Steve Sarkisian Not Concerned With Longhorns Special Teams Blunders

Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian knows his team must be better on special teams against the Kansas Jayhawks

AUSTIN - The Texas Longhorns looked like a championship-level team in their 38-6 blowout win over the Baylor Bears on Saturday. 

Well, except in one area which is usually one of the team's best  - special teams. 

"I think we can be much better on special teams," Sarkisian said. "I know it wasn't glaring outside of the two muffed punts, but there are other things beyond that. We've got a pretty high standard here on special teams so, that will be a point of emphasis of ours this week."

While special the teams gaffes are concerning for the Horns, however, Sarkisian knows his group can be better. 

We have seen as much time and time again since the arrival of Sark and special teams coach, Jeff Banks.

Xavier Worthy muffs a punt vs. Baylor / © Sara Diggins, Austin American-Statesman

And Sarkisian is confident that those issues are not something that is going to continue. 

“There was nothing that happened in that game that we weren’t prepared for, but for some reason when we got into the game, we had players not doing what we had exactly practiced Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for that matter," Sarkisian said. "We've just got to trust our training and then apply it on game day.”

One mistake that stood out in particular, however, was the muffed punt from Xavier Worthy, who has been the team's go-to guy on punt returns for some time now - due in large part to his sure hands in the return game.

But, when asked if there were any considerations of a change at the position, Sarkisian was very clear about where he stands in regards to Worthy.

"No," Sarkisian said without hesitation. "I think his confidence is extremely high right now as a return man. This has been back-to-back weeks where he’s a shoelace tackle away from taking it the distance. I think he’s really committed to understanding the schemes that we’re running and how to set up some of the blocks and what’s happened there.”

Worthy, who is averaging 16 yards per return, also knows he and the rest of the special teams unit can be better.

And they intend to iron out whatever issues there may be starting on Monday.

"It's gonna be crazy on Monday," Worthy said after the game. "(Coach Jeff Banks) is going to get on us for sure. I feel like we just need to get back in the lab and just work on the little things fundamentals."