Safeties Talanoa Hufanga and Isaiah Pola-Mao are expected to take on more active roles in directing the defense. 20 Southern California, however, has been different because of the coronavirus pandemic. This is where the separation begins.. A good run defense has been a calling card of Orlandos units at his previous stops. Hes at his best when hes trying to get into the backfield, and thats what he was mainly asked to do on Saturday. In fact, Todd Orlandos defense is towards the bottom of the conference in points allowed per game, per SportsPac12s latest. However, that was so long ago and feels like a lifetime. Now they brought in a new staff, giving those guys the opportunity to rush the passer and show what they have.. To me, hes a special player, Orlando said. Theres no favoritism. In the concluding 2019 Pressure Tape review, MQ will breakdown three Longhorn pressures against the now-famous LSU offenses (one of the best in history). A good run defense has been a calling card of. Theres a little bit of schematics into it. Were going to have to work the heck out of this. 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 offseason plan was to mold Jefferson into the next star rover for Orlando, but circumstances over the course of the season resulted in Jefferson moving to the "mac" position to make room for fellow speedster and junior college transfer Gary Johnson. 1 teach us about the units new direction? On several occasions, the Trojans walked a safety up into the box, mainly Talanoa Hufanga, in order to have seven players near the line of scrimmage for run support. Until you go against live, at the end of the day youre not going to trick everybody in terms of your scheme, Orlando said. LOS ANGELES USC has its new defensive coordinator, Todd Orlando. 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. The Longhorns created four total sacks (averaged 2.33 a game). Most recently, Orlando coached at USC for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Weve got to be mindful of the stuff were doing or asking him to do. Orlandos scheme isnt complicated at least by memorization standards. 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. Though Todd Orlando's (DC, USC) time at Texas came to a screeching halt after the 2019 regular season, one thing is clear, the man can create pressure. 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. Orlando's rover is typically one of the team leaders in sacks as a result of this strategy. His role evolves into something else over these next few weeks. Orlando took a job as the linebackers coach and assistant head coach at Texas Tech soon after. Todd Orlandoremembers feeling bad forTom Herman. USC has officially found the new face of its defense. USC had problems getting aligned on Saturday, and one of its alignment busts led to an Arizona State touchdown in the second quarter. Todd Orlando was announced as USCs defensive coordinator Friday, ending a lengthy search for Clancy Pendergasts replacement that had dragged into its fourth week. The only two Pac-12 schools behind them are Cal and winless Arizona. He knows the tendencies of the receivers, the quarterbacks, the linemen, what they have to offer. The Trojans were also missing Brandon Pili, an experienced senior who would have definitely been in the rotation, on Saturday. 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The numbers back up that decision, as Texas tied for 66th nationally with 27 sacks in 2019, down five from 2018. The defensive line lost more bodies in the offseason when Jacob Lichtenstein opted out of the season, and it was announced that Trevor Trouts season (and possibly his career) would be over with a back injury. Twitter: @tcpfootballIn this video, we learn about the origins of USC Football's Defensive Coordinator Todd Orlando's defense. College football was temporarily revolutionized when hurry-up spread teams began to perfect the art of sending signals from the sideline to the field, allowing coordinators to make audibles and adjustments on behalf of their players. As expected, USC hired Todd Orlando as its defensive coordinator on Friday. Herman just needed to know if the pair would mesh personally. Every week is a challenge. Thats in large part due to the variance of the offensive minds. He is an experienced and successful defensive coordinator who has made an impact everywhere he has coached.. With Drake Jackson now listed as a linebacker and primarily playing in a standup role, USCs base is essentially a 3-3-5. 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. 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. After the opening weekend for USC, things looked good for the Trojans. At Texas, Orlando was inheriting a linebacker crew that was long on talent and exceptionally short on know-how. 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. It's a testament to what a normal offseason has done for second-year coordinator Todd Orlando and his ability to install the defense and instill the mentality he wants from his players.. Since then, the USC defense has been getting torched time and time again, with their worst performance arguably against Oregon State as the Beavers ran for over 300 yards to upset them in Los Angeles. To me, thats recruiting. 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 Spread offense has touched every corner of college football. football@usc.edu. Lack of preparation, scheme and just overall performance is all tied in, but it hasnt been a good effort whatsoever. Texas junior defensive endMalcolm Roachsaid an Orlando film session is everything youd want it to be. That means a detail-oriented outlook focused to the point where Orlando will call out a player for a 12-inch step instead of a 6-inch one. Texas goal is to play fast on defense, forcing opposing QB to play slow. In watching ITS throughout this fall camp and knowing that he has a sense of urgency to really capture that position as well as be elite at it has been really nice to see.. Theyre not only making plays, but theyre trying to help other guys. 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. Once I left, I thought we were one and the same.. Rigid positional structures are giving way to a more fluid style of play. Every time USC football scrimmaged, there was one side of the ball that dominated much of the live periods: the defense. From this ultra-quick 3-2-6 package, the Longhorns then unleashed a small part of Orlando's third-down package with such tremendous force that they started calling it every play against Oklahoma State and then expanded it over the rest of the season into a new base defense. Defenses in the Leauge were getting scored on at a historic rate. I just feel 3-4 didnt let us showcase our abilities the way we wanted to. He dropped into coverage just twice against Arizona State, by The Athletics very unofficial count. He wants his defenders to fly to the football. 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. Texas special assistant to the head coach Gary Patterson stepping down from role. The trickle-up effect is in full swing. Gambling problem? But players say Orlandos greatest strength is the ability to break down complicated concepts into digestible pieces. 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. 