Here are a few immediate thoughts about, and reactions to, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian’s Mississippi State-week press conference, ahead of Texas’ trip to cowbell town at Davis-Wade and coming off a too-close-for-comfort road win against Kentucky:
- Sark starts out by saying that Mason Shipley’s performance this season, along with Ryan Niblett and Jack Bouwmeester, has been tremendous. He credited the defense for getting stops when they needed to—they got hurt when they got out of their rush lanes. He talked about the goal-line stand and praised Jaylon Guilbeau, Brad Spence, Travis Shaw, Taaffe, Lefau, and Brevard for their great efforts in the series. The offense was 1 of 7 on 3rd and 1-6 yards, which was a concern because you have to get those. He was very disappointed in himself and the inability to end the game with the ball in their hands; he said he didn’t do a good enough job communicating that importance to the players, like Deandre Moore who went out of bounds. He said he has to do a better job overall offensively—it’s nobody but him. ALEX’S THOUGHTS: Man, that’s a different-sounding Sark than the one we got in the post-game. It’s nice not to hear him say that a win is a win on the road at night in the SEC (which is true!), but he kind of fell on the sword a little bit. Maybe watching back the tape humbled him a little, but it will be good for the morale of the fans to hear their coach understands that there needs to be improvements with the offense and to hear him take accountability.
- On Miss State: Much improved team, high-powered and uptempo. Knocked off Arizona State, went to overtime against Tennessee. And a defense that attacks the football and creates turnovers. Have to keep doing a great job with ball security. ALEX’S THOUGHTS: Texas has a worlds-better roster than Mississippi State, but I’m going into every game moving forward expecting a rock fight and hoping that I’ve underestimated them. I think that is the most healthy way to view this team right now.
- Eric Henry asked about fixability of offensive issues—long term or in-week fixes? Little of both: if you’re not running a scheme well, don’t call it. If you’re not adequate at a position, you can protect that guy. ALEX’S THOUGHTS: He also said that, after the season’s over, you can go replace that guy. So there’s definitely two ways of fixing these issues.
- As OC, how does he critique the run game: There’s never a game where he doesn’t come out and think he would do things differently. Disappointed with the first play of overtime. Got a holding penalty, and he shouldn’t have put stress on Brandon on that play—that style of run has a chance to be a negative-type run. Easy to put in on Brandon, but that was a bad call on his end. ALEX’S THOUGHTS: Again, I like the tone from Sark.
- On Arch’s role in assigning protections: Combination of center and QB. Center sets protections, Arch changes the protection. Had a few opportunities where he could have changed them where he did, but the line also didn’t react to some of the things they were seeing either. ALEX’S THOUGHTS: The OL looked like they played a terrible game versus Kentucky, but Sark even admitted there were some things that Arch could have done to avoid having to sweat so many free rushers by changing up protections. Just another thing he’s having to learn as he goes.
- Bob Ballou asked if the OL has inhibited Arch’s growth: It’s a combo—it’s easy to point to the OL, but sometimes it’s the RB who didn’t pick something up. Sometimes WRs are not at the right depth. ALEX’S THOUGHTS: Agreed, but what fans will rightly say is that there is also concern about the errant throws on unimpeded plays with open receivers. I think that concerns fans more than most anything else: the struggles while not under duress. Everyone understands that it’s going to be a chore to get things really cooking behind this OL, but it’s the “layups” that Sark mentioned where Arch just needs to play pitch and catch and not overthink this stuff. The offense isn’t getting enough opportunities to make plays to waste those when they are dialed up.
- Ed Clements asked about Ryan Niblett and maybe seeing him more on offense: His role has evolved. He was playing DB in spring, then WR, then RB; we didn’t even know he’d be the returner to start the season. Integral part of all we do on special teams, coverage, as a gunner, but finding ways to get the ball in his hands 3-5 touches a game would be good. ALEX’S THOUGHTS: It’s obviously a good idea to insert as much dynamism to the offense as possible, and I have no issues with Niblett getting more run, because despite preseason expectations, Niblett has been one of Texas’ best game-breakers with the ball in his hands—he just has.
