Here are a few immediate thoughts about, and reactions to, Steve Sarkisian's Kentucky-week press conference coming off a gritty win on the road against Arkansas that kept Texas in control of its own destiny:
- Sark starts out by saying Arkansas was an awesome win on the road. Texas is the only undefeated team on the road in conference play. The defense was fantastic. Alfred Collins isn't getting enough credit nationally for his fantastic brand of football. Hayden Conner OL of the week, fourth time a Texas OL has won it. Toughest game of the season coming up versus Kentucky. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: I love that Sark is positioning the mindset of the team to believe this, but let's hope UK is not the "toughest game of the season," that would be a disaster.
- Danny Davis asked about the seniors: Sark says he's really appreciative of the guys who were holdovers from the old staff. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Sark's favorite thing to talk about, by far, is how proud he is of players who stick around and develop on the bench.
- On PK taking heat as the program was building, but now getting respect: super proud of the entire defensive staff. Heard a ton about our secondary last year, what they allegedly were. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: I'm all for giving credit for the growth of the defense but it is rewriting history to say the pass defense last year was good. It wasn't an "allegedly" leaky unit, it was a leaky unit. A lot of the improvement was addition by subtraction and unleashing the good players to really play more. I think Nansen's emphatic focus on LB/DB communication has helped greatly as well. One thing is for sure: Terry Joseph and Blake Gideon seem FIRMLY off of any hot seat.
- Sark again says this is the most important game of the year. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: He's gonna keep saying it I guess.
- Kirk Bohls asked about UK's good games -- Ole Miss, Georgia: Ton of respect for Stoops, very sound football teams in all three phases. Will grind you out then take their shots like in the Ole Miss game. Tried their best to do the same in Ole Miss and Tennessee games. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: UK doesn't seem like a good football team and maybe it's the PTSD of graduating from Texas in the early 2000s but I never love playing a member of the Stoops family.
- Eric Henry asked about explosive plays being about equal to last year and is it as explosive as last year: Sark said they're just trying to move the football and win games. We're managing games in a way that allows us to be successful. Couldn't have been more proud about how the offense handled the fourth quarter. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: He seemed to be a little surprised to hear they've been as explosive this year.
- Wescott Eberts asked about Alfred Collins' improvement: sometimes it's more difficult to remain consistent when you're not getting as many plays. When you're playing more you lean into doing the little things right. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Right, but in fairness, Collins has played a lot in the past and been nowhere near this good. NOWHERE NEAR. The switch has totally flipped.
- Bob Ballou asked about the Jahdae decision to come back and how much has he improved? It was the move to corner full time and then use him in special situations in nickel and dime. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Another opportunity for Sark to talk about his favorite topic, staying committed to the program and developing. Collins, Helm, Barron, Ford, Sweat, etc. etc. etc.
- Is Quinn playing his final college home game on Saturday? "No idea." ALEX'S THOUGHTS: If he's not playing his final college home game on Saturday, I don't think his final college home game will be at Texas given the circumstances but what do I know.
- On Chiefs running his end around for the UF game: "I've copied way more plays from Andy Reid than he's copied from me." ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Lol. still pretty awesome to see your play used the very next week by the defending world champs.
- Brian Davis asked about as an offensive coach how does it feel to have such a good defense: Sark says he doesn't just gravitate to the offense, but probably has better relationships with the defensive players than the offense because he goes overboard to make sure he has those relationships. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: He also doesn't yell at those guys as much in practice! Of course they like him more
- On Juan Davis's journey: ALEX'S THOUGHTS: We don't even need to hear the answer. Favorite topic. Stay the course, don't transfer, develop, be ready when you're number is called etc.
- Anwar asked about 5:1 ratio of INTs to passing TDs allowed and also about Jaydon Blue: Sark said it has to do with experience of the defensive backfield and incorporating the linebackers. We don't blow coverages. They make every pass play feel contested. When their is a guy open it's like "what happened?" As for Blue, he worked this morning, think he's good. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: That's a stat I hadn't heard. Impressive.
