The inside LB corp consists of a Mike and what is referred to as a B backer. 1 overall pick), Rudolph (3rd-round pick),Will Grier(preseason All-American) andDrew Lock(projected first-round pick). Will Alabama transfer Ishmael Sopsher be healthy enough to do so? Herman isnt shy about issuing compliments to his defensive lieutenant. The Aggies also ranked fourth in the country in sacks in 2014 with 50. 3. Orlando has previously doubled as linebackers coach, a position that USC split last season between Johnny Nansen, who coached inside linebackers, and Joe DeForest, who coached outside linebackers. 2. Thats where our emphasis is going to be this week.. Aggressive, physical, unfearing. Follow Antonio on Twitter @AntonioCMorales. Orlando said hes already adjusted his scheme, which relies on mixed fronts and aggressive blitzing, to fit USCs personnel. 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. Players retained more than he expected, and coaches got to know players better than they would have otherwise. When youre giving up that many rushing yards, thats not a good thing with us, Orlando said. Orlando walked into the interview room and saw his Aggie defensive film already on the screen. Orlando said he's already adjusted his scheme, which relies on mixed fronts and aggressive blitzing, to fit USC's personnel. Schematically, Orlando excels because hes aggressive and prepared. 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. But Barry and USC opted not to continue their discussions, and Orlando became the leading candidate. 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. - 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. Gone was Omenihu, who proved himself capable of producing in Orlandos scheme. Its a combination that spurred a defensive transformation at Texas. Among current players, defensive end TaQuon Graham was something close to ecstatic about the potential for rushing the quarterback in Ashs defense following the Alamo Bowl win over Utah. He knows everything thats going to happen. Hands-on coaching was limited to distanced learning. How you practice around here is going to be how many reps you get, Orlando said. Orlando's favorite scheme against the run in his multiple 3-4. Texas finished 7-5 and Orlando was fired as part of a staff overhaul. After all, he fired Orlando and brought in Ash as an agent of change. USC's new defensive coordinator didn't waste time schooling Trojans on new scheme New USC defensive coordinator Todd Orlando didn't let the COVID-19 shutdown stop him from familiarizing the Trojans to his defense. Since Texas Longhorns head coach Tom Herman dismissed defensive coordinator Todd Orlando two and a half months ago and even before, to some extent it's become clear just how much. While some players struggled to learn virtually, he said the extra time spent installing and discussing the defense led to an especially sharp first week. Orlando took a job as the linebackers coach and assistant head coach at Texas Tech soon after. Get your first month for $1. It also gives him the ability to put players in situations to take advantage of deficiencies within an offensive scheme or weaker/slower players. 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. But for now Orlando is sticking around in Austin to work with Herman. A good run defense has been a calling card of Orlandos units at his previous stops. None of that stuff. Texas special assistant to the head coach Gary Patterson stepping down from role. Orlando believes the only way a team will play fast and hard is if they do so in practice. Spread offenses search for the B gap because that is where the conflicted player usually is for a defense. Imagine if this actually happens. LOS ANGELES Under normal circumstances, first-year USC defensive coordinator Todd Orlando would have just finished the in-person evaluation portion of the recruiting calendar. If you allow that to happen and know its going to happen, thats a crime in my opinion. Jefferson went on to lead the team with 110 tackles, including 20 run stuffs, while anchoring the interior of the Texas defense in a 3-2-6 dime package that Orlando unveiled to the bewilderment of Texas' spread-oriented Big 12 opponents. But the concern with this unit is depth. Texas would not allow more than 29 points the rest of the season in regulation. Get full team. Bastrop Cedar Creek defensive end Alfred Collins said new defensive coordinator Chris Ashs even front as a reason why he signed earlier this month. One of the key subplots to USC's season opener against Arizona State is the performance of the Trojans' defense, more specifically the secondary. In this particular instance shown above, the Jack backer walls the play by climbing to the RB. Orlando told his team, Its my fault. 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. He spent just two weeks as an assistant in Lubbock, before Helton and USC came calling. The only two Pac-12 schools behind them are Cal and winless Arizona. It didnt matter much. Drake Jackson, who spent last season as more of a strict defensive end, shed 25 pounds and shifted into a hybrid linebacker role. As spread offenses became a prevalent force in the college game, Orlando knew he needed to adapt. 