- Danny Davis addressing the issues and cleaning up issues: Sark said they only had two penalties on offense, but they occurred at bad times. As for the procedural issues on special teams, he said he had a hard time talking about it without getting fined. ALEX’S THOUGHTS: LOL. Apparently Sark thinks those three procedural penalties on special teams were ticky-tack things.
- Thomas Davis asked if Tre Wisner needs to share the load more in the backfield: Baxter was at practice today; hopefully we can get him more back in the fold. As this game started to go, you start to rely on the guys you know who have been there. Christian did some pretty good things, and I would love to play him more. ALEX’S THOUGHTS: Sounds promising on Baxter’s availability. Maybe that combo and some things they could work off it could help to spark the offense.
- Kirk Bohls asked if he will shrink the playbook and what he is doing well right now: You have to have the conversation of what do we do to help our players be successful. It’s about what our guys are going to execute really well and what are our strengths? I do think you’ll see some adjustments this week. ALEX’S THOUGHTS: With all due respect—and I really mean that—I will be interested to see the game plan this weekend and what is accentuated/changed, but I honestly don’t really know myself what the offense does best.
- Joe Cook asked about the RPO offense and how Arch handled it: It’s been pretty good; we’re trying to emphasize our ability to run the ball, and sometimes you have to call a few more direct runs. There aren’t as many RPOs; with Quinn it was an RPO read, whereas with Arch sometimes it is more of a zone-read option. ALEX’S THOUGHTS: One thing about Quinn is that he really was a pure RPO passer in the offense. With that said, Arch—on paper—brings a more deadly option with his legs as a runner. It’s just about all the pieces falling into place to execute the scheme with more consistency.
- Anwar asked whether he’s thought about giving up play calling to focus on CEO-type responsibilities? He said he got hired because he was a really good offensive coordinator. If he was the best sales guy and started a company, he’s going to go to the sales meetings. ALEX’S THOUGHTS: Anwar with the stones to ask the big question. I’ll just say this, and it’s probably going to piss everyone off: I clearly see both sides of this argument—I really do—and think both sides are totally rational.
- On Colin Simmons: There was a shift in his approach going into the Florida game. He’s allowing the game to come to him and playing faster. Thinks they are all playing better up front. Spence, Lance Jackson, Burke has been banged up, and we’re getting a better version of him. ALEX’S THOUGHTS: Burke did look much better against Kentucky, and my suspicions that he may have been playing a little hurt in previous weeks look to have been true.
- Ced Golden asked about messaging to the fanbase when they are worried after a win: Sark said it’s a great thing they’ve raised the bar to that level. We’re a playoff team. When that becomes the standard, we all have to hold ourselves to that. ALEX’S THOUGHTS: Hey, as of now, Texas does control its own destiny, and if they see themselves as a playoff team, that’s obviously a good thing, even if the fanbase and general CFB-viewing public do not see it the same way.
- On Arch’s struggles and if he would be benched, when to know when to do that: He said he saw things like the throws to Moore and Mosley where they thought they could find his rhythm back. Against UGA with Quinn Ewers, the whole offense was overwhelmed, and giving a guy a break to where they can clear things out and start seeing things better can help. ALEX’S THOUGHTS: I don’t think Arch gets benched unless he basically passes out on the field. He’s really, really struggled at times this year, and it hasn’t ever felt like he was on any kind of leash. Then again, if he ever did face pressure like Arch did against UGA last season, he might come close to passing out—I think anyone would. That looked like a scene from the Armageddon movie.
- Chip Brown asked about a step forward versus OU with the OL and then a step back against Kentucky: Made the shift at OU to go with Nick at guard; this week, not ideal to lose your center in the middle of the week. This week, a whole week to work together will be helpful. ALEX’S THOUGHTS: Let’s hope so because Hutson was on crutches at the game and looks to be out a while. That C/LG combo sure has been the bugaboo of the season so far. Nowhere to go but up from here, I suppose.
