Texas offensive coordinator Tim Beck addressed the media after Wednesday’s practice, and here are the highlights of his availability:
- Beck said his unit had two of its best practices back-to-back this week. The intensity, focus and energy levels are really high right now, according to Beck.
- When asked what Armanti Foreman must do to get on the field, Beck said the receiver needs to keep working. However, he said it is hard for Foreman because Reggie Hemphill-Mapps and Jerrod Heard are playing at a very high level.
- Beck said Dorian Leonard earned the opportunity to start against Oklahoma State instead of Collin Johnson.
- Here is Beck on the running backs struggling to gain yards: “It’s a combination of all of it to be honest with you. It’s what teams are doing, the position of the game. We got down early, 20-0. Young players up front. Defensively, what teams do. We all know. It’s like the pink elephant in the room. We all know we’ve got to run the football better to win the games and control the line of scrimmage to allow us to be able to call what we want to call in contrast to here's what we have to do. We continue to work, and continue to get better."
- Beck said he needs more from his running backs, but believes freshman quarterback Sam Ehlinger needs to have a better pocket presence: “I think he feels some pressure, some heat sometimes, and just takes off, where a slide to the right, or step up in the pocket, and you got an open guy. I know in my mind, there’s a play that comes to my mind right now, we had an open receiver and he took off and ran and threw the ball away. He just felt that internal pressure and he ran it. On the same token, I’m not going to take away a quarterback’s natural instincts. He has to be able to go out and have a feel and play the game. Now that he’s been successful doing that, my job is to continue to show him keep your eyes up the field, work your pocket, there's open receivers. Your 5-yard gain should be a 20-yard gain if you just slide to the right and throw the ball. Those are the things with a young quarterback you continue to work and stride so he doesn’t have 20 carries. We didn’t call 20 quarterback runs, but he ended up with it.”
- Beck said he scripts plays, but in two of the past three games, teams have started the contest with different defenses. He said those changes cause some errors on offense. Beck said his offense practiced against everything this week.
- Beck does not believe Ehlinger is missing short passes or check downs. Overall, Beck said Ehlinger is not missing a lot of reads.
- Beck believes Ehlinger may have been nervous against Oklahoma because the quarterback missed four of his throws prior to the game.
- Beck said Oklahoma State is a big, athletic team that comes after you from a lot of different places on defense.
- Beck has stressed the importance of being successful on first and second downs this week. No matter what, Texas needs to score points, according to Beck.
- Beck on rotating running backs and receivers instead of consistently playing one group: “Right now, we’re playing a lot of guys. We’re playing hard. We’re rewarding those guys for being able to do it. Obviously, as the game wears on, there’s certain guys we want in certain situations. That’s pretty critical for us and we all understand it. At this juncture right now, it’s getting those guys in because you never know who’s got that hot hand. Who’s that guy that can’t’ cover. Who’s that guy that’s seeing the holes really, really week. You kind of lean on that when that happens.”
- Beck said his unit had two of its best practices back-to-back this week. The intensity, focus and energy levels are really high right now, according to Beck.
- When asked what Armanti Foreman must do to get on the field, Beck said the receiver needs to keep working. However, he said it is hard for Foreman because Reggie Hemphill-Mapps and Jerrod Heard are playing at a very high level.
- Beck said Dorian Leonard earned the opportunity to start against Oklahoma State instead of Collin Johnson.
- Here is Beck on the running backs struggling to gain yards: “It’s a combination of all of it to be honest with you. It’s what teams are doing, the position of the game. We got down early, 20-0. Young players up front. Defensively, what teams do. We all know. It’s like the pink elephant in the room. We all know we’ve got to run the football better to win the games and control the line of scrimmage to allow us to be able to call what we want to call in contrast to here's what we have to do. We continue to work, and continue to get better."
- Beck said he needs more from his running backs, but believes freshman quarterback Sam Ehlinger needs to have a better pocket presence: “I think he feels some pressure, some heat sometimes, and just takes off, where a slide to the right, or step up in the pocket, and you got an open guy. I know in my mind, there’s a play that comes to my mind right now, we had an open receiver and he took off and ran and threw the ball away. He just felt that internal pressure and he ran it. On the same token, I’m not going to take away a quarterback’s natural instincts. He has to be able to go out and have a feel and play the game. Now that he’s been successful doing that, my job is to continue to show him keep your eyes up the field, work your pocket, there's open receivers. Your 5-yard gain should be a 20-yard gain if you just slide to the right and throw the ball. Those are the things with a young quarterback you continue to work and stride so he doesn’t have 20 carries. We didn’t call 20 quarterback runs, but he ended up with it.”
- Beck said he scripts plays, but in two of the past three games, teams have started the contest with different defenses. He said those changes cause some errors on offense. Beck said his offense practiced against everything this week.
- Beck does not believe Ehlinger is missing short passes or check downs. Overall, Beck said Ehlinger is not missing a lot of reads.
- Beck believes Ehlinger may have been nervous against Oklahoma because the quarterback missed four of his throws prior to the game.
- Beck said Oklahoma State is a big, athletic team that comes after you from a lot of different places on defense.
- Beck has stressed the importance of being successful on first and second downs this week. No matter what, Texas needs to score points, according to Beck.
- Beck on rotating running backs and receivers instead of consistently playing one group: “Right now, we’re playing a lot of guys. We’re playing hard. We’re rewarding those guys for being able to do it. Obviously, as the game wears on, there’s certain guys we want in certain situations. That’s pretty critical for us and we all understand it. At this juncture right now, it’s getting those guys in because you never know who’s got that hot hand. Who’s that guy that can’t’ cover. Who’s that guy that’s seeing the holes really, really week. You kind of lean on that when that happens.”
