Skip to content
TrackPodcasts
sportsOct 1, 202628:10

URGENCY: Former Texas OL DISHES on Longhorns Offensive Line - Are Changes Needed? | Texas Football

Get every episode summarized

Each time Locked On Longhorns - Daily Podcast On Texas Longhorns Football & Basketball publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.

Email me new episodes

Free for 3 shows. No card needed.

About this episode

“Your SoCal Honda dealers are honored to help the community. Our program started the first deaf and hard of hearing football team of its kind in our league.”From the transcript

Texas Longhorns' offensive line faces new challenges as chemistry battles rapid roster turnover. Can this talented unit find the cohesion needed for a championship run in the SEC?

Brad Kellner sits down with former Texas lineman Tristan Nickelson to dissect the Longhorns’ O-line performance, highlighting how NIL-driven transfers have reshaped the trenches and impacted on-field communication. Discussion spotlights Arch Manning’s evolving leadership, the need for more explosive plays from Cam Coleman, and strategic adjustments to boost both pass protection and the run game. On defense, Colin Simmons and the Longhorns’ dominant front are lauded as difference-makers, with insights on how iron-sharpens-iron practices could give Texas an edge against elite competition. Will Steve Sarkisian’s squad tighten up in time for rivalry week and deliver on lofty playoff hopes?

Thanks for tuning in! Please like, share, subscribe, and leave a comment. Hook 'Em!

If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans.  Click here to learn more and join our Longhorns' community: https://lockedonlonghorns.supercast.com/

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms… 
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOLonghorns?sid=YouTube

Locked On College Conferences, HBCU, Basketball & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnCollege

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

5-Hour ENERGY
Have your cake & drink it too. Birthday cake-flavor is back, no fork needed. Vanilla-y cakey flavor, caffeinated kick, and no sugar. It's party time. Order Now at https://5-hourENERGY.com or Amazon.

Mazda
Like our players, we’re driven by the details. Because highlights make the reel. What it takes to get there makes it count.
There’s more to a Mazda. Because there’s more to you.

Turbo Tax
For a limited time, you can have your taxes done by a local TurboTax expert for just $150 — all in, if a TurboTax expert didn’t file for you last year. Just file by February 28. Take taxes off your plate and get back to your life. 
Visit https://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today.

Indeed
Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast

FanDuel
Use your Profit Boost on an NBA future and get entered for your chance to win a trip to the NBA Finals. 
Play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

#TexasLonghorns #TexasFootball #CollegeFootball


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosts & guests

Transcript ready

331 searchable segments. Every word is indexed and playable.

URGENCY: Former Texas OL DISHES on Longhorns Offensive Line - Are Changes Needed? | Texas Football

Locked On Longhorns - Daily Podcast On Texas Longhorns Football & Basketball

0:00
28:10

Full transcript

Locked On Longhorns - Daily Podcast On Texas Longhorns Football & Basketball — URGENCY: Former Texas OL DISHES on Longhorns Offensive Line - Are Changes Needed? | Texas Football. Machine-transcribed; use the interactive transcript above to jump the player to any line.

This is the Lockdown Podcast Network celebrating 10 years of your team every day. Your SoCal Honda dealers are honored to help the community. Our program started the first deaf and hard of hearing football team of its kind in our league. The helpful SoCal Honda dealers surprised us with brand new uniforms giving our athletes more than just jerseys, a community investing in their program. And we want to help you too with 1.99% APR on a 2026 Ridge line for well-qualified buyers at your SoCal Honda dealers. The contract limited must finance through Honda Financial Services. Not all buyers will qualify to take delivery by 11-226. You need something from Loves, but your day is already jam-packed. Since my Loves rewards and my Loves Pro Rewards members get free same-day delivery, we'll make the run for you. Seriously, just lock in your order and we'll do the rest. See you soon. Members get more at Loves.

25-dollar minimum and loyalty membership required. Order eligible items by 2PN. Subject to weight and size restrictions and availability of terms at Loves.com slash shipping terms. Let's talk about the Texas All-Fensive Line with the guy who played all-fence of line. At Texas, coming up, unlocked on Long Horns. Intro. You are locked on Long Horns. You're daily podcasts on the Texas Long Horns. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your team, every day. Welcome in. You were locked on at the Texas Long Horns. I'm your host B.K. Brad Kellner. Today's episode is brought to you by Fandool. It's time to put your knowledge to the test with College Football Pickham from Fandool. Download the Fandool app and play College Football Pickham for free only on the channel. Pick them for free only on Fandool. Very special guest joining us today here on Locked On Long Horns. He is a lifetime longhorn and offensive lineman for the Texas football program from 2015 to 2017.

