Steve Sarkisian evaluates performance of Maalik Murphy, recovery after turnovers

The Texas Longhorns started Maalik Murphy at quarterback against BYU with Quinn Ewers sidelined with an injury. In the end, Murphy played well in his first career start despite some inconsistencies.

Following the game, head coach Steve Sarkisian broke down the performance of Murphy in the game, including his ability to overcome a couple of early turnovers.

“I thought he bounced great,” Steve Sarkisian said. “They were a little unorthodox. Both turnovers were, quite frankly, unfortunate for him. The first one, we had a bit of a miscommunication and we didn’t get a route from the receiver on the front side. So, now, he gets a little bit of pressure, and that’s some of the growing pains as a quarterback. Sometimes you’ve got to eat the ball, take the sack, and not just kind of try to throw it, especially when you’re getting hit.”

Texas beat BYU 35-6, with the game being relatively close into the fourth quarter. For his part, Maalik Murphy threw for 170 yards and two touchdowns. He also had an interception.

The second one, we’re in a max protection and I think our running back and guard run into each other and we don’t block the defensive end. Probably had a pretty good chance at a touchdown pass. That’s some of the growing pains that sometimes you’ve got to eat it,” Sarkisian said.

“We’ve got to execute better around him, but the way that he responded from both of those two turnovers I thought was great. Maalik has got really good composure about him. I think a little bit was the guys wanted to play so well around him and sometimes you can try a little too hard. You’re trying to make up for other stuff. We just need guys to do their jobs and do their jobs really well. But I was proud of Maalik and the way he responded.”

One way that Steve Sarkisian tried to help Maalik Murphy out in the game was by having him throw the ball early. That would, in theory, help him get into the flow of the game better. Sarkisian also noted that this was in contrast to what happened against Houston.

“I just felt like sometimes the best way to get rid of any jitters that a guy might have is to let him go play. Not that I didn’t think we could run it, but I just feel like when I was a quarterback and my first time when I went out there, give me some throws. Don’t make me wait until it’s 3rd and 9 and now I have to throw it to try to make a play. I thought there were some good throws in there. I liked the throw to Xavier [Worthy] kind of deep across the field. We didn’t get the pass interference call but it was a great read by him. He found AD [Mitchell],” Sarkisian said.

“There were some things in there that I think were good for him and it kind of got him playing football again. A week ago when he went in against Houston, he really only had the two throws for an entire quarter. We can’t play football thinking we’re going to line it up and run it 10 out of 12 plays the whole game. We need balance and so to get him out there and letting him go play, I thought was good for him, and I thought was good for us. There’s going to be a lot of growth for him out of it, as well as for us as a team.”

Steve Sarkisian reveals why Texas didn’t play Arch Manning

There was speculation that Arch Manning would play against BYU. However, Steve Sarkisian explained why that didn’t happen.

“I just wanted to try to find a little more rhythm offensively. We just weren’t into the flow that I would have liked. Maybe if we could have punched a couple of those drives in when we got stopped inside the five. But we didn’t. To me, it was making sure we had enough rhythm with Maalik in there,” Sarkisian said.

“That’s why I’m hesitant on those things to say ‘Yes, he’s going to go in.’ Because now, I’m going to get called a liar because I didn’t put him in. Just felt like it wasn’t the right time.”