What are the pressing questions for Texas football's coordinators?

Before Texas starts practice on Wednesday, the Longhorns will make defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski, offensive coordinator Kyle Flood, and special teams coordinator Jeff Banks available to the media on Tuesday.

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This is typically the only scheduled opportunity the media gets with Steve Sarkisian‘s coordinators until a potential bowl game as Sark prefers for all the messaging that makes it to the media to come through him. Obviously, the coordinators probably appreciate the limited media responsibilities.

These can be enlightening, for sure. Kwiatkowski has been extremely honest in these settings in the past. Flood has been able to boast about quality recruiting and development. Banks can go on an inspirational schpiel about a place-kicker.

Each coach is there to carry out Sarkisian’s vision but they are able to offer different vantages in the process of cultivating that vision. Sark oversees the whole program, but Kwiatkowski can explain what he’s seen from players like Trey Moore and Colin Simmons because he works with them directly for example.

The last time Flood spoke…

Was the offensive media day as part of the College Football Playoff at the Allstate Sugar Bowl. He touched on topics like Sarkisian’s play-calling, Arch Manning, Adonai Mitchell, Jaydon Blue, and more.

Sark’s ability to call quality plays in real time was something that stood out to Flood, who is Texas’ titular offensive coordinator.

“I think what makes him that is his ability to see the game in real time,” said Flood in December. “It’s not just about the game plan and what we’ve looked at on film. I think as the game is happening and as the teams that we’re playing are adjusting, he’s adjusting with them. And I think that makes him unique, his ability to do that at a really high level.”

The last time Kwiatkowski spoke…

Was at a similar event for the defense ahead of the Sugar Bowl.

Kwiatkowski’s defense was much improved in 2023 after some issues in 2022 and real problems in 2021. For the even-keeled PK, it was just part of the growing process at Texas.

“I’ve been doing this for 35 years, and there’s great seasons and there’s tough seasons,” Kwiatkowski said in December. “And then it always comes back to football is football. Don’t make it more than it is and stick to the process of growing and getting better.”

The last time Banks spoke…

Banks was available as part of the larger Sugar Bowl media day but didn’t have time at the big stage like Kwiatkowski and Flood. His last time speaking to local media was in a similar setting ahead of the 2023 season.

“We knew when we got here that if we wanted to win a national championship, we were going to have to beat the SEC eventually,” Banks said in August.

So what are the questions for Texas’ coordinators in 2024?

IT went to the Members Only board for inspiration.

matonmacs: What do Johnny Nansen and Scottie Hazelton bring to the table as far as improving the defense? How does PK see his role as the DC (CEO of the defense, etc.)?

dick fingers: I’d love to know if PK having been here for three years feels comfortable enough with his personnel and scheme to get aggressive and how aggressive he thinks he can be

53 Veer Pass: What did the staff learn from the Washington game and did it change their philosophy in any way?

LosHorn: What are you doing to marry the back end with the front end? Do you promise not to play off coverage that includes a cushion greater than the number of yards needed for a first down on third and short.

NormalPorkServing: Sark said there will be more WR in the core rotation, How different will that rotation be? Will there be 6 receivers with significant snaps? 5?

highflyer: As long as the enemy didn’t hear the answer too, I’d like to know the top plays they have to beat the blitz. Short and mid-range blitz busters.

bornahorn: If you play receivers based on your trust of them, how do they earn your trust?

NormalPorkServing: Interior OL has experience but last year their performance wasn’t a team strength overall. What specific improvements (physical, technical, Assignment discipline, etc.) do you have as goals for this group this year?

EODHorn77: Is there anyone designated to identify in game deficiencies (like when teams would go spread passing) and make suggestions to adjust on the fly?

motolove: I’d like to know what PK thinks having legitimate edge rushers does to his style of defense. Also, will Broughton be bringing it this season?

coolhorn: Will Hazelton and Nansen be able to improve the coordination and communication between the front end and back end of UT’s defense? Are the two new running backs gonna see some action this season, and if so, in what situations? What is the one main thing still needed to make the offense and defense work? Question about special teams…Is the freshman ready to take over as our new punter?

Hornsup4Texas: One of the early stories on PK was what he accomplished at Washington with non-highly ranked edge guys. How is the Texas roster coming along compared to what he did at Washington?

BondLoungeHorn: Sark had one of the fastest uptempo teams in the nation when he was at UW & USC.

He went away from that after his time with the Falcons & Bama.

Why did he go away from uptempo?

I know we will never play that fast but are we going to speed things up and is having the helmet coms going to be one of the reasons?

in sec country: How confident are you that the redzone issues are solved?

In 2023 the defense totaled 32 sacks. If you were asked to predict the number of sacks this season, what would that number be?

Brisketsammich: What has been done differently since last season to give you confidence in the red zone offense?

thanos72: Theoretically the margin of victory will be closer in the sec. How does that change special teams when 3pts or field position can determine the outcome?

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Coolllllhhj: Talk about the motivation to switch from a match 3 team at Washington to a primarily quarters team at Texas?

jhou39: How are they going to improve the pass defense on the back end? Not by rushing, but specifically either scheme or changing up personnel, etc.