perspective, he's found Orlando to be a gem of an assistant for a variety of reasons. Senior middle linebackerGary Johnsoncame from a junior college in 2016 where the scheme was significantly less complex. Be sure to follow us on Twitter at: @Owls247, @MarinelliShane, and @TheKevinFielder. In 2021 most defensive coaches will tell you their defensive schemes are "multiple,'' which is true to a degree. 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. I love TO hes one of the smartest defensive minds I ever played for.. Imagine if this actually happens. He did some things out there that were pretty special.. A good run defense has been a calling card of Orlandos units at his previous stops. Get full team. Herman starts most practices with a variation of the circle drill (essentially a one-on-one meeting in a small space that Herman calls out one by one) to ramp up the energy. Orlando is widely considered a fast-rising coach in the industry, and players, like Roach, say Orlando should be a head coach someday. The deepest position on the USC defense is safety. 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). 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. But Barry and USC opted not to continue their discussions, and Orlando became the leading candidate. Gone were the inside linebackers who were so effective as blitzers. Thats what practice is about. 'Different in a good way': USC DC Todd Orlando on installing a scheme Fail big.. He also coaches the linebackers. 3 Kansas. It could afford to, considering Arizona State wasnt making it pay through the air. In fact, they often had little to no idea how to defend the run in Texas' exotic defenses, and the Longhorns were regularly trashed by teams with multiple run games that could cause confusion. It made it a lot easier for me to make that decision (to stay).. We just had to learn to embrace it, and now we look forward to it.. 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. Its three starters (Marlon Tuipulotu, Tremblay and Figueroa) and two backups (Tuli Tuipulotu and Stanley Taufoou) were the only ones who saw action. Theyre helping us as a coaching staff and that stuff, you cant put a price on those things.. 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. No. Its not likely to last forever. Theres no backside meetings. The Big 12 is not new to the concept of smaller faster players playing on the defensive side of the ball. Then, facing the ultra-explosive Oklahoma State offense, he made a big change to his defensive structure that probably revolutionized his own philosophy and perhaps changed prevailing best practices across the college game from here on out. Theyve been physical in the run game but they all kind of complement each other.. 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 football bona fides were clear. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. No. Texas OL spring preview: Here are your big humans, Despite recent struggles, bracketology projections still like the Longhorns, Longhorns Daily News: Former Texas HC Charlie Strong joins Alabama, Nick Saban as defensive analyst, Longhorns Daily News: Texas alum Bijan Robinson is toughest player Alabamas Will Andersons played against in college career. Texas goal is to play fast on defense, forcing opposing QB to play slow. Texas would not allow more than 29 points the rest of the season in regulation. Like Iowa State, Texas has a three-safety Dime package that they utilize against pass-heavy offenses (think Kingburys Tech) or in obvious pass downs where Orlando wants to drop eight and flood the zones. The former is built on repetitive contact. At the same time, it causes a lot of controversy for the guys on offense.. 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. At Utah State, where he worked in 2013 and 2014, Orlandos defenses also finished in the nations top 20 in fewest points allowed. Not all of its issues were alignment-related though. We see how he got his start c. The notion that the Big 12 doesnt play defense is false. 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. The Longhorns seemed to never really find a home base on defense. Orlando is known run the 3-3-5 defense, which has grown in popularity in college football with the evolution of the spread offense. The pairing, if things break right, could bring Texas back to where it expects to be annually. Theyre not only making plays, but theyre trying to help other guys. Former Texas DE Malcolm Roach criticizes Todd Orlando's scheme Texas blows lead against Cal State Fullerton in 6-5 loss. Orlando told his team, Its my fault. The real issues went beneath the surface. 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. Click here to buy a copy today or visit your local newsstand! None of that stuff. Put together, bad luck and some poor choices cost Orlando his job, in no small part because the defensive line wasnt positioned for success. At the three traditional LB spots, converted safety Raymond Scott has grabbed control of the outside backer spot while Kanai and Ralen Goforth return inside. Arizona, the Trojans opponent this weekend, had its first game canceled, so its difficult to predict what the offense will look like, but USC can probably expect a heavy dose of running back Gary Brightwell, who is stepping in to replace the departed J.J. Taylor. Most people know what to expect from USCs offense from game to game. The initial conversations went well. If youre thinking in football, youre playing slow.. 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. USC had problems getting aligned on Saturday, and one of its alignment busts led to an Arizona State touchdown in the second quarter. Defensive coach Todd Orlando of the Texas Longhorns reacts during play against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second . After that hell usually return to the picture one last time before moving to the board to draw different concepts out of the same look. Orlando sorts film breakdown by position. The trickle-up effect is in full swing. When you get players who can make throws and can run, you have to be mindful, Orlando told reporters on Wednesday morning. This might be the most talented position group on the USC roster, but there are still some concerns. Once the guard pulls (the 4is key), he can chase and climb to the mesh. Odds & lines subject to change. 