Orlando lost both of his starting inside linebackers after the 2018 season and both were productive in his scheme. Orlando has proven in previous stops that hes capable of a quick reboot; though, never quite under the current circumstances he now faces. A good run defense has been a calling card of. In that game, the Longhorns consistently confused a seasoned and well-coached offensive line, garnering two sacks and seven tackles for loss (TFLs). The Longhorns created four total sacks (averaged 2.33 a game). Defensive coach Todd Orlando of the Texas Longhorns reacts during play against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second . You know, he was a linebacker previously, and hes really strong, so being able to move in this system is really a high priority, defensive line coach Vic Sooto said. Are they going to be too complicated in the first game and have to scale things back, or are they going to keep it simple and then gradually add layers of intricacy? The main difference here is Jackson is playing as a standup linebacker instead of lining up with his hand down like he did most of the time in 2019. Herman calls Orlando the best defensive coordinator in the country. I think its a smart move. Though Jackson is officially an outside linebacker now and is listed at 20 pounds lighter than he weighed a year ago (from 275 to 255), it doesnt seem like his role has changed a ton, at least from what he showed Saturday. He finished with three tackles and one tackle for loss, which counts as a quiet night for the sophomore linebacker. The Horns look to close out the inaugural season at the Moody Center with a 17-1 record. There has been a critical error on this website. One was down and distance. That was the biggest thing that we got caught up in, not using our weapons to our full advantage. One of the key subplots to USCs season opener against Arizona State is the performance of the Trojans defense, more specifically the secondary. One question I am asking to college football experts is this: Should Todd Orlando emphasize complexity of scheme or simplicity of scheme against Jayden Daniels and the Sun Devils on Saturday? It made it a lot easier for me to make that decision (to stay).. 3 Kansas in 75-59 win. No. A Michigan native and University of Michigan graduate, Kartje previously wrote for Fox Sports Wisconsin and the Bloomington (Ind.) It's a testament to what a normal offseason has done for second-year coordinator Todd Orlando and his ability to install the defense and instill the mentality he wants from his players.. Thats where our emphasis is going to be this week.. I love TO hes one of the smartest defensive minds I ever played for.. Clancy Pendergast there wasnt a lot of mystery to his defense. When interim defensive coordinator Craig Naivar finally allowed Ossai to play that role, Ossai produced three of his five sacks in the Alamo Bowl. 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Figueroa served as the single down lineman and was joined on the line of scrimmage by Jackson, Echols and one USCs more traditional linebackers, either Ralen Goforth or Palaie Gaoteote. He beats the tackle clean, forces the throw fast and its an incomplete. He wants to stop the run and make a defense one-dimensional. Texas would not allow more than 29 points the rest of the season in regulation. 20 Southern California, however, has been different because of the coronavirus pandemic. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Simulated Pressures From a Positionless Defense (2019 Sugar Bowl), on Simulated Pressures From a Positionless Defense (2019 Sugar Bowl), View @matchquarterss profile on Instagram, Simulated Pressures From a Positionless Defense (2019 Sugar Bowl), article discussing how teams attack the Tite Front, Georgia and Texas used the front and similar coverage schemes as a base, BCfToys.coms top 10 in Defensive Efficiency, Using an EXIT stunt to combat a zone heavy offense. The initial conversations went well. The timing between Daniels and his receivers was off all game. The pairing, if things break right, could bring Texas back to where it expects to be annually. Nearly every defensive coordinator will say theyre multiple in the various looks theyll give an offense. The Aggies also ranked fourth in the country in sacks in 2014 with 50. Chase Williams has turned into a leader at the position while delivering physical blows when he attacks the ball. - Darnold completed 57.1 percent of his passes against Texas (third worst of the year) and threw a season-high two picks. But instead of sending four rushers, USC sent six (Figueroa, the four linebackers and Hufanga) on the final three plays, which forced Daniels, who rushed for 111 yards, to beat the Trojans with his arm. Of course, the weight loss and new position might cause some in the fan base to wonder if Jackson is being utilized incorrectly if his production dips, but for now, his responsibilities dont seem much different than last year. While the scheme is expected to adjust, the possibility of changes to USCs defensive staff is still up in the air. His defensive system poses an extreme challenge to offenses., You cant practice soft and play hard.New DC Todd Orlando is looking to up the physicality on the USC practice field. Were starting to try and create things like that defensively, so at least when theyre coming in there and theyre game planning us, you know, maybe it eliminates some plays youd normally see if youre vanilla. But Barry and USC opted not to continue their discussions, and Orlando became the leading candidate. 