Closer Look

Simms again fails to deliver against a top-10 opponent

Chris Simms, 0-4 against top-10 teams in his career, threw three INTs in another loss to Oklahoma. AP

By Travis Richmond, Special to CNNSI.com

DALLAS -- The numbers aren't pretty for Texas quarterback Chris Simms against top-10 opponents. Zero touchdown passes. Fifteen turnovers. Four losses.

And against No. 2 Oklahoma on Saturday, a dose of bad luck.

With No. 3 Texas leading 17-14 with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter, Simms seemed to be in position to get the big-game monkey off his back. The Longhorns had the ball at the Oklahoma 48, and Simms' two first-half interceptions were being overshadowed by the four interceptions Oklahoma quarterback Nate Hybl had already thrown.

Simms dropped back and fired a pass over the middle to Texas wide receiver B.J. Johnson, who made the catch but was hit immediately by Oklahoma free safety Brandon Everage, jarring the ball loose. The ricochet landed in the hands of linebacker Teddy Lehman, just like in last year's Texas-OU game when Lehman clinched the Sooners' 14-3 victory by returning an interception forced by safety Roy Williams two yards for a touchdown.

Lehman's interception sparked Oklahoma to touchdowns on its next three possessions to seal their third consecutive victory against the Longhorns. After the game, Simms didn't care to be reminded of his statistical struggles, or the role they will play in defining his tumultuous career at Texas.

"I don't give a damn about my legacy. I really don't," Simms said. "The only thing I care about in this world is our team and winning ball games, Whatever people want to say about me, that's fine. I really don't care. I just want my teammates to know that I played hard and this means a lot to me."

Simms finished the game 12-of-26 passing for 156 yards with three interceptions and no touchdowns, though he did score on a pair of 1-yard quarterback sneaks. Texas head coach Mack Brown was quick to defend his senior quarterback, answering questions intended for Simms just as he did after the Longhorns' loss in 2001.

"Chris Simms is playing as well as anybody in the country and he will continue to do so," Brown said. "He has big games for the rest of the year. He will continue to play well."

Simms, to his credit, has never ducked criticism, and said he doesn't need Brown's protection from detractors.

"Coach is trying to help the whole situation out. He knows we're in a tough situation, and he is our guarding angel," Simms said. "He's the head man so you always have to let him speak. Sure, I would have liked to answer, but if he feels like he'll answer for me, that's all right with me."

Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops said that the seven interceptions thrown by Simms and Hybl combined were more a reflection of the quality of both teams' defenses rather than poor quarterback play.

"Speaking for Nate and maybe even for Chris Simms, when you play against an awfully good defense and you're forced to try and make plays in tough situations, it happens," Stoops said.

Simms' first interception came late in the first quarter, when a deep pass also intended for Johnson was underthrown and intercepted by Oklahoma cornerback Andre Woolfolk on a spectacular defensive play.

Then, on the Longhorns' next possession, Simms was intercepted by Derrick Strait when wide receiver Kyle Shanahan cut a slant route short and the ball arrived squarely in Strait's hands.

Simms doesn't expect circumstance to factor in when his career is evaluated, but maintains that statistics aren't a true reflection of his performance.

"People aren't going to remember those things," Simms said. "They are going to see three interceptions and that's about it. There's a lot of people who don't know the whole sport of football and what goes on."

And in case Simms wasn't under enough pressure already, he brought on even more by declaring that Texas is now in "a must-win situation."

"We have no time to sulk about this too long," Simms said "We lost [to Oklahoma] last year and had a chance to go to the National Championship game. I'm sure we're going to have our chance again this year but we have to win them all from here."

Whether Simms can do that against opponents ranked in the top 10 continues to be in doubt.

 

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