Six things Texas fans want to hear from the Longhorns' scrimmage

Steve Sarkisian‘s program will scrimmage inside Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium today to gear up preparation for the 2024 season.

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“It’s a fun one for us because everybody plays Saturday,” Sarkisian said Thursday. “All these guys have been practicing their tails off. We’ve been two-spotting everything. We’ve been four-deep with ones, twos, threes, and fours. It’s going to be a great opportunity for guys to play.”

What would be the best-case scenario for Texas from the Saturday event? Here are six things Texas fans want to hear coming from the Longhorns’ first scrimmage of the preseason

Health is wealth

This is why this story is “six things” instead of the customary five. After the season-ending injury suffered by CJ Baxter on Tuesday, the Longhorns need to make it through this scrimmage with nothing more than the run of the mill bumps, bruises, wear, and tear typically seen during a football game.

There is good reason to limit action for certain players like the Longhorns did for the spring game in April. That said, the only way to get better at playing football is by playing football. The entire team, first-teamers to walk-ons, need reps ahead of a 2024 schedule that includes the 2023 national champions and a SEC slate.

This is more of a “show us what you got” scrimmage than a “this will determine your place on the depth chart” scrimmage, so the ones may not see a massive 60-70 snap workload. All that said, no one needs to be getting hurt and jeopardizing their status three weeks from the first game.

How are you, Jaydon Blue?

Jaydon Blue‘s role changed drastically on Tuesday after Baxter’s injury. Instead of running back 1A or 1B, he is now running back 1.

How does Blue take on the responsibilities associated with being the Horns’ top back? Can he run inside zone and near the goal line effectively?

There will be plenty of plays the Longhorns will need Blue to succeed in outside of his typical skill set. This is his first chance to show what he’s got. Showing prowess in all aspects of Texas’ rushing offense would go a long way to assuage some of the concerns that popped up when Baxter was lost

Red zone success

When Texas plays Texas, the Longhorns win and the Longhorns lose. The Longhorns fail and the Longhorns succeed. A UT player makes a great play and a UT player messed up.

It’s a zero-sum game, as Eric Nahlin likes to say.

All that said, Sarkisian will drill his team with some situationals on Saturday. The most important one they work on might be the red zone.

Texas scored often in the red zone last year, but Bert Auburn was trotted out more than Sarkisian would have liked. The OU game sticks out, as well.

Hearing that Texas punched it in while working inside the 20s would be a welcome report. Obviously, it would come at the expense of the UT defense, but with how much red zone difficulties altered Texas’ 2023 season, knowing the Horns can get it across the line for six against a defense like Texas’ would be a positive development.

The receivers enjoy the spotlight

Texas has had days where Isaiah Bond was the alpha dog. There were days where Silas Bolden filled that role. Johntay Cook, Matthew Golden, Ryan Wingo, and DeAndre Moore all had successful camp days.

It would be a little surprise if a new name joined that list. So instead of making Sarkisian’s decision at receiver harder, it’d be nice if one of these players had a strong scrimmage and made the most of Saturday.

A big day from Bond and a scrimmage filled with “catching the football” would be welcome news.

Turnovers!

If Quinn Ewers is what Sarkisian, the program, and the college football world have hyped him up to be, then an interception or two would be good news for the Longhorn defense.

The secondary was the target of ire for a lot of Texas fans, especially with the transcendent performance of Michael Penix Jr. serving as the lasting image from the end of the 2023 season.

If players like Malik Muhammad, Jahdae Barron, Jaylon Guilbeau, Michael Taaffe, and Derek Williams can creates some oskies on Saturday, that will go to show there is some big-play capability in the Texas defensive backfield.

Some insight at field corner and who takes a majority of the reps there would be welcome, too.

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Getting the EDGE

Trey Moore, this is your time to shine. Reports about his ability and success against Cameron Williams and Kelvin Banks have flowed during the fall.

If Moore is able to do it, it would be even more good news at a position that was once a marked weakness for Texas.

Even better news would be if others are able to make an impact, like Barryn Sorrell, Ethan Burke, Colin Simmons, Justice Finkley, and Colton Vasek.