to be about 3, or three, so we werent far off.

We lost our sting at the end in overtime and didnt close it when we had an opportunity to close it. But were just trying to build on the positives.

A casual perusal of the Longhorns offensive statistics reveals one of the best units in the nation. Texas leads the nation in scoring offense (49.5) and is among the top 20 in total offense, passing offense and passing efficiency.

A deeper look shows troublesome cracks, even with senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger. His trouble connecting with receivers on deep balls, despite a few notable explosions this season, has caught the attention of offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich.

Too much inconsistency at the quarterback position right now, Yurcich said Wednesday. The deep balls are a product of a lot of different things. Youve got to make short-stride throws. So the timing of receivers and separation factors into it as well.

But were continually working on the deep ball, his fundamentals, the trajectory of the ball and the timing. The footwork is a work in progress. And it falls on my shoulders to be in the right play at the right time.

Yurcich has tried to avoid lobbing excuses, too.

Slot receivers Jake Smith and Jordan Whittington, graduate transfer Brenden Schooler and leading receiver Joshua Moore have battled injuries this year. And Whittington (hip flexor) will be out for at least several more weeks.

Injures are part of the game, Yurcich said. Theyre never an excuse, so were not going to make any. We need to adapt to the personnel we have, and thats the bottom line.

The former Ohio State and Oklahoma State assistant is trying to create a more balanced attack.

Texas rushing numbers this season arent unsightly, but the bulk of the yardage has been gained by Ehlinger. Subtract his 242 yards, and youre left with three tailbacks who have combined for 278 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown in three Big 12 games.

Ehlinger has used his legs to bail out Texas many times, but his history of injuries coupled with the blows he takes every game might start to take a toll.

Making sure that we are sound with regard to being balanced, pass and run, has been a very important stressing point for us, Yurcich said.

The biggest team-wide emphasis the past two weeks has been cutting down on self-inflicted wounds that cost Texas in its two losses.

Self-inflicted wounds is the common theme, Yurcich said. Weve gotta control the things we can control, which are penalties and execution. And that falls all on me.

nmoyle@express-news.net

twitter.com/nrmoyle

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Texas still a work in progress on offense and defense - Houston Chronicle