A great guy. I do that. I've had the chance to talk to a number of times over the course of my media career. He's kind enough to join us to talk some Texas football. The great Tristan Nicholson joining us today. Tristan, good to see you, man. Thanks so much for the time. How are we doing? I appreciate it, man. Thanks for having me. I'm good, dude. Just living life and happy to be on the show. Talk a little to the Texas offensive line and where the Long Horns stack up. 100%. Well, I know you still keep up with the team. You're rocking the Longhorn Polo today. So I know what you're locked in every single Saturday. But yeah, I want to start with the offensive line and then get your thoughts the good and the bad from what you've seen from Texas through these first four weeks. But you know, you was an offensive lineman. And you played four of the five different positions when you were at Texas just overarching thoughts through the first month of the season. What you like, maybe what you think needs to get cleaned up from the Longhorn J offensive line so far. Yeah. So what I like from going back from last year, you know, they obviously picked up some pieces in the last season in the NIL and all that has made that easier than it was in my area.

Right. I've filled some leaks, filled some holes. So I think overall it's a better unit with that. I think come comes a bit of a caveat that, you know, again, when I played a lot of the times by the time you're a senior, you've played, you know, years with guys, right? You've built rapport. You've been able to build the rapport with those guys and understand the ins and outs of the people you're next to. And in the case, you might only have one or two years with a guy if that, right? And so a lot of times you may have on paper a better team, a better group of players, but just that group melt, right? I think especially at offensive line and some other positions, but obviously I know offensive line the best. You know, you're in the trenches with those guys, right? And so you really start to build a bond. And if you've only got, call it six to eighth months to do that, like it really becomes more of a transactional business sense opportunity rather than, hey, we're in this group, we're, we're tightening it.

You know, I, by the time I was a senior, we had, I think, six of the seven offensive linemen that were in my class were still a part of the team, right? And that's probably done with in this world of much football. And so I think you lose a little bit of that camaraderie, but you also get that benefit of like, oh, hey, you know, maybe at left guard or left tackle, we're looking light. So like, let's go and find the best one. And then Texas has obviously got a pretty good bank role from that perspective and can go and get any position that they feel they're lacking on. And so it's a really great thing, but again, you do lose some of that camaraderie. So going back to last year, I think that they filled a couple spots and they filled a couple of roles. They really beast up that line and put in some really solid players. But obviously through the first call it four games now, you've seen some of those cracks start to form. You know, the team looks solid against Tennessee, I think, for the most part. Gave up some big plays and some spots where you really don't want to see that, right?

Some tackles for losses in situations where you can't necessarily have that going back to the Ohio State game. A couple fourth and one's couple fourth and two's where you're like, man, you can't really have penetration where those guys allowed that. Clean that up for the most part against Texas State and UTSA. But we kind of talked about that a little bit earlier, like those games are, you know, for the most part, you can kind of wash over those, right? Now that we're getting an SEC play, there's a lot of great defenses that they're going to go up against. Florida Stoutman, obviously, Ole Miss is the the air parent, or Mississippi State, rather, is the air parent to be the shocker of the SEC this year. And they've got a solid defense. So I think they're going to be tested this season. We'll see how it shapes out. But for the most part, I feel pretty good. I don't think that there's any major weak links in this offensive line. It's just about communication and understanding in those certain situations in those tight spots, four of them ones, got to have in moments, right?

You can't give up pressure. You can't give up tackles for loss. I mean, that's obviously obvious stuff to state, right? Can't give up tackles for loss. But, you know, it's something that needs to be said that it seems like in big moments or in big situations, this line this year has given up more of those big plays to defensive linemen that you would have liked. I want to ask this, Tristan, because obviously Texas in a bi-week right now, it's the only one that they have this season. So a lot that needs to get cleaned up, but really the only time you have to clean it up, how much can that improve? Cause you're right. I mean, chemistry, communication, very important for the five guys up front. And I think Texas fans is easy to forget. Trevor Goosebees, the only like full time starter back from last year. Now, Brandon Baker started last year, but he was a right tackle. Now he's at Gord, kind of Robertson started a few games last year, but he didn't start every game. And obviously the true trans, two transfers with the course key in Ciani. So like how much of that can get improved over one bi-week or you think that's something that could be an issue for this team all season long.

