For a coach to sit there and put it on himself instead of the guys that were out there not executing the game plan, it shows he cares.. Drake Jackson will man the hybrid outside backer position again this season. 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. 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? 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. The Tite Front was all the rage during the 2017 season. Herman starts most practices with a variation of the circle drill (essentially a one-on-one meeting in a small space that Herman calls out one by one) to ramp up the energy. 9 Texas hosts No. Saban has finally embraced the change as well, throwing the ball more than he ever has before with Tua Tagovailoa. Orlandos defensive turnaround in Austin stems back to that interview in Columbus. Even for much of spring camp. Enter your email address to follow this blog & make sure to follow on MatchQuarters.substackcom. https://trojanswire.usatoday.com/2021/10/13/todd-orlandos-defense-has-been-getting-exposed-all-year-long/. Visit our online store to order your copy. Senior middle linebackerGary Johnsoncame from a junior college in 2016 where the scheme was significantly less complex. Orlando told his team, Its my fault. Snow, at his fifth FBS post as defensive coordinator, has evolved his scheme to become more multiple and detailed. He dropped into coverage just twice against Arizona State, by The Athletics very unofficial count. The Trojans run defense would be better with defensive lineman Jay Tufele, who opted out of the season a few months ago and entered the NFL Draft. Youre in this area and theres some really good high school players in this area, the top guys. Texas didnt do much to stop the onslaught late in the game (no one did), but there are some definite takeaways. If the guard decides to climb for the Mike (illustrated), the 4i can easily get penetration and maybe even block or negate the pull (I have a clip of this later vs TCUs 11p single-back Power). LOS ANGELES USCs season-opening 28-27 win over Arizona State offered a glimpse of what first-year defensive coordinator Todd Orlandos defense will look like. Find out which 3 #USC players go to the Bears in an NBC Sports Chicago mock draft. Orlando used it during his media availability on Wednesday, too. But Barry and USC opted not to continue their discussions, and Orlando became the leading candidate. Toughness is for naught if the player and coach relationship isnt strong enough to offset those consistent practice blows. This is where the separation begins.. 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. It could afford to, considering Arizona State wasnt making it pay through the air. 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. Longhorns defensive coordinator Todd Orlando debuted his "cowboy" package in a 45-14 win over Louisiana Tech last Saturday. Johnson and Wheeler added another 17 run stuffs combined as the linebacker position went from being a major deficit to a team strength. Through spring and summer, the physical, hard-nosed brand of defense Todd Orlando promised to bring to USC remained strictly theoretical. Theres no favoritism. 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. 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. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 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. 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. In that game, the Longhorns consistently confused a seasoned and well-coached offensive line, garnering two sacks and seven tackles for loss (TFLs). Its really hard to screw up a run play. From Georgia in the SEC to the Longhorns and Cyclones in the Big 12, the new-age Double Eagle took flight as one of the top ways to contain high powered Spread offenses. Rigid positional structures are giving way to a more fluid style of play. Its really, really crazy to see., Asked to summarize Orlandos system, Texas senior cornerbackKris Boydsaid succinctly: Just run to the ball and hit.. Last. In 2021 most defensive coaches will tell you their defensive schemes are "multiple,'' which is true to a degree. Contact drills were reduced to virtual cues. When Orlando walked out of the room he thought, This is my guy. I mean, there was no question in my mind, Orlando said. Stanley, he has natural mobility. Before arriving at Utah State in 2013, Orlando traditionally ran a four-down front. 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. It is not going to be participation awards. The Panthers defensive ranked 11th in scoring defense that season. A look at how Texas defenders fit in Todd Orlando's scheme The Longhorns have plenty of returning talent for the prospective defensive coordinator to utilize. Get full team previews, schedules, scouting reports, conference predictions, and national rankings. But while Herman's motives started from a simple "What gave me fits as an offensive coach?" I let you guys down. Johnson said Orlando repeated these words for two days straight. . perspective, he's found Orlando to be a gem of an assistant for a variety of reasons. I dont know how theyre going to play it, but thats going to be worth watching against a quarterback (Jayden Daniels) who is a veteran.. 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. 