HUGE BLOW: Texas Longhorns’ star player suffers a career-ending injury
The University of Texas simply cannot afford to lose another running back.
The Longhorns have already lost their projected No. 1 running back, CJ Baxter, for the season due to a torn PCL and LCL. The following week, Christian Clark, a true freshman competing for RB3 duties, ruptured his Achilles tendon.
With the margins extremely thin inside that position room as the August 31 season opening against Colorado State approaches, now is not the time to take chances.
“They’re not no-contact; they’re definitely ‘thud,'” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday morning following practice. “We need them to thump, but we want to keep them from hitting the ground.
“That would not be a whole lot different than we normally would be.”
Sarkisian’s suggestion that physicality may be reduced at this point in the calendar is worth stressing, but the point remains the same. Having an already small running back corps go live is unnecessary. However, there must be some striking, which is where the “thud” tempo comes in.
“Thud” refers to full-contact hitting and defenders wrapping up an offensive player without tackling him to the ground. This allows for a certain degree of physicality while, in theory, reducing the risk of injury.
“Somebody reminded me of a couple of backs I’ve had in the past, and they were truly no-contact all season long when you have one guy,” Sarkisian told ESPN. “We are fortunate. We have three really good players back there right now. They are clearly still ‘thud.’ They need to get hit, they need strip attempts, and punch-out opportunities from the defense as they learn to handle the ball, but we don’t want them to go to the ground.
“Those are unnecessary hits and falls they have to take, but, again, our practices are still very physical in that way.”
After two live scrimmages this month, Texas will play a simulated game on Saturday at DKR-Memorial Stadium. This will feature game-like settings such as substitutions and situational practice, but it is uncertain whether it will be completely operational for running backs, let alone everyone else.
