This offseason, there were more than a few reports potentially linking Orlando to head coach jobs. We have the same mentality, Orlando said. Texas finished 7-5 and Orlando was fired as part of a staff overhaul. There has been a critical error on this website. Imagine if this actually happens. Put together, bad luck and some poor choices cost Orlando his job, in no small part because the defensive line wasnt positioned for success. Orlandos scheme isnt complicated at least by memorization standards. This positionless style of play allows hybrid players, primarily at linebacker and defensive back, to play a larger role. One of the key subplots to USC's season opener against Arizona State is the performance of the Trojans' defense, more specifically the secondary. Preparing for his first season as defensive coordinator at No. This is where the separation begins.. 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. In fact, Gary Johnson and Anthony Wheeler combined for 10.5 sacks, nearly a third of the teams total. Sean McVay and his 11 personnel under center (UTC) offense has taken over the league en route to a Super Bowl appearance. LOS ANGELES It was clear for most of fall camp. Ryan Kartje is the USC beat writer at the Los Angeles Times. 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. Overall, the rotation was much shorter than what was utilized last year. 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. The guy could be a linebacker coach. 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. (213) 740-4204. The Longhorns tried a few different alignments in the secondary, ultimately reverting back to their standard starting group while inserting tweener senior Jason Hall, a 6'2", 220-pounder with physicality and some coverage ability, into the dime role and then expanding that role beyond the robber alignment based off his particular skill set. Herman calls Orlando the best defensive coordinator in the country. Now they brought in a new staff, giving those guys the opportunity to rush the passer and show what they have.. Antonio Morales covers USC football for The Athletic. 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. 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. Todd Orlando was announced as USCs defensive coordinator Friday, ending a lengthy search for Clancy Pendergasts replacement that had dragged into its fourth week. 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. 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. 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? 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. Orlando has also recently had stops at Texas (2017-2019), Houston(2015-2016), and Utah State (2013-2014). As expected, USC hired Todd Orlando as its defensive coordinator on Friday. A Pasadena native, he currently lives in the South Bay. Rigid positional structures are giving way to a more fluid style of play. There has been a critical error on this website. Saban has finally embraced the change as well, throwing the ball more than he ever has before with Tua Tagovailoa. The way you practice is the amount of plays youre going to get. 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. After missing the first week of camp in health and safety protocols, Jackson was practically unblockable in practices, using his finesse moves on the edge to cause havoc in the backfield. 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. Get your first month for $1. Then Utah States defensive coordinator, Orlando flew to Columbus, Ohio to interview with Herman for Houstons defensive coordinator job in January of 2015. Under Orlando's direction last season, Texas run defense jumped to eighth nationally from 76th the year prior. Some of the stuff he was about to say, I was already thinking. 3 overall pick),Baker Mayfield(No. As defensive coordinator at Houston in 2015 and 2016, he oversaw a defense that finished 20th and 13th in the nation in yards allowed. Snow, at his fifth FBS post as defensive coordinator, has evolved his scheme to become more multiple and detailed. MQ takes a look at Texas 3rd Down pressure package versus Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. LOS ANGELES USC has its new defensive coordinator, Todd Orlando. Theyre the best in the country. And as Saturday showed, thats a group with a long way to go. 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. You have pass rushers out there, TaQuon Graham, Marqez Bimage, Joe Ossai guys that can get after the quarterback. Orlando sorts film breakdown by position. If that sounds like thinking, its because it is. 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. That's what Orlando labels coachings million dollar question. 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. Their camp D was a 3-4, but once the season hit, the packages started to proliferate. 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. He was also inheriting a schedule that included Sam Darnold and USC, Jesse Ertz and Kansas State, Baker Mayfield and Oklahoma, Mason Rudolph and Oklahoma State, Kenny Hill and TCU, Will Grier and West Virginia and ultimately Drew Lock and Missouri -- essentially, some of the cream of the crop in terms of modern spread offense and spread quarterbacking. 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. Arizona, the Trojans opponent this weekend, had its first game canceled, so its difficult to predict what the offense will look like, but USC can probably expect a heavy dose of running back Gary Brightwell, who is stepping in to replace the departed J.J. Taylor. To me, thats recruiting. 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? It left a big void in our defensive line, experiencewise, Pili said. Georgia and Texas used the front and similar coverage schemes as a base, with both finding themselves in BCfToys.coms top 10 in Defensive Efficiency (adjusted for the strength of opponent offenses faced UGA was #5 and Texas #6). 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). The use of small ball to counteract the space created by Spread offenses is understandable. perspective, he's found Orlando to be a gem of an assistant for a variety of reasons. There were times when we said the same thing together at the same moment. The only two Pac-12 schools behind them are Cal and winless Arizona. If you allow that to happen and know its going to happen, thats a crime in my opinion. He finished with three tackles and one tackle for loss, which counts as a quiet night for the sophomore linebacker. 