3. But mostly, Halls role was to stay in the middle of the field to aggressively close on the many quick-hitting passes the Cowboys employed and discourage the posts that defined the offense. This season has not gone according to plan for anybody, especially the defense, and major changes will be headed USCs way. If you dont, its going to be limited. Up front, the Longhorns moved third-down specialist Breckyn Hager into one of the 4i-technique DE positions, where his scrappy playing style allowed him to battle bigger offensive linemen despite his smaller stature (6'2" 240). Orlandos defensive turnaround in Austin stems back to that interview in Columbus. The familiarity with the opponent will be gone. Los Angeles. It also means Orlandos weekly priority of taking away what he calls "game wreckers" is even more imperative. Yet, because of the way the Longhorns fly to the ball, it doesnt much matter that the numbers are pushed back. Over the course of 2017, Orlando gained a full mastery of his own roster and unleashed it in a variety of fashions against a loaded slate of Big 12 opponents. As the season progresses, look for true freshman Raesjon Davis to sneak his way into the starting lineup. Coach Todd Orlando of the USC Trojans during USC football practice at the University of Southern California on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. Tackling has been an issue, (as has) lots of defensive miscommunication. Email. For most of training camp, Jackson was limited by a hamstring issue, which caused some worry for Orlando, who thought the lack of reps might impact the edge rushers tackling. The Cowboys averaged more yards passing than any team in the country. The rotation should expand when Pili returns, but at the moment USCs defensive personnel is what it is. His defense consequently has two main types of base pass rush, one in which the B-backer works off the edge like in a normal 3-4 defense and another in which the B-backer drops into coverage while the rover blitzes suddenly through the interior. Orlando's favorite scheme against the run in his multiple 3-4. In fact, Todd Orlandos defense is towards the bottom of the conference in points allowed per game, per SportsPac12s latest. A fourth linebacker released off the line can more easily pursue the football on outside runs and defend quick passes on the edge. Herman brought Orlando along with him to Texas, where a brilliant Year 1 netted the Longhorns defensive coordinator a raise to $1.7 million per year through the 2021 season. Imagine if this actually happens. Mason Rudolph, a third-round pick of the Steelers, failed to clear the 300-yard mark only twice in 2017. Were going to have to work the heck out of this. At the three traditional LB spots, converted safety Raymond Scott has grabbed control of the outside backer spot while Kanai and Ralen Goforth return inside. But Orlando paid Herman, a former QB coach, an even higher compliment than that. In the illustration above, the play side offensive tackle will either have to handle the 4i by himself or rely on the guard for a double team. Orlando, 48, spent the last three seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Texas, where he was one of the highest paid assistants in college football. Against the more run-heavy approaches from USC, Oklahoma and Kansas State, Orlando utilized his traditional blend of nickel defense, moving quarters coverages and zone blitzes. That's what Orlando labels coachings million dollar question. Texas junior defensive endMalcolm Roachsaid an Orlando film session is everything youd want it to be. That means a detail-oriented outlook focused to the point where Orlando will call out a player for a 12-inch step instead of a 6-inch one. 20 Southern California, however, has been different because of the coronavirus pandemic. Innovation comes from desperation, and in the offensive gauntlet that is the Big 12, it has created an evolutionary playground for defensive (and offensive) football. Johnson and Wheeler added another 17 run stuffs combined as the linebacker position went from being a major deficit to a team strength. