Takeaways from Texas football’s spring game at Royal-Memorial Stadium

The Texas spring recreation might have been “vanilla,” as coach Steve Sarkisian needed. No less than vanilla goes down straightforward.

The Longhorns didn’t present any official stats, the motion went fast and Longhorn Community missed numerous recreation motion to point out commercials. If there have been any opposing coaches watching in Waco, Lubbock or Norman, Okla., it was exhausting to glean a lot data.

Simply the way in which the Texas teaching employees appreciated it, most likely.

Nonetheless, there have been some key takeaways from the Orange-White recreation Saturday evening at Royal-Memorial Stadium.

Hudson Card, Quinn Ewers each have hits, misses

Sarkisian made it clear that no person ought to learn something into which quarterback began first. That mentioned, Hudson Card went out with the first-team offensive line to start out issues off. He went 3-for-3 on a drive that ended with Roschon Johnson’s 1-yard landing run.

Quinn Ewers’ first play was a deep throw for Dajon Harrison. They couldn’t join for what would’ve been a 30-yard achieve. The drive stalled out on the 26, and Bert Auburn drilled a 44-yard subject purpose. Ewers went 1-for-5 on the drive with one ball thrown on a busted display play.

Golden: Good cash is for Quinn Ewers to get Texas’ beginning nod

Ewers received the nod on the third drive — and with the first-team offensive line — and shortly made two completions. Then he took a snap, drifted to his proper and launched a 62-yard landing cross to Wyoming switch Isaiah Neyor. Now this was all the things Ewers’ followers hoped for.

Card would later get to point out his stuff. On one drive, Card had a pleasant dump-off to Keilan Robinson for a 20-yard achieve. Then from the 6-yard line, Card took a shotgun snap and raced in for the rating.

Ewers’ solely actual miscue was a nasty throw over the center that made for a straightforward interception by Anthony Prepare dinner.

The offensive line received loads of work

The entire purpose Texas couldn’t have a “recreation” with two completely different rosters was due to the shortage of offensive lineman, in line with Sarkisian. So it’s price noting who was on the market at varied factors. The primary-team unit was left sort out Hayden Connor, left guard Junior Angilau, middle Jake Majors, proper guard Cole Hutson and proper sort out Christian Jones.

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The second-team unit was left sort out Michael Balis, left guard Sawyer Goram-Welch, middle Logan Parr, proper guard Max Merril and proper sort out Jaylen Garth.

Regardless of who was blocking, it doesn’t take a lot for a few of Texas’ greatest offensive threats. Johnson slipped via a keyhole and raced 56 yards for a landing run early within the scrimmage.

So, about that operating protection …

Sarkisian additionally mentioned a number of instances this spring that the run protection was having stable days. Possibly Saturday evening was simply the exception. The protection didn’t should face Bijan Robinson (ankle) and wasn’t allowed to the touch the quarterbacks.

Keondre Coburn and T’Vondre Sweat had been paired collectively at defensive sort out. Byron Murphy II and Moro Ojomo additionally labored collectively inside. The coaches have been enthusiastic about Vernon Broughton and Alfred Collins’ work, however each of these gamers should be extra constant, Sarkisian has mentioned. Myron Warren would’ve had a sack earlier than officers blew the play useless.

By way of aggression, security Kitan Crawford had some of the aggressive tackles when he introduced down Robinson.

Did the Horns cross the attention take a look at?

Frankly, it was a blended bag.

There have been some nice performs, like Johnson’s lengthy landing run and Card’s scramble for a rating. Card made a terrific bullet throw to Ja’Tavion Sanders close to the purpose line, and Sanders put it away on the 5-yard line. However Jerrin Thompson made an superior strip on the 2 for a defensive turnover.

Prepare dinner and Crawford stood out for particular person performs, but it surely’s clear the protection has extra work forward.

This was certainly only a glorified apply, the fifteenth and last apply of the spring. Now, this system shifts into post-spring mode and will get able to welcome a extra freshmen in June when the summer season session begins.

The true believers most likely left impressed. The skeptics will proceed to lean on final season’s 5-7 file despite the fact that there’s been appreciable roster turnover.

The 2022 season can’t get right here quick sufficient.

Contact Brian Davis by telephone or textual content at 512-445-3957. E-mail bdavis@statesman.com or observe on Twitter by way of @BDavisAAS.