Continuity will be a Texas-sized boost for the Longhorn offense versus Oklahoma
When thinking back to the past shortcomings of Texas football head coach Steve Sarkisian’s 1-2 record in his first three Red River Shootout games, the mind of the fourth-year head coach immediately went to the communication and preparation of his past offensive lines.
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Despite having a group that was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award in 2023, the Longhorns had one of their most erratic games on the offensive front against Oklahoma last season, allowing quarterback Quinn Ewers to be pressured 12 times and committing six penalties. One year later, with the Longhorns standing just five days away from the fourth Red River Shootout of Sarkisian’s tenure, the coach has never been more confident in the strength that this offensive line provides in the form of continuity.
“I think with the offensive line play, continuity, communication is all critical,” Sarkisian said in Monday’s press conference. “I think we’ve learned a couple lessons over the years of being part of this game.”
No position group has seen less change from season to season than this offensive line. Of the five starters on this year’s offensive front, four of them were in the starting lineup last year. Two have been starting for three or more seasons. Junior right tackle Cam Williams is the only lineman who wasn’t a regular starter last season although he got one start under his belt against Kansas State. That said, he’s anchored by a group that has played a combined 8,606 snaps heading into the game.
“I do think continuity is critical, and I think experience is critical, and we’re fortunate,” Sarkisian said. “Like I said, this is one of those years where we’ve got a lot of continuity. We’ve got a really veteran center to communicate. We’ve got guys who have played a lot of football.”
Sarkisian has put a lot of emphasis on this offensive line to perform heading into this year, and that trust has been reciprocated by all five members. Texas has the nation’s best pass-blocking grade according to Pro Football Focus, and of the 73 SEC offensive linemen that have played over 250 snaps, Texas’ entire offensive line ranks within the top 15 in pass-blocking grade.
The Longhorns will be playing in one of the most unique college football environments on Saturday, as best described by senior tight end Gunnar Helm.
“Walking out for warmups feeling like you’re in one of the most hostile environments in college football, then getting to the other side of the field and feeling like you’re at home,” Helm said describing the environment.
For a more inexperienced offensive line, like the group in 2021 that featured a much younger Jake Majors, Christian Jones and true sophomore Andrej Karic, the hostility of a possession on the crimson side of the stadium without momentum can overtake the players, causing miscommunication and penalties like the six committed by the group Sarkisian rolled out in his first Red River Shootout.
Williams is the wildcard of this group, but that doesn’t exactly mean he will be a weakness. The first-year starter has committed over half the penalties the offensive line has given up this season, a stat that most certainly needs to be changed when playing on the Oklahoma side of the field. But his strengths are arguably stronger than anyone on that offensive line who isn’t named Kelvin Banks. William’s pass-blocking efficiency is 99.4%, tied for ninth in the nation among tackles that have hit that 250-snap mark.
“My biggest thing when evaluating our tackles is how well they communicate to the tight ends,” Helm said. “And we really haven’t had a whole lot of problems at all on the perimeter of our offensive line.”
Williams is someone Helm believes has grown every single week of the season, something that PFF agrees with. Williams’ pass-blocking grade has moved up each week since the Michigan game. Against Mississippi State, Williams allowed zero pressures or QB hits for quarterback Arch Manning.
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Sarkisian has been able to rely on his group of veterans so far this season, especially in his signature win against Michigan, but the Red River Shootout is a brand new beast for those who haven’t experienced it yet. Thankfully for Sarkisian, whoever he trots out at quarterback against OU will have an experienced group of linemen heading into his fourth matchup against the Sooners as head coach of the Longhorns, two strengths that could spell the difference between the Golden Hat moving north to Norman or south to Austin by the end of the night on Saturday.
