Antonio Morales covers USC football for The Athletic. He also spent two years covering preps for the Orange County Register and Torrance Daily Breeze. 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. Find out which 3 #USC players go to the Bears in an NBC Sports Chicago mock draft. 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. 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. Some of the stuff I was about to say, he was already thinking. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Want to keep up with all the latest FAU football and recruiting news? Texas run defense didnt suffer in that time either. 1 teach us about the units new direction? Its the reason one of the worst defenses in program history in 2016 transformed into one of the best with the same players in college football's most potent offensive conference. Orlando took a job as the linebackers coach and assistant head coach at Texas Tech soon after. 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. 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. 2. Against the more run-heavy approaches from USC, Oklahoma and Kansas State, Orlando utilized his traditional blend of nickel defense, moving quarters coverages and zone blitzes. Theres a little bit of schematics into it. A Michigan native and University of Michigan graduate, Kartje previously wrote for Fox Sports Wisconsin and the Bloomington (Ind.) 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. The 2015 and '16 Texas defenses had been defined by what could be called "youthful" linebacker play from former five-star recruit Malik Jefferson and former four-star Anthony Wheeler. Since L.T. You hear about soggy eggs and burnt toast, but its the pad popping thats the real story of these daily efforts. Texas also got produced seven sacks from the secondary because the experienced group on the back end was able to cover long enough for those deep blitzes to get home. Preparing for his first season as defensive coordinator at No. Orlando has a long coaching career with multiple stops across the country. 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. 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 took a linebacker off the field, added a third safety and unveiled Texas lightning package.. 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. Hes got that mindset. What is the current state of play for one of the elite QB prospects on the board? 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. I think hes in line to have a terrific year and have one of those elite years, head coach Clay Helton said of Taylor-Stuart. Tuli Tuipulotu, one of the stars of spring football, brings similar flexibility to the position. Before joining Tom Hermans staff at Texas, Orlando was viewed as a rising defensive mind in college football. Orlando said hes already adjusted his scheme, which relies on mixed fronts and aggressive blitzing, to fit USCs personnel. As the season progresses, look for true freshman Raesjon Davis to sneak his way into the starting lineup. - Darnold completed 57.1 percent of his passes against Texas (third worst of the year) and threw a season-high two picks. Until you go against live, at the end of the day youre not going to trick everybody in terms of your scheme, Orlando said. There are a lot of questions about how the Trojans offensive line will perform, but having Brett Neilon at center and Alijah Vera-Tucker at left tackle should help. In turn, this could mean the end of the road for Orlando in Southern California regardless of who takes the job as head coach of the Trojans. Continue reading Attacking the Tite Front. 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. Orlando sorts film breakdown by position. 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. It's pretty common for coordinators to double up as position coaches for the most important position on their unit. Gambling problem? The deepest position on the USC defense is safety. So in addition to having a blitz package, Orlando teaches his rover how to disguise insert blitzes through the A and B gaps. 3 Kansas on Saturday to close the regular season. Pili underwent surgery last week on some broken fingers, which forced him to miss the game. Theyre helping us as a coaching staff and that stuff, you cant put a price on those things.. He said of Orlandos teaching, He has one of those play calls where its constant blitzes. 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. Gone were the inside linebackers who were so effective as blitzers. One of the key subplots to USC's season opener against Arizona State is the performance of the Trojans' defense, more specifically the secondary. Herman wanted a coordinator capable of calling a multiple defense, and Orlando fit that bill. Johnson and Wheeler added another 17 run stuffs combined as the linebacker position went from being a major deficit to a team strength. 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. Behind them, USC has transfers like Xavion Alford and Chris Thompson, not to mention a slew of freshmen. Orlando is a linebackers coach in a defense that asks the linebackers to be the primary playmakers on the team. Aside from one spring practice, the intricacies of his scheme were installed only over Zoom. The only two Pac-12 schools behind them are Cal and winless Arizona. Greg Johnson is the veteran returner at nickel back. 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). The coaches threw the entire . You have to use those guys. 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. 