Steve Sarkisian defends Michael Taaffe physicality: 'We don't play flag football'

There has been some criticism of Texas Longhorns star defensive back Michael Taaffe for his hit on Melquan Stovall of Arizona State that was reviewed for targeting. Amid that, his head coach, Steve Sarkisian, defended the way Taaffe plays.

The play in question came late in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Peach Bowl. There, his hit appeared to injure Stovall and seemed to include contact to the receiver’s head.

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“As far as football goes, hey, we don’t play flag football,” Steve Sarkisian said. “This isn’t 7-on-7. This is tackle football. We believe in playing a physical brand of football. We try to do it the right way within the rules. There were numerous plays I thought in the game that I’m sure they were upset about a call. There were numerous plays I didn’t agree with the call. But that’s football. That’s the way it goes, but we’re not going to change the way we play. We play a physical brand of football. We’re always going to try and impose our will on our opponents. Michael is a great example of that. He plays the game the right way.”

Ultimately, the play would be reviewed for targeting but none was found. That forced Arizona State to punt late in the fourth quarter rather than set the Sun Devils up in scoring position. Ultimately, Texas would win the game in double overtime. However, that no-call led to some controversy.

This season, Michael Taaffe has 73 total tackles, including six tackles for a loss and 2.0 sacks. He also has two interceptions and 10 passes defended in what has been a critical season.

The coach opposite Steve Sarkisian in the game, Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham was another one critical of the way targeting was officiated.

“I’m going to be honest,” Dillingham said. “I just don’t know what targeting is. I don’t want to comment on something that I have to get a better grasp on what it is.”

Had targeting been called, it would have put Steve Sarkisian and Texas in a difficult position for the semifinals. In the case a player is ejected for targeting in the second half of a game, they need to sit out the first half of their next game. That means that Michael Taaffe would have been out for the first half of the game against Ohio State and the Buckeyes’ vaunted pass attack.

Regardless, Texas would go on to win and will now take on Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. The winner will advance to play for a national championship.