Live updates: Steve Sarkisian recaps OU, previews Iowa State

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is at the mic today just after 11 a.m. to recap the 49-0 win over Oklahoma and to preview this Saturday’s matchup between the Longhorns and the Iowa State Cyclones.

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The press conference will air on Longhorn Network and TexasSports.com. 104.9 The Horn in Austin will also provide live coverage.

Updates from Steve Sarkisian’s press conference

Steve Sarkisian: “I loved the way we played complementary football. I feel like it’s been that way for two weeks where we’ve been feeding off one another in all three phases.”

Steve Sarkisian: “I’d be remiss if I didn’t say it was an awesome atmosphere on Saturday. I thought our fans were unbelievable. I thought they had an impact on the game. I thought they had an impact on our team. Their energy, we felt it. We’re looking forward to the same thing here Saturday at 11 o’clock at DKR.”

Steve Sarkisian on ISU: “These guys have been close in a lot of football games here, most recently the last two, coming down to the wire. They play great defense, probably the best defense in our conference. Really sound, really disciplined, keep the ball in front, play good against the run. We’ve got our work cut out for us there.”

Steve Sarkisian: “I think at the end of the day, we didn’t play great last year against Iowa State at their place. We played decent in the first half, and really got overwhelmed in the second half. Didn’t play very well in the third quarter. I think our guys are hungry to go out and play a better brand of football this year.”

Steve Sarkisian on the defense, says consistency from coaches, buy-in from players, and effort from players contribute to the improved product: “I think schematically, we’re doing things from week-to-week that are beneficial to our success.”

Steve Sarkisian on his leadership: “I think one of the keys is not letting the little things slide. As coaches, I try to harp on those things. There’s a level of discipline to the way we go about our business.” — “There’s a level of discipline that’s needed that I think carries over to the ballgame.”

Steve Sarkisian on facing Iowa State’s defense: “It’s hard to replicate certain schemes in practice from a scout team perspective, so when you can get real, live reps, it’s always helpful. Iowa State is really the pioneer of this defense, the 3-3 defense. They do a great job there. They’re not a simple as people would say. From the outside, you just think ‘oh, it’s a 3-3 defense.’ These guys do a lot of really cool things, they do it from week to week against different opponents. You’ve got to be prepared for the multiplicity that they can give you out of the original structure.”

Steve Sarkisian praises a handful of young players like Brenen Thompson, Austin Jordan, Jaylon Guilbeau, and others.

Steve Sarkisian on 2022 being a ‘revenge tour’: “The outside world makes it sound like this was a hard year last year on them. It was a pretty hard year on us. I think a lot of guys on our team, there’s a lot of bad tastes in their mouth from the way some of those game went last year, and the opportunities that ultimately fell on us that we let go of.”

Steve Sarkisian on Quinn Ewers, says he’s a natural passer. “I think that when he throws the ball, the feel of the pass come naturally to him. It doesn’t feel like it’s a gameplan thing or its robotic like he did something in training with his QB coach. He’s dropping back, feeling that coverage, feeling our route, and he’s throwing the ball and he throws people open.” — Also says he’s very calm, and very coachable after mistakes.

Steve Sarkisian on Jordan Whittington’s blocking: “Jordan is the lead dog there. As the veteran in that room, he sets the expectation is for the other receivers.”

Steve Sarkisian on if Bijan Robinson is getting enough respect nationally: “Probably not, and he’d never tell you that.” — “Probably doesn’t get enough national recognition, but we’ve got a long way to go.”

Steve Sarkisian on the OL: “It’s very encouraging. I think that we were not perfect, and we’ve seen a multitude of looks here through the first half of the season. We’re seeing a lot of different things, so these guys are kind of getting trial by fire. They’re getting thrown into it and there’s a lot of different things happening.”

Steve Sarkisian on the OL’s growth: “One thing that stands out to me is I think they’re playing as the cohesive group. It’s not about one guy or another guy. I think they’re working well together. That’s a credit to Coach Flood of getting them playing together.”

Steve Sarkisian on TE, calls Jahleel Billingsley “another weapon to put on the field. Hopefully that makes us more difficult to defend.”