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. You hear about soggy eggs and burnt toast. Theyre not only making plays, but theyre trying to help other guys. And with depth limited at linebacker, Ralen Goforth and Kanai Mauga have emerged as top candidates to start alongside Palaie Gaoteote in roles theyve had to learn on the fly. Orlando said he's already adjusted his scheme, which relies on mixed fronts and aggressive blitzing, to fit USC's personnel. I wrote about Orlandos prowess as a DC in my article discussing how teams attack the Tite Front, the Longhorns base defense, but it is his use of multiple personnel packages within a game that truly shows his knack as a DC. Texas run defense didnt suffer in that time either. Safeties Talanoa Hufanga and Isaiah Pola-Mao are expected to take on more active roles in directing the defense. It's a blitz defense that uses eight defensive backs, two. Orlando has 15 years of experience as a collegiate defensive coordinator in total, with previous stops at Florida International and Connecticut. Just the traditional tailback running game, if youre not doing good you have no chance of playing elite defense. It rotated just one inside linebacker (Kanai Mauga) in, and that was only for a handful of plays. Lack of preparation, scheme and just overall performance is all tied in, but it hasnt been a good effort whatsoever. Defenses that base out of the Tite Front dont mind the bounce because their speedy (and usually free)LBs can now chase down the RB while its overhangs box everything back inside (think of them like the Double Eagles wide-9s). Those disguised blitzes are a favorite ploy. Todd Orlando remembers feeling bad for Tom Herman. Even the NFL saw many of its teams embrace a more open style of play. From a core principle perspective thats not too far off. It's pretty common for coordinators to double up as position coaches for the most important position on their unit. Before that, his inaugural Utah State defense ranked seventh in points allowed. Thats where adaptability comes into play. Youre in this area and theres some really good high school players in this area, the top guys. Herman brought Orlando along with him to Texas, where a brilliant Year 1 netted the Longhorns defensive coordinator a raise to $1.7 million per year through the 2021 season. 3 Kansas on Saturday to close the regular season. The Trojans results against Arizona State were mixed. Most defensive coaches can recognize the usefulness of the front, but one thing is clear, Spread offenses will try and figure it out. But so far, its all been against an offense the USC defense knows very, very well. Texas removed what would often be a disadvantaged linebacker in pass coverage and added a dime safety as a robber in the middle of the defense. Rigid positional structures are giving way to a more fluid style of play. Those four-man fronts are great at plugging gaps and helping a team defend the run, but they also mean one less defender on the second level to stop the pass and run to the football. This offseason, there were more than a few reports potentially linking Orlando to head coach jobs. Antonio Morales covers USC football for The Athletic. Texas didnt do much to stop the onslaught late in the game (no one did), but there are some definite takeaways. Visit our online store to order your copy. The way you practice is the amount of plays youre going to get. Herald-Times. This is something, until this year, fathomable only on a 3rd and Long or an end of a half situation in the NFL. Figueroa had a breakout 2020 season and since then has added 15 pounds of muscle to give himself the flexibility to line up at his natural defensive end position or slide inside to play tackle. Orlando said the Big 12 is unparalleled nationally when it comes to offensive playcalling. Weve changed that.. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Jackson played with his hand in the ground a bit, just not as frequently as he did last season. If the Trojans are going to take a step forward as a program this season, its going to need its defense to make some serious progress. A little has to do with the pace of the game too. That pair figures to start at the two end positions, with either Jamar Sekona or Stanley Taufoou at tackle. Tuli Tuipulotu, one of the stars of spring football, brings similar flexibility to the position. Texas OL spring preview: Here are your big humans, Despite recent struggles, bracketology projections still like the Longhorns, Longhorns Daily News: Former Texas HC Charlie Strong joins Alabama, Nick Saban as defensive analyst, Longhorns Daily News: Texas alum Bijan Robinson is toughest player Alabamas Will Andersons played against in college career. Find out which 3 #USC players go to the Bears in an NBC Sports Chicago mock draft. Visit our online store to order your copyto get more in-depth analysis on the 2018 season. USC coach Clay Helton says hes noticed benefits from the Trojans unprecedented start to an unusual, pandemic-shortened season. Since Texas Longhorns head coach Tom Herman dismissed defensive coordinator Todd Orlando two and a half months ago and even before, to some extent its become clear just how much defensive line recruits and players disliked the front used by Orlando in his 3-3-5 defense. Are Dejon Benton and Kobe Pepe ready to play? He would have. Is USC defense ready to take a leap in Year 2 under Todd Orlando? Since L.T. Orlando needs opposing offenses to be one-dimensional, and against great quarterbacks that means sacrificing numbers in the box. Feb 18, 2023 . When you get players who can make throws and can run, you have to be mindful, Orlando told reporters on Wednesday morning. Coach Orlando is a real guy, Johnson said. That much was clear on Saturday, and its why losing a player like Tufele, who possesses all three traits, hurt so much. 