Texas offensive coordinator Tim Beck spoke to the media on Wednesday during the bye week. Since next week’s game is on a Thursday, this marked the last time Beck will speak before Texas faces Iowa State.
Here are the highlights of his media session:
- Beck said he has been please with quarterback Shane Buechele’s health progress. The offensive coordinator said he likes where Bucehele is at right now. When asked if Buechele was getting closer to 100 percent, Beck said, “I believe so.”
- When asked if Buechele would be ready if Texas had to play this week, Beck said, “Yeah, I think so.”
- Beck said he is giving Buechele and Ehlinger reps in practice. He expects to use both quarterbacks this season. In addition, Beck said the quarterback who moves the football team will play.
- Here is Beck’s response when asked about the inconsistent run game: “Like you said, been inconsistent. We lost Connor (Williams) early. That was a big thing. We had to make a couple of switches up front. Kind of loading the box with us a little bit, too. I think they were trying to make Sam throw the football, knowing he was a young player, and knew that they had to stop Chris (Warren III) in the game. We tried to get creative and find some different ways to do that. Obviously, with them having one or two extra hats, we had to figure out ways to be able to do that. They did a good job. Just back to the drawing board. We keep trying to best help our football team and get the ball to those guys and figure out a way we can run it.”
- Beck said you can impose your will on a defense and get movement, but if there are one or two free hitters, it does not matter.
- Beck on Warren’s frustrations: “I think all players want the ball on offense. They want to help the team. They want to help win. After the big game he had against San Jose, I assume he thinks every game will be that way. Unfortunately, he becomes a marked man That’s all everybody talked about, stopping our run game. They have good coaches and good players over there, too. I’m sure that was their main emphasis, and they did a good job at it. I know who he is. We’re going to continue to work to figure out the best ways to be able to use all of our players to the best of their ability.”
- In addition, Beck said Warren has earned the staff’s confidence. The staff went into the USC game believing they had to run Ehlinger.
- There was a small package to play Kyle Porter and Warren against USC. Porter is a great blocker, while Warren is an effective running back. Beck said using both backs at the same time is something they have considered.
- Beck hopes Terrell Cuney and Derek Kerstetter can provide the team with depth against Iowa State.
- When asked if running count-power would help open up play-action passes, Beck said he has a young team, and they have to look at their personnel and what those players can do.
- Tight end Cade Brewer is improving as a blocker. He is getting a lot strong and bigger, according to Beck. In addition, Beck said Brewer has natural ability at tight end.
- Beck said Ehlinger’s touchdown to Brewer in overtime was the team’s best two-point play: “We actually talked about it (going for two points). I was like, coach, that was it. That was our best one right there. We needed to score at that point. Thought we had them on the ropes. They looked a little discombobulated. Low-Jo [Lorenzo Joe] just caught that little option slant, and kind of lost his feet. Had he maybe kept his feet, maybe we would have.”
- Beck said three of the team’s four turnovers were Ehlinger’s fault. The only one that wasn’t is when Zach Shackelford snapped a ball off Ehlinger’s knee.
- Ehlinger took several hits against USC, and when asked if his quarterback should slide more, Beck was not thrilled about seeing the freshman expose his back to a defender. Beck would have preferred Ehlinger lower his shoulder and possibly get the first-down.
Here are the highlights of his media session:
- Beck said he has been please with quarterback Shane Buechele’s health progress. The offensive coordinator said he likes where Bucehele is at right now. When asked if Buechele was getting closer to 100 percent, Beck said, “I believe so.”
- When asked if Buechele would be ready if Texas had to play this week, Beck said, “Yeah, I think so.”
- Beck said he is giving Buechele and Ehlinger reps in practice. He expects to use both quarterbacks this season. In addition, Beck said the quarterback who moves the football team will play.
- Here is Beck’s response when asked about the inconsistent run game: “Like you said, been inconsistent. We lost Connor (Williams) early. That was a big thing. We had to make a couple of switches up front. Kind of loading the box with us a little bit, too. I think they were trying to make Sam throw the football, knowing he was a young player, and knew that they had to stop Chris (Warren III) in the game. We tried to get creative and find some different ways to do that. Obviously, with them having one or two extra hats, we had to figure out ways to be able to do that. They did a good job. Just back to the drawing board. We keep trying to best help our football team and get the ball to those guys and figure out a way we can run it.”
- Beck said you can impose your will on a defense and get movement, but if there are one or two free hitters, it does not matter.
- Beck on Warren’s frustrations: “I think all players want the ball on offense. They want to help the team. They want to help win. After the big game he had against San Jose, I assume he thinks every game will be that way. Unfortunately, he becomes a marked man That’s all everybody talked about, stopping our run game. They have good coaches and good players over there, too. I’m sure that was their main emphasis, and they did a good job at it. I know who he is. We’re going to continue to work to figure out the best ways to be able to use all of our players to the best of their ability.”
- In addition, Beck said Warren has earned the staff’s confidence. The staff went into the USC game believing they had to run Ehlinger.
- There was a small package to play Kyle Porter and Warren against USC. Porter is a great blocker, while Warren is an effective running back. Beck said using both backs at the same time is something they have considered.
- Beck hopes Terrell Cuney and Derek Kerstetter can provide the team with depth against Iowa State.
- When asked if running count-power would help open up play-action passes, Beck said he has a young team, and they have to look at their personnel and what those players can do.
- Tight end Cade Brewer is improving as a blocker. He is getting a lot strong and bigger, according to Beck. In addition, Beck said Brewer has natural ability at tight end.
- Beck said Ehlinger’s touchdown to Brewer in overtime was the team’s best two-point play: “We actually talked about it (going for two points). I was like, coach, that was it. That was our best one right there. We needed to score at that point. Thought we had them on the ropes. They looked a little discombobulated. Low-Jo [Lorenzo Joe] just caught that little option slant, and kind of lost his feet. Had he maybe kept his feet, maybe we would have.”
- Beck said three of the team’s four turnovers were Ehlinger’s fault. The only one that wasn’t is when Zach Shackelford snapped a ball off Ehlinger’s knee.
- Ehlinger took several hits against USC, and when asked if his quarterback should slide more, Beck was not thrilled about seeing the freshman expose his back to a defender. Beck would have preferred Ehlinger lower his shoulder and possibly get the first-down.