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.. After the opening weekend for USC, things looked good for the Trojans. Gambling problem? Behind them, USC has transfers like Xavion Alford and Chris Thompson, not to mention a slew of freshmen. Junior Chris Steele was an unquestioned returning starter, whereas it was an open competition for the second job, with Isaac Taylor-Stuart seeming like the leader entering game week. Visit our online store to order your copy. From there, the hits dont stop. Every time USC football scrimmaged, there was one side of the ball that dominated much of the live periods: the defense. 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. Scrimmages will be over. 9 Texas hosts No. Lincoln RileyandKliff Kingsburycome from the Air Raid tree, but their systems look quite different in the same way Kansas States pro-style, option-heavy scheme varies from Oklahoma States spread. Get your first month for $1. Follow Antonio on Twitter @AntonioCMorales. In an effort to get more speed and versatility on the field, Orlando moved Jefferson to mac linebacker, inserted Johnson, a sprinter, at rover and replaced senior B-backer Naashon Hughes with a sixth defensive back. He spent the 2011 and 2012 seasons under Mario Cristobal and FIU, where he won a share of the Sun Belt title and a bowl game victory. After holding Oklahoma State to 10 points in regulation, Orlando set about tweaking and retooling the base defense around the 3-2-6 lightning package and the robber coverage. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. You hear about soggy eggs and burnt toast. Thats important to know, because Orlando turned down an opportunity to be Pittsburghs DC in his hometown that offseason. Herman wanted a coordinator capable of calling a multiple defense, and Orlando fit that bill. 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. I feel the 4-3 will help those guys to show their talents and more people will come out of Texas.. Last. One need only look at Texas Oct. 21 matchup with Oklahoma State for an example. Orlando used it during his media availability on Wednesday, too. He would have. In 2019, that all fell apart. He knows everything thats going to happen. The loss of Jay Tufele, who opted out to focus on the NFL draft, has already thrust senior defensive tackle Brandon Pili into the starting lineup. Tuli Tuipulotu, one of the stars of spring football, brings similar flexibility to the position. Lack of preparation, scheme and just overall performance is all tied in, but it hasnt been a good effort whatsoever. 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. When we sat down and started to talk it was just so similar, Orlando told 247Sports. 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. Roach believes that the changes will produce better results on the field and better position future defensive lines to make the jump to the next level. Defenses in the Leauge were getting scored on at a historic rate. The notion that the Big 12 doesnt play defense is false. Toughness is for naught if the player and coach relationship isnt strong enough to offset those consistent practice blows. Orlando has proven in previous stops that hes capable of a quick reboot; though, never quite under the current circumstances he now faces. 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. How do you get your players to play hard? 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. The Tite Front is becoming a popular way to defend the Spread; its important to understand how teams are going to attack it on the ground. 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. Until you go against live, at the end of the day youre not going to trick everybody in terms of your scheme, Orlando said. Yet, because of the way the Longhorns fly to the ball, it doesnt much matter that the numbers are pushed back. USC, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Missouri each rushed 34-plus times against Texas but averaged only 4.2 yards per carry. But Barry and USC opted not to continue their discussions, and Orlando became the leading candidate. It didnt matter much. If youre thinking in football, youre playing slow.. Find out which 3 #USC players go to the Bears in an NBC Sports Chicago mock draft. 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 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. He wants his defenders to fly to the football. Through spring and summer, the physical, hard-nosed brand of defense Todd Orlando promised to bring to USC remained strictly theoretical. 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. No. Defensive coach Todd Orlando of the Texas Longhorns reacts during play against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second . 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. And sometimes they went with a 3-4 look with its normal defensive line (Figueroa, Marlon Tuipulotu and Caleb Tremblay) and Jackson and Hunter Echols as outside linebackers. 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). Arizona State just out-executed the Trojans defense in the run game. In order to acclimate, the Longhorns flipped a script that usually prioritized stopping the run first 95 percent of the time. I love TO hes one of the smartest defensive minds I ever played for.. And that might just be the way it is moving forward. 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. The two DEs (4is) in the B gaps close off the lifeline for every Spread team, the conflict gaps. You would think its hard to learn, but he made it so simple.. We continue to progress in the pass, Orlando said of the group. He dropped into coverage just twice against Arizona State, by The Athletics very unofficial count. 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. This is something, until this year, fathomable only on a 3rd and Long or an end of a half situation in the NFL. Schemes aside, Orlandos defense is built on one thing above all his players flying to the ball. It could afford to, considering Arizona State wasnt making it pay through the air. He's previously covered his alma mater SMU and the WNBA for the Dallas Morning News and high school sports for the Long Beach Press-Telegram. Sometimes when youre a good player, youre just worried about yourself and making your plays, Orlando said. Redshirt freshman Max Williams was the extra defensive back on the field in these packages. While the scheme is expected to adjust, the possibility of changes to USCs defensive staff is still up in the air. #FightOn pic.twitter.com/Jorj04g0b6, Orlando will take over a talented Trojans defense that progressively declined over Pendergasts four seasons. In the NFL, the increasing use of 11 pers. Ryan Kartje is the USC beat writer at the Los Angeles Times. I let you guys down. Johnson said Orlando repeated these words for two days straight. The coaches threw the entire . USC had problems getting aligned on Saturday, and one of its alignment busts led to an Arizona State touchdown in the second quarter. 