Mike Gundy sees some new and some old in this 2023 Texas team

Mike Gundy and his magnificent mane met with local media on Monday, just days after Oklahoma State’s thrilling come-from-behind overtime win at home versus BYU. The 40-34 win propelled the Cowboys into the Big 12 title game where the 9-3 ‘Pokes will face the 11-1 ‘Horns.

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It had to end this way, right? So far this season, Texas has been able to avenge each of its losses from last year, save the difficult loss in Stillwater. This Saturday in Arlington, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian will get his rematch against Gundy.

Whereas most opposing head coaches this season have talked up Texas, Gundy downplayed UT towards the end of his press conference. He made it sound almost as if it’s the same program he’s faced the last 12 years.

Before that, he was pretty complimentary.

On UT’s defense

He hits on some key strengths, namely how the Texas defense has not had to sell out to stop the run.

“So they’re 2.9 a carry, it’s just tough for the guys rushing the football against them. You know it’s interesting, they’re a 35-point team scoring and they’re only giving up 17, they’re double, their margin is pretty big. It’s pretty rare you see that. They’re 25 percent third down conversion defensively, which is really good. There’s a reason why where they are. More of a traditional defense. They can play gaps and play coverage. They don’t have to necessarily overload the box to stop the run. That’s not what they do, they could, but that’s not traditionally what they do. Most people have struggled in a big way blocking their down guys and their ‘backers so they don’t have to overload the box for the rush.”

Blocking Sweat and Murphy

Despite UT’s run defense, anchored by T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy, Gundy seemed confident his offense will be able to create some running room for star running back Ollie Gordon.

Of Texas’ dynamic defensive tackle duo, Gundy said with a wry smile, “We can double team them some. And let the widest guy go and double team them, and let that guy try to run and make a tackle. And, we can do what we’ve done the last 15 years, which is block’em. [Gundy pauses — did he wonder if he was creating bulletin board material?] See, you gotta block a 3-technique, not necessarily a 3-technique that has that uniform on. Go block ’em.”

A reporter asks a follow-up question, wondering if Gundy has faced a duo like Sweat and Murphy this year.

“We’ve played them 10, 12, how many years — we’ve played them a bunch of times. They’re this way all the time. They’ve been this way for a long time. When I first started playing them as a head coach 20 years ago, was Mack Brown the coach? Mack Brown was the coach there, they were top five in the country pretty much every year for a while. They got good players. I got a lot of respect for them, Sark does a good job. They’re well coached, you know. You didn’t even bring up their punt returner. They’re plus 300 yards in punt return — plus 300. No.1. So, that’s like an amazing stat. It is what it is. Gotta get down there and cover, gotta tackle and get them on the ground.”

That quote was quite the ride. Everybody knows the real story of Texas this season is the plus 300 yards in punt returns!

Strength on strength

From listening to him, Gundy does seem to know the story Saturday will be whether or not his offense can be two-dimensional.

“I think at this point, I would guess their coaches know we’re going to do what we do and I’m going to say for the most part they’re going to do what they do. We’re in Week 13 and there’s not a lot of changes that are going to take place over a two-day preparation; there won’t be for us, I don’t think there’s any secret to it. We have to find ways to block them and balance our offense. We would like to not be one-dimensional. One-dimensional has not been good for our team, no matter who we play, much less a team that’s as talented as Texas.”

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If Texas can keep 1,500 yard rusher Ollie Gordon at bay, Longhorns coaches and players should be hoisting the Big 12 title this Saturday for the first time since 2009.