Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian is reportedly doubling down on discipline, as he expressed Monday his intent to impose punishments for penalties during practice. This move comes in the wake of a penalty-laden start for Texas this season, tying them with six others for a fairly dismal 118th among FBS teams in fewest penalties and ranking 126th in penalty yards per game at 82.5.
According to KXAN, Sarkisian is committed to tightening the reins. "Where was our mental intensity? Where was our focus?" he questioned the performance of his team. To add insult to injury, Texas's penchant for penalties was starkly highlighted in their loss against Ohio State, where discrepancies in discipline proved to be a critical factor.
Discipline, or the lack thereof, has clearly been a thorn in the Longhorns' side, especially when considering the timing and impact of the penalties during games. "It wasn’t so much the amount of the penalties, it was the timing of the penalties," Sarkisian told Yardbarker. One such example was a hands-to-the-face penalty that negated a third-down stop and extended a Buckeyes' drive, ultimately leading to a touchdown.
Injury-wise, the Longhorns are proceeding cautiously with running back Quintrevion Wisner, who has been sidelined with a leg injury. Sarkisian seems to be taking a long-term approach, saying that he's "just not in a rush to push guys back out there if they aren't 100%," KXAN reported. Freshman receiver Parker Livingstone was also in the spotlight for his training camp performance, earning the title of SEC freshman of the week after a standout game against the Spartans, a bright spot in an otherwise challenging start to the season.
On a strategic front, Sarkisian has been forced to reevaluate tactics. Sophomore edge rusher Colin Simmons, who received significant penalties early in the season, was benched for part of the San Jose State game in an effort to get him to refocus. The decision seemed to have paid off, as Simmons went penalty-free in the second half and contributed to the defense with half of a sack. Texas will need to collectively tighten up its game if it wishes to improve upon its current standing and make good on Sarkisian's promise that improvements are to definitely occur.
.jpg){kind=link}