Here are the highlights of Texas defensive coordinator Chris Ash’s media availability via Zoom on Wednesday:
--- Ash was asked to compared Joseph Ossai to other players he has previously coached. Ash mentioned J.J. Watt (Wisconsin), Joey Bosa (Ohio State) and Kemoko Toure (Rutgers). He said the biggest difference is Ossai can drop back into coverage because of his background as a linebacker.
--- Ash said West Virginia tries to establish the run and has a balanced offense.
--- Texas has created 12 turnovers this season (best in the Big 12) and Ash was asked about that success: “It's what we emphasize every single day. We've got some core beliefs, and number one, the game is about the ball. We want to possess it on offense, and we want to get it back on defense. We have a circuit training segment of practice that we do each week that emphasizes ball extraction and ball recovery, whether it's around the quarterback, a ball carrier of some sort. We've done team drills with the offense as well. We have tried to emphasize getting the ball back since the day that I've arrived. There are certain things that we're doing really well on defense. There are certain things we are not, but at the end of the day, if we can continue to get the ball back, it's going to give us a chance to win games. I think you know last Saturday was a really good indication of that.”
--- Ash on defensive backs playing the hands: “Everything is situational. The average fan thinks the DB needs to turn and look for the ball every time. Well, that's not the case. It's all based on your position on the wide receiver. If you're trailing the wide receiver, which in a couple of those situations we were [against Oklahoma State], we can't turn and look for the ball because we're not on top of the receiver. We don't have control of the receiver yet. There were a couple of situations where we should have located the ball, and when you watch the film, they were trying, but there was too much contact at the top. There was one in particular penalty where we didn't even attempt to turn and the penalty flag was thrown, and it should have been thrown. We have to continue to work with our guys on getting control, being on top of the receiver, having vertical control the receiver, minimizing the amount of contact at the top, and getting their eyes back around to play the ball. A lot of it just depends on whether they're trailing the guy or not. A couple of those we were behind. We'd gotten behind, and we were fighting like heck to try to catch up. When the ball is thrown under thrown, and you're trying like heck to catch up, a lot of those turn into PIs [pass interferences].
--- In addition, Ash said pass interference calls will occur since they play press coverage. However, their goal is to minimize those calls.
--- Ash also said their press technique is inconsistent. However, he said Oklahoma State compiled completed passes when Texas was playing off the receiver.
--- Ash on calling a zero blitz on fourth-down in overtime against Oklahoma State: “It was all about the situation. To me, there was nothing risky about the call. It was fourth-down. You go all-out blitz, one of two things is going to happen. You're going to win the game, or they score a touchdown and you go to another overtime. We play to win the game and you make a call to gives you a chance to win the game in that situation. Didn't even blink. This is a situation that I put the call in for, and this is what we're going to do. We're going to go win the game here. Thankfully, it worked out.”
--- Ash was asked to compared Joseph Ossai to other players he has previously coached. Ash mentioned J.J. Watt (Wisconsin), Joey Bosa (Ohio State) and Kemoko Toure (Rutgers). He said the biggest difference is Ossai can drop back into coverage because of his background as a linebacker.
--- Ash said West Virginia tries to establish the run and has a balanced offense.
--- Texas has created 12 turnovers this season (best in the Big 12) and Ash was asked about that success: “It's what we emphasize every single day. We've got some core beliefs, and number one, the game is about the ball. We want to possess it on offense, and we want to get it back on defense. We have a circuit training segment of practice that we do each week that emphasizes ball extraction and ball recovery, whether it's around the quarterback, a ball carrier of some sort. We've done team drills with the offense as well. We have tried to emphasize getting the ball back since the day that I've arrived. There are certain things that we're doing really well on defense. There are certain things we are not, but at the end of the day, if we can continue to get the ball back, it's going to give us a chance to win games. I think you know last Saturday was a really good indication of that.”
--- Ash on defensive backs playing the hands: “Everything is situational. The average fan thinks the DB needs to turn and look for the ball every time. Well, that's not the case. It's all based on your position on the wide receiver. If you're trailing the wide receiver, which in a couple of those situations we were [against Oklahoma State], we can't turn and look for the ball because we're not on top of the receiver. We don't have control of the receiver yet. There were a couple of situations where we should have located the ball, and when you watch the film, they were trying, but there was too much contact at the top. There was one in particular penalty where we didn't even attempt to turn and the penalty flag was thrown, and it should have been thrown. We have to continue to work with our guys on getting control, being on top of the receiver, having vertical control the receiver, minimizing the amount of contact at the top, and getting their eyes back around to play the ball. A lot of it just depends on whether they're trailing the guy or not. A couple of those we were behind. We'd gotten behind, and we were fighting like heck to try to catch up. When the ball is thrown under thrown, and you're trying like heck to catch up, a lot of those turn into PIs [pass interferences].
--- In addition, Ash said pass interference calls will occur since they play press coverage. However, their goal is to minimize those calls.
--- Ash also said their press technique is inconsistent. However, he said Oklahoma State compiled completed passes when Texas was playing off the receiver.
--- Ash on calling a zero blitz on fourth-down in overtime against Oklahoma State: “It was all about the situation. To me, there was nothing risky about the call. It was fourth-down. You go all-out blitz, one of two things is going to happen. You're going to win the game, or they score a touchdown and you go to another overtime. We play to win the game and you make a call to gives you a chance to win the game in that situation. Didn't even blink. This is a situation that I put the call in for, and this is what we're going to do. We're going to go win the game here. Thankfully, it worked out.”