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. The Trojans didnt do it for every third-and-7 and longer, but in most of those obvious pass situations, Orlando employed a 1-4-6 look. It has been quick to the ball, aggressive in its pass rush situations, effective at creating interceptions and disruptive in clogging the line of scrimmage on run plays. His defensive coordinator would be Todd Orlando., hiring him from Florida International. 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. Click here to buy a copy today or visit your local newsstand! 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. 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). USC played just five defensive linemen against Arizona State. Before that, his inaugural Utah State defense ranked seventh in points allowed. 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. Lets start with the base defense. Orlando's rover is typically one of the team leaders in sacks as a result of this strategy. Greg Johnson is the veteran returner at nickel back. 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. To me, hes a special player, Orlando said. That safety, last year played by the hard-hittingJason Hall, helped support the run defending on his read. He knows everything thats going to happen. Coach Todd Orlando of the USC Trojans during USC football practice at the University of Southern California on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. Fail big.. After the second day of pads (last spring) we were like, Golly, we havent do this much hitting in a minute. Its just that mental toughness they instill in us. There's no better way to demonstrate that than to look at howTexas defended the run. If that sounds like the start of a football romantic comedy, it isnt you wont find two more hard-nosed personalities than Orlando and Herman. The notion that the Big 12 doesnt play defense is false. Hands-on coaching was limited to distanced learning. Get your first month for $1. Thinking about becoming a VIP subscriber to Owls247? Then well get an idea of what the defense is truly capable of after losing contributors like DT Marlon Tuipulotu, CB Olaijah Griffin and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Talanoa Hufanga. The name of the game for Orlando is attacking opponents where they are always weakest -- in their ability to handle pressure and confusion with little reaction time. Considering how long players have had to learn the scheme, Orlando made clear he wont be as forgiving when it comes to forgetting assignments. Boca Raton, Fla. - Just over 24 hours after FootballScoop.com first reported that FAU defensive coordinator Mike Stoops was heading to Kentucky to coach with his brother Mark Stoops, the Owls have quickly found his replacement in former Southern California defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Todd Orlando, per Bruce Feldman. 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). Find out which 3 #USC players go to the Bears in an NBC Sports Chicago mock draft. The Longhorns seemed to never really find a home base on defense. One need only look at Texas Oct. 21 matchup with Oklahoma State for an example. 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. He brings a passion, energy, toughness and discipline to his coaching, Helton said, and those characteristics were evident in our discussions. The 404 alignment does several things for the box: 1) the offensive line cant climb because of the 4is, and 2) it frees up at least one of the inside linebackers (if not both). From there, the hits dont stop. A Pasadena native, he currently lives in the South Bay. From this ultra-quick 3-2-6 package, the Longhorns then unleashed a small part of Orlando's third-down package with such tremendous force that they started calling it every play against Oklahoma State and then expanded it over the rest of the season into a new base defense. (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). Theyve been physical in the run game but they all kind of complement each other.. Orlando is now a handsomely paid football coach, in his third year as the Texas defensive coordinator having progressed up the career coaching ladder, from Penn to UConn to FIU to Utah State to. How you practice around here is going to be how many reps you get, Orlando said. At Texas, Orlando was inheriting a linebacker crew that was long on talent and exceptionally short on know-how. But the play he makes at the end of the game, those are the two to three plays the really special players make. 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. It didnt matter much. 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. football@usc.edu. And then Jamars just played that his whole life. 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. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG) None of that stuff. Hybrid players allow an almost endless amount of ways to blitz and pressure an offense without losing coverage ability (youre dropping a speedy LB/DB instead of a rigid D-lineman). Todd Orlando (born March 24, 1971) is an American football coach. As I wrote in early 2019 after Texas defeated Georgia, Orlando's defense uses hybrid players and different alignments to put pressure on offenses. When youre giving up that many rushing yards, thats not a good thing with us, Orlando said. 