After Oklahoma blocked a punt in the endzone for a touchdown, giving Texas its first loss of the season, head coach Steve Sarkisian was asked whether he would consider adjusting Jeff Banks’ role as special teams coordinator. He answered firmly:
“No.”
Texas’ special teams mistakes didn’t start against Oklahoma. Just two weeks before, junior wide receiver Ryan Wingo failed to recover the onside kick against the Tennessee Volunteers.
Nearly a month later, Banks’ unit still presents issues instead of being a sure thing for Texas. In the win over Ole Miss, Texas failed to close out the game late in the fourth quarter after failing to recover an onside kick for the second time this season. The Longhorns also gave up a fake punt, giving the Rebels fresh downs and offensive momentum.
That failed recovery, just like against Tennessee, almost cost them the game. Special teams mistakes are a given, but it has become the norm for Texas to have at least one special teams blunder each week, and sometimes multiple in one game.
Despite this, Sarkisian has said on numerous occasions that he has full faith in Banks, the highest-paid special teams coach in college football with a $1.2 million salary.
“The other night was funky,” Sarkisian said of his special teams’ mistakes against Ole Miss Saturday night. He attributed those mistakes to mostly human error.
To explain the fake punt mishap, he said the Rebels didn’t plan it and that it happened by chance. Ole Miss’ punter took advantage of defensive end sophomore Lance Jackson, who was jogging to set up a block, and decided to run. Sarkisian attributed the mistake to the fact that the team didn’t “set the edge.”
On the onside kick, Sarkisian said it was mostly the players’ error. The ball bounced off junior wide receiver Emmett Mosley V and into sophomore defensive back Graceson Littleton’s hands, but neither could secure it. Sarkisian said the scheme was fine, but it’s about executing the play correctly.
“We’re all human,” Sarkisian said. “Sometimes, we trip (while) walking down the (sidewalk). … We’re going to practice it more to build more confidence in that role. … We felt good about it (but) we didn’t make the play.”
While Sarkisian won’t disclose any schematic changes that will be implemented, he said there was progress throughout the week in giving the players more confidence in executing the little things — the margin for error is minimal in high-stakes special teams plays. He also thinks there is a growing opportunity to create explosive special teams plays.
The special teams’ mistakes have become a major source of headache for the Longhorns, and with the final stretch of regular season games approaching, Banks’ unit must clean things up to give Texas fans a reason to have faith in the group, just like Sarkisian does.
