Texas Longhorns

Report: Bad chemistry among offensive staff doomed season from start

Published Dec. 14, 2015 2:53 p.m. ET

foxsports

Did the Texas offense never have a chance to succeed because of poor chemistry among the Longhorns' offensive coaching staff?

That's the picture painted by Horns247 writer Jeff Howe, who reported that co-offensive coordinator Shawn Watson and Joe Wickline were never really on the same page with both coming from differing points of view. Worse, Howe says sources told him that Watson was bullheaded, refusing to listen to ideas from first-year tight ends coach Jeff Traylor, and Wickline was mostly disinterested outside of practice and games.

From Howe:

"I was told Traylor's input was initially rebuffed with one of the assistants refusing to take input from him because they felt – for lack of a better term – the three-time state champion coach was beneath them due to having never coached at the college level.

"It was that kind of environment for far too long. It speaks volumes of why the offense was as unproductive as it was over the past two seasons."

Over the weekend, both Watson, who came with coach Charlie Strong from Louisville and was also quarterbacks coach, and Wickline, who was hired away from Oklahoma State and coached the offensive line, were relieved of their duties following the hiring of former Tulsa co-offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert and Tulsa offensive line coach Matt Mattox.

Shoring up relationships among coaches will be at the top of Strong's list. Traylor served his first season as tight ends coach after being hired from Gilmer High School in East Texas. His offensive philosophy meshes with Gilbert, whose Texas ties also run deep.

Jay Norvell, the wide receivers coach tabbed to call plays after Strong demoted Watson, will relinquish that duty to Gilbert. Norvell remains on the coaching staff.

All eyes will be focused on Gilbert to see how quickly he can turn around one of the worst offenses in the Big 12 -- and the nation. In a league that racks up points, Gilbert has his work cut out. The Longhorns ranked 85th nationally in scoring (26.4 points per game) and 93rd in total offense (370.8 yards per game).