Every running back who becomes a Texas Longhorn shares some similarities befitting a blue-blood football program that’s full of blue-chip recruits.
All have an extra gear in the open field, all have enough power to break through a flailing attempt at an arm tackle, and all have decent enough hands to haul in a swing pass out in the flat.
But can all of the running backs hold up when it comes to pass blocking? For a team that features a pro-style base offense designed by head coach Steve Sarkisian, that ability to recognize and fend off blitzes separates the former high school stars from the potential NFL players.
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“In order to get on the field, you’ve got to protect the quarterback,” said CJ Baxter, who’s expected to share the bulk of the carries in the backfield with Jaydon Blue this season.
Learning from a coach with experience
Fortunately for Baxter, Blue and the other running backs, Texas has a seasoned instructor in the art of pass protection. UT running backs coach Tashard Choice, a fourth-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2008, spent six seasons in the NFL. He only tallied 1,579 yards rushing in that span but forged a solid career by mastering the subtleties of the position — starting with holding his own against any blitzing linebacker or safety.
Choice expects the same from his players. The ability to hold up in pass protection will not only help keep starting quarterback Quinn Ewers upright, but it will also heighten the NFL hopes for the Longhorns’ stable of backs.
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“Working with a running back coach who played in the NFL is the best thing that happens to somebody who coaches the offensive line,” said offensive coordinator Kyle Flood, who also handles the Longhorns’ offensive linemen. “There’s such an emphasis in that league on pass protection and making sure that the quarterback stays clean that it becomes an emphasis in that room for coach Choice. And he does a phenomenal job.”
Placing an early focus on blocking
Pass protection is particularly emphasized in summer practices, when coaches can finally simulate some game-like conditions.
“There are certain times of the offseason where we can do walk-throughs and things like that (but) the way our practice schedule is laid out by Sark, we get a lot of opportunities to block blitzes in practice,” Flood said. “I think the experience of those backs of going through it every day is going to be the best teacher they can have. They’ve done a good job digging in on what you can in the offseason. But it’s much different when it’s full speed with a real defense. And you can only get that in training camp.”
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Baxter said having Choice teach pass protection is particularly helpful, especially since the 39-year-old Choice — who still looks like he could handle a few NFL reps — can jump into any drill.
“He (Choice) does a great job of not only coaching it, but showing it once we get out there on the field,” Baxter said. “So, he emphasizes it a lot. I feel like ever since I’ve been here up until now, I’ve only gotten better at it.”
Linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. says both the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Baxter and the 6-foot, 200-pound Blue more than hold their own in pass protection, even against his own 6-3, 235-pound frame.
“I feel like they both do a good job,” Hill said. “Ced (Baxter), he’s kind of a bigger back and he knows how to just get firm up with you. Blue, he’s strong but he’s (smaller) and knows how to get under your pads.”
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas football RBs CJ Baxter, Jaydon Blue emphasizing pass protection
Austin American-Statesman