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. The Iowa St. Cyclones rose from #103 in 2016 to a respectable #32in BCfToys efficiency rankings in 2017. If that sounds like thinking, its because it is. Boca Raton will not be the first time Orlando coaches in South Florida. Johnson and Wheeler added another 17 run stuffs combined as the linebacker position went from being a major deficit to a team strength. Drake Jackson, who spent last season as more of a strict defensive end, shed 25 pounds and shifted into a hybrid linebacker role. He brings a passion, energy, toughness and discipline to his coaching, Helton said, and those characteristics were evident in our discussions. 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. It wasnt all about the front either, the use of Match 3 (Rip/Liz) and the rebirth/redesign of the (Dime) Tampa 2, was a big contributor to how teams attacked the Longhorns, Cyclones, and Bulldogs. 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. The way you practice is the amount of plays youre going to get. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Want to keep up with all the latest FAU football and recruiting news? He has a system that allows his talented players to play freely, said Baylor head coachMatt Rhule. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Without a Spring Camp to provide real first-hand understanding of Todd Orlando's defensive scheme as well as Vic So'oto's preferences as defensive line coach, these are best guesses. 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. 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. But Orlando paid Herman, a former QB coach, an even higher compliment than that. 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. Saban has finally embraced the change as well, throwing the ball more than he ever has before with Tua Tagovailoa. 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. 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. That style of play didnt transfer to the NFL and the NFL didnt understand what type of player this guy was. Preparing for his first season as defensive coordinator at No. We just had to learn to embrace it, and now we look forward to it.. In an interview posted on the schools Twitter account, Orlando promised that his USC defenses would be aggressive and attack people., I really believe that in todays game, creating negative yardage plays, attacking the quarterback, turnovers, all those things go into creating explosive plays on defense, Orlando said. How do you get your players to play hard? 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. Herman's offense is a spread system focused on running the ball downhill, primarily with inside zone runs, and he found 3-4 defenses that played quarters coverage like Orlando's to be the toughest schemes to deal with while at Ohio State. On Arizona States final possession, Orlando went back to the 1-4-6 look for the entire drive. We try to take the philosophy of trying to make people one-dimensional, run the football on you and control the clock, because, in my opinion, there are less mistakes made on you when you turn around and hand the ball off and they can get seven or eight yards.. 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. We are excited to have Todd join our Trojan football program, USC coach Clay Helton said in a release. Ryan Kartje is the USC beat writer at the Los Angeles Times. 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. Their rotation would be a bit deeper, too. Orlando's favorite scheme against the run in his multiple 3-4. As I wrote in early 2019 after Texas defeated Georgia, Orlando's defense uses hybrid players and different alignments to put pressure on offenses. You have to use those guys. Orlando needs opposing offenses to be one-dimensional, and against great quarterbacks that means sacrificing numbers in the box. USC played just five defensive linemen against Arizona State. In reality, Texas players say their responsibilities change little from week to week. Be sure to follow us on Twitter at: @Owls247, @MarinelliShane, and @TheKevinFielder. 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. Today will be the day, Orlando said Wednesday morning. There's no better way to demonstrate that than to look at howTexas defended the run. But instead of sending four rushers, USC sent six (Figueroa, the four linebackers and Hufanga) on the final three plays, which forced Daniels, who rushed for 111 yards, to beat the Trojans with his arm. 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. That's what Orlando labels coachings million dollar question. Orlando usually sent four rushers when he used this package early in the game, and Sun Devils quarterback Jayden Daniels took advantage of the pressure on the first drive by ripping off a 38-yard run. But the Trojans just had a full, traditional offseason, from spring football to summer conditioning, creating Todd Orlando remembers feeling bad for Tom Herman. 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. Through it all, Orlandos stayed on Hermans staff. He did some things out there that were pretty special.. 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. 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. He beats the tackle clean, forces the throw fast and its an incomplete. Theres no backside meetings. The Trojans defense held the Spartans to only seven points on the game, and things seemed to be going well in Southern California. Feb 18, 2023 . It also means Orlandos weekly priority of taking away what he calls "game wreckers" is even more imperative. He was more of Well keep things simple, well do the same stuff. 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. Its a combination that spurred a defensive transformation at Texas. 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. If you practice soft, youre going to play soft, Orlando said. Todd Orlando looks to bring more physicality to USC's defense this year. Written by Ian Boyd (@Ian_A_Boyd)for Athlon Sports. If the offense doesn't even know where the overload is coming from or who's dropping into coverage unless they can figure it out after the snap, they're more likely to have their own weak spots exposed than they are to hammer a favorable matchup with a pinpoint pass or run. What is the current state of play for one of the elite QB prospects on the board? The Longhorns were putrid in 2015 and 2016, allowing the third- and sixth-most rushing yards in school history. Herman brought Orlando along with him to Texas, where a brilliant Year 1 netted the Longhorns defensive coordinator a raise to $1.7 million per year through the 2021 season. Get your first month for $1. 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.) Coach Todd Orlando of the USC Trojans during USC football practice at the University of Southern California on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. Its OKto fail, man. Hes got that mindset. Jackson played with his hand in the ground a bit, just not as frequently as he did last season. I just feel like now that burden is on me, being the veteran.. The Trojans considered other candidates before settling on Orlando, even getting as far as discussing the parameters of a potential contract with Rams linebackers coach Joe Barry. 9 Texas pummels No. 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. None of that stuff. We need everyone to execute at the utmost level to make things work. We all saw how that worked. The familiarity with the opponent will be gone. The Aggies also ranked fourth in the country in sacks in 2014 with 50. Hands-on coaching was limited to distanced learning. The Chargers based out of it for a whole game!