Texas found something that translates from practice to games

AUSTIN — Based on the inability to translate practice work into games from previous weeks, the opening statement from Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian last Thursday wasn’t worth much at the time.

“Been really proud of our team this week — they have worked extremely hard,” Sarkisian said during his weekly Zoom call. “Now we need to carry that over to the game, but it wasn’t for lack of effort in in what they put in Monday through Thursday of this week of getting themselves ready for a big-time matchup.”

In the wake of Saturday’s 34-27 win over Ole Miss, Sarkisian put into perspective what Texas players actually took from practice into the game to achieve a good defensive performance against one of the nation’s most dangerous offenses.

According to the Longhorns head coach, the measurements from the team’s Catapult wearables were at 120 percent compared to the normal baseline during the three midweek practices — Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. During the game, those measurements reached 125 percent.

Texas was straining.

“You think about the what our guys exuded all week long, and then what they exuded in that ball game, really proud of them, and proud of the the energy, the effort, the physicality in which they played with, proud of the edge that they played the game with,” Sarkisian said.

In meetings with players after the Florida loss, coaches emphasized defensive coordinator Will Muschamp’s “No Thud, No Play” mentality that almost completely shut down the Ole Miss running game.

Other than a 34-yard run by Mekhi Frazier in the second quarter on the drive that ended with Texas senior linebacker Rasheem Biles making a goal-line interception on fourth down, the only other run that went for more than 10 yards was the fake punt by Oscar Bird that gained 17 yards.

Beyond those two plays, the Rebels carried the ball 27 times for 63 yards, 2.3 yards per carry. One run by Frazier went for 10 yards, but star running back Kewan Lacy only managed 36 yards on 16 carries, right at that 2.3 yards-per-carry mark, prior to leaving the game with a shoulder injury.

Sarkisian also cited two scrambles by Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss as evidence of the defense’s effort level. Chambliss is typically more dangerous outside the pocket when he keeps his eyes downfield to make off-schedule plays in the passing game, but he’s also capable of picking up key first downs with his legs — he entered Saturday’s contest with 14 first downs rushing this season after rushing for 36 last year.

After the loss to Texas, Chambliss still has 14 first downs rushing this season because of those plays.

On a 3rd and 8 in the second quarter, Muschamp sent a cornerback blitz by Kade Phillips, a tactic employed frequently and largely effectively against Ole Miss, but Phillips missed Chambliss in the backfield. Lined up over the ball, edge Brad Spence separated as Chambliss left the pocket and raced to the sideline to make the tackle for a three-yard gain and force the punt team onto the field.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Rebels scored the game-tying touchdown, their third unanswered score, and Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning responded by throwing an ill-advised interception. On the ensuing drive, Ole Miss converted one third down before facing 3rd and 10 at its own 33-yard line. Defensive end Colton Vasek was responsible for spying on Chambliss, but once the Rebels quarterback scrambled to his left, Vasek was left trailing in pursuit. Fortunately for Texas, safety Derek Williams, who was more than 20 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, was able to come downhill with speed, forcing Chambliss out of bounds after a six-yard gain.

Texas responded with six straight runs for the go-ahead touchdown that stood as the winning margin.

“It’s the intent, but that intent comes from practice, and so when the game rolls around, it’s a reaction as opposed to do I have to think about it? And I thought we reacted well, and I thought we played really physically,” Sarkisian said. “But again, a lot of that was a byproduct, I think, of the discussions and the feelings after the Florida game, and then the work they put in throughout the week.”