You know, and we can get into this a little bit later. You know, it's got to do with scheme and it's got to do with what the coaching staff is seeing at this point. Like you're not going to reinvent the world. You're not going to look at the players you've got and say, hey, we're going to try something completely different, right? You're kind of locked in at this point with who you've got and what their skill sets are, right? You're not going to change the makeup of your offensive line at this point or any position at this point. You're really just going to have to roll with what you got. Now what you can do is adjust certain schemes, adjust certain play calls, how you block certain past protections or run blocking to fill up some of those gaps, right? Looking at watching some of the highlights and some going back and watching some of the games, like you have certain past protections where it's like every time they run this past protection, whether it be, you know, the slide to the right, you know, leaving the back end open, like those are leaving the pressures every time. You probably that play out of the playbook, right? Like like adjust that with something else. There's no reason to keep running that right like definition of insanity.

You know, the other thing that a buy-week does allows you to rest, right? You know, in a lot of cases, especially at the offensive line, these guys have been going at it pounding on each other for, call it, you know, four or five months now without much respite. So I think having the buy-week, having the ability to rest or through break, get your legs back from under them. I'm sure these guys are banged up quite a bit, a couple big games and obviously going into to the rivalry week, you know, that's a big game too. So you got to, you got to not be looking at what Oklahoma's done up to this point and think that you're just going to roll over them. Like that's going to be a tough game. They've got a lot of great players and obviously the rest of the SEC schedule is coming. So, you know, it's a question like, I don't know if there's much you can do to call it fixed that, right? Fixed the issues, but I guess, you know, change the issues, but you can definitely gloss over them. You can change their protections. You can figure out what's working, what's not and lean into that and lean away from the other.

Yeah, 100%. Tristan Nicholson joining us here unlocked on Longhorn. So, you know, to me in the grades, but I trust your opinion way more than mine. I think this team's done a better job in pass pro now. How they've been perfect. No, I feel like some delay blitzes, some double a gap pressure kind of hurt them against Tennessee and even a little bit against UTSA. But I feel like the pass pro has been a little better than the run blocking. Do you agree? And what maybe from the run blocking standpoint, like what, what do you think needs to change? Is it a mindset thing and attitude thing or is it more schematic stuff? You know, again, kind of going back to my point. I don't know if you change much of the mindset of the attitude at this point, right? Like you've got what you've got. So I think it really falls on the schematics. It comes down to the play calling. I think starts a fantastic offensive mind and can throw in a lot of wrinkles. Haven't seen as much of that this year or when you do see it, it doesn't really work out all that well. Right? Like, you know, I think going back two years ago, we were the best screen team in the country. It haven't seen that as much this year. And so throwing in a couple wrinkles like that, maybe even once and twice a game really opens it up from a run blocking perspective.

You know, anytime you're doing well on one thing, it's easier to do the other right when it comes to run blocking and pass pro, right? So like, I, you know, I'm right down some some notes going back to the Ohio State game, random all 14 times on the final two drives, right? When you look at that, you only gain, I think it was something like 50 yards. So it wasn't overly efficient, but then it opens up the passing game, right? Because those defensive linemen automatically, when they're firing off the ball, if they know the, if they know it's a passman, those dudes got their ears pinned back, they're going, they're not looking, they're not worrying about a running back. They're not worried about ship block. They're just trying to get to the guy with the ball, right? Now, when you pop them a couple of times for some 5, 10 plus yard runs, all of a sudden those guys come off the ball, you know, like they do, and they're looking for the running back. And even if it's not the run, right? Like that's a split second of time that that offensive linemen, whoever it is, has to readjust, move their hands, get their feet set, like it matters, right? And I'm sure a lot of your audience understands this, but maybe they don't. Like run to set up the pass is such a real thing.