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. Most defensive coaches can recognize the usefulness of the front, but one thing is clear, Spread offenses will try and figure it out. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. 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 more you put in, the more you get out.. The Times first reported his hiring Monday. Previously, he spent three years at the Clarion Ledger in Mississippi, where he covered Ole Miss for two seasons and Jackson State for another. He said on the first day of practice that it was clear these guys knew more than they would have coming into a fall camp in a normal year, which is quite a statement when you consider they didnt have a spring. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Herman said Orlando would be the first assistant in his foxhole. But we understood why we were running it. But it can look that way. It didnt matter much. When we sat down and started to talk it was just so similar, Orlando told 247Sports. Even former Big 12 Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury got a head coaching job with the Cardinals on nothing more than his offensive acumen. I just feel 3-4 didnt let us showcase our abilities the way we wanted to. Former Texas DE Malcolm Roach criticizes Todd Orlandos scheme, Quick thoughts from No. 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. Cornerback is a different situation. That wasnt happening before Hermans arrival in Austin. 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. 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. I would have loved to be in a 4-3, Roach told Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth-Star Telegram. Innovation comes from desperation, and in the offensive gauntlet that is the Big 12, it has created an evolutionary playground for defensive (and offensive) football. A simplified picture combined with an athletic QB who could improvise if things got hairy made the spread offense absolutely deadly. looks seen in many Power Spread offenses. Orlando, 47, is considered a rising head coaching candidate, and his contract reflects that. Lack of preparation, scheme and just overall performance is all tied in, but it hasnt been a good effort whatsoever. The former is built on repetitive contact. They also began to move Hager into different alignments that made the most of his ability to drop into coverage or work around the edge in conjunction with his ability and willingness to crash into tackles from an inside alignment. The guy could be a linebacker coach. FAU's defense ranked 50th in the country in 2019.In 2021 FAU's defense had its up and downs, ranking 99th against the pass, 75th against the run, and 86th overall, but was in the top 50 in scoring defense. Even further, turn on a Cowboys or Seahawks game and you are likely to see multiple ways to run the Zone or Arc Read. USC needs more size, speed and athleticism at every level of its defense. 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. It makes a QB think, said Texas senior defensive endCharles Omenihu. One need only look at Texas Oct. 21 matchup with Oklahoma State for an example. Continue reading Simulated Pressures From a Positionless Defense (2019 Sugar Bowl). A Michigan native and University of Michigan graduate, Kartje previously wrote for Fox Sports Wisconsin and the Bloomington (Ind.) Herman just needed to know if the pair would mesh personally. The trickle-up effect is in full swing. This is where the separation begins.. 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. Todd Orlando seems very confident that the extra time they were afforded to work on film, to work on installing that scheme, really did help them. As defensive coordinator at Houston in 2015 and 2016, he oversaw a defense that finished 20th and 13th in the nation in yards allowed. Last. Clancy Pendergast there wasnt a lot of mystery to his defense. Hes at his best when hes trying to get into the backfield, and thats what he was mainly asked to do on Saturday. The beauty within Orlandos use of interchangeable players allows him to stay within packages, but get different pre-snap looks. Drake Jackson, who spent last season as more of a strict defensive end, shed 25 pounds and shifted into a hybrid linebacker role. Every week is a challenge. Thats in large part due to the variance of the offensive minds. Herald-Times. If you dont, its going to be limited. Here is where USCs struggles against the run and its short rotation, particularly on the defensive line, tie together. Phone. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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. Pac-12 reporter and columnist Jon Wilner, on the first episode of our USC Trojans: Wired Podcast, responded to those questions as follows: The two units that require the highest level of cohesiveness take quarterback out are the offensive line and the secondary. 