Ed Clements asked about 5 teams vying for SEC championship: First time in SEC without divisions, what would it look like now if that were still the case. I think it's a good thing, our conference is extremely challenging and it's going to come down to the last weekend. That's why this weekend is the biggest of the year to put us in position for that final week. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Look, I hope the team treats it as the biggest game of the year, but it's clear Sark means the biggest game of the year SO FAR.
Chip Brown asked about Mo Blackwell and Deandre Moore: Hopefully Blackwell can go, Moore knicked up in the game, hopefully we can get both those guys back. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: We're going to have to wait on the injury reports for those dudes, not too much concrete there.
Ced Golden on only Texas and Texas A&M controlling their own destiny: Similar to last year, two years ago we were at the mercy of other teams. Last year, we said we're going to be in control. We sing that same song this year. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Texas needs to focus on Texas and not A&M or anyone else. Just play your game. Walk into the house, pee on the rug, mark your territory, eat all the snacks, zero F's given.
- Roger Wallace asked about how to stay even-keel: "what a cool moment Saturday to have in that locker room, then we got on the bus and were like 'OK let's go home," it never feels like we're winning a Super Bowl in that locker room." ALEX'S THOUGHTS: I'm sure Ewers has a little bit of an affect on that, he's a pretty chill guy.
- CJ Vogel asked about the jumbo package with Agbo, etc. not being a part of the equation this year. Sark says he feels better about Gunnar Helm being in there as a blocker than they have in the past where they needed to use an offensive lineman. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: He's effectively saying Gunnar is a more complete TE than JT Sanders.
- Bohls: Kirby Smart says he doesn't understand the CFP committee, do you look at the analytics of that?: I know there's point differentials involved and I've taken a knee inside the ten, kneeled it out last week, I think that's the right way to play the game. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Sark seems convinced that if the team plays the brand of football they've been playing and intend to keep playing, things will take care of themselves and it's a hard thing to disagree with -- but just imagine if it did come down to some cockamamie point differential ...
- On the handshakes and having fun, the dances, etc. : They are truly a team. We are not a defense, offense, special teams. They are in it together. It's what makes this group special, they put forth a lot of effort, work their tails off and have fun doing what we need to do. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: My favorite is still from the UF game when Ewers and the OL had their dance. I have no idea what the theme was but I must have watched it ten times because it was so funny.
- Sark starts out by saying Arkansas was an awesome win on the road. Texas is the only undefeated team on the road in conference play. The defense was fantastic. Alfred Collins isn't getting enough credit nationally for his fantastic brand of football. Hayden Conner OL of the week, fourth time a Texas OL has won it. Toughest game of the season coming up versus Kentucky. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: I love that Sark is positioning the mindset of the team to believe this, but let's hope UK is not the "toughest game of the season," that would be a disaster.
- Danny Davis asked about the seniors: Sark says he's really appreciative of the guys who were holdovers from the old staff. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Sark's favorite thing to talk about, by far, is how proud he is of players who stick around and develop on the bench.
- On PK taking heat as the program was building, but now getting respect: super proud of the entire defensive staff. Heard a ton about our secondary last year, what they allegedly were. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: I'm all for giving credit for the growth of the defense but it is rewriting history to say the pass defense last year was good. It wasn't an "allegedly" leaky unit, it was a leaky unit. A lot of the improvement was addition by subtraction and unleashing the good players to really play more. I think Nansen's emphatic focus on LB/DB communication has helped greatly as well. One thing is for sure: Terry Joseph and Blake Gideon seem FIRMLY off of any hot seat.
- Sark again says this is the most important game of the year. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: He's gonna keep saying it I guess.
- Kirk Bohls asked about UK's good games -- Ole Miss, Georgia: Ton of respect for Stoops, very sound football teams in all three phases. Will grind you out then take their shots like in the Ole Miss game. Tried their best to do the same in Ole Miss and Tennessee games. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: UK doesn't seem like a good football team and maybe it's the PTSD of graduating from Texas in the early 2000s but I never love playing a member of the Stoops family.
- Eric Henry asked about explosive plays being about equal to last year and is it as explosive as last year: Sark said they're just trying to move the football and win games. We're managing games in a way that allows us to be successful. Couldn't have been more proud about how the offense handled the fourth quarter. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: He seemed to be a little surprised to hear they've been as explosive this year.
