Steve Sarkisian criticizes defenses ability to finish game

Ahead of the Red River Rivalry, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is hoping the Longhorns defense will do a better job finishing out the game, than the unit did against TCU.

“I thought Saturday against TCU, they have a lot of playmakers on that offense,” he said. “Their running back (Zach Evans) is a fantastic player. They have wideouts, the quarterback (Max Duggan) is a gamer, they have a lot of schemes there. I thought our guys played really, really well up until the last seven, eight minutes in that game.

“I’ll be honest, I contemplated taking a time out trying to regroup them a little bit, kind of like basketball, because they could feel it. I thought maybe we would need that time out, depending on what happened later, so I didn’t.”

Though Texas pulled out the 32-27 win, Sarkisian seemed to regret the decision not to call the timeout.

“If you look back on it, maybe I should’ve,” he said. “I think we are getting closer to putting together a four-quarter football game with the right mental intensity and the right focus that is going to be needed Saturday. We are playing a team that is not going to stop attacking us, whether we are on the ground or through the air, regardless of the score. So, it is going to take a four-quarter game from our defense on Saturday if we want to be successful.”

The Texas defense is allowing 394.4 yards per game on average. The Texas defense has pitched just one shutout, in a 58-0 win over Rice, but the unit has let up an average of 35 points in the other four games. Notably, in the loss to Arkansas, the Texas defense let up 333 rushing yards.

On Saturday, Sarkisan’s defense will take on a Sooners offense that is still finding their groove. Oklahoma, though still undefeated, has underperformed offensively relative to expectations. The Sooners opened the season surviving an upset scare against Tulane, rolled over Western Carolina 76-0, then played three-straight one-score games against Nebraska, West Virginia and Kansas State. 

Against Kanas State, Oklahoma was outgunned in total yards 420-392. Quarterback Spencer Rattler completed 22 of 25 pass attempts for 243 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. On the season, Rattler has thrown for 1,260 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. 

Sarkisian and the Longhorns are 4-1 entering the Red River Showdown with their only loss coming against Arkansas in their second game of the season. Texas scored an impressive 70 points against Texas Tech two weeks ago though the defense let up 35 points in the win.