GETTING DEFENSIVE
Cedric Golden on the Horns’ most important unit
Sam Ehlinger doesn’t play defense, but he’s smart enough to
know the guys on the other side of the ball should be his best buds Saturday.
The worst thing Texas’ freshman quarterback can do, assuming he starts, is to try and go blow for blow with Baker Mayfield, who famously planted a flag at Columbus’ Horseshoe after the Sooners planted Ohio State.
Mayfield has skins on the wall and has earned the right to rile opponents, whereas Ehlinger should walk into the Cotton Bowl
knowing this isn’t a duel in the Old West. He will have plenty of help with him this time around. The Texas defense that gave it up and then some to Mayfield and Dede Westbrook in last season’s 45-40 loss has played its best ball since Charlie Strong’s first season. Those same players have a
chance to make Ehlinger’s life much easier Saturday.
Ehlinger should consider himself a sheriff, but one that’s bringing an 11-man posse with him. The name of the game is points allowed and Texas has given up only 68 over the last 12 quarters
and two overtimes. Todd Orlando’s crew and punter Michael Dickson have to dictate field position for the Horns to have a chance late.
Here’s the thing about Ehlinger: He had already won over the locker room before he trucked a Kansas State tackler on the winning drive Saturday. A quarterback who plays like a linebacker will top most popularity locker room lists, but that same quarter
back has to understand he can’t take on every defender as if he has a 50-pound weight advantage.
“Sam has no fear of anybody
coming toward him,” offensive lineman Patrick Vahe said. “I told Sam, I was like, ‘You scare me every time you run.’ Because he doesn’t hesitate whatsoever when it comes to hitting another defender. I remember right after that play, I was finishing my block, I got up, I saw him get hype, that got me hype, and we ended up finishing that drive. So it was pretty exciting to see our quarterback get down and dirty like that.”
Tom Herman has smartly taken the Steve Spurrier approach when it comes to his young quarterback. He hasn’t hesitated to mention Ehlinger has made mistakes. which sends a message that there is plenty of growing ahead.
Herman hasn’t officially named him the starter, but his comments during the week are enough to know it will be Ehlinger behind center and not Shane Buechele.
Herman has no problem throwing a freshman into the fray and the recent play of his defense has to have played a role in his confidence to make this move.
“He started in the Coliseum against the No. 4 team in the country,” Herman said. “I just saw on Longhorn Network, what do they run, like Red River games all week? I walked by our new hallway downstairs, and we have a big TV that’s always on Longhorn Network. I think they flashed that James Brown got his first start in the Red River game. He turned out to be pretty good, too.”
This is a pressure-packed game. The good news is the defense is walking into that place expecting to get after Mayfield.
It’s not an easy task, but his gambling nature will present some opportunities to make some plays.
The big hits need to come from names like Malik Jefferson, Naashon Hughes and DeShon Elliott and not from Ehlinger lowering his shoulder. How he handles this situation will obviously play a large factor in the outcome, but the way Texas deals with Mayfield will determine the winner.
If Mayfield goes nuts and throws for 390 yards and three touchdowns like he did last year, the Horns will get run out of there.
But if Texas forces a couple of interceptions like it did last season and keeps Mayfield’s numbers in this stratosphere, things will become exponentially easier for the freshman.
It won’t be easy since Mayfield is a year older and playing with even more belief despite an inexperienced backfield and the memory of that huge hiccup last week still fresh in the minds of Sooner Nation.
“He’s a playmaker,” Elliott said. “He can make any throw. He can get out of the pocket. I know why he’s a top Heisman candidate — because he can really play.”
Ehlinger has the potential to be a star some day, but the defense should take on the leading role in his first Texas-OU game.