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 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. The Cowboys averaged more yards passing than any team in the country. In that game, the Longhorns consistently confused a seasoned and well-coached offensive line, garnering two sacks and seven tackles for loss (TFLs). Todd Orlando remembers feeling bad for Tom Herman. This allows the B backer to be a free player and essentially go get the football! The Longhorns base with a true Nickel as well, and align him opposite the Jack, primarily with the passing strength. Facing an offense that averaged 45 points per game, fourth nationally, Orlando reversed one of the core principles of his defensive philosophy. https://trojanswire.usatoday.com/2021/10/13/todd-orlandos-defense-has-been-getting-exposed-all-year-long/. The Longhorns base out of a 3-4 that utilizes the Tite Front (404) and a stand-up hybrid DE to the weak side, or away from the passing strength (this is Mint in Saban-speak). Thats important to me. In this years (2018) THSCA Football Lecture, Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart attributed his use of the Tite Front and how he played the secondary behind it to his meeting with Texas own, Todd Orlando. Nothing went right for Texas and the principles Orlando instilled all offseason seemed to evaporate. You get those guys in the program, they make us all look great. No. Orlando is known run the 3-3-5 defense, which has grown in popularity in college football with the evolution of the spread offense. Get full team previews, schedules, scouting reports, conference predictions, and national rankings. Their rotation would be a bit deeper, too. After the opening weekend for USC, things looked good for the Trojans. Stanley, he has natural mobility. Thats not to say those seven months were for naught. How you practice around here is going to be how many reps you get, Orlando said. Jackson played with his hand in the ground a bit, just not as frequently as he did last season. 20 Southern California, however, has been different because of the coronavirus pandemic. 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. Todd Orlando was announced as USC's defensive coordinator Friday, ending a lengthy search for Clancy Pendergast 's replacement that had dragged into its fourth week. There has been a critical error on this website. Even the NFL saw many of its teams embrace a more open style of play. Orlando's rover is typically one of the team leaders in sacks as a result of this strategy. Spread offenses search for the B gap because that is where the conflicted player usually is for a defense. But after successfully rebuilding the Texas defense in his first season, the Longhorns experienced a sharp defensive downturn in 2019. 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. The Chargers based out of it for a whole game! Todd Orlando has plenty of experience arriving at a new school and installing his defensive scheme for the first time. 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? A good run defense has been a calling card of. The defense has numbers and is plus-one on the pulling guard. 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. From there, the hits dont stop. That establishment between Orlando and his team started in earnest following the Longhorns worst defensive effort of the season, a 51-41 loss to Maryland in Week 1. The Horns look to close out the inaugural season at the Moody Center with a 17-1 record. With his ability to teach fundamentals to raw athletes, train and equip defenders to attack offenses with disguise and pressure and adapt his tactics around the strengths of his roster, Orlando is proving to be a cutting-edge coordinator. Figueroa had a breakout 2020 season and since then has added 15 pounds of muscle to give himself the flexibility to line up at his natural defensive end position or slide inside to play tackle. 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. That's what Orlando labels coachings million dollar question. One of his favorite ways to do this is with his overload blitzes off the edges. Under Orlando's direction last season, Texas run defense jumped to eighth nationally from 76th the year prior. I said I understood why we were running what we ran.. that headline is click bate..but Ill learn how to word things differently so my words cant be mixed up. While some players struggled to learn virtually, he said the extra time spent installing and discussing the defense led to an especially sharp first week. No. 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. As of Thursday morning, it has apparently filled out the rest of its coaching staffit has apparently filled out the rest of its The numbers back up that decision, as Texas tied for 66th nationally with 27 sacks in 2019, down five from 2018. 9 Texas hosts No. #FightOn pic.twitter.com/Jorj04g0b6, Orlando will take over a talented Trojans defense that progressively declined over Pendergasts four seasons. They handled the defending Mountain West champion San Jose State Spartans with ease. If you practice soft, youre going to play soft, Orlando said. Orlando needs opposing offenses to be one-dimensional, and against great quarterbacks that means sacrificing numbers in the box. A Pasadena native, he currently lives in the South Bay. But returning veterans on the roster like safety Isaiah Pola-Mao and defensive end Nick Figueroa have made a point of helping the young players come along and be ready to contribute in 2021. 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. 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. Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress. The time is now! The result was a hurried throw from Daniels, an incompletion on fourth down, and a victory for USC. On Arizona States final possession, Orlando went back to the 1-4-6 look for the entire drive. 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. That was the biggest thing that we got caught up in, not using our weapons to our full advantage. 