Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian shared his thoughts on spring football practice during a Zoom conference call with the media on Tuesday.
Here are the highlights:
--- Sarkisian said it was good to watch the tape and assess their guys. Said it was good to see guys work on things they practiced during the spring. Some guys had anxiety and worked through it. He was happy to see everyone have a chance to play and compete.
--- Sarkisian said they have a lot to do from a weight room standpoint, as relates to developing speed and strength, Not only for current players but incoming players. In addition, they will reinstall offense, defense, and special teams this summer to prepare for fall camp.
--- Sarkisian said he's in the process of meeting with players right now: “I'm in the midst of meeting with every player individually right now about how far they've come in four months. Some further. Some not as far. Where we need them to go in the summer to get themselves prepared for a really competitive fall camp. Again, pleased with where we're at, but also knowing we have plenty of work to do.”
--- Sarkisian said they may have more depth at some position group than others. Other positions may not have depth but have quality players. Overall, he feels comfortable with the roster but said they may not be done with the transfer portal.
--- Sarkisian said when they evaluate position groups, you have to factor in the injured players who can help the team, such as Kerstetter and Overshown.
--- Jaylen Ford, David Gbenda, and Luke Brockermeyer are in contention to start at MLB
--- Sarkisian said neither quarterback is where he wants them to be yet and they have plenty of room for growth. However, he spoke highly of each quarterback: “I think we're in a good spot. I think both guys showed a lot of growth, a lot of development within the system. I touched on this Saturday, but you know for Casey, this is his third system now in the last three years here. For Hudson, two years ago was in high school, and then had a new system last year, and then a new system this year. So, I think, us, having a little bit of patience for their growth. But, two, appreciate the growth that they make as along the way. I think both those guys have made tremendous strides. They're not exactly where we want them to be yet. I think that's what's so intriguing about this competition is that maybe one day one guy takes really cool strides. Then the next day, the other guy does. I think there's still plenty of room for both of these guys to grow. To name one guy ahead of the other, or this guy's a starter probably wouldn't be fair. Wouldn’t be fair to either of those two because I still think they both have a lot of room for growth and a lot of potential still out there for them.”
--- Sarkisian said Hudson Card and Casey Thompson had good moments in the spring moments. Both had moments they would like to have back. Said they neither team executed well in the red zone for either team and they have to learn from the mistakes.
--- Sarkisian’s responses when asked if either quarterback managed the spring game better than their competitor: “I think the thing that showed up was they both had really cool moments Saturday in the game. Then they both had moments I think they wish they could have back. Casey came out and had a tremendous first drive. It was like bing-bang-boom, touchdown. We went right down the field and he was in really good control. And then he has a nice two-minute drive and then one decision kind of flips the game where we end getting the turnover right there. So, really cool moment really, a tough moment that we got to learn from. I think Hudson, then found his groove. He had a couple of tough drops there early in the scrimmage, and I was impressed with kind of the mental fortitude to kind of withstand that and not panic, and then put together his own drives. I think, in general as an offense, in a lot of which whether we like it or not, you choose to play quarterback and it doesn't choose you. Some of the burdens of the offense fall on you, and we did not execute very well in the red area on Saturday on either team. We settled for a lot of field goals. We had the one big turnover. So, our execution and understanding of what we're trying to accomplish in the red area, I think that position needs to grow and improve, and that'll be a point of emphasis for us heading into the summer. But the reality of it is, I think both guys had some really cool moments. Both guys had some moments that I think are learning moments that we need to learn from. But both of the guys I thought persevered through those tough moments and came back. Those are all good signs, but we've got to learn from the mistakes that we made within scrimmages here now that we've got three of them under our belt so that we don't keep making the same mistakes in the fall camp, and then ultimately into the season.”
--- When asked pursuing players in the transfer portal, Sarkisian coaches, in general, to be careful about making promises they cannot keep. He said the one thing they can guarantee players is an opportunity to compete for playing time. Sarkisian said, “We've got to be careful in this recruiting process of kids in the portal because they all want immediate gratification. They want to step on the field the moment they get here, and they have to earn that. And they have to earn the respect of their teammates and earn the respect of their coaches. That may take a little bit of time. It doesn't happen overnight, but we have to be one that can help facilitate that respect.”
