AUDIBLES: The keys to improvement

Going to do the same thing I did with THE BLITZ piece with Manny Diaz.

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Without counting Texas, the Big 12 has five offenses averaging at least 40 points per game in 2012.

While the chances are better than fair the Longhorns will find themselves in a shootout at some point during Big 12 play, there's no magic number the coaches feel they need to hit in a given game.

“Not at all,” Harsin said. “We're trying to score on every play.”

The Longhorns are No. 4 in the league in scoring offense, but that's good enough for seventh nationally at 49.3 points per game. Texas might not score 66 points again this season, but that doesn't mean the Longhorns are incapable of scoring in bunches during their slate of conference game.

Three of the Longhorns' next four opponents, including Oklahoma State, give up more than 23 points per game, meaning the offense will get more than a few chances to move the ball and put points on the board.

While people have all sorts of observational points that signal maturity and development on the part of David Ash, the in-game phone conversations Harsin has with Ash have shown Harsin exactly how far his quarterback has come.

There were times last year as a true freshman when Ash was lost. Now, he's understanding what he's seeing pre-snap, and he's not afraid to tell Harsin what's working, what's not, what he saw, and what he missed throughout the duration of a game.

“In his mind I'm able to talk to him and he's able to visualize a defense, a front or a coverage, we've got it right there and we're able to communicate,” Harsin said. “There's not like, 'What is this?' He gets it. He understands the way we game plan.”

Ash is also becoming more involved in the game plan. Harsin encourages Ash and Case McCoy to text him if they see something during Monday film study they can exploit and that will work in the game plan for that week.

He's done that, and he's done everything the coaches have asked him to this point.