Texas defensive tackle Kheeston Randall (91) pressures Oklahoma QB Landry Jones in this photo from Oct. 8 in Dallas. UT’s ability to get to opposing quarterbacks has Kansas concerned.

Through six games, the University of Texas football team has recorded eight sacks and six interceptions.

Both are modest numbers that place the Longhorns near the bottom of the Big 12. In conference games, UT sits eighth in sacks — Kansas University is 10th, with four — and last in interceptions.

But don’t let the numbers fool you. The Texas defense is nasty, and KU offensive coordinator Chuck Long knows it.

“They are by far the most blitzing team we’ve faced, and probably the most I’ve ever seen since I’ve been in college football,” Long said. “They blitz from everywhere, in all kinds of ways.”

To this point, all of that blitzing, which has produced 47 quarterback pressures, has yet to yield the kind of big plays that first-year UT defensive coordinator Manny Diaz wants to see.

“(Our focus) is being a little more dynamic in terms of our play-making, which is creating more turnovers, creating more negative plays,” Diaz said. “Not because we just think it is fun to do that, because it is, but that translates to winning football games. That’s scoring on defense. Things that, generally speaking, win you football games.”

Long said this week’s game film included 140 different Texas blitzes. It should be pointed out that the number is a cumulative total that came from all six of UT’s games. But Long said predicting which ones the Longhorns would use and when has proved challenging.

“There is no tendency that they have over there in blitzing,” he said. “Usually, you have a tendency like you do it more on third-and-long or second-and-long. These guys are all over the place on any down anywhere on the field. It becomes more of a guessing game, and you’re hoping that you can find a certain pattern that they’re doing in that first quarter. They do have patterns in games, but, man, they take pride in doing it all over the place. It could be one of those hit-and-miss games. It’s a little bit like gambling.”

Never one to back down from a challenge, Long has spent the week searching for ways to handle the Longhorns’ pressure. Part of his time has been spent watching and rewinding tape.

“I look for tips in film,” he said. “I have some tips already. And if I see those tips in the game, I know where they’re coming from, and we make sure we cover that.”

In order to handle the blitz, Long said the Jayhawks would have to be prepared in a variety of areas. Quarterback Jordan Webb will be Long’s eyes on the field and will be asked to get rid of the ball quickly when the blitz comes. Running backs James Sims, Darrian Miller, Tony Pierson and Brandon Bourbon will be schooled in pass protection, with those who pick it up fastest playing the most snaps.

“The whole thing is making sure we’re protecting right,” Long said. “We feel most comfortable with James, but Darrian is getting better and better. He can stay on the field and pass-protect, too. He still has some work to do, but we’re feeling better about it. And we need to get him on the field.”

In addition to asking those guys to pick up linebackers, safeties and cornerbacks coming from all areas of the field, the Jayhawks likely will turn to their ground game to limit the number of times UT brings the blitz.

“We like our formula,” Long said. “I say it every week, our formula is to run the ball, and we like to get that run game going. That is our mantra, and we like to stick with that. Teams that have gotten into a pass-happy contest with (Texas) have gotten beat and have got their quarterback hit.”

Long also said utilizing different formations and personnel could “calm” the blitz and pointed to KU’s success on the ground in the first half against Oklahoma as proof that those tools and a sound running game could work.

“Everybody has those formations that they don’t like to blitz,” Long said. “You just gotta find ’em. Sometimes they don’t show up on tape because other teams don’t use them. So it becomes a guessing game. The one thing about blitzing is (defenders) tend to get out of (their) gaps. In the run game, you might have some zero-yard gains, but all of a sudden you get the crease when guys get out of their gaps. The whole thing is staying patient with it.”

Shealy shares the love

KU defensive coordinator Vic Shealy told reporters after Wednesday’s practice he knows the pressure is on and he feels the vibe from outside the program. In a way, that’s what inspires him to keep working so hard.

“I’m not a KU grad, but I love KU,” Shealy said. “I buy into what the KU brand is. So you want the KU alums to feel proud about the KU football program. You want this brand to look great nationally. When you’re not playing well, it bothers you in your gut. That matters.”

Shealy said the challenge, for KU coaches and players alike, is to let the negative stuff roll off their backs and not get bogged down by bad days.

“You just can’t let things outside of this building occupy you too much,” Shealy said. “I know the pressure’s on. I know this is a bottom-line business. There’s no victory in things in this business other than what that scoreboard says. We all get that.”

Tharp to return

KU coach Turner Gill said sophomore Huldon Tharp would be ready to play against Texas on Saturday. Tharp, a reserve linebacker and special-teams captain from Mulvane, missed a couple of weeks because of a rib injury.

“I guess I’m kind of used to the whole injury thing,” Tharp said Wednesday. “There was a lot of pain so I was out for a couple of weeks, but it’s feeling good, and I’m ready to go.”

Through five games, Tharp is tied for 10th on the team with 17 tackles.