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Texas 30 Lsu 24

You need scheme versatility and the players need to understand it to be good in the red zone defensively, Sark said. The line of scrimmage is important and you've got to be sticky in coverage because you're not defending deep balls.

Sark: "That can carry us a long way."

Sark: "We're a physical football. We're a mentally and physically tough football team and that's our calling card."

On why Texas has been good in November under Sark, it's about four things: 1. Getting better as a team throughout a season. 2. Developing players. 3. Evolving schemes and changing them as the team shows what it can do well. 4. Figuring out which buttons to push and how to talk to the team.

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Sarkisian says he can test and challenge his team, because they appreciate honesty. Says they respond in a way that gives him confidence.

Sarkisian says he is not going to let one play dictate how they feel about specific players if they make a mistake during a game.

When a defensive player is getting targeted (like Warren Roberson at Missouri), Sark said they're always trying to instill confidence in their players. They always try to look for flaws that can be corrected. The other option is to give a guy "a smoke break," as Sark put it, and get someone else in the game so that the player getting picked on can catch their breath and regroup.

He also mentioned that schemes change and you, at some point, have to change what isn't working and look for something else that might work.

Why did the running game come together late last season and why is it showing signs of coming together now? Sark said it has more to do with Texas getting better as a team than anything running-game-specific.

Sark: "I like 11 a.m. because I get home earlier... Either way, our routine is our routine. It's no different than playing in the morning at home or playing at night at home."

The more variety Texas has on offense and the more ways they have to get to the things they want to do, Sark said, the odds increase that he can put the players in the best position to succeed. That was his answer when asked about the parts of the offense he wants to get to, which he mentioned after the Missouri game.

I am actually for keeping banks as the TE coach. I am definitely for finding a OL coach. He has had time and the same problems exist

Sark says almost 50% of passes from Leavitt this season have come via scrambling. So it's important for Texas DBs to keep playing after the first play.

Texas has to be mindful in coverage because Leavitt will take the advantage throws that Lane Kiffin schemes up on offense.

Sam Leavitt "is a tremendous competitor, I remember that," Sark said when asked what he remembers about facing Leavitt in the Peach Bowl two seasons ago.

"This guy is a tremendous competitor, I will tell you that." "He has no regard for his body and I say that in a kind way" Sarkisian says about LSU QB Sam Leavitt.

Sarkisian: "You got to play a physical brand of football, and you got to be violent. I think our team is really understanding that and then ultimately preparing to execute."

Arch will be surrounded by people built for the moment, Sark said. That should give him confidence.

Why is Arch Manning built for big-time games like the one he'll play on Saturday? "I think Arch definitely rises to the challenges that we're faced with," Sark said. "Part of that is the DNA in our program."

Sark says Arch has it in his DNA to play better in bigger games. "I think Arch definitely rises to the challenges that we are faced with."

Sark thought Kentucky was physical and stayed committed to the run when they rushed for 155 yards against LSU. CJ Baxter went for 123 yards and two touchdowns in that game.

Sarkisian says Trying to create running lanes and being disciplined to fall forward for 3-4-5-6 yard runs is key for Texas running game

Sark says his team is starting to find its way in practice when it comes to these big games they continue to play in. "Tuesday and Wednesday have been as physical of practices as we have had around here."