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. We see how he got his start c. The diagram below illustrates the fronts usefulness versus a popular Spread play, the Power Read. 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. The result was a hurried throw from Daniels, an incompletion on fourth down, and a victory for USC. A good run defense has been a calling card of. 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. Orlando's 3-4/quarters defense had to be tweaked and altered to fit the 2017 Texas football roster and the demands of playing against Big 12 offenses, but in the process Orlando simply proved what makes him one of the top defensive coaches in the country: In particular, his effective teaching, aggressive philosophy and high capacity for adaptation. After Utah State, Orlando made his way to Houston for the 2015 and 2016 seasons, where the Cougars were top 30 in scoring defense and sacks both seasons he was there. Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress. 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. Los Angeles. Echols was the extra linebacker who came onto the field in those scenarios. Get full team. After leaving FIU, Orlando went north to coach Utah State, where their defense ranked 7th and 12th in scoring defense during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, respectively. He was more of Well keep things simple, well do the same stuff. Coach Todd Orlando of the USC Trojans during USC football practice at the University of Southern California on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. Aggressive DCs like Orlando weren't having that for long, and his response is to teach his players to show a blitz to trigger the sideline glance and check from the offense before bringing another call entirely. Two things generally forced USC to shift out of its base defense. Before joining Tom Hermans staff at Texas, Orlando was viewed as a rising defensive mind in college football. Its a combination that spurred a defensive transformation at Texas. The Tite Front works because it forces the offense to bounce everything outside. USCs defense got two hits on Daniels and forced three incompletions on those three plays. Cody Alexander. On the back end, Orlando typically employs a quarters coverage that allows his defensive backs to break aggressively to the football while preventing big plays. The Times first reported his hiring Monday. Practice your tail off and youre going to be playing on Saturdays. 3. Hes a guru, said Texas junior safetyBrandon Jones. Senior middle linebackerGary Johnsoncame from a junior college in 2016 where the scheme was significantly less complex. His defenses would mix in three-down looks, but that was only about 20 percent of the time. 20 Southern California, however, has been different because of the coronavirus pandemic. Except Hermans questions were constantly put on pause so that he, still serving as Ohio States offensive coordinator, could run out of the room to take care of some crisis or another as the Buckeyes prepared for the 2014 College Football Playoff final against Oregon. LOS ANGELES (AP) Todd Orlando has plenty of experience arriving at a new school and installing his defensive scheme for the first time. This season has not gone according to plan for anybody, especially the defense, and major changes will be headed USCs way. The Panthers defensive ranked 11th in scoring defense that season. Longhorns defensive coordinator Todd Orlando debuted his "cowboy" package in a 45-14 win over Louisiana Tech last Saturday. Orlando is widely considered a fast-rising coach in the industry, and players, like Roach, say Orlando should be a head coach someday. He joined The Times after six years with the Southern California News Group. As the season progresses, look for true freshman Raesjon Davis to sneak his way into the starting lineup. 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. Contact drills were reduced to virtual cues. On Arizona States final possession, Orlando went back to the 1-4-6 look for the entire drive. The play is ultimately killed. The Trojans defense held the Spartans to only seven points on the game, and things seemed to be going well in Southern California. 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. But players say Orlandos greatest strength is the ability to break down complicated concepts into digestible pieces. As of Thursday morning, it has apparently filled out the rest of its coaching staffit has apparently filled out the rest of its Thats where adaptability comes into play. 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? 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 also coaches the linebackers. 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. "I feel like I need to take some time for my wife, kids and grandkids while also looking to see if I can help college football on a larger scale," Patterson told Horns247. But so far, its all been against an offense the USC defense knows very, very well. Thanks to some help from the Cyclones and Mountaineers, the Longhorns trashed the Jayhawks to land the No. 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.. Theres no backside meetings. Hands-on coaching was limited to distanced learning. The Iowa St. Cyclones rose from #103 in 2016 to a respectable #32in BCfToys efficiency rankings in 2017. Even former Big 12 Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury got a head coaching job with the Cardinals on nothing more than his offensive acumen. 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Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress. So its difficult to judge just how good the defense truly is at this point. Orlando said the Big 12 is unparalleled nationally when it comes to offensive playcalling. 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. 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. 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.. 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. That wasnt happening before Hermans arrival in Austin. But after successfully rebuilding the Texas defense in his first season, the Longhorns experienced a sharp defensive downturn in 2019. 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.