Even if you're not gashing, call it 11 yards here, 10 yards there, whatever, on the run game, even if you're just getting to second and manageable every single time, man, that really does affect how a defensive linemen and linemen actors see the play, especially from the linemen perspective, right? Like if the goal is to get some intermediate to call it mid-range passing game going, which I think this team is fantastic at, call it, you know, anything sub 20 yards, I think Arch has got a laser cannon, a farm that he can get it out there. The defaults one thing, when you talk about that, yeah, yeah. But, you know, from that intermediate range, I think this, he's got a cannon man and he can get it there. When you're, from an offensive linemen perspective, when you're able to get those five to six yard runs every here and there, man, it really opens up that field. And when you start hitting those intermediate range throws, then those linebackers have to back off of it, right?

And then it opens up the run game again and it becomes almost just like a reciprocating cycle where you're just, you know, bouncing from run to pass and you can really have a balanced attack. And so I think getting to that is going to be important for this team because I think that they've got all the skill sets, they've got the players, they've got the talent, they've obviously got the coaching. It's just about putting it all together and bringing more balanced approach to kind of the offensive playcon. Well said Tristan Nicholson joining us here will talk more about the Texas offense and other things we'd like to see cleaned up between now and Oklahoma coming up next right here, unlike on long horse. But first to shout out to our friends at Fandall college football fans, it's time to put your knowledge to the test with college football pick them from Fandall every week. You can make 10 free against the spread picks and compete for a share of $500,000 in bonus bets. There's no entry fee and no wage required. Just make your picks before kick off and see how your college football knowledge stacks up.

And you can follow the live leaderboard throughout Saturdays to see exactly where you stand. And you can even see how your picks compare with things like Will Compton Taylor, LaWanna and Josh Payton picks every single week. If you're competitive, you're going to be checking this thing every single Saturday, the live leaderboard is so cool. You can follow your results throughout the day and you can come back every single week for another shot at bonus bets. This is a great offer exclusive to Fandall. So download the Fandall app and play college football pick them for free only on Fandall visit Fandall.com to get started. The crispy chicken crunch wrap slider that you love is back at Taco Bell and it's back with attitude because now you can enjoy the all white meat chicken nuggets inside a slider sized crunch wrap with Hidden Valley Diablo Ranch. What do you love most? The crispy chicken nuggets, the crunch wrap slider or maybe the Hidden Valley Diablo Ranch? But yes, the answer is yes. The crispy chicken crunch wrap slider, a brand new classic is back only at Taco Bell.

All right, welcome back locked on Longhorn's your team every day lifetime longhorn Tristan Nicholson joining us here. Was it 30 career games that you played in a Texas Trist? Do you even know that number? Something like that, man. It's 24 starts and played in a handful of others. So, you know, again, what we were talking about earlier after kids, man, I don't remember. We were talking before the show like you say you're hurting more with two kids under five than you were from workouts with Charles strangen Tom Herman. For sure, man. I'll take a I'll take a Charlie strong campus run any day now. I'm not going to be good. That is great. Well, Tristan, we talked a lot about the offensive line and this can kind of continue, but also want to get just some other thoughts on the offense. Maybe what you've seen from March Manning, some of the skill position guys look some good. The fourth quarter against Ohio State. You don't complete that. Come back unless the offense is playing really well. A couple of drives against Tennessee. That were great. I thought they scored 59 points against Texas State.

There's been enough good from the offense to where okay, there's reasons to believe that there's more there, but just kind of your thoughts on the whole operation for Steve. Yeah, look, I mean, I think it starts with arch, right? And I think I'm not I'm not reinventing the wheel by saying that at all. I think that's been the story line going back to last year, right? It starts with arch and I think this year he's definitely come come of his own and I think he's legit. I'm a believer for sure. The problem is like I don't know if you can win with just arch, right? I think what what he does well and you know what his uncles did well is they operate and they they orchestrated a really good offense. They're not going to be the guy that'll throw for 500 yards, which hey, man, show me that. I'll be a believer too, right? But if you're able to spread the field, you're able to do it with your legs when you need to and you're able to see the holes and the defense, like that's all you need to be right. You don't need to be the hyzenotrophy winner to win an national championship, right? And I think that should be the goal of this team and I think it can be the goal of this team to do that.