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. A safety begins with his role in installation before even glancing at another spot. It makes a QB think, said Texas senior defensive endCharles Omenihu. But when asked what separates Orlando from other defensive coaches, Herman pointed out a single aspect of Orlandos repertoire: Its just his creativity, his adaptability.. This season has not gone according to plan for anybody, especially the defense, and major changes will be headed USCs way. The Tite Front was all the rage during the 2017 season. https://trojanswire.usatoday.com/2021/10/13/todd-orlandos-defense-has-been-getting-exposed-all-year-long/. Most recently, Orlando coached at USC for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. The timing between Daniels and his receivers was off all game. The familiarity with the opponent will be gone. By Coachlamons @nukeit1981 Dec. Having a base, four-man pass-rush is less valuable for attacking any of those schemes, so Orlando determined that it was a worthy trade to give up a pass rusher up front in exchange for more coverage and blitz flexibility and disguise potential while also gaining a "free hitter" in the form of the robber. Los Angeles. Texas and Georgia, in particular, had great success all year running similar schemes from a base Tite Front. Roach believes that Orlandos odd front didnt let the defensive line showcase their abilities. But after successfully rebuilding the Texas defense in his first season, the Longhorns experienced a sharp defensive downturn in 2019. Johnson and Wheeler added another 17 run stuffs combined as the linebacker position went from being a major deficit to a team strength. looks seen in many Power Spread offenses. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. You hear about soggy eggs and burnt toast. Is USC defense ready to take a leap in Year 2, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window). AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. 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. 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. The arrangement wasnt ideal for anyone involved, least of all the new defensive coordinator tasked with toughening up a unit that, for seven months, was barred from standing next to each other, let alone colliding. 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. We just had to learn to embrace it, and now we look forward to it.. A fourth linebacker released off the line can more easily pursue the football on outside runs and defend quick passes on the edge. The Iowa St. Cyclones rose from #103 in 2016 to a respectable #32in BCfToys efficiency rankings in 2017. But the play he makes at the end of the game, those are the two to three plays the really special players make. Sean McVay and his 11 personnel under center (UTC) offense has taken over the league en route to a Super Bowl appearance. DeForest left last month to coach at North Carolina State. The former is built on repetitive contact. Thanks to some help from the Cyclones and Mountaineers, the Longhorns trashed the Jayhawks to land the No. In this years (2018) THSCA Football Lecture, Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart attributed his use of the Tite Front and how he played the secondary behind it to his meeting with Texas own, Todd Orlando. Visit our online store to order your copyto get more in-depth analysis on the 2018 season. 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. Herman wanted a coordinator capable of calling a multiple defense, and Orlando fit that bill. Its 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. Theyve been physical in the run game but they all kind of complement each other.. After the Sun Devils started to have success on the ground midway through the second quarter, USC started employing a 4-3 front at times. A Michigan native and University of Michigan graduate, Kartje previously wrote for Fox Sports Wisconsin and the Bloomington (Ind.) Some of the stuff he was about to say, I was already thinking. 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). One of those games came in a 13-10 victory over Texas. In fact, Gary Johnson and Anthony Wheeler combined for 10.5 sacks, nearly a third of the teams total. Ryan Kartje is the USC beat writer at the Los Angeles Times. 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. The Longhorns used lightning package variation the remainder of the season, allowing only 21 points per game the rest of the way. 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. Orlando has a long coaching career with multiple stops across the country. It wasnt all about the front either, the use of Match 3 (Rip/Liz) and the rebirth/redesign of the (Dime) Tampa 2, was a big contributor to how teams attacked the Longhorns, Cyclones, and Bulldogs. Thinking about becoming a VIP subscriber to Owls247? Once the guard pulls (the 4is key), he can chase and climb to the mesh. Preparing for his first season as defensive coordinator at No. Orlando now becomes the seventh defensive coordinator in seven seasons for FAU. When we sat down and started to talk it was just so similar, Orlando told 247Sports. A Michigan native and University of Michigan graduate, Kartje previously wrote for Fox Sports Wisconsin and the Bloomington (Ind.) When you get players who can make throws and can