The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Video: Steve Sarkisian press conference
09.19.2022 | Football
Football head coach Steve Sarkisian previewed Saturday's game against Texas Tech.
Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian Opening Statement
After having watched the tape Saturday night and Sunday with the staff, and then this morning with our players, I think there is a lot to be learned from – your mental intensity and your energy that you bring in, regardless of your role. Regardless of the phase, I didn't think we started the game very well, in any phase, Saturday night. We have a punt on our first series of the game … our defense takes the field, we are not tackling very well, they are converting third downs, they are moving the football, we get the ball back and we end up going down and scoring. Our first kickoff, we kick it out of bounds. They drive down again, then they come back on special teams, onside kick, get it, then they run the trick-play, then get a touchdown. So, the start of the game was not up to the standard for which we have set; and that is the whole key. We have a standard in which we want to play the game of football, and we didn't play that way early in the football game. The positive of that was we didn't stay in that rut. We didn't stay a little bit lethargic. With that, with the lack of mental intensity and a lack of energy, I thought we fought ourselves through it. I thought, obviously, the offense produced 10 more points after that … defense getting a stop on third down, special teams starting to cover the kicks. So, it started to pick up steam as we went, and then clearly that just bled right over into the second half. The way we play, I credit the coaches on our staff at halftime for making some good adjustments. Like I said, there were some things there that were different that we had not seen. I credit UTSA, they came up with a heck of a game plan, and really challenged us. I credit our players for their resiliency to overcome the adversity that we were faced with. That was a good win for us. I think we needed some of the things that happened in that game. I think those are things that we can build from and grow from; that was the end of the preseason. We know Saturday, we go to play against a good opponent in Texas Tech and Coach (Joey) McGuire has done a great job. They are a very strong team in all three phases; they move the football, they can throw it at a high level, they have the ability to run it, playing really good defense, really good run defense. They have some pass rushers, and they play hard as a team. We have our work cut out for us heading into a hostile environment. We need a great week of preparation.
On quarterback injuries
They all practiced today, which is positive … that to me is a really good sign. Last Monday, they did not all practice … everybody was in there doing their team drills and different things. I think it's the progress that (redshirt freshman) Quinn Ewers is making, I think it is (sophomore) Hudson Card's ability to bounce back after playing Saturday. (Freshman) Maalik Murphy had a good practice today, as well. So, a lot of positives there from those guys practicing. My protocol is that, I just don't believe that you can play good football on Saturday, if you don't practice throughout the week. It's the mental component of the game, that you are accustomed to dealing with an ache or a twinge or whatever is bothering you, because that can serve as a distraction in game if that is the first time that you start to go do it.
On the offensive line
I think we are growing. I always say this, when I am a coach, I am not mentioning offensive linemen. That is a good thing, because when they are unassuming, that means they are just doing their job. Early on in training camp, everyone asked me about (freshman) Kelvin Banks Jr. (I have not been) asked about Kelvin Banks in three weeks. That means he is probably doing a pretty good job. Kelvin is playing pretty good football as a true freshman, he is steady, he is comfortable. I think that that combination with him and (sophomore) Hayden Conner on the left side of the line with (junior) Jake Majors in the middle has been good. I think the move for (senior) Christian Jones to right tackle has been really good for him. He is playing as a different player this year than he was a year ago. I think (freshman) Cole Hutson at guard has had some really cool moments. He has had some moments where he struggled some (early on last week) in the ballgame. He had a couple plays he would have loved to have back, but what I have been more impressed with as a true freshman, as a young player at that spot, was his maturity to settle down. That did not manifest itself into him just having a disastrous game where he had to sub him out. He quieted himself, and calmed things down. He played good football. I think we are maturing on the offensive line. Obviously, that was a heck of a test two weeks ago against Alabama, against that front. (We) came back against a veteran front against UTSA and this week is going to be no different. Yes, a veteran front for Texas Tech with (linebacker Tyree) Wilson and (defensive lineman Jaylon) Hutchings up front; they are great players. They have a veteran linebacking core with (Krishon) Merriweather in the middle. We have to block a good group here Saturday, and those guys are going to be first time in this environment on the road and so their focus, their attention to detail, and their maturity is going to have to shine through as we grow throughout the ballgame.
On the execution of the special teams and the offense
Overall, the kicking game, we have performed pretty well. We have had a couple missed field goals, but to me that was more operational. I think (sophomore) Bert Auburn is kicking the ball well. I think (freshman) Will Stone is kicking the ball well, but is a consistency level on a younger player that obviously we are striving for, right? We can't kick the first kickoff out of bounds and then kick everything else into the endzone. We are always working on trying to find consistency in our younger players. I was really proud of our team through two games for our effort defensively, the way we were populating the ball, the way we were tackling – we did not tackle as well on Saturday and the majority of those missed tackles. I think in week one, we had six missed tackles. Week two, we had seven. Week three, we had 15. But, the majority of those missed tackles came early in the game. I think we have it rectified and have it fixed. I think the players understand it. I don't want to have those setbacks. I think offensively, balancing our offensive attack – one week we are running it great. the next week we are throwing it really well. we did not run it great. The next week, we are running it well again, we are not throwing great; so finding balance in our offense is really critical to not just our offensive success, but our team's success and I think that's where we are most dangerous.