Now, you go into some of the issues the offense has had. It hurts when you don't have your star running back in the game, right? It was very evident in the Tennessee game that every yard that they got running the ball was a hard earned one, right? Versus going back to, you know, I think maybe it was the Texas State game and then even the second half of the Ohio State game, like it seemed like some of those those ten yard plus runs that we were talking about, like those were popping, right? Those were those were coming available more often than not. And I think when you lose that ability with Hollywood being out, it's evident, right? And I think we saw that last year when everything was on Archer's shoulders to to make and to facilitate everything, like not that he fell apart, but I don't think he's that player. And I think you can be you can be successful at doing both, right? But he's not a you know, he's not a whatever player you want to use like a Cam Newton type, right?

Like he's not going to be everything in that offense and he doesn't need to be like frankly, if Texas had built their roster and their offense around that, I'd be a little bit disappointed just given the fact that they spent so much money on it, right? Like you can spread the wealth and you can do all of that. Now I think the deep ball like we were talking about earlier is lacking from this often so far this season. I think in big games, right? And I'm really calling big games that Ohio State intensity game at this point and not to not to not those other two have a lot of respect for you TSA, Antics State. But you know, I think getting Cam Coleman involved more like you obviously brought that guy into make a difference and he has in some big moments this year, you know, the two call it two passes down deep where you felt like he should have gotten the ball and they both end up being interceptions like that's unfortunate. I think in the Ohio State game like nobody saw that coming and I think you can almost chop that one up as to a, you know, call it a free play. But I think those two situations where in one case he's wide open in the Ohio State game, in another case, other keys in double coverage and still had a chance at it.

I think that shows me if I'm, if I'm sorry if I'm calling these plays like get that guy the ball more, right? Like give him those opportunities, even if we're not coming up with it like, you know, 40 yard bomb down field, changes again and any game, right? So even if you're not getting but one or two of those game out of that guy like that, that can make the game. So I think from an offensive perspective, like getting the ball in the hands of the playmakers and more it's going to be a lot more important stop relying so much on arch to to do that, right? I think he's still like he's a senior, right? But he's still I think a young enough player that he's he's coachable enough to be told, hey, this is where we need to go with the ball. I think he also needs to be empowered to run a little bit more, right? You and I were talking about that earlier, they're both both, I think both plays in the Tennessee game where he ends up getting called for four pass infraction, whatever they call it. I think he could take it off and run and maybe at least gotten half the yards that he needed to. Now again, like I said earlier, both of the situations, I think the guy ends up throwing it to or were open before he crossed the line.

Yeah, make it and I think it comes out of that make a decision, right? And I don't know if that's some leftover hesitancy from last year, right? Where I think he's maybe a little bit less reluctant, I guess, to run with the ball. Yeah. I think maybe he's got a little bit of that wound kind of sitting in the back of his head, but I think he needs to make decisions quicker than he is. There's a lot of throws looking at some of the highlights that he ends up making, but could have been make quicker, right? Could have gotten it to more yards, could have been a less tight throw, even though he's making them. I think the decision making needs to speed up a little bit from his perspective, but I like what I see as often so far. More than I have in years past, I mean, we can get into the defense too, but like, because those guys are with JTM, like this. This is probably the best defense I've seen from the Long Horns and the Long Comet. But just empowering him to make those decisions good, bad, and different.

I'm okay with a couple of turnovers of game if we're making decisions fast, right? And because that leads to more offensive production than you lose by giving the ball away, maybe once you're twice a game, right? I think maybe trying to play too clean is biting these guys in the butt a little bit. I'm okay, like I said, I'm okay with a little bit of sloppiness. If it means we're getting the ball to some of the all-world athletes that we have. Yeah, two quick things on arch and then we'll get to the last segment because I do want to get your thoughts on the defense, especially the D line, like help tough it be to block those dudes in practice. But I think you've hit the nail on the head with a couple of things. Number one, it helps a quarterback when you can run the ball. Texas ran it for 1.7 yards of carry against Tennessee. And number two, I think it feels like he's thinking a little bit too much. I agree, a little slower on the draw, then we would like some people have used the term over coached. I don't know exactly what it is, but it doesn't quite feel like he's processing the game at the speed that you would like a fourth year quarterback to do.

