Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger addressed the media after Wednesday’s practice and here are the highlights:
--- Ehlinger was asked if this was his team, and he responded by saying, “This is our team. I’d like to consider myself a leader. It’s not any individual’s team. It’s a group of leaders, and I believe I’m a part of that group to bring everybody together and be one team.”
--- Not having Shane Buechele to bounce ideas off of is different, according to Ehlinger. He described Buechele as a tremendous teammate who helped him a lot. Buechele said the oldest player in the quarterback room always does the breakdown after meetings and practice, which has now become his responsibility. He also understands his responsibility to groom Casey Thompson and Roschon Johnson.
--- Even though Ehlinger is not competing against Buechele, he is driven by become the best version of himself.
--- Ehlinger said Denzel Okafor has an incredible body for an offensive lineman. Okafor has done a great job of being physical and excelled in pass protection, according to Ehlinger.
--- I asked Ehlinger to evaluate his 2018 performance and he said, “I think there were a lot of positives, but I’m more critical of myself and the areas I can improve, regardless of how many games of games we win. My standard of quarterbacking is giving my team an opportunity to win. There’s a lot of things that go into that. On first down, we want to accomplish four-yards, whether that be getting us in the right play, second down we want to get half, and third-down, obviously, we want to complete the first-down. I criticize myself in that manner, putting my team in the right position to win on every play. Then just understanding my game and understanding what we have to do win. I think there will be a lot of things I’ll be working on this offseason in order to do that.”
--- When asked about receiver Bru McCoy and running back Jordan Whittington, Ehligner described them as elite athletes. He also said he is proud of how they have adopted the program's culture.
---- The injuries to Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay, plus the departure of Lil’Jordan Humphrey, has given other receivers an opportunity to develop chemistry with Ehlinger. He is enjoying the opportunity to work with his young receivers. In addition, Ehlinger said Malcolm Epps is not just a tall basketball player at receiver, but has done a great job with fade balls and slants.
--- Ehlinger described Tope Imade as a tremendous athlete and said it is beginning to show on the field. Meanwhile, Derek Kerstetter has looked good in pass protection this week. Ehlinger said the offense has focused on pass-pro since nobody is allowed to hit each other.
--- Ehlinger was asked to name which players have stood out and said, “Offensively, so far, I’m really, really impressed with what Brennan Eagles is doing. He’s increased his knowledge of the playbook, and he’s doing a really good job of just running and going to get the football. I’m also looking forward to what Keaontay [Ingram] is going to do going into year two and understanding the offense.”
--- Here is Ehlinger’s assessment of Casey Thompson and Roschon Johnson: “Casey’s doing an excellent job. Year two as well for him. He’s doing a good job. Now he understands the playbook. He’s going against our defense. Our defense has a ton of looks. He’s doing a good job of sitting in the pocket, operating the offense, and continuing to improve all the things a college quarterback has to do. Roschon has been incredibly impressive. He’s one of the hardest working guys I’ve seen in these first couple of weeks since he’s been here. He’s done an excellent job of standing in the pocket. I know he’s a dual-threat guy, but he’s been really, really good so far at sitting the pocket and delivering the ball in type spaces and things like that. I’m really impressed with him and look forward to how he’s going to develop and how I can help him.”
--- Ehlinger said he is excited about the return of Joshua Moore, who is playing the slot position. Moore does not have Humphrey’s height, but Ehlinger said he is getting used to his receiver’s speed. In addition, Ehlinger said Moore has great hands.
--- When about not having any offensive plays over 50-yards last season, he said their offense did not emphasize Johnson or Humphrey’s speed, but to just be bigger and better than the opposing defender. Ehlinger threw it up to those receivers. However, Ehlinger said, “There are things we are going to be doing in the offense that will utilize the speed and create more opportunities for breakaway plays because we have some guys that can run and obviously, we’re still going to throw those jump-ball type plays, but I think we’ll have more opportunities for breakaway plays like that.”