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. In McVays offense, the use of quick motions, multiple formations, and what seems to be an Air Raid-ish passing game has given NFL defenses fits all year. If you take what he says at face value there, maybe they shouldnt be too worried about the additional wrinkles making things confusing or leading to miscommunications. How do you get your players to play hard? Follow Antonio on Twitter @AntonioCMorales. The real issues went beneath the surface. Two things generally forced USC to shift out of its base defense. (Top photo: Jose Marin / MarinMedia Pool for USC Athletics). Gone were the experienced players in the secondary who could force the quarterback to hold the ball for an extra second or two. His defensive system poses an extreme challenge to offenses., You cant practice soft and play hard.New DC Todd Orlando is looking to up the physicality on the USC practice field. Arizona State still had some success against this front with a 17-yard touchdown run in the third quarter against the look. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. We just had to learn to embrace it, and now we look forward to it.. 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. 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. Drake Jackson, who spent last season as more of a strict defensive. The Big 12 is not new to the concept of smaller faster players playing on the defensive side of the ball. In the illustration above, the play side offensive tackle will either have to handle the 4i by himself or rely on the guard for a double team. Defensive coach Todd Orlando of the Texas Longhorns reacts during play against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second . Defenses that base out of the Tite Front dont mind the bounce because their speedy (and usually free)LBs can now chase down the RB while its overhangs box everything back inside (think of them like the Double Eagles wide-9s). 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. Todd Orlandoremembers feeling bad forTom Herman. For most of training camp, Jackson was limited by a hamstring issue, which caused some worry for Orlando, who thought the lack of reps might impact the edge rushers tackling. We are excited to have Todd join our Trojan football program, USC coach Clay Helton said in a release. This season has not gone according to plan for anybody, especially the defense, and major changes will be headed USCs way. Two Former NBA Players Receive Prison Sentences For Fraud Scheme. Before arriving at Utah State in 2013, Orlando traditionally ran a four-down front. I do think that is the gambit this season with the defense: You have to risk the fact that while there may be some miscommunications, and maybe its getting a little too complicated, also that complication is what could give this defense a leg up from past defenses USC has fielded. You look toward the tail end of the game, our intent was to bring enough guys we could go at least six (defenders) for six (blockers) on them and force them to throw the football.. Its OKto fail, man. LOS ANGELES (AP) Todd Orlando has plenty of experience arriving at a new school and installing his defensive scheme for the first time. The inside LB corp consists of a Mike and what is referred to as a B backer. The Tite Front was all the rage during the 2017 season. A fourth linebacker released off the line can more easily pursue the football on outside runs and defend quick passes on the edge. 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. 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. Hell then put on a video with several examples. The Longhorns seemed to never really find a home base on defense. The Longhorns created four total sacks (averaged 2.33 a game). Is USC defense ready to take a leap in Year 2 under Todd Orlando? 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. Or what type of player they would be getting because of the scheme we ran. By Coachlamons @nukeit1981 Dec. Theres no backside meetings. In 2019, that all fell apart. Bastrop Cedar Creek defensive end Alfred Collins said new defensive coordinator Chris Ashs even front as a reason why he signed earlier this month. Defenses in the Leauge were getting scored on at a historic rate. But Orlando paid Herman, a former QB coach, an even higher compliment than that. He knows the tendencies of the receivers, the quarterbacks, the linemen, what they have to offer. That will change Saturday, as USC takes on San Jose State in the 2021 season opener. Schematically, Orlando excels because hes aggressive and prepared. Then Utah State's defensive coordinator, Orlando flew to Columbus, Ohio to interview with Herman for Houston's defensive coordinator job. But beyond those six players, USC has question marks. It is not going to be participation awards. His defensive coordinator would be Todd Orlando., hiring him from Florida International. A safety begins with his role in installation before even glancing at another spot. The football bona fides were clear. USC coach Clay Helton says hes noticed benefits from the Trojans unprecedented start to an unusual, pandemic-shortened season. One of the areas in which Orlando has excelled as a teacher is in the art of disguising pressures and dictating to opponents with stop calls. 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. Arizona State realized that early, and its two main running backs, DeaMonte Trayanum and Rachaad White, rushed 24 times for 160 yards against USC. The Iowa St. Cyclones rose from #103 in 2016 to a respectable #32in BCfToys efficiency rankings in 2017. I think its a smart move. Theyre not only making plays, but theyre trying to help other guys. 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.. Orlando served as Hermans DC for two years in Houston, coaching a pair of top 30 defenses. You have pass rushers out there, TaQuon Graham, Marqez Bimage, Joe Ossai guys that can get after the quarterback. Orlando walked into the interview room and saw his Aggie defensive film already on the screen.