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. Since then, the USC defense has been getting torched time and time again, with their worst performance arguably against Oregon State as the Beavers ran for over 300 yards to upset them in Los Angeles. That style of play didnt transfer to the NFL and the NFL didnt understand what type of player this guy was. The Cyclones and Longhorns most notably did it while using a 3-safety Dime package for parts of the season. 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. 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. Roach believes that Orlandos odd front didnt let the defensive line showcase their abilities. Its going to be real interesting to see how that unfolds in the Pac-12 with USC and everybody., Its a legitimate question in terms of how Orlando is going to play it early in the season, right? This might be the most talented position group on the USC roster, but there are still some concerns. As expected, USC hired Todd Orlando as its defensive coordinator on Friday. To me, thats recruiting. During his time as defensive coordinator at Texas, his defense forced 65 turnovers and ranked in the top 10 nationally for . 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. 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. Arizona State just out-executed the Trojans defense in the run game. Sometimes when youre a good player, youre just worried about yourself and making your plays, Orlando said. 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. But so far, its all been against an offense the USC defense knows very, very well. Facing an offense that averaged 45 points per game, fourth nationally, Orlando reversed one of the core principles of his defensive philosophy. Follow Antonio on Twitter @AntonioCMorales. If you dont, its going to be limited. 20 Southern California, however, has been different because of the coronavirus pandemic. On Arizona States final possession, Orlando went back to the 1-4-6 look for the entire drive. Orlando needs opposing offenses to be one-dimensional, and against great quarterbacks that means sacrificing numbers in the box. The play is ultimately killed. Practices under Herman and Orlando are hard. Ryan Kartje is the USC beat writer at the Los Angeles Times. By Coachlamons @nukeit1981 Dec. 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. New USC defensive coordinator Todd Orlando, shown during his tenure at Texas, didnt let the COVID-19 shutdown stop him from familiarizing the Trojans to his defense. 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 joined The Times after six years with the Southern California News Group. There were times when we said the same thing together at the same moment. 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. USC has officially found the new face of its defense. Thats important to me. Some of the stuff he was about to say, I was already thinking. In this particular instance shown above, the Jack backer walls the play by climbing to the RB. Even further, turn on a Cowboys or Seahawks game and you are likely to see multiple ways to run the Zone or Arc Read. He served as the defensive coordinator at the University of Texas at Austin from 2017 to 2019 and the University of Southern California (USC) from 2020 to 2021. The Longhorns created four total sacks (averaged 2.33 a game). 2. It's a blitz defense that uses eight defensive backs, two. At Texas, Orlando oversaw a defense that improved from 80th to 24th in points allowed. It's pretty common for coordinators to double up as position coaches for the most important position on their unit. Through spring and summer, the physical, hard-nosed brand of defense Todd Orlando promised to bring to USC remained strictly theoretical. 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. Until you go against live, at the end of the day youre not going to trick everybody in terms of your scheme, Orlando said. But the concern with this unit is depth. The result was a defense that failed to take advantage of the pass-rushing talent of players like Graham, Ossai, and Roach because once the scheme that Orlando spent the offseason developing was no longer effective, its extremely difficult to make those changes once the season begins. Be sure to follow us on Twitter at: @Owls247, @MarinelliShane, and @TheKevinFielder. Cody Alexander. - Rudolphs Cowboys managed a season-low 13 points (All-American wide receiverJames Washingtonmanaged just 32 yards in the win). Contact drills were reduced to virtual cues. Orlando lost both of his starting inside linebackers after the 2018 season and both were productive in his scheme. However, that was so long ago and feels like a lifetime. 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. USC coach Clay Helton says hes noticed benefits from the Trojans unprecedented start to an unusual, pandemic-shortened season. Ryan Kartje is the USC beat writer at the Los Angeles Times. 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. 