By Habeab Kurdi
In between the third and fourth quarters, the Longhorns take time to talk to one another as they head into that final frame to decide the game’s fate.
There’s a strong and overwhelming realization the Texas team had in the win over Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan. as the Horns imposed their will on the Wildcats down the stretch (and through a big chunk of the game).
They don’t have to try to be physical anymore — they are physical. That newfound knowledge of their own physicality is ready to be unleashed Saturday against the No. 7 Sooners.
“We realized how physical we can be, we really take pride in that, that’s a big thing for our program,” junior defensive back Brandon Jones said.
Plugging physicality into the culture came about this offseason as head coach Tom Herman and his staff put players in position to understand and feel what it meant to be physical, not just act physical.
“I think that’s just how coach Herman instills this culture, the physical mentality and I think it shows throughout every position,” sophomore quarterback Sam Ehlinger said. “Obviously our defense is very physical. I think every position on the field, because of how we practice and because of what coach Herman preaches, we have a physical identity to every aspect of our team.”
[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]
Not so much a lightbulb going off but more a floodlight shining on the Horns that won’t burn out anytime soon.
“We really try to be the most physical team on the field, that really gives us, so to say, a higher momentum level than our opponent,” Jones said. “We know the first game (vs. Maryland) we didn’t play as we should have played. That (win over Kansas State) was a big eye opener that we can play on the road as well.”
Putting It On The Line
For the first time this season, the Longhorns offensive line graded out at a ‘Champion’ level. The groups all receive grades after each game, and after overpowering the Wildcats’ defensive line throughout the game, the Horns have reason to believe they can keep the Sooners offensive off the field, and keep putting points up on the board because of their physicality.
“When we watched the film this past week we got hats on hats,” center Elijah Rodriguez said. “It doesn’t surprise me. I feel like we were working good as an offensive line unit and when we turned on film we could see that.”
Even the receivers are getting in on the physical act, and they’re relishing the chance to one-up their Oklahoma counterparts — both in secondary and the Sooners receivers.
“Our biggest thing is to dominate on the perimeter,” added junior wider receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey, “We try to enforce that against anybody that we play.”
Nothing To Prove, Nothing To See
During pregame there was a skirmish between Horns senior tight end Andrew Beck and a couple players on the Wildcats team that he felt were being a bit disrespectful toward him and his Texas teammates.
Beck laughed and shook his head recalling the incident, demonstrating that no, they don’t need to do anything to prove their toughness, it’s already instilled in them.
“No, and if that’s what it takes to show the world then fine,” Beck chuckled, “but no (we don’t have to prove our toughness), we knew from the start.”
Because Kansas State players refused to allow Texas players to warmup on their side of the field, a fight between TE Andrew Beck and another player nearly ensued. pic.twitter.com/GzjCXPMgZy
— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) September 29, 2018
Attack And Relax
How are the Horns becoming more physical without trying too hard to act physical in careless and reckless ways?
“The biggest thing was we were a lot more relaxed,” Jones said.
The realizations are coming at the right time as Texas looks to topple a Top-10 opponent in college football’s biggest rivalry.
Knowing they can win in different ways against different opponents is a huge step forward for both sides of the ball heading into the game against Oklahoma.
“We realize the winning is in the work and preparation that we’ve been doing,” Humphrey said. “All we’ve really been focusing on is preparing for the next opponent so we can be successful throughout the rest of the season … everybody has bought in. And that’s a good thing, we’re looking forward to being successful the rest of the season.”
If the seriously fun times are to keep rolling Saturday, the Horns have to roll out their ability to close out the fourth into all four quarters.
“The biggest thing is being able to compartmentalize everything, and also just trusting your training and being able to do what you can on the field is what you practiced all week,” Jones said.
The atmosphere at the State Fair of Texas and inside the Cotton Bowl may just be enough to have them feeling like the fourth quarter in the first quarter this week.
“Once we’re having fun and we realize that we know what we’re capable of doing and trust our training and trust our coaches are going to put us in the best position to do great, we always play our best ball,” Jones concluded.
[/s2If] [s2If !current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)] [article-offer] [/s2If]
Discover more from Horns Illustrated
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.