--- Sarkisian said the most important position after the QB is the tight end
--- Sarkisian said there were way too many sacks allowed (nine) in the spring game. He said, “It is too many for me. And granted, you add up the two teams and you end up with the number of plays that we have. I think we had almost 120 or some-odd plays, but even if you cut that in half, four-and-a-half, five sacks in a game, is still way too many for us. So, I think everybody has a responsibility to pass protection. You already mentioned the offensive line, whether it's an alignment assignment, technique, or a complete bust. Same with the tight ends, same with the runners, and then the quarterbacks. Understanding pocket integrity at quarterback. Understanding timing. Knowing where our check-downs are. There's a lot that goes into that. But again, that’s a big point of emphasis for mine. On any offense that we're in, we believe in practice protecting the quarterback first. That is an area that will get a great amount of emphasis from us throughout the summer into fall camp and then ultimately the season.”
--- When asked about selling the NFL Draft to recruits, Sarkisian said as a first-year coach he does not enjoy pumping up players he coached at his previous program or selling players he didn't coach to recruit. He prefers to sell himself and the university.
--- Sarkisian said he knows this group of players is competitive. They are willing to compete at a high level. The thing he doesn't know and wants to see more of is consistency.
--- Sarkisian said the defensive line is a group that improved this season. He views it as a deep position. He thought they came along and played at a dominant level.
--- Sarkisian’s response when asked if he has a different approach as a head coach at Texas than when he previously held the position: “You know that's probably the biggest thing for me. I love the connection, quite frankly, with the defensive players and our specialists. When you're an offensive coordinator, you really relate to the offensive players. I was fortunate at Alabama and at Atlanta, both head coaches Dan Quinn and Nick Saban, gave me a lot of autonomy in dealing with those players and meeting with those players. But, here now, really getting the connection our kickers, with our holders, with our snappers, with our DBs, or defensive lineman. Those are those are fun connections for me. I'm a relationship guy. So, whether it's visiting with a [Keondre] Coburn, Jacoby Jones, Ray Thornton, Josh Thompson, or D’Shawn Jamison. There's so many guys. Or even [Cameron] Dicker. It was so cool for him to hit the 58-yarder or Saturday, but we've already kind of just chuckled. It’s a windy day. This is going to be nothing for you in this wind. I would have never had that relationship, that intimate of a relationship, as the coordinator. I enjoy that. As much as I enjoy being around the offensive players, I enjoy having that real connection with all the guys on the team.”
Here are the highlights:
--- Sarkisian said it was good to watch the tape and assess their guys. Said it was good to see guys work on things they practiced during the spring. Some guys had anxiety and worked through it. He was happy to see everyone have a chance to play and compete.
--- Sarkisian said they have a lot to do from a weight room standpoint, as relates to developing speed and strength, Not only for current players but incoming players. In addition, they will reinstall offense, defense, and special teams this summer to prepare for fall camp.
--- Sarkisian said he's in the process of meeting with players right now: “I'm in the midst of meeting with every player individually right now about how far they've come in four months. Some further. Some not as far. Where we need them to go in the summer to get themselves prepared for a really competitive fall camp. Again, pleased with where we're at, but also knowing we have plenty of work to do.”
--- Sarkisian said they may have more depth at some position group than others. Other positions may not have depth but have quality players. Overall, he feels comfortable with the roster but said they may not be done with the transfer portal.
--- Sarkisian said when they evaluate position groups, you have to factor in the injured players who can help the team, such as Kerstetter and Overshown.
--- Jaylen Ford, David Gbenda, and Luke Brockermeyer are in contention to start at MLB
--- Sarkisian said neither quarterback is where he wants them to be yet and they have plenty of room for growth. However, he spoke highly of each quarterback: “I think we're in a good spot. I think both guys showed a lot of growth, a lot of development within the system. I touched on this Saturday, but you know for Casey, this is his third system now in the last three years here. For Hudson, two years ago was in high school, and then had a new system last year, and then a new system this year. So, I think, us, having a little bit of patience for their growth. But, two, appreciate the growth that they make as along the way. I think both those guys have made tremendous strides. They're not exactly where we want them to be yet. I think that's what's so intriguing about this competition is that maybe one day one guy takes really cool strides. Then the next day, the other guy does. I think there's still plenty of room for both of these guys to grow. To name one guy ahead of the other, or this guy's a starter probably wouldn't be fair. Wouldn’t be fair to either of those two because I still think they both have a lot of room for growth and a lot of potential still out there for them.”
--- Sarkisian said Hudson Card and Casey Thompson had good moments in the spring moments. Both had moments they would like to have back. Said they neither team executed well in the red zone for either team and they have to learn from the mistakes.
