Texas got a first look at its revamped offensive line in the season opener against Texas State, and the early return was encouraging enough to at least quiet one of the biggest questions hanging over the Longhorns.
Arch Manning was sacked once, and Texas didn’t allow a quarterback hurry all game. That came against a Texas State front that wasn’t nearly as threatening as what’s coming next, but it still gave the Longhorns a chance to see how the new group functions when the pressure is live.
That matters now more than ever with No. 1 Ohio State coming to Austin on Saturday, and the Buckeyes’ defensive front under coordinator Matt Patricia is a far stiffer test. Texas is trying to make sure the communication and chemistry are in place before that challenge hits.
Left tackle Trevor Goosby said Monday that getting a game under their belts was important for the offensive line, especially with everything happening at full speed.
"I think it's huge for us to be able to play when the bullets are really firing," Goosby said. "I think it's good to be able to work on that communication with one another and understanding what each other is going to do. Because four guys can get their block and one guy can miss, and it's a sack or a TFL, so it was great to have that game; now we just lean in on Ohio State and get ready for them."
Texas has settled most of the line already. Goosby is at left tackle, Connor Robertson is at center, Brandon Baker is at right guard, and Melvin Siani is at right tackle. The one spot still unsettled is left guard, where Laurence Seymore and Dylan Sikorski are still battling for the job.
Both players saw action there against Texas State, part of a rotation Robertson said he was comfortable with.
"I think both those guys had good games," Robertson said. "It's some moving pieces when you've got two different guys going in, but the good thing is both of them... have gotten reps there. I don't see much of an issue with it."
Steve Sarkisian still has to decide whether that rotation continues against Ohio State. Either way, Texas will need the whole front working as one if the offense is going to look the way it wants to look against a much tougher defensive line.
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