OTF Premium Steve Sarkisian Monday Press Conference (Michigan Week)

[CJ Vogel]

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is back on the podium, this time at 12:30 p.m., for his weekly press conference with local media.

Of course, Texas will be heading to Michigan for a marquee matchup with the defending National Champions at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Michigan is coming off of a 30–10 victory over Fresno State in week one.

 

[CJ Vogel]

The team is wrapping up practice in the next five minutes, should hear from Sarkisian in the next ten minutes or so.

[CJ Vogel]

Texas started practice an hour later this morning due to no classes because of Labor Day. Will be back on normal schedule tomorrow and the remainder of the week.

[CJ Vogel]

[CJ Vogel]

Sarkisian heading in now.

[CJ Vogel]

Sarkisian on Michigan this weekend: "This is why you come to Texas to play in games like this."

[CJ Vogel]

Sarkisian says Michigan is very sound up front with elite players in the backend. Says he worked with Wink Martindale way back in the past and knows all about the blitz usages Martindale likes to deploy.

"They have first round picks on that defense, we are excited for the challenge."

[CJ Vogel]

"He has size, he has speed and he has arm talent." Sarkisian on Alex Orji.

Sarkisian says the defense must be mindful of the quarterback run but can't trade off for big passes.

[CJ Vogel]

Sarkisian says he has been very proud of RT Cam Williams and his development since arriving at Texas. Williams was named the Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week.

"He completely changed his body composition."

[CJ Vogel]

Just now, CJ Vogel said:

Sarkisian says he has been very proud of RT Cam Williams and his development since arriving at Texas. Williams was named the Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week.

"He completely changed his body composition."

Sark says he shows a good-bad-ugly to the team each Monday. Showed some clips of Williams climbing to the second level as one of the highlights, and added the team was pretty impressed with the way he was moving.

[CJ Vogel]

"Michigan is an excellent special teams unit."

Sarkisian says it was tough to get a look on punt coverage with only one punt. CSU fair caught every kickoff and their punts were all rolling to the Longhorns for the most part.

[CJ Vogel]

Sarkisian praised Michigan's program at the beginning: “You don’t go to three straight College Football Playoffs if you don’t have a great program.”

[CJ Vogel]

Just now, CJ Vogel said:

Sarkisian praised Michigan's program at the beginning: “You don’t go to three straight College Football Playoffs if you don’t have a great program.”

"We know this is a heck of a challenge. We know this will be a four quarter game."

[CJ Vogel]

Sarkisian on the upcoming game against Michigan: "Because of the (CFP) format, we like this matchup even more." Points to these type of games are why you come to Texas, to play marquee matchups against big time programs.

"What I think Saturday will do for us is serve as a barometer for where we are at as a football team."

[CJ Vogel]

Sarkisian on some of the interior defensive linemen:

"Alfred and Vernon played well, like they do."

"Jermayne Lole showed us some things.

Alex January was a "pleasant surprise."

[CJ Vogel]

Sarkisian says Ewers was incredibly calm after his INT. Says he came to the sideline and completely brushed it off. However, the command remained and the efficiency in the red area showed up. Sarkisian says it is a byproduct of his comfortability.

"I thought he threw the ball on time to the right people."

[CJ Vogel]

Sarkisian says he has a lot of analytics that the staff dives into for preparation.

"Sometimes as a coach, I like to go with my gut. Sometimes I feel some things and see something different than a computer."

[CJ Vogel]

Sarkisian says a lot of plays that Texas has in the gameplan for Michigan were in place early in fall camp for Texas to deploy in a real game.

[CJ Vogel]

On the line moving to 6.5 points in favor of Texas.

Sarkisian says National Champs, 23 straight, 16 straight at home, 3 straight playoff appearances will keep the team focused and not let the outside noise get to the locker room.

[CJ Vogel]

Sarkisian says he and his program has generated a really positive buzz around the program. 

"There is genuine excitement."

Sark also tips his cap to the administration.

[CJ Vogel]

Sarkisian says without question the environment at DKR is better than where it was week one when he first took over.

Says the product on the field is much better, but also tips his cap to the administration for marketing the program as well as they have.

[CJ Vogel]

That does it for this week's presser!

[Beard N Balls Bundle]

Great stuff CJ! I know Sark is going to show respect to Michigan but could you gauge his confidence level going into the week?

[CJ Vogel]

 

[CJ Vogel]