What’s the quickest way for fifth-ranked Texas to get its offensive mojo back? It’s not necessarily to put more pressure on quarterback Quinn Ewers.

Start with running the football better.

Coach Steve Sarkisian said he’s making sure the players aren’t pressing, because he doesn’t want to add any more pressure after two off performances. Chances are running backs coach Tashard Choice hasn’t been so forgiving with his group.

Texas ran for just 29 yards in a 30-15 loss to Georgia on Oct. 19. Then, UT had just 104 yards in a 27-24 win at Vanderbilt the following week. Prior to those two games, the season low was 143 yards in a win at Michigan.

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“I’ll say, you know, we’re running outside zone pretty good right now. The other run schemes are not working like we want to,” running back Jaydon Blue said. “A lot of that goes with us at the running back position, we have to be a lot better. We have to help Quinn out so that teams know that we’re just not throwing the ball.

“When we run the ball efficiently, Quinn could sit back there, you know, and dial ’em up on defense. I think its just all with us being efficient in the run game.”

Georgia stuffed the run and just unloaded on Ewers. A huge blitz off the edge forced Ewers to fumble, and he looked rattled afterward. The Horns didn’t abandon the run; they ran 27 times, which is still about average while playing from behind. There was just no room.

Whether it’s Blue, Quintrevion Wisner or Jerrick Gibson in the backfield, the Horns must get something positive out of the collective unit.

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“We take a lot of pride in that room protecting the quarterback,” Blue said. “And that’s, you know, the first thing for us besides ball security. Protecting Quinn is really big for us, because we know when we do protect him, he has a chance to play at his best.”

Sarkisian can also use his opening play calls to give the Horns some confidence. It’s usually a mix of run and pass plays that the players believe will work.

“As far as the script, I want to call stuff that, A, gives us the best chance to have some success. B, maybe gathers a little bit of information on the opponent on how they're going to play us. And C, gets them burning a little bit of chalk on their sidelines, too,” Sarkisian said.

“But at the end of the day, I’m always trying to put our guys in a really good position to be successful, and I think our offensive staff and our staff in general tries to do that. And so this week won’t be any different.

“We’re just going to try to put together something that they believe in, that they have confidence in, that they show us in practice they know how to operate at a high level, regardless of what defense we get.”