Texas football: Christian Jones watching tape of former Alabama linemen

Texas lineman Christian Jones has been watching tape this offseason. The returning starter has worked to improve his game under new offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Kyle Flood, who comes to Texas after two seasons as the offensive line coach at Alabama. Jones has high praise for Flood and his staff as they look to build behind a veteran offensive line.

Jones started in all 10 games for Texas last season, he made nine appearances at right tackle and one at left tackle. The four-year player is adjusting to a new staff this season as he prepares to become the full-time left tackle.

“It’s just a different way of delivery, a different way of teaching it,” Jones told the media on Thursday. “It’s the same things, low pads, playing physical. The only thing different for me was the vertical sets, compared to an angled set. That’s what coach Flood is teaching. That’s helped my game a whole lot, but besides that its kind of been the same.”

Flood comes to Texas with first-year head coach Steve Sarkisian from Alabama. He coached two first-round tackles in his two years with the Crimson Tide and had two others drafted. Alabama’s offensive line won the 2020 Joe Moore Award, given to the best offensive line in college football.

“We studied that a lot,” said Jones. “Bringing up teach tape from them, drills, gameplay. It’s been good. I’ve been looking at Leatherwood, I’ve been looking at Jed Wills, Landon Dickerson, honestly the whole line from Bama. We’ve all been looking at them to see how they play and how we can take that into our own interpretation.”

Building the Texas offensive line

The offensive line is one of the most important position groups for Texas and will be anchored by Christian Jones this season. With a new quarterback taking over and Heisman candidate Bijan Robinson in the backfield, providing solid protection and opening holes could be the difference for the Longhorns this season.

Last year’s All-Big 12 honorable mention Derek Kerstetter is set to make a move from center to right tackle in his fifth season. Redshirt freshman Jake Majors is the only addition to the starting lineup, taking over center duties full-time after two starts last season.

In addition, sixth-year guard Denzel Okafor returns after nine regular season starts at right guard in 2020. Junior Angilau returns on the left side after 10 starts last season.

Continuity makes the Texas offensive line one of the best in the Big 12.