run, you have to be mindful, Orlando told reporters on Wednesday morning. Texas didnt do much to stop the onslaught late in the game (no one did), but there are some definite takeaways. The modern spread offense is defined largely by quick-hitting pass plays, run/pass options and finally play-action shots that often feature six- or seven-man protections. USCs defense got two hits on Daniels and forced three incompletions on those three plays. Tuli Tuipulotu, one of the stars of spring football, brings similar flexibility to the position. When interim defensive coordinator Craig Naivar finally allowed Ossai to play that role, Ossai produced three of his five sacks in the Alamo Bowl. His $1.7 million annual salary is the highest in Texas history for an assistant, and only two assistants nationally earned more in 2017, according to USA Today. Even the NFL saw many of its teams embrace a more open style of play. Cody Alexander. We continue to progress in the pass, Orlando said of the group. Two things generally forced USC to shift out of its base defense. 9 Texas 75-59 win No. Get full team previews, schedules, scouting reports, conference predictions, and national rankings. Senior middle linebackerGary Johnsoncame from a junior college in 2016 where the scheme was significantly less complex. Stilleto Boy wins the Santa Anita Handicap for trainer Ed Moger Jr. Sierra Canyon girls basketball team is two wins away from perfect season, Practical Move gives trainer Tim Yakteen a win in the San Felipe Stakes, Sam Farmers crystal ball: NFL mock draft 2023 version 1.0, UCLAs freshmen living up to the hype, carry Bruins into Pac-12 title game. The image above shows the Longhorns base look against the ever prevalent Y-Off 20 pers. USC has officially found the new face of its defense. USC needs more size, speed and athleticism at every level of its defense. But that moratorium on full-contact practice was lifted Wednesday, finally offering Orlando a long-awaited glimpse of what his USC defense is made of. Gone were the experienced players in the secondary who could force the quarterback to hold the ball for an extra second or two. No. Its really hard to screw up a run play. The Longhorns created four total sacks (averaged 2.33 a game). Theyre not only making plays, but theyre trying to help other guys. In reality, Texas players say their responsibilities change little from week to week. 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 so far, its all been against an offense the USC defense knows very, very well. Feb 18, 2023 . 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. Pili underwent surgery last week on some broken fingers, which forced him to miss the game. Sign up for the Trojans Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. (213) 740-4204. The "mac" or middle linebacker helps call the defense and serves as the "first responder" for the defense against the run, looking to plug gaps and spill blocks to the outside linebackers (or nickel and dime defenders as the case may be) and his partner the "rover" linebacker. He would have. Their rotation would be a bit deeper, too. This offseason, there were more than a few reports potentially linking Orlando to head coach jobs. Contact drills were reduced to virtual cues. 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. The biggest breakthrough of the spread offense was in creating a clearer pre-snap picture for the offense and the QB in particular so that he had a narrower menu of options and threats to scan through after the snap. Continue reading Simulated Pressures From a Positionless Defense (2019 Sugar Bowl). The Tite Front works because it forces the offense to bounce everything outside. Nothing went right for Texas and the principles Orlando instilled all offseason seemed to evaporate. End Jacob Lichtenstein is expected to be a contributor this season, and freshman Korey Foreman will be ready on third down early in the season. But we understood why we were running it. Arizona State realized that early, and its two main running backs, DeaMonte Trayanum and Rachaad White, rushed 24 times for 160 yards against USC. Orlando turned down that job, too. Drake Jackson will man the hybrid outside backer position again this season. He also coaches the linebackers. USC had problems getting aligned on Saturday, and one of its alignment busts led to an Arizona State touchdown in the second quarter. In both cases, Orlando said, those defenses simply needed a kickstart., I think thats what [Ive done], the places Ive been coming into, is just to try to free these guys up, Orlando said. On Arizona States final possession, Orlando went back to the 1-4-6 look for the entire drive. That was the biggest thing that we got caught up in, not using our weapons to our full advantage. 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. A Pasadena native, he currently lives in the South Bay. Herman just needed to know if the pair would mesh personally. Considering how long players have had to learn the scheme, Orlando made clear he wont be as forgiving when it comes to forgetting assignments. Want to keep up with all the latest FAU football and recruiting news? The notion that the Big 12 doesnt play defense is false. Two Former NBA Players Receive Prison Sentences For Fraud Scheme. One thing to not overlook is the away side 4i who has leverage on the away side tackle. Theres no backside meetings. Rigid positional structures are giving way to a more fluid style of play. His role evolves into something else over these next few weeks. Orlando said the Big 12 is unparalleled nationally when it comes to offensive playcalling. 