So room for improvement for him for sure, but also room for improvement for the other parts of the offense, which will make life easier for him. All right, Tristan Nicholson joining us here. One segment to go. We'll get Tristan's thoughts on the Texas defensive line coming up. I'm knocked on long horse. This is the story of the one as a shipping manager. He's running the dock, stocking supplies and making sure every order goes out on time and Granger helps him stay prepared from shipping supplies to PPE to hand tools. He counts on Granger to keep products moving and trucks rolling. So his operation runs smoothly, no matter the shift. Call 1-800-GRAENGER. Click ranger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done. The crispy chicken crunch wrap slider that you love is back at Taco Bell. And it's back with attitude because now you can enjoy the all white meat chicken nuggets inside a slider sized crunch wrap with Hidden Valley Diablo Ranch.

What do you love most? The crispy chicken nuggets, the crunch wrap slider, or maybe the Hidden Valley Diablo Ranch? But yes, the answer is yes. The crispy chicken crunch wrap slider, a brand new classic is back, only at Taco Bell. All right, final segment locked on long horns your team every day. Lifetime long horn Tristan Nicholson joining us here. Man, this has been a lot of fun. Want to give you the chance to talk about the defense because you and I were talking before. I mean, what a special performance against Tennessee, but it wasn't the first one we've seen from Will Mushchans group this year. I guess we'll start with the defensive line. I look you went up against some good deal. I'm in practice when you were at Texas for sure, but some of these dudes that the long horns have now. I mean, the college Simmons, the hero, Connus, the Ingra, the list goes on and on. Just your thoughts on the way the defensive front has looked so far for Texas. Look, man, Will's put together a game plan not only to highlight the players that he's got.

Obviously, they brought in a lot in the offseason and really bolstered that group. But man, it's been impressive to watch. I mean, even in the Ohio State game, I didn't feel like we were outclassed at all. I didn't feel like we were ever out of that game, although, you know, ask me at a half time in the middle of the game. But, you know, that defense, obviously, it's very much in that game was a bend-on break. They made Ohio State earn everything they got into their credit. They did better than anybody else has done this season. But yeah, man, like Connus Simmons was 5-sacks, should have been 6. Silly penalties from that perspective obviously take away. What could have been a career or a historic night, if not already. But like any time you've got that level of firepower, especially on the edge, dude, it makes it tough. I mean, you know, in Tennessee's perspective, a freshman quarterback playing against guys like that. And you're looking over your shoulder at a certain point, right? I mean, 10-sacks, my god, hard to not to write.

I think I was over looking over my shoulder in my living room, right? BTS, do you kick it in from your playing game? I'm just waiting for the flag to come out for the hold, right? But no, man, I mean, like, it makes the whole game slow down, even from an offensive perspective, when you're able to go out there and affect change like that. I think in a lot of cases, you know, the charge to a defense is to obviously not shaking the world here, but I say, like, don't let him score, right? I think when you step up from that and have a defense at this level, it's like, go change the game, right? Go get a sack, go get a turnover, go put him behind the sticks, go knock him out of field goal range, right? Like, obviously in the Ohio State game, you, one missed field goal, makes the whole, the whole game, right? And I think the leading up to that, they had a couple tackles for loss, or, you know, held them to, to no yards on the runs, and like, that matters, right?

And I think, obviously, they've put together a fantastic game plan. I think that they've got one of, if not the best defense in the country, and, you know, they say, both much as I hate it, they say defense and win championships, right? And I think that it's true only from the perspective that it gives your offense so many more opportunities to go out and execute, right? When you're counting on almost a sack every drive in the Tennessee game, I mean, it makes it easy from an offensive perspective to say, like, how do we go out there and win this game? We're not trying to score 50 every night, right? Because I think, you know, this offense could be up to that challenge, but, you know, I don't want to see that where it has to be a total shootout in order to win a game, right? It's nice to be able to say, okay, hey, if we go out there and score 20, you know, we should, we should be fine, right? And I think that this defense is as capable as any in the country to really cap just any offense.