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Orlando is known run the 3-3-5 defense, which has grown in popularity in college football with the evolution of the spread offense. Its OKto fail, man. They handled the defending Mountain West champion San Jose State Spartans with ease. Thats important to me. Though Iowa State and their base Broken Stack that features a three-safety Dime Robber scheme has become the most popular scheme within the league, in truth, it is Todd Orlando at Texas that has made his mark around the country behind his use of a positionless defense and defending the wide-open schemes found in the league. I would have loved to be in a 4-3, Roach told Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth-Star Telegram. USC defense has different feel in camp after full offseason Due to the pandemic, USC was unable to implement new defensive coordinator Todd Orlando's scheme in person before the 2020 season, so players were learning on the fly as they prepared for the delayed season. The play is ultimately killed. USC had problems getting aligned on Saturday, and one of its alignment busts led to an Arizona State touchdown in the second quarter. The rover is the tip of the spear for the Orlando defensive scheme, and he uses that position as a solution to the main problem for the 3-4 defense in the modern era: How to create a multi-pronged pass rush from a nickel package. Its not likely to last forever. Orlando believes the only way a team will play fast and hard is if they do so in practice. LOS ANGELES (AP) Todd Orlando has plenty of experience arriving at a new school and installing his defensive scheme for the first time. Redshirt freshman Max Williams was the extra defensive back on the field in these packages. Todd Orlando's defense has been getting exposed all year long Share this article 31 shares Matt Wadleigh October 13, 2021 4:15 am PT After the opening weekend for USC, things looked good for. The defense made the final stand to seal the victory, but it also gave up some big plays and surrendered 258 rushing yards to the Sun Devils. What is the current state of play for one of the elite QB prospects on the board? It comes as no surprise that in a league that is at the forefront of the evolution of the Spread would feature unique defenses within the league to counter the offensive onslaught. We understood the reason why we were running what we were running, Roach said. For example, to counteract the speed of the Ravens Lamar Jackson, the San Diego Chargers went uber-small and put up to SEVEN DBs on the field at a time. Herman clearly agrees. He dropped into coverage just twice against Arizona State, by The Athletics very unofficial count. His role evolves into something else over these next few weeks. in the 80s, most NFL defenses also carry a hybrid DE, regardless if basing out of a three or four-down defense. They also began to move Hager into different alignments that made the most of his ability to drop into coverage or work around the edge in conjunction with his ability and willingness to crash into tackles from an inside alignment. Get full team previews, schedules, scouting reports, conference predictions, and national rankings. He is an experienced and successful defensive coordinator who has made an impact everywhere he has coached.. Orlando walked into the interview room and saw his Aggie defensive film already on the screen. Orlando usually sent four rushers when he used this package early in the game, and Sun Devils quarterback Jayden Daniels took advantage of the pressure on the first drive by ripping off a 38-yard run. One it has practiced against every day for months. Owl fans had seen this defensive scheme recently when defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer coached FAU in 2019 as part of the 11-3 Conference USA and Boca Bowl championship season. Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress. 3 overall pick),Baker Mayfield(No. How do you get your players to play hard? (Roger Steinman / AP) Ryan Kartje (LA Times) -- Through spring and summer, the physical, hard-nosed brand of defense Todd Orlando promised to bring to USC remained strictly . That will change Saturday, as USC takes on San Jose State in the 2021 season opener. And then Jamars just played that his whole life. If youre thinking in football, youre playing slow.. Theyve been physical in the run game but they all kind of complement each other.. The point behind that question is not that hard to grasp: Is a complex scheme necessary to give USC a winning edge, or should a simplified scheme be used in Week 1, to not load players with too many assignments, reads, or details? We have the same mentality, Orlando said. Gone were the experienced players in the secondary who could force the quarterback to hold the ball for an extra second or two. Once at Texas, though, Orlando was inheriting a defense with great athletes but disparate pieces that hadn't been put together into a cohesive unit. Then the injuries and attrition reduced depth at linebacker while inexperienced players tried to fill in, resulting in Orlando moving his best natural pass rusher, B-backer Joseph Ossai, to multiple positions around the field that kept him from attacking downhill. FAU brings back a solid core talented defenders in their front seven and have also added numerous former blue-chip transfers to solidify their front seven. None of that stuff. Every week is a challenge. Thats in large part due to the variance of the offensive minds. Texas blows lead against Cal State Fullerton in 6-5 loss. Orlando used it during his media availability on Wednesday, too. Overall, the rotation was much shorter than what was utilized last year. The real issues went beneath the surface. As spread offenses became a prevalent force in the college game, Orlando knew he needed to adapt. We just had to learn to embrace it, and now we look forward to it.. Orlando said hes already adjusted his scheme, which relies on mixed fronts and aggressive blitzing, to fit USCs personnel. (Top photo: Jose Marin / MarinMedia Pool for USC Athletics). When Tom Herman hired Todd Orlando to be his defensive coordinator at the University of Houston, Herman was looking for a coach who could teach the kind of defense that always gave him fits. You have to use those guys. With one of the pass-rushing outside linebackers replaced by a nickel DB, the defense is left with only a single edge rusher on the field (the B-backer in Orlando's defense). He trains the defense to quickly show one look before audibling to another with merely a glance to the sideline just before the snap. Thinking about becoming a VIP subscriber to Owls247? Through it all, Orlandos stayed on Hermans staff. When we sat down and started to talk it was just so similar, Orlando told 247Sports. Todd Orlando (born March 24, 1971) is an American football coach. He brings a passion, energy, toughness and discipline to his coaching, Helton said, and those characteristics were evident in our discussions. Will Alabama transfer Ishmael Sopsher be healthy enough to do so? Hes a guru, said Texas junior safetyBrandon Jones. Here is where USCs struggles against the run and its short rotation, particularly on the defensive line, tie together. Herald-Times. Playing defensive end Marqez Bimage in a similar role produced better results for Texas late in the season. However, Willie Taggart and his staff still need to find ready-to-play talent in the secondary as FAU loses four of their top five snap getters from 2021. Schemes aside, Orlandos defense is built on one thing above all his players flying to the ball. In turn, this could mean the end of the road for Orlando in Southern California regardless of who takes the job as head coach of the Trojans. Orlando, 50, previously was a defensive coordinator at Texas Houston, Utah State . Get full team. Orlandos players have a different term for that distinction. Its really hard to screw up a run play. Orlando's rover is typically one of the team leaders in sacks as a result of this strategy. With Drake Jackson now listed as a linebacker and primarily playing in a standup role, USCs base is essentially a 3-3-5. Though Todd Orlando's (DC, USC) time at Texas came to a screeching halt after the 2019 regular season, one thing is clear, the man can create pressure. Before joining Tom Hermans staff at Texas, Orlando was viewed as a rising defensive mind in college football. Orlando, who last coached defense at Texas, called the virtual install time a blessing in disguise. Even if it might only take his new defense so far. Theyre the best in the country. The 2019 National Championship saw a battle of Spread teams that featured two of the most efficient offenses in the country (and two of the best QBs as well). As I wrote in early 2019 after Texas defeated Georgia, Orlandos defense uses hybrid players and different alignments to put pressure on offenses. One key element I talked about in my latest book, Hybrids: The Making of a Modern Defense, is the use of a more positionless defensive gameplan going forward into the future. - Grier hurt himself early in the contest against Texas, but Locks 52.9 completion rate in the Texas Bowl was one of his worst of the year.