Texas football coach Tom Herman briefly addressed the media after Thursday’s practice. As expected, Herman was mainly asked about the quarterback position.
Here are the highlights from his media availability:
- Herman on Shane Buechele’s shoulder: “The only update is he’s getting better. Not good enough to throw today, but the signs of improvement were marked the last 24 hours. This thing will go down to game time, I’d imagine. We couldn’t ask for better preparation from a guy that’s not throwing the football to be doing the things that he’s doing. Rep after rep, play after play, has been encouraging. If he’s ready to go, and the doctors say he’s ready to go, he’ll play.”
- Herman did say Buechele could play on Saturday, even if he does not practice this week. He likes how Buechele has mentally prepared himself off-the-field this week. Herman said, “Again, he’s a good four or five yards behind Sam [during practice]. If he sees something, good or bad and feels like he needs to tell Sam, he does. Coaches him when he needs correction. Encourages him when he does well. It’s been good to see.
- When asked if Sam Ehlinger could do things Buechele cannot, Herman said, “He’s probably a step faster of a runner, but I don’t know how much we want him running if Shane’s not available. That’s negated a little bit in that certain scenario. No, I think they are pretty similar.”
- Herman said he has never started a true freshman quarterback.
- Jerrod Heard was excited about taking reps at quarterback again, according to Herman. He described Heard as a guy willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win.
- Herman on Buechele getting his job back if Ehlinger plays well on Saturday: “I don’t if it was ever, again, Shane’s job. Shane earned it through how he had practiced. He’ll have every opportunity to earn it again. We don’t treat that position much differently than any other, in terms of you got out and perform on a daily basis for your teammates in practice for you to start and play on Saturday. But, there is no doubt in my mind Shane will do that.”
Here are the highlights from his media availability:
- Herman on Shane Buechele’s shoulder: “The only update is he’s getting better. Not good enough to throw today, but the signs of improvement were marked the last 24 hours. This thing will go down to game time, I’d imagine. We couldn’t ask for better preparation from a guy that’s not throwing the football to be doing the things that he’s doing. Rep after rep, play after play, has been encouraging. If he’s ready to go, and the doctors say he’s ready to go, he’ll play.”
- Herman did say Buechele could play on Saturday, even if he does not practice this week. He likes how Buechele has mentally prepared himself off-the-field this week. Herman said, “Again, he’s a good four or five yards behind Sam [during practice]. If he sees something, good or bad and feels like he needs to tell Sam, he does. Coaches him when he needs correction. Encourages him when he does well. It’s been good to see.
- When asked if Sam Ehlinger could do things Buechele cannot, Herman said, “He’s probably a step faster of a runner, but I don’t know how much we want him running if Shane’s not available. That’s negated a little bit in that certain scenario. No, I think they are pretty similar.”
- Herman said he has never started a true freshman quarterback.
- Jerrod Heard was excited about taking reps at quarterback again, according to Herman. He described Heard as a guy willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win.
- Herman on Buechele getting his job back if Ehlinger plays well on Saturday: “I don’t if it was ever, again, Shane’s job. Shane earned it through how he had practiced. He’ll have every opportunity to earn it again. We don’t treat that position much differently than any other, in terms of you got out and perform on a daily basis for your teammates in practice for you to start and play on Saturday. But, there is no doubt in my mind Shane will do that.”