Yeah, it's been ridiculous. All right, last question for today, Tristan. Kind of an offensive defensive combo question here. I mean, this defense is loaded. They're playing out of championship level right now, and it's awesome. But, you know, for the offense, can that help the offensive practice going up against these guys? Every single day, like the iron sharpened iron thing, is that something that can help this Texas offense get better as we move forward? Yeah, absolutely. Man, it's real. I mean, you know, I think you get less and less of that as the season progresses, just because you're not going, like you're still doing your one-on-ones and you're still doing your good versus good, but like you might only have five ten minutes of practice where you're doing ones versus ones, right? And that's not, that's not to do anything, but make sure that you're not hurting each other, right? And to keep your legs fresh and to keep everybody fresh. But like, yeah, absolutely, man. I mean, when you're, you know, when I'm a goosebite, I'm looking at Colin Simmons, one versus one, like, I know I'm not facing any other defensive lineman in the country.

It's good to think about it right now, right? Like, I mean, and that's point blank, right? We didn't, you know, I'll go back to a little bit of anecdote from my time playing. And not that I had to block him a lot, but who and Ford was on our often, or our defensive lineman, I was playing. So anytime I moved into GAR, whether that needed to, you know, whatever, right? Like that dude is a monster to block. Like he was then, he obviously is now a shout out to you, Puna, but like, man, like, going against guys who, you know, are going to play on Sundays, it makes it, you know, not necessarily easier to play against the other guys on Saturdays. But like, you know, in the back of your mind, like, nobody's better than this guy, right? And so I think that does help a little bit. Yeah, absolutely. That's great. Yeah, I still can't believe Puna Ford went undrafted, like, ridiculous to me. Still getting it done with the Rams in the NFL every Sunday. But my story about Puna, man, he's got such long arms, like, he's standing up his arms reach past his kneecaps.

And so it's like, dude, when he's firing on, he's not a huge guy. I don't want to, I don't want to knock him by saying, I hate that's wrong, but like, I'm 69. So like, everybody's holding me. But like, when he's firing off on the ground so low in the first thing that's hitting your chest is his hands, like, dude, it's brutal. So yeah, whoever, whoever's got it, that missed one, but obviously he's doing well now. So yeah, that's a great point, though. None of these offensive linemen are going to see anything like Colin Simmons. And I don't think anything like this D line, the rest of the year, it's a pretty special group. Well, Tristan, this was a ton of fun. I mean, I could talk to you for hours. Hopefully we get the chance to do this again and keep checking in, but glad you're doing well. Glad the fans doing well. And thanks for joining us here for a few minutes unlocked on long ones. No problem, man. Appreciate you having me. All right. So we will talk to y'all again later. Don't forget like subscribe. All of those great things. Can't thank y'all enough for your continued support. Leave a comment as well. I think Tristan for his time, but we will talk to y'all soon. Until next time horns up, Mike's off.

We'll see y'all soon. This is locked on long horns. Hey sports fans, it's JD, the host of locked on Cardinals. And did you know with the Discover cashback card, it's payback time when you earn cashback on everyday purchases. Activate and earn 5% cashback in different categories each quarter on up to $1,500 in purchases. That's 5% cashback at different places each quarter like grocery stores on gas and at restaurants. It pays to discover terms apply. See discovered dot com slash five for details. The locked on podcast network is brought to you by Fandall baseball fans. If you think you know who's hitting a home or today, Fandall is giving you a free chance to call your shot with daily dingers. It's easy to play. Just make your free pick for who you think will hit a home run in their game. You're right, you'll receive a profit boost to use on your next bet for a chance at extra winnix. Best of all, you can make a free pick every day throughout the MLBC's. So are you ready to play your game today? Join all the action at fandall.com. That's fandall.com to play daily dingers and make your free pick on who's hitting a home.

Play ball and swing for the fences on Fandall, an official partner of the MLB. Honey, that flu keeping you up. Did you take Nikol incense flu? No, I got this. Okay, I don't got this. Yeah, you need Nikol incense flu. Undo your flu with Nikol incense flu. Nikol incense flu provides powerful relief of your flu symptoms so you can sleep. You do got this. Nikol incense flu. The nighttime sniffling aching aching fever, best sleep with a flu, medicine. Use this directed Keep Out of Reach of Children. Hey, it's Isaac Shade, your host of Amazon Fire TV's College Football Kickoff. Join Kenyan Barnard, Jesse Holly myself and the local host of the Locked On Podcast Network. Each week on Fire TV throughout the season to preview the biggest matchups across college football. Search College Football Kickoff on the Fire TV app.

More episodes

More from Locked On Longhorns - Daily Podcast On Texas Longhorns Football & Basketball

View all episodes →