Here are the highlights of defensive coordinator Todd Orlando’s availability on Wednesday:
- Orlando said Kansas State quarterback Jesse Ertz is going to be a handful. He watched a lot of Ertz’s film, said he can make all the throws, and describes him as a quarterback who will be a handful.
- When asked why the defense has played so well, Orlando believes his players are understanding the staff’s personality and what they want to run.
- Orlando on linebacker Naashon Hughes: “He needs to give us more. He’s a big, big kid. Big and strong. He needs to pick it up. He knows that part of it. I’m not talking to you like I didn’t tell him. Like I said, that position, we had some guys when I was in Houston and Utah State, those guys were draft picks. Third-round, or second-round last year at Houston. He needs to be more productive.”
- Orlando said his team has a lot to prove this week because Kansas State is a physical team. He is expecting a four-quarter war.
- Orlando on Malik Jefferson and their relationship: “It’s good. There’s a part of him [where] there’s a fine line between coaching a guy up. He’s so intelligent. He’s got great parents. He’s been raised the right way. There’s a fine line between coaching him up hard, the respect level that you have to give each other, coach to player, player to coach, but there’s things that we addressed early on that we saw. The thing that’s been great with him is he’s accepted that part of it. He hasn’t tried to make excuses off of it. He’s like teach me, coach me up, and I’m doing the same thing. The thing I want him to do more of, and he’s starting to do it, is kind of be a football junkie. Go in, put a film on, you tell me what they’re doing before I even have a chance to get through it. He’s starting to do that. He’s going to have to be ready for that once he makes the jump. You got to be a pro, man. It’s what it’s all about. Just spending more time with your craft. Our relationship is getting better because we can separate the football part from the personal stuff right now. He knows how I feel about him. When I coach him, it’s not personal. It’s not about me and Malik and what’s going in your life. It’s about we’re here to try to make you the best player humanly possible.”
- Chris Brown is a backup safety and brings great physicality, according to Orlando. He is not viewed as a nickel corner, but a great blitzer.
- Kansas State runs four-wide and three-wide 60 percent of the time. Orlando said the rest of the time, he will put four linebackers on the field and have P.J. Locke on the sidelines. Gary Johnson will play inside and Jefferson will be on the outside when Orlando utilizes four linebackers.
- Orlando said he loves Kansas State fullback Winston Dimel. He described Dimel as an old-school player who can block, is extremely savvy and never takes a play off.
- Texas’ pass rush has improved because the secondary is covering better, according to Orlando.
- Orlando is still looking for consistency from cornerback Kris Boyd. He just needs Boyd dialed all the time, and it starts with practice, according to Orlando. The defensive coordinator wants Boyd to finish more plays on 50-50 balls.
- Orlando on Malcolm Roach: “We need to see more production out of him, too. He’s another guy that’s got tools that can make some plays, but he’s starting to steadily come along. I thought he played solid. He’s on some of our specialty groups, but he’s a guy we know can get after the quarterback. That’s what we need to see more than anything else.”
- Orlando said Kansas State quarterback Jesse Ertz is going to be a handful. He watched a lot of Ertz’s film, said he can make all the throws, and describes him as a quarterback who will be a handful.
- When asked why the defense has played so well, Orlando believes his players are understanding the staff’s personality and what they want to run.
- Orlando on linebacker Naashon Hughes: “He needs to give us more. He’s a big, big kid. Big and strong. He needs to pick it up. He knows that part of it. I’m not talking to you like I didn’t tell him. Like I said, that position, we had some guys when I was in Houston and Utah State, those guys were draft picks. Third-round, or second-round last year at Houston. He needs to be more productive.”
- Orlando said his team has a lot to prove this week because Kansas State is a physical team. He is expecting a four-quarter war.
- Orlando on Malik Jefferson and their relationship: “It’s good. There’s a part of him [where] there’s a fine line between coaching a guy up. He’s so intelligent. He’s got great parents. He’s been raised the right way. There’s a fine line between coaching him up hard, the respect level that you have to give each other, coach to player, player to coach, but there’s things that we addressed early on that we saw. The thing that’s been great with him is he’s accepted that part of it. He hasn’t tried to make excuses off of it. He’s like teach me, coach me up, and I’m doing the same thing. The thing I want him to do more of, and he’s starting to do it, is kind of be a football junkie. Go in, put a film on, you tell me what they’re doing before I even have a chance to get through it. He’s starting to do that. He’s going to have to be ready for that once he makes the jump. You got to be a pro, man. It’s what it’s all about. Just spending more time with your craft. Our relationship is getting better because we can separate the football part from the personal stuff right now. He knows how I feel about him. When I coach him, it’s not personal. It’s not about me and Malik and what’s going in your life. It’s about we’re here to try to make you the best player humanly possible.”
- Chris Brown is a backup safety and brings great physicality, according to Orlando. He is not viewed as a nickel corner, but a great blitzer.
- Kansas State runs four-wide and three-wide 60 percent of the time. Orlando said the rest of the time, he will put four linebackers on the field and have P.J. Locke on the sidelines. Gary Johnson will play inside and Jefferson will be on the outside when Orlando utilizes four linebackers.
- Orlando said he loves Kansas State fullback Winston Dimel. He described Dimel as an old-school player who can block, is extremely savvy and never takes a play off.
- Texas’ pass rush has improved because the secondary is covering better, according to Orlando.
- Orlando is still looking for consistency from cornerback Kris Boyd. He just needs Boyd dialed all the time, and it starts with practice, according to Orlando. The defensive coordinator wants Boyd to finish more plays on 50-50 balls.
- Orlando on Malcolm Roach: “We need to see more production out of him, too. He’s another guy that’s got tools that can make some plays, but he’s starting to steadily come along. I thought he played solid. He’s on some of our specialty groups, but he’s a guy we know can get after the quarterback. That’s what we need to see more than anything else.”