--- Ehlinger was asked if this was his team, and he responded by saying, “This is our team. I’d like to consider myself a leader. It’s not any individual’s team. It’s a group of leaders, and I believe I’m a part of that group to bring everybody together and be one team.”
--- Not having Shane Buechele to bounce ideas off of is different, according to Ehlinger. He described Buechele as a tremendous teammate who helped him a lot. Buechele said the oldest player in the quarterback room always does the breakdown after meetings and practice, which has now become his responsibility. He also understands his responsibility to groom Casey Thompson and Roschon Johnson.
--- Even though Ehlinger is not competing against Buechele, he is driven by become the best version of himself.
--- Ehlinger said Denzel Okafor has an incredible body for an offensive lineman. Okafor has done a great job of being physical and excelled in pass protection, according to Ehlinger.
--- I asked Ehlinger to evaluate his 2018 performance and he said, “I think there were a lot of positives, but I’m more critical of myself and the areas I can improve, regardless of how many games of games we win. My standard of quarterbacking is giving my team an opportunity to win. There’s a lot of things that go into that. On first down, we want to accomplish four-yards, whether that be getting us in the right play, second down we want to get half, and third-down, obviously, we want to complete the first-down. I criticize myself in that manner, putting my team in the right position to win on every play. Then just understanding my game and understanding what we have to do win. I think there will be a lot of things I’ll be working on this offseason in order to do that.”
--- When asked about receiver Bru McCoy and running back Jordan Whittington, Ehligner described them as elite athletes. He also said he is proud of how they have adopted the program's culture.
---- The injuries to Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay, plus the departure of Lil’Jordan Humphrey, has given other receivers an opportunity to develop chemistry with Ehlinger. He is enjoying the opportunity to work with his young receivers. In addition, Ehlinger said Malcolm Epps is not just a tall basketball player at receiver, but has done a great job with fade balls and slants.
--- Ehlinger described Tope Imade as a tremendous athlete and said it is beginning to show on the field. Meanwhile, Derek Kerstetter has looked good in pass protection this week. Ehlinger said the offense has focused on pass-pro since nobody is allowed to hit each other.
--- Ehlinger was asked to name which players have stood out and said, “Offensively, so far, I’m really, really impressed with what Brennan Eagles is doing. He’s increased his knowledge of the playbook, and he’s doing a really good job of just running and going to get the football. I’m also looking forward to what Keaontay [Ingram] is going to do going into year two and understanding the offense.”
--- Here is Ehlinger’s assessment of Casey Thompson and Roschon Johnson: “Casey’s doing an excellent job. Year two as well for him. He’s doing a good job. Now he understands the playbook. He’s going against our defense. Our defense has a ton of looks. He’s doing a good job of sitting in the pocket, operating the offense, and continuing to improve all the things a college quarterback has to do. Roschon has been incredibly impressive. He’s one of the hardest working guys I’ve seen in these first couple of weeks since he’s been here. He’s done an excellent job of standing in the pocket. I know he’s a dual-threat guy, but he’s been really, really good so far at sitting the pocket and delivering the ball in type spaces and things like that. I’m really impressed with him and look forward to how he’s going to develop and how I can help him.”
--- Ehlinger said he is excited about the return of Joshua Moore, who is playing the slot position. Moore does not have Humphrey’s height, but Ehlinger said he is getting used to his receiver’s speed. In addition, Ehlinger said Moore has great hands.
--- When about not having any offensive plays over 50-yards last season, he said their offense did not emphasize Johnson or Humphrey’s speed, but to just be bigger and better than the opposing defender. Ehlinger threw it up to those receivers. However, Ehlinger said, “There are things we are going to be doing in the offense that will utilize the speed and create more opportunities for breakaway plays because we have some guys that can run and obviously, we’re still going to throw those jump-ball type plays, but I think we’ll have more opportunities for breakaway plays like that.”