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. The numbers back up that decision, as Texas tied for 66th nationally with 27 sacks in 2019, down five from 2018. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, Winter storms ease drought conditions in California, report shows, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, David Lindley, guitarist best known for work with Jackson Browne, dies at 78. It was during his time at Utah that he learned to assemble the 3-4 pressure package that made him an attractive hire for Herman and then a successful coach at Houston. Injuries limited the two best blitzers in the secondary safeties BJ Foster and DeMarvion Overshown while the inexperienced cornerbacks also struggled with injuries and the baptism by fire in the pass-heavy conference. Coach Orlando is a real guy, Johnson said. With Drake Jackson now listed as a linebacker and primarily playing in a standup role, USCs base is essentially a 3-3-5. I feel the 4-3 will help those guys to show their talents and more people will come out of Texas.. Ryan Kartje is the USC beat writer at the Los Angeles Times. He is the defensive coordinator at the University of South Florida . Though Todd Orlandos (DC, USC) time at Texas came to a screeching halt after the 2019 regular season, one thing is clear, the man can create pressure. We try to take the philosophy of trying to make people one-dimensional, run the football on you and control the clock, because, in my opinion, there are less mistakes made on you when you turn around and hand the ball off and they can get seven or eight yards.. Those disguised blitzes are a favorite ploy. With his ability to teach fundamentals to raw athletes, train and equip defenders to attack offenses with disguise and pressure and adapt his tactics around the strengths of his roster, Orlando is proving to be a cutting-edge coordinator. Aside from one spring practice, the intricacies of his scheme were installed only over Zoom. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Aside from one spring practice, the intricacies of his scheme were installed only over Zoom. 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? Orlando took a linebacker off the field, added a third safety and unveiled Texas lightning package.. Snow, at his fifth FBS post as defensive coordinator, has evolved his scheme to become more multiple and detailed. If you go out there and you dont know what youre doing after meeting with someone for seven months, that pretty much explains how much you care, Orlando said. Locke. The play is ultimately killed. Schemes aside, Orlandos defense is built on one thing above all his players flying to the ball. The Cyclones used the Dime look as their base defense for the entire season, leading to victories over high-powered offenses like Oklahoma (#1 in BCfToys Offensive Efficiency) and Memphis (#16). The SEC used to be one of the sole holdouts with only a few teams, namely Ole Miss and Texas A&M, embracing the shift. In 2021 most defensive coaches will tell you their defensive schemes are "multiple,'' which is true to a degree. Theres a little learning curve for him just the speed of the game and all that, but then Stanley also being very new to the position has his own learning curve.. Herman calls Orlando the best defensive coordinator in the country. One of the areas in which Orlando has excelled as a teacher is in the art of disguising pressures and dictating to opponents with stop calls. 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? (Liberty vs Arkansas 22), Dec. 22 Blitz of the Month Georgias Pod Alignment, Blitzing from the Odd Stack vs a Pro Style offense (Ole Miss vs Kentucky 22). 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. He also spent two years covering preps for the Orange County Register and Torrance Daily Breeze. That much was clear on Saturday, and its why losing a player like Tufele, who possesses all three traits, hurt so much. 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. The Longhorns seemed to never really find a home base on defense. I just feel like now that burden is on me, being the veteran.. Most people know what to expect from USCs offense from game to game. From a core principle perspective thats not too far off. With Gary Anderson and Dave Aranda's exit to Wisconsin in 2012, the door opened for then Offensive Coordinator Matt Wells to ascend to the Head Coaching position. There were times when we said the same thing together at the same moment. Were going to have to work the heck out of this. MQ takes a look at Texas 3rd Down pressure package versus Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Most defensive coaches can recognize the usefulness of the front, but one thing is clear, Spread offenses will try and figure it out. It made it a lot easier for me to make that decision (to stay).. The Big 12 is not new to the concept of smaller faster players playing on the defensive side of the ball.