The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Video: Steve Sarkisian press conference
09.27.2021 | Football, Tickets
Head coach Steve Sarkisian previewed Saturday's game at TCU.
Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian Weekly Press Conference
Opening Statement
"I thought our guys played really hard, which is something that we are trying to stress and emphasize, and I thought we had really, really good mental intensity in the first half of that game in all three phases. I know even on special teams, we get the blocked punt, (sophomore running back) Keilan (Robinson's) head was in the neutral zone on the block, but I just thought the intensity and the focus, the attention to detail in all three phases was really where we wanted it in the first half of that game. But in the second half, we had some natural mental lapses in our mental intensity and mental focus; whether it was the interception in the end zone or a couple of the deep balls, so those are things that we are trying to capture and get right. But all in all, I loved the way our team played Saturday, and it just goes back to when you prepare really well and practice with real intent, generally that leads to a positive performance. I'd like to also add, I thought it was a great atmosphere on Saturday. (For an) 11 a.m. kick, I thought DKR was rocking and the fans were here. It was definitely a home field advantage. We look forward to our fans traveling with us up to Fort Worth this weekend. For those of you who can make it, we would love to have you. It would be a great environment for football."
On preparing for TCU
"(TCU) Coach (Gary) Patterson is a great defensive coach – his team always plays hard, very well-coached, and I think they do a heck of a job of getting themselves in the right call. They challenge you off the edges with the corner blitz or the nickel blitz from the field, they're disruptive up front, and they generally have really good EDGE rushers, just like they do this year with applying pressure on the quarterback, and then matching their routes in the back end. We have to be detailed in our preparation, it is going to be a physical game and we need to continue down this road of our brand of football that we pride ourselves on. Ultimately, we got to execute."
On junior quarterback Casey Thompson's game preparation
"I think at the end of the day when you prepare and practice well, and I see things in practice that make sense, you have more confidence as a play-caller to call some of those things … I think collectively, whether it's the offensive line, the receivers, the runners, some of the things we are trying to do or asking to do, the response gets better throughout the week in practice, which in turn, gives me a lot more confidence to call it on game day. I do think Casey in particular really owns the game plan. I think he dives into it, he prepares, he studies, and he knows what we are trying to do. In turn, he stresses to the guys the notion of getting lined up if we are trying to go fast. He stresses to the guys about a specific split by a receiver. He will stress to the running back a reminder to get out in this route because he knows he is vital in the check down for him on the play. That comes because he prepares really well, and I think he is seeing the benefits of that and obviously, we are too."
On redshirting and developing players
"I am probably on the same line of where I was last week. I am not as concerned about it; we've got a lot of football left to play. I think we need to keep developing our players. Really, four and a half years of eligibility is what they give you now, right, so it's a lot of football for these guys as players. I think we are doing a pretty good job of that as a staff and the players we are buying into. We are diving into all of them, it's not just our starters, we are diving into all of our players and trying to make them better, so when they get opportunities to get in the game, I think that's great exposure for them to try to put things into action that we have been working on with them individually. I think (junior defensive lineman) Moro Ojomo is playing really good football for us inside. I like the effort by (senior defensive lineman Keondre) Coburn, the last two weeks he's played. I think (senior linebacker) DeMarvion (Overshown) is playing really good football, I know he had a couple missed tackles last week, but it wasn't for lack of effort. Now we've got to clean up a couple things technique wise that I think will help him. I think (senior defensive back) Josh Thompson had a really good day Saturday. I know he had the interception and that's the easy one to see, but he's playing a physical brand of football at corner and I think he's communicating well, he's playing at a high level. I don't know if it was his best game Saturday, but I think (senior defensive back) Anthony Cook has played good force as well. I am leaving guys out, that's probably not fair, but it even goes back to (junior linebacker) Luke Brockemeyer, for whatever reason the ball finds that guy and sure enough on Saturday it found him again with the big turnover."