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. If you bring four and they have six back in there to block, its not good numbers for you especially if youre covering the heck out of everybody. The Longhorns sessions reflect that. Clancy Pendergast there wasnt a lot of mystery to his defense. Herman's offense is a spread system focused on running the ball downhill, primarily with inside zone runs, and he found 3-4 defenses that played quarters coverage like Orlando's to be the toughest schemes to deal with while at Ohio State. Todd Orlando was announced as USCs defensive coordinator Friday, ending a lengthy search for Clancy Pendergasts replacement that had dragged into its fourth week. Practice your tail off and youre going to be playing on Saturdays. What is the current state of play for one of the elite QB prospects on the board? Schematically, Orlando excels because hes aggressive and prepared. USC, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Missouri each rushed 34-plus times against Texas but averaged only 4.2 yards per carry. The inside LB corp consists of a Mike and what is referred to as a B backer. At the same time, it causes a lot of controversy for the guys on offense.. Orlando said hes already adjusted his scheme, which relies on mixed fronts and aggressive blitzing, to fit USCs personnel. College football was temporarily revolutionized when hurry-up spread teams began to perfect the art of sending signals from the sideline to the field, allowing coordinators to make audibles and adjustments on behalf of their players. Thats not to say those seven months were for naught. FAU's defense . 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. But when the Trojans needed Jackson the most, they turned him loose and let him do what he does best at the end of the game: rush the passer. Preparing for his first season as defensive coordinator at No. This offseason, there were more than a few reports potentially linking Orlando to head coach jobs. 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. Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress. 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. Be sure to follow us on Twitter at: The time is now! He finished with three tackles and one tackle for loss, which counts as a quiet night for the sophomore linebacker. Pola-Mao returns and has been a stud in camp, causing chaos in blitzing situations and making plays on the ball in pass coverage that he has not made in the past. 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. Written by Ian Boyd (@Ian_A_Boyd)for Athlon Sports. A simplified picture combined with an athletic QB who could improvise if things got hairy made the spread offense absolutely deadly. Safeties Talanoa Hufanga and Isaiah Pola-Mao are expected to take on more active roles in directing the defense. One was down and distance. Orlando said he's already adjusted his scheme, which relies on mixed fronts and aggressive blitzing, to fit USC's personnel. But those arent the only areas that were to be evaluated starting Wednesday. The trickle-up effect is in full swing. I feel the 4-3 will help those guys to show their talents and more people will come out of Texas.. 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. Orlando sorts film breakdown by position. Orlando has a long coaching career with multiple stops across the country. 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. By closing both B gaps, the offense has to either plug it up the A gap (which most Spread teams wont do) or run it outside. However, although Hill called Orlandos scheme gimmicky, thats not really true Baylor and Iowa State both had highly productive defenses in 2019 with similar schemes. Orlando now becomes the seventh defensive coordinator in seven seasons for FAU. Phone. 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. Defensive coach Todd Orlando of the Texas Longhorns reacts during play against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second . Under Orlando's direction last season, Texas run defense jumped to eighth nationally from 76th the year prior. This "lightning" package was built off a "robber coverage" and an alignment that looked like this: Basically, the Longhorns traded a man up front for the ability to play Cover 2 to either side of the formation with a "robber" in the middle who could read the play and then serve either as inside help against the dreaded double-post combinations that Oklahoma State liked to run or as an extra man coming just a touch late in the run game. Herald-Times. DeForest left last month to coach at North Carolina State. That will change Saturday, as USC takes on San Jose State in the 2021 season opener. Orlando was fired by head coach Tom Herman on Dec. 1 and Naivar the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach for the Longhorns who has worked with Herman across four different stops (Sam. Those disguised blitzes are a favorite ploy. The Trojans considered other candidates before settling on Orlando, even getting as far as discussing the parameters of a potential contract with Rams linebackers coach Joe Barry. The defensive line lost more bodies in the offseason when Jacob Lichtenstein opted out of the season, and it was announced that Trevor Trouts season (and possibly his career) would be over with a back injury. But full contact could always force further change. USC essentially ran a 4-2 front last season under former defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast. That much was clear on Saturday, and its why losing a player like Tufele, who possesses all three traits, hurt so much. The Cowboys averaged more yards passing than any team in the country.