Here are the highlights of Texas defensive coordinator Todd Orlando’s media availability after practice on Wednesday:
-- Orlando on what has occurred on defense the past few weeks: “The shuffling of players a little bit when I’m taking a look at different things that are going on. The main thing for us right now is our inability to stop the run. I look at that, and I say that is my job, the coaching part of it to be gap-sound, the physicality. When you look at the last two weeks, and you say to yourself what is happening here, in the past we made people one dimensional. When you don’t make people one dimensional, and they can run the football, it opens up everything else. To me, it starts with that, and third-down, too. This game was a little bit different because there was a lot of third-and-short, but the last couple of weeks it’s been get off the field, have an opportunity to get off the field, and we’re not getting it done.”
-- Orlando said he tried to slow things down for his unit against West Virginia. He said once a defense starts to give up big plays, a play-caller has to do it. However, Orlando said he still saw guys popping out of gaps, missing responsibilities, and he attributed that to coaching. Orlando said, “that is on me.” In addition, Orlando said they need to work like crazy to get it right.
-- When asked about playing 4Is to generate a pass rush, Orlando said if teams successfully run the football against them, they will rarely see passes (basically, 4Is is a defensive alignment). Orlando used Oklahoma State’s 51 rushes, followed by West Virginia’s 33 attempts, as examples of opposing teams attacking Texas in the run game. In addition, West Virginia averaged seven yards a carry against Orlando’s defense. Orlando said the team must stop the run to put opponents in predictable passing to unleash Charles Omenihu, Breckyn Hager, and his team's pass rush.
-- In addition, Orlando expects Texas Tech to attempt running the ball against Texas because of what the Longhorns have put on film.
-- Orlando said he expects to run more nickel formations going forward. Linebacker Jeffrey McCulloch played in nickel formations against West Virginia because Orlando wanted a bigger player on the field. Orlando also praised Joseph Ossai and intends to play the linebacker more against Texas Tech.
-- Oklahoma State’s Jett Duffey is expected to replace Alan Bowman at quarterback, and Orlando expects to see a good dose of quarterback runs. Orlando said Duffey can throw the football effectively as well.
-- Orlando does believe they can fix the issues on defense. However, he believes McCulloch can help Texas by being the fourth defensive lineman.
-- Orlando was proud of Malcolm Roach’s performance against West Virginia coming off the foot injury. Roach was expected to play between 10 to 15 plays, but finished with 25 reps.
-- In addition, Orlando was satisfied with the performances of defensive linemen Keondre Coburn and Moro Ojomo. Here is what Orlando jokingly said: “Coburn came up to me and said, ‘Coach, this is fun.’ Yeah, for you, I guess.”
-- Orlando on what has occurred on defense the past few weeks: “The shuffling of players a little bit when I’m taking a look at different things that are going on. The main thing for us right now is our inability to stop the run. I look at that, and I say that is my job, the coaching part of it to be gap-sound, the physicality. When you look at the last two weeks, and you say to yourself what is happening here, in the past we made people one dimensional. When you don’t make people one dimensional, and they can run the football, it opens up everything else. To me, it starts with that, and third-down, too. This game was a little bit different because there was a lot of third-and-short, but the last couple of weeks it’s been get off the field, have an opportunity to get off the field, and we’re not getting it done.”
-- Orlando said he tried to slow things down for his unit against West Virginia. He said once a defense starts to give up big plays, a play-caller has to do it. However, Orlando said he still saw guys popping out of gaps, missing responsibilities, and he attributed that to coaching. Orlando said, “that is on me.” In addition, Orlando said they need to work like crazy to get it right.
-- When asked about playing 4Is to generate a pass rush, Orlando said if teams successfully run the football against them, they will rarely see passes (basically, 4Is is a defensive alignment). Orlando used Oklahoma State’s 51 rushes, followed by West Virginia’s 33 attempts, as examples of opposing teams attacking Texas in the run game. In addition, West Virginia averaged seven yards a carry against Orlando’s defense. Orlando said the team must stop the run to put opponents in predictable passing to unleash Charles Omenihu, Breckyn Hager, and his team's pass rush.
-- In addition, Orlando expects Texas Tech to attempt running the ball against Texas because of what the Longhorns have put on film.
-- Orlando said he expects to run more nickel formations going forward. Linebacker Jeffrey McCulloch played in nickel formations against West Virginia because Orlando wanted a bigger player on the field. Orlando also praised Joseph Ossai and intends to play the linebacker more against Texas Tech.
-- Oklahoma State’s Jett Duffey is expected to replace Alan Bowman at quarterback, and Orlando expects to see a good dose of quarterback runs. Orlando said Duffey can throw the football effectively as well.
-- Orlando does believe they can fix the issues on defense. However, he believes McCulloch can help Texas by being the fourth defensive lineman.
-- Orlando was proud of Malcolm Roach’s performance against West Virginia coming off the foot injury. Roach was expected to play between 10 to 15 plays, but finished with 25 reps.
-- In addition, Orlando was satisfied with the performances of defensive linemen Keondre Coburn and Moro Ojomo. Here is what Orlando jokingly said: “Coburn came up to me and said, ‘Coach, this is fun.’ Yeah, for you, I guess.”
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