--- Sarkisian’s responses when asked if either quarterback managed the spring game better than their competitor: “I think the thing that showed up was they both had really cool moments Saturday in the game. Then they both had moments I think they wish they could have back. Casey came out and had a tremendous first drive. It was like bing-bang-boom, touchdown. We went right down the field and he was in really good control. And then he has a nice two-minute drive and then one decision kind of flips the game where we end getting the turnover right there. So, really cool moment really, a tough moment that we got to learn from. I think Hudson, then found his groove. He had a couple of tough drops there early in the scrimmage, and I was impressed with kind of the mental fortitude to kind of withstand that and not panic, and then put together his own drives. I think, in general as an offense, in a lot of which whether we like it or not, you choose to play quarterback and it doesn't choose you. Some of the burdens of the offense fall on you, and we did not execute very well in the red area on Saturday on either team. We settled for a lot of field goals. We had the one big turnover. So, our execution and understanding of what we're trying to accomplish in the red area, I think that position needs to grow and improve, and that'll be a point of emphasis for us heading into the summer. But the reality of it is, I think both guys had some really cool moments. Both guys had some moments that I think are learning moments that we need to learn from. But both of the guys I thought persevered through those tough moments and came back. Those are all good signs, but we've got to learn from the mistakes that we made within scrimmages here now that we've got three of them under our belt so that we don't keep making the same mistakes in the fall camp, and then ultimately into the season.”
--- When asked pursuing players in the transfer portal, Sarkisian coaches, in general, to be careful about making promises they cannot keep. He said the one thing they can guarantee players is an opportunity to compete for playing time. Sarkisian said, “We've got to be careful in this recruiting process of kids in the portal because they all want immediate gratification. They want to step on the field the moment they get here, and they have to earn that. And they have to earn the respect of their teammates and earn the respect of their coaches. That may take a little bit of time. It doesn't happen overnight, but we have to be one that can help facilitate that respect.”
--- Sarkisian said the most important position after the QB is the tight end
--- Sarkisian said there were way too many sacks allowed (nine) in the spring game. He said, “It is too many for me. And granted, you add up the two teams and you end up with the number of plays that we have. I think we had almost 120 or some-odd plays, but even if you cut that in half, four-and-a-half, five sacks in a game, is still way too many for us. So, I think everybody has a responsibility to pass protection. You already mentioned the offensive line, whether it's an alignment assignment, technique, or a complete bust. Same with the tight ends, same with the runners, and then the quarterbacks. Understanding pocket integrity at quarterback. Understanding timing. Knowing where our check-downs are. There's a lot that goes into that. But again, that’s a big point of emphasis for mine. On any offense that we're in, we believe in practice protecting the quarterback first. That is an area that will get a great amount of emphasis from us throughout the summer into fall camp and then ultimately the season.”
--- When asked about selling the NFL Draft to recruits, Sarkisian said as a first-year coach he does not enjoy pumping up players he coached at his previous program or selling players he didn't coach to recruit. He prefers to sell himself and the university.
--- Sarkisian said he knows this group of players is competitive. They are willing to compete at a high level. The thing he doesn't know and wants to see more of is consistency.
--- Sarkisian said the defensive line is a group that improved this season. He views it as a deep position. He thought they came along and played at a dominant level.
--- Sarkisian’s response when asked if he has a different approach as a head coach at Texas than when he previously held the position: “You know that's probably the biggest thing for me. I love the connection, quite frankly, with the defensive players and our specialists. When you're an offensive coordinator, you really relate to the offensive players. I was fortunate at Alabama and at Atlanta, both head coaches Dan Quinn and Nick Saban, gave me a lot of autonomy in dealing with those players and meeting with those players. But, here now, really getting the connection our kickers, with our holders, with our snappers, with our DBs, or defensive lineman. Those are those are fun connections for me. I'm a relationship guy. So, whether it's visiting with a [Keondre] Coburn, Jacoby Jones, Ray Thornton, Josh Thompson, or D’Shawn Jamison. There's so many guys. Or even [Cameron] Dicker. It was so cool for him to hit the 58-yarder or Saturday, but we've already kind of just chuckled. It’s a windy day. This is going to be nothing for you in this wind. I would have never had that relationship, that intimate of a relationship, as the coordinator. I enjoy that. As much as I enjoy being around the offensive players, I enjoy having that real connection with all the guys on the team.”
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