Texas defensive coordinator Todd Orlando addressed media members on Wednesday after practice. Orlando took full ownership for his unit’s defensive performance against Maryland in the season opener.
Here are the highlights of Orlando’s availability:
- Orlando on what he learned about his defense after Saturday’s performance: “When you go back, during it, and then when you’re watching it about 50 times, like I said beforehand, it’s on me. It’s on me. These kids played hard. They did the things. We need to clean up some of the fundamental work. That was the biggest thing. I told them, let’s not make this game define who we are.”
- In addition, Orlando told his players not to let Maryland beat them twice.
- Orlando said the number one area he would like to see improvement is perimeter support. That issue was addressed on Sunday with a 20 to 25-minute run-through. There is also eye discipline that needs to be cleaned up.
- The defense played on Saturday was pretty simple, according to Orlando: “I wouldn’t say it was to the point it was so vanilla, but it was not overwhelming. You expect that in first ball games. That’s one thing that we’re very mindful of. Big crowd, kids want to prove something. You don’t want to have too many wrinkles here and there, or do stuff that you’re teaching a week, a week-and-a-half.”
- Texas missed between 15 to 20 tackles on Saturday, which was extremely high, according to Orlando.
- However, Orlando said it was very therapeutic to hit the field on Tuesday and reestablish their identify, fundamentals and technique.
- When asked which guys played well, Orlando noted cornerback Holton Hill and linebacker Malik Jefferson. Orlando said he saw Jefferson cut it loose a few times.
- Here is Orlando’s response when asked if he will play more guys on Saturday: “This week we will because we’ll have to. Ten seconds a play. When they [San Jose State] played South Florida, they ran 92 plays. When they played Cal Poly, because Cal Poly is more of a running team, it was a little bit less. But, we’re thinking we’re going to see 92 plays, 95 plays. So, we’re going to have to [play more people on defense]. We’re going to rotate guys in there.”
- Orlando on the message to players: “I think what ends up happening is when you get into some hard times, it’s fight or flee. You look at it and say to yourself, this is the course. This wins us championships. Is it going to be hard? Is this a setback? Absolutely. Our deal is, this is what shows what we’re about. This coming week, this ball game is going to show everybody in the country, ‘Hey, do these guys have the grit to win a championship?’ It’s easy to get on a bandwagon. It’s easy to celebrate when things are going great, but when stuff is really hard, it’s who’s going to be there? Who’s going to be there shoulder to shoulder? Are you going to turn around, we’re about to get into a fight, and I can’t find my buddy? He took off. This is what we’re going to find out this week. Honestly, Tuesday’s practice was as good of a practice as we’ve had around here. Today, was a good practice, too. The kids responded the way we wanted to. You talk about we’re not changing. It goes into doing a routine, a consistent routine that has testimony. That wins championships. It’s really easy when you get knocked around a little bit to sit there and questions and analyze. Well, we’re not going to do that. Our kids are starting to understand that when adversity hits, you square it up. You square it up and you go after it.”
- Here is Orlando on the players-only meeting: “I think when you get into those situations, that’s the decision of the head coach. I know this, being a family, and being a family member, if they wanted to get together and Tom’s the one that makes the final call … me, personally, in terms of those guys wants to get together and rally each other, and say, ‘Hey, listen, this is what we need to get accomplished,’ I think that’s very healthy. They wouldn’t have had it if Tom didn’t think so, too.”
- Orlando described quarterback Sam Ehlinger as a scrappy dude: “I love everything about him. Straight-A student. If I could play him at linebacker, I’d play him at linebacker. I’m sure he would want to play linebacker, to be honest with you. That’s what kind of dude he is. Love that kid.”
Here are the highlights of Orlando’s availability:
- Orlando on what he learned about his defense after Saturday’s performance: “When you go back, during it, and then when you’re watching it about 50 times, like I said beforehand, it’s on me. It’s on me. These kids played hard. They did the things. We need to clean up some of the fundamental work. That was the biggest thing. I told them, let’s not make this game define who we are.”
- In addition, Orlando told his players not to let Maryland beat them twice.
- Orlando said the number one area he would like to see improvement is perimeter support. That issue was addressed on Sunday with a 20 to 25-minute run-through. There is also eye discipline that needs to be cleaned up.
- The defense played on Saturday was pretty simple, according to Orlando: “I wouldn’t say it was to the point it was so vanilla, but it was not overwhelming. You expect that in first ball games. That’s one thing that we’re very mindful of. Big crowd, kids want to prove something. You don’t want to have too many wrinkles here and there, or do stuff that you’re teaching a week, a week-and-a-half.”
- Texas missed between 15 to 20 tackles on Saturday, which was extremely high, according to Orlando.
- However, Orlando said it was very therapeutic to hit the field on Tuesday and reestablish their identify, fundamentals and technique.
- When asked which guys played well, Orlando noted cornerback Holton Hill and linebacker Malik Jefferson. Orlando said he saw Jefferson cut it loose a few times.
- Here is Orlando’s response when asked if he will play more guys on Saturday: “This week we will because we’ll have to. Ten seconds a play. When they [San Jose State] played South Florida, they ran 92 plays. When they played Cal Poly, because Cal Poly is more of a running team, it was a little bit less. But, we’re thinking we’re going to see 92 plays, 95 plays. So, we’re going to have to [play more people on defense]. We’re going to rotate guys in there.”
- Orlando on the message to players: “I think what ends up happening is when you get into some hard times, it’s fight or flee. You look at it and say to yourself, this is the course. This wins us championships. Is it going to be hard? Is this a setback? Absolutely. Our deal is, this is what shows what we’re about. This coming week, this ball game is going to show everybody in the country, ‘Hey, do these guys have the grit to win a championship?’ It’s easy to get on a bandwagon. It’s easy to celebrate when things are going great, but when stuff is really hard, it’s who’s going to be there? Who’s going to be there shoulder to shoulder? Are you going to turn around, we’re about to get into a fight, and I can’t find my buddy? He took off. This is what we’re going to find out this week. Honestly, Tuesday’s practice was as good of a practice as we’ve had around here. Today, was a good practice, too. The kids responded the way we wanted to. You talk about we’re not changing. It goes into doing a routine, a consistent routine that has testimony. That wins championships. It’s really easy when you get knocked around a little bit to sit there and questions and analyze. Well, we’re not going to do that. Our kids are starting to understand that when adversity hits, you square it up. You square it up and you go after it.”
- Here is Orlando on the players-only meeting: “I think when you get into those situations, that’s the decision of the head coach. I know this, being a family, and being a family member, if they wanted to get together and Tom’s the one that makes the final call … me, personally, in terms of those guys wants to get together and rally each other, and say, ‘Hey, listen, this is what we need to get accomplished,’ I think that’s very healthy. They wouldn’t have had it if Tom didn’t think so, too.”
- Orlando described quarterback Sam Ehlinger as a scrappy dude: “I love everything about him. Straight-A student. If I could play him at linebacker, I’d play him at linebacker. I’m sure he would want to play linebacker, to be honest with you. That’s what kind of dude he is. Love that kid.”
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