As far as season-openers go, Saturday's performance will do just fine.
In fact, I'm guessing that if Steve Sarkisian had a checklist of things he wanted to see his team against Louisiana, I'd offer the team created a lot of checkmarks.
Let's start with his starting quarterback Hudson Card, who posted a game efficiency score of 187.7, contributed to three touchdowns, played turnover-free football and absolutely looked the part of a future star.
Check.
Meanwhile, starting running back Bijan Robinson combined for 176 total yards from scrimmage and the kind of talent that could be a difference-maker all season.
Check.
The defense? While the big plays weren't in abundance for Pete Kwiatkowski's defense, the unit delivered the goods in holding Louisiana to less than 20 points.
Check.
While there were a number of improvements Sarkisian and his staff will hope to see in future games, Saturday was a game that will serve as a platform for this team's quest to make something special out of this season.
Mission accomplished.
(Other thoughts on the game...)
* I thought Card was excellent in terms of making the game look and feel very easy for him. There's so much talent in that kid that he's going to get better with every game that he plays, but to post a quarterback rating in his first start that was better than all but two of Sam Ehlinger's starts from a season ago is an incredibly important first step.
* Good for Casey Thompson. None of this can be easy for him, but when he got his chance in the second half, he played very well, which should surprise no one. Thompson is very good.
* Card in the first half: 12 of 18 for 165 yards, 2 touchdowns, zero turnovers and a 180.3 rating... in his first half as a starter
* Card threw some beauties today, but my favorite might have been the 3rd and 11 completion to Jordan Whittington, which went for 41 yards. Those types of conversions become possible when you have a quarterback that can get the ball to receivers before defensive players have a chance to react.
* Whittington (seven receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown) just needs to stay healthy because if he does, he's going to have a monster season.
* I loved the design of the opening touchdown by Bijan Robinson on the wheel route, but a strong case could be made that he should have been flagged for a motion penalty because he didn't seem to fully reset himself when he motioned out of the backfield. I've looked at the play 20 times and I'm 50-50 on whether the flag should have been thrown.
* Can we put in.a request that Bijan Robinson's body not bend in ways that make me scared for him? I've seen enough of those plays in less than two seasons. Meanwhile, if I had a nitpick, it might have been the coaches keeping Robinson a little too long in the fourth quarter.
* The Texas offensive line was probably the biggest disappointment in the first half, as it seemed like almost every member of the group had a play that hurt the Longhorns from the ability to control down and distance. For instance, Junior Angilau's false start in the second quarter slowed down a drive that was moving in the direction of seven points. With the down and distance going from manageable to less manageable, the offense was forced to settle for a field goal attempt, which Cameron Dicker missed.
* When Steve Sarkisian mentions that he prefers a more explosive offense than a deliberate one, it's little mistakes like the one made by the line time an d time again that makes going on 10-, 11- or 12-play drives without making a mistake that eliminates the chance to get seven points.
* Speaking of Angilau, here's hoping he's ok. let's not see the depth of that group tested significantly at this point.
* Speaking of the offensive line, the 2.8 yards per carry by the team in the first half is a complete indictment on them as a group. They have to control the line of scrimmage better than that.
* While Dicker was wide right on his only field goal attempt in the first half, his kickoffs were perfect. Call him Mr. Touchback.
* Roschon Johnson and Keilon Robinson look like really good back-up running backs. Both made really good first game impressions.
* Luke Brockermeyer and DeMarvion Overshown were everywhere in the first half, combining for 14 tackles, 2 TFL and a sack. The rest of the team combined for 15 tackles and one tackle for loss in the first 30 minutes.
* Nice job by B.J. Foster on the kickoff return team to be aware of the onside kick. The entire unit was completely aware that the on-sides kick was a possibility. Shout out to Foster, as he was good all day.
* Ovie Oghoufo looks like the most dangerous pass-rusher on the team. It's no small thing that he finished third on the team in tackles
* Congrats to Sark, his staff and the entire team. The Sark effect was a three touchdown win over a ranked team. That's called improvement.
