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Head coach Charlie Strong's favorite superlative is the perfect description of Shane Buechele's first two games for the Texas Longhorns.
Unbelievable.
So, #Believe?
The freshman quarterback’s historic start for the ‘Horns has already put the Arlington Lamar product in elite company in school history and when compared to other top quarterbacks around the country.
That’s the take here from co-editor Cody Daniel and Pro Football Focus agree, ranking Buechele No. 2 nationally at his position after two remarkable performances.
The No. 1 quarterback so far? Well, that's sensational Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson for that spot after two huge performances.
But that puts into perspective just how well Buechele’s played, especially when noting that Texas Tech’s own star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, ranked behind the Texas freshman on the list.
And justifiably so.
Here are the two most key stats on Buechele, courtesy of PFF — he’s hit on 5-of-11 deep passes for 234 yards (21.3 yards per attempt) and 21-for-26 play-action passes for 342 yards (13.2 yards per attempt), and three touchdowns.
The veer-and-shoot offense run by Longhorns offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert stresses defenses in large part by making almost everything look like a running play.
Run-pass options are run blocked while Buechele reads a defender to make throws like wide receiver screens and hitches and play-action passes punish defenses cheating on the run when the Texas skill position players burn overmatched cornerbacks.
The 46-yard touchdown from Buechele to junior wide receiver Dorian Leonard against UTEP came on a play-action pass and featured the trademark accuracy of the budding star on such throws.
TOP PLAY: Dorian Leonard (@dorianleonard3 ) 46 yd pass from Buechele. || TEXAS 41 - UTEP 7 #BELIEVE #RECAP pic.twitter.com/OSFkrP4hEy
— Texas Football (@TexasFB) September 12, 2016
How many times has Buechele thrown passes that seem to parachute into the hands of receivers at top speed? Not only does he have a preternatural ability to hit his wide receivers in stride, Buechele throws an extraordinarily catchable ball.
So easy that John Burt lost concentration on a perfect throw that should have gone for another score against Notre Dame. So easy that Burt took for granted the most elemental part of the play.
Everything looks like everything in the Gilbert offense, it’s all simple and complementary, with basic plays capable of producing multiple touchdowns every game. And Buechele makes it all hum with his accuracy.
This is fun. Effective. The stuff of all those bashed-downed dreams since Colt. Without the bashing down. Just the real thing.
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