Steve Sarkisian covers line-play, upcoming scrimmage, special teams and much more
Long-time Inside Texas contributor, Bill Frisbie, returns this week to help with team coverage from Austin media availabilities.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian yet again with the Texas media on Friday after the team’s morning practice. The team will take the field again on Saturday for yet another scrimmage.
Sark detailed what the team will focus on tomorrow as well as many other aspects, including line-play, special teams, and the new clock rules.
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On Saturday’s Scrimmage
“There’s a couple of different scenarios that we want to work-on. We want to work on game-like substitutions: you go from red zone, then you go to goal line, and then when you go for two, there are a lot of substitutions that have to happen there, getting those mechanics done from the sideline, things that have to be done in the moment on top of playing the game.”
On the three turnovers in last Saturday’s scrimmage
“When you run 130 plays, you’re going to have turnovers. What I’m trying to clean up is how those turnovers occur. The defense had a really good segment in the 3rd-down and 4th-down portion of it, but we’ve got to clean up (the defensive lapses against) quarterback-scrambles and in the red area, where I thought the offense was effective last week.”
On the final weekend of Camp (August 26)
“Next (Saturday) will be a ‘mock game’ (simulation) where we go through the pre-game routine and rituals. There’ll be a lot of situational work and a lot of substitutions (where we get players) into a true, game-like setting with the timing, the clocks and that sort of thing.”
On naming a starting running back
“We’re not there yet. To be fair to those guys, they need another (scrimmage). I do know this: we’ve got plenty of guys who can play, but I look for a lot of different things. Like, in today’s practice, we had a heavy two-minute situation (and looked for) how guys responded in that scenario. What do they look like on the goal line or in short yardage? What do they look like on regular plays, or on 3rd-downs in pass protection? Who are the best at what? Maybe, early on, that’s how we play them.”
On the ‘line’ play
“The defensive line is playing really well. We’ve got some really good players when you’re talking about Byron Murphy and (T’Vondre) Sweat. Alfred (Collins) is playing at a high level. (RS-freshman) Jaray Bledson has stepped up, and Vernon (Broughton) is really explosive in there. Inevitably, that’s great for the offensive line.”
“You want to go against good people every day. You want to get pushed. There’s going to be moments when one side has the advantage over the other. That’s the beauty of having a good team, a team that’s balanced on both sides of the ball. They can push one another, and raise each other’s level of play.”
On the team’s top pass-protectors
“(Sophomore LT) Kelvin (Banks) is really good. That’s not to take anything away from (RT) Christian (Jones) because he’s done a nice job. We’ve got three (running) backs right now (doing well) in pass protection, (starting with) Jonathon Brooks. Cedric (Baxter) really has a good feel in pass-protection. Keilan Robinson is really good. He knows how to use his body and his power to protect.”
On Special Teams Coach Jeff Banks
“(Special teams coach Jeff Banks) puts in the time and the effort. He’s very organized. He does a really good job of fitting our personnel to the scheme, of getting the right people to the right spots to do what they do really well. He does a nice job of recognizing players who may not be front-line starters but play with a style on special teams where they find a role (such as) Kitan Crawford and (Morice) Blackwell.”
“I love the attitude and the aggressiveness that (Banks) brings. That’s half of special teams. You’ve got to have players who want to be on special teams, and Jeff creates an environment where guys want to be on special teams. They love what he brings, they love the energy and they love that we’re going to scheme people. He demands maximum effort every time.”
On the kicking game
“(Ryan) Sanborn’s experience (as a punter) is invaluable for us. He does a really good job with his directional punts. (K) Bert (Auburn), as the year went on, made some big kicks for us. (Lance) St.Lous might be one of the most improved guys we have, having been a true freshman last year. The weight rooms were good for him. Sanborn can kickoff as well.”
“Coverage-wise, I think we have the two best gunners in the country. Kitan (Crawford) and Keilan (Robinson) are phenomenal in the punt game and in our coverage units. Our kick-coverage has been tremendous for the last couple of years.”
“What we’re striving for is how do we maximize the return game. Where do we find more plays in kick return and in punt return. We know we can go after punts, but the return game has been a point of emphases.”
On changes to the ‘clock’ rules
“We’ve been (practicing) a lot on that. We actually had a good segment on that today. The (new) clock rules really don’t affect the game in the midst of the game. It (results) in less amount of plays. Where it comes into effect is understanding the two-minute marker (because) they’re going to be slower to start the clock after 1st-down (at the end of) the first half and 4th-quarter. Players have to understand why efficiency is so important. You don’t want to waste plays because you don’t know how many you’re going to get. You might be in game, and have 50-to-55 plays, and neither team is going fast, so you’ve got to make those plays count.”