- Wescott Eberts asked about Alfred Collins' improvement: sometimes it's more difficult to remain consistent when you're not getting as many plays. When you're playing more you lean into doing the little things right. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Right, but in fairness, Collins has played a lot in the past and been nowhere near this good. NOWHERE NEAR. The switch has totally flipped.
- Bob Ballou asked about the Jahdae decision to come back and how much has he improved? It was the move to corner full time and then use him in special situations in nickel and dime. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Another opportunity for Sark to talk about his favorite topic, staying committed to the program and developing. Collins, Helm, Barron, Ford, Sweat, etc. etc. etc.
- Is Quinn playing his final college home game on Saturday? "No idea." ALEX'S THOUGHTS: If he's not playing his final college home game on Saturday, I don't think his final college home game will be at Texas given the circumstances but what do I know.
- On Chiefs running his end around for the UF game: "I've copied way more plays from Andy Reid than he's copied from me." ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Lol. still pretty awesome to see your play used the very next week by the defending world champs.
- Brian Davis asked about as an offensive coach how does it feel to have such a good defense: Sark says he doesn't just gravitate to the offense, but probably has better relationships with the defensive players than the offense because he goes overboard to make sure he has those relationships. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: He also doesn't yell at those guys as much in practice! Of course they like him more
- On Juan Davis's journey: ALEX'S THOUGHTS: We don't even need to hear the answer. Favorite topic. Stay the course, don't transfer, develop, be ready when you're number is called etc.
- Anwar asked about 5:1 ratio of INTs to passing TDs allowed and also about Jaydon Blue: Sark said it has to do with experience of the defensive backfield and incorporating the linebackers. We don't blow coverages. They make every pass play feel contested. When their is a guy open it's like "what happened?" As for Blue, he worked this morning, think he's good. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: That's a stat I hadn't heard. Impressive.
Ed Clements asked about 5 teams vying for SEC championship: First time in SEC without divisions, what would it look like now if that were still the case. I think it's a good thing, our conference is extremely challenging and it's going to come down to the last weekend. That's why this weekend is the biggest of the year to put us in position for that final week. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Look, I hope the team treats it as the biggest game of the year, but it's clear Sark means the biggest game of the year SO FAR.
Chip Brown asked about Mo Blackwell and Deandre Moore: Hopefully Blackwell can go, Moore knicked up in the game, hopefully we can get both those guys back. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: We're going to have to wait on the injury reports for those dudes, not too much concrete there.
Ced Golden on only Texas and Texas A&M controlling their own destiny: Similar to last year, two years ago we were at the mercy of other teams. Last year, we said we're going to be in control. We sing that same song this year. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Texas needs to focus on Texas and not A&M or anyone else. Just play your game. Walk into the house, pee on the rug, mark your territory, eat all the snacks, zero F's given.
- Roger Wallace asked about how to stay even-keel: "what a cool moment Saturday to have in that locker room, then we got on the bus and were like 'OK let's go home," it never feels like we're winning a Super Bowl in that locker room." ALEX'S THOUGHTS: I'm sure Ewers has a little bit of an affect on that, he's a pretty chill guy.
- CJ Vogel asked about the jumbo package with Agbo, etc. not being a part of the equation this year. Sark says he feels better about Gunnar Helm being in there as a blocker than they have in the past where they needed to use an offensive lineman. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: He's effectively saying Gunnar is a more complete TE than JT Sanders.
- Bohls: Kirby Smart says he doesn't understand the CFP committee, do you look at the analytics of that?: I know there's point differentials involved and I've taken a knee inside the ten, kneeled it out last week, I think that's the right way to play the game. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: Sark seems convinced that if the team plays the brand of football they've been playing and intend to keep playing, things will take care of themselves and it's a hard thing to disagree with -- but just imagine if it did come down to some cockamamie point differential ...
- On the handshakes and having fun, the dances, etc. : They are truly a team. We are not a defense, offense, special teams. They are in it together. It's what makes this group special, they put forth a lot of effort, work their tails off and have fun doing what we need to do. ALEX'S THOUGHTS: My favorite is still from the UF game when Ewers and the OL had their dance. I have no idea what the theme was but I must have watched it ten times because it was so funny.
