Kirk Herbstreit Says Longhorns' Sarkisian Was 'Holding Things Back' to Prep for Alabama
The No. 11 Texas Longhorns' slow start could be attributed to general rust and playing a different opponent than the same one in practice every day, but ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit has a different idea.
Herbstreit, who will co-host "College GameDay" in Tuscaloosa, Ala., for Texas' matchup against the No. 3 Crimson Tide on Saturdat, said he didn't "take a lot away" from the Longhorns' sluggish offensive start in which they led the Rice Owls 16-3 at halftime. He said the "behemoth" that Alabama is may have resulted in a vanilla offensive game plan against Rice to not put too many things on tape for the Crimson Tide to prepare for.
"It’s really more about getting some people out there, the depth, rotating guys around, getting a lot of people to have a chance to go out and show what they can do," Herbstreit said. "[Steve Sarkisian], he’s holding things back. He’s not going to show what he’s going to do."
Texas' talent and explosiveness against Rice began to show itself as the game wore on. The Longhorns had three passing plays of at least 15 yards in the first quarter and five in the final three quarters, including a 44-yard touchdown connection from quarterback Quinn Ewers to tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders in the third.
Herbstreit looks back to the first matchup between the Longhorns and Crimson Tide as a blueprint. He said Ewers "was in a real rhythm" in the first quarter before his injury and that he wasn't sure what would have happened "had he stayed in the game."
Before Ewers' injury, he was 9-for-12 for 134 yards. Hudson Card came in relief and went 14-for-22 for 158 yards.
"I think Sark had something going there," Herbstreit said of Texas' offensive game plan against Alabama last year.
Herbstreit's main concern is with the offensive line's pass protection. Texas allowed three sacks last week and its 67.7 pass-block grade, according to Pro Football Focus, would have been the fifth-worst by the unit in a game last season.
Herbstreit is interested in seeing how the Longhorns deal with the Bryant-Denny Stadium crowd. He said when Alabama fans "feel threatened," they ramp up the intensity a bit and can "be a difference in the game."
The color commentator of Saturday's rematch at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN revealed a key to Texas' success.
"I’m anxious to see how they handle (the crowd noise) and see if they can get out of 3rd-and-7, 3rd-and-8," Herbstreit said. "What they do on first and second will be critical to their success this week.”