In fact, I'm guessing that if Steve Sarkisian had a checklist of things he wanted to see his team against Louisiana, I'd offer the team created a lot of checkmarks.
Let's start with his starting quarterback Hudson Card, who posted a game efficiency score of 187.7, contributed to three touchdowns, played turnover-free football and absolutely looked the part of a future star.
Check.
Meanwhile, starting running back Bijan Robinson combined for 176 total yards from scrimmage and the kind of talent that could be a difference-maker all season.
Check.
The defense? While the big plays weren't in abundance for Pete Kwiatkowski's defense, the unit delivered the goods in holding Louisiana to less than 20 points.
Check.
While there were a number of improvements Sarkisian and his staff will hope to see in future games, Saturday was a game that will serve as a platform for this team's quest to make something special out of this season.
Mission accomplished.
(Other thoughts on the game...)
* I thought Card was excellent in terms of making the game look and feel very easy for him. There's so much talent in that kid that he's going to get better with every game that he plays, but to post a quarterback rating in his first start that was better than all but two of Sam Ehlinger's starts from a season ago is an incredibly important first step.
* Good for Casey Thompson. None of this can be easy for him, but when he got his chance in the second half, he played very well, which should surprise no one. Thompson is very good.
* Card in the first half: 12 of 18 for 165 yards, 2 touchdowns, zero turnovers and a 180.3 rating... in his first half as a starter
* Card threw some beauties today, but my favorite might have been the 3rd and 11 completion to Jordan Whittington, which went for 41 yards. Those types of conversions become possible when you have a quarterback that can get the ball to receivers before defensive players have a chance to react.
* Whittington (seven receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown) just needs to stay healthy because if he does, he's going to have a monster season.
* I loved the design of the opening touchdown by Bijan Robinson on the wheel route, but a strong case could be made that he should have been flagged for a motion penalty because he didn't seem to fully reset himself when he motioned out of the backfield. I've looked at the play 20 times and I'm 50-50 on whether the flag should have been thrown.
* Can we put in.a request that Bijan Robinson's body not bend in ways that make me scared for him? I've seen enough of those plays in less than two seasons. Meanwhile, if I had a nitpick, it might have been the coaches keeping Robinson a little too long in the fourth quarter.
* The Texas offensive line was probably the biggest disappointment in the first half, as it seemed like almost every member of the group had a play that hurt the Longhorns from the ability to control down and distance. For instance, Junior Angilau's false start in the second quarter slowed down a drive that was moving in the direction of seven points. With the down and distance going from manageable to less manageable, the offense was forced to settle for a field goal attempt, which Cameron Dicker missed.
* When Steve Sarkisian mentions that he prefers a more explosive offense than a deliberate one, it's little mistakes like the one made by the line time an d time again that makes going on 10-, 11- or 12-play drives without making a mistake that eliminates the chance to get seven points.
* Speaking of Angilau, here's hoping he's ok. let's not see the depth of that group tested significantly at this point.
* Speaking of the offensive line, the 2.8 yards per carry by the team in the first half is a complete indictment on them as a group. They have to control the line of scrimmage better than that.
* While Dicker was wide right on his only field goal attempt in the first half, his kickoffs were perfect. Call him Mr. Touchback.
* Roschon Johnson and Keilon Robinson look like really good back-up running backs. Both made really good first game impressions.
* Luke Brockermeyer and DeMarvion Overshown were everywhere in the first half, combining for 14 tackles, 2 TFL and a sack. The rest of the team combined for 15 tackles and one tackle for loss in the first 30 minutes.
* Nice job by B.J. Foster on the kickoff return team to be aware of the onside kick. The entire unit was completely aware that the on-sides kick was a possibility. Shout out to Foster, as he was good all day.
* Ovie Oghoufo looks like the most dangerous pass-rusher on the team. It's no small thing that he finished third on the team in tackles
* Congrats to Sark, his staff and the entire team. The Sark effect was a three touchdown win over a ranked team. That's called improvement.
