Burton:
We had some major questions going into the scrimmage yesterday. Some of them were answered:
Back-up QB
The role feels more and more like transfer Matthew Caldwell’s to lose. We’re told Caldwell looked more than serviceable again yesterday and even started with the second unit.
Granted, Steve Sarkisian singled out KJ Lacey, too. The freshman engineered a two-minute drive for a score while working with the 1s.
But the plan has always been to redshirt Lacey while letting Caldwell and Trey Owens fight over the back-up role.
Tight end rotation
Texas worked a lot in 12 personnel yesterday and the first two in the rotation were Jack Endries and Spencer Shannon. Jordan Washington has had a good training camp but Shannon has held Washington off to this point because of his skill and precision as an inline blocker.
Secondary
Texas seems pleased with the decision to try Michael Taaffe at nickel. That means Taaffe is likely the day-one nickel vs Ohio State, before a heavy situational rotation begins within the game.
Likewise, the corner spot opposite Manny Muhammad seems headed to a stand-off of sorts. Both Jaylan Guilbeau and Kobe Black are likely to see starter reps.
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Other positional notes:
Interior D-line rotation
With Maraad Watson sidelined, the Texas DL rotation was reshaped some yesterday. Alex January played alongside Travis Shaw while Hero Kanu and Cole Brevard were paired together.
Wide receiver rotation
With Emmett Mosley V sidelined by injury, receivers other than Ryan Wingo, DeAndre Moore and Parker Livingstone must step up.
Daylon McCutcheon has been circled as someone capable of doing that all the way back in spring. But more recently Sark has started to sing the praises of Kaliq Lockett, too. Lockett had a double-move on 4th down yesterday that drew high praise from the coaching staff.
Aaron Butler did not receive as many opportunities yesterday as he did in the previous scrimmage.
Running back
Sark said it himself. He had planned all along to slow-play CJ Baxter’s return, to let him get acclimated to college ball and then push him along after Ohio State. But that thinking changed following last Saturday’s scrimmage and was further evidence enhanced by yesterday’s action.
With Tre Wisner held out for part of practice, Baxter split some time with the 1st unit along with Christian Clark. Other backs eventually rotated in with that group as well.
If Wisner and Baxter are 1a and 1b as Sark described them, then Clark is the clear no. 3.
Offensive line
What we learned on Saturday is that Texas is working Nick Brooks almost exclusively at right tackle currently. He made the move following Andre Cojoe’s season-ending injury.
Brooks spent most of spring at left tackle. So perhaps this is Kyle Flood’s version of cross-training. Give the freshman heavy doses of both positions.
Jaydon Chatman stepped in at left tackle for Trevor Goosby who was held out because of a hand injury. Chatman drew praise from Sark for his play.
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A couple more things:
- I’m told that Arch Manning’s performance yesterday was much more “consistent”than a week ago.
- Do not be surprised if freshmen Graceson Littleton and Kade Phillips are heavy rotational players in the secondary when SEC play begins. They’re “too talented not to”, according to a source.