3 Kansas in 75-59 win. Playing defensive end Marqez Bimage in a similar role produced better results for Texas late in the season. Rigid positional structures are giving way to a more fluid style of play. A clearer picture of USCs new defense should crystallize in the coming days, with contact no longer limited. Lack of preparation, scheme and just overall performance is all tied in, but it hasnt been a good effort whatsoever. Continue reading Attacking the Tite Front. For instance, before the snap he might show a field overload to induce an audible from the offense only to drop those players back and bring the overload from the boundary: These styles of blitzes can really mess up an offense's protections, option reads, passing progressions or blocking schemes, but they have their own vulnerabilities, in particular the man coverage the defense tends to play behind them. Its 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, defensive coordinator tasked with toughening up a unit, Hes taken the next step: How Boogie Ellis found his game as USCs point guard, Boogie Ellis scores career high as USCs late rally falls short against high-powered Arizona, Roundtable: Our March Madness projections for UCLA, USC and others, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, Californias snowpack is approaching an all-time record, with more on the way, USC has a lot of work to do to find right combination on offensive line, Trojans adjusting to logistics of training camp during a pandemic, 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, Best coffee city in the world? 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. Orlando is now a handsomely paid football coach, in his third year as the Texas defensive coordinator having progressed up the career coaching ladder, from Penn to UConn to FIU to Utah State to. USC played just five defensive linemen against Arizona State. 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.. The Horns look to close out the inaugural season at the Moody Center with a 17-1 record. Its very unique, added Texas senior safetyP.J. 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. For example, to counteract the speed of the Ravens Lamar Jackson, the San Diego Chargers went uber-small and put up to SEVEN DBs on the field at a time. 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. How Todd Orlando's scheme will unleash the Texas LBs Preparing for his first season as defensive coordinator at No. The Chargers based out of it for a whole game! Because nobody will throw the ball on you, theyll just run it. But so far, its all been against an offense the USC defense knows very, very well. 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. This is something, until this year, fathomable only on a 3rd and Long or an end of a half situation in the NFL. The Iowa St. Cyclones rose from #103 in 2016 to a respectable #32in BCfToys efficiency rankings in 2017. Even further, turn on a Cowboys or Seahawks game and you are likely to see multiple ways to run the Zone or Arc Read. Orlando said hes already adjusted his scheme, which relies on mixed fronts and aggressive blitzing, to fit USCs personnel. 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. Then Utah States defensive coordinator, Orlando flew to Columbus, Ohio to interview with Herman for Houstons defensive coordinator job in January of 2015. Orlando now becomes the seventh defensive coordinator in seven seasons for FAU. If you allow that to happen and know its going to happen, thats a crime in my opinion. It took defenses a while to catch up, but Orlando is at the cutting edge with his defensive packages that can disrupt the process and even the playing field. https://trojanswire.usatoday.com/2020/11/06/todd-orlando-vs-arizona-state-a-central-pregame-question-for-usc/. Nothing went right for Texas and the principles Orlando instilled all offseason seemed to evaporate. Sign up for the Trojans Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. The diagram below illustrates the fronts usefulness versus a popular Spread play, the Power Read. Be sure to follow us on Twitter at: The time is now! It's pretty common for coordinators to double up as position coaches for the most important position on their unit. Hes got that mindset. (213) 740-4204. 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. Get your first month for $1. The numbers back up that decision, as Texas tied for 66th nationally with 27 sacks in 2019, down five from 2018. In that game, the Longhorns consistently confused a seasoned and well-coached offensive line, garnering two sacks and seven tackles for loss (TFLs). Defenses in the Leauge were getting scored on at a historic rate. Defensive Coordinator & Linebackers. One of his favorite ways to do this is with his overload blitzes off the edges. And as Saturday showed, thats a group with a long way to go. Before joining Tom Hermans staff at Texas, Orlando was viewed as a rising defensive mind in college football. Is USC defense ready to take a leap in Year 2 under Todd Orlando? Orlando first will bring up a picture to show the correct placement for a player. Gone were the experienced players in the secondary who could force the quarterback to hold the ball for an extra second or two. So what did game No. Bringing the Heat - by Cody Alexander - MatchQuarters - Substack Feb 18, 2023 . Safeties Talanoa Hufanga and Isaiah Pola-Mao are expected to take on more active roles in directing the defense. Today will be the day, Orlando said Wednesday morning. The modern spread offense is defined largely by quick-hitting pass plays, run/pass options and finally play-action shots that often feature six- or seven-man protections. By closing both B gaps, the offense has to either plug it up the A gap (which most Spread teams wont do) or run it outside. 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. The Cowboys averaged more yards passing than any team in the country. 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. It's a blitz defense that uses eight defensive backs, two. On Arizona States final possession, Orlando went back to the 1-4-6 look for the entire drive. Orlando has 15 years of experience as a collegiate defensive coordinator in total, with previous stops at Florida International and Connecticut. However, that was so long ago and feels like a lifetime. For a coach to sit there and put it on himself instead of the guys that were out there not executing the game plan, it shows he cares.. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Todd Orlando's defense has been getting exposed all year long I feel the 4-3 will help those guys to show their talents and more people will come out of Texas.. But we understood why we were running it. End Jacob Lichtenstein is expected to be a contributor this season, and freshman Korey Foreman will be ready on third down early in the season. 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. USC names Todd Orlando its new defensive coordinator 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. Visit our online store to order your copy. He wants to stop the run and make a defense one-dimensional. Yet, because of the way the Longhorns fly to the ball, it doesnt much matter that the numbers are pushed back. As the season progresses, look for true freshman Raesjon Davis to sneak his way into the starting lineup. Through spring and summer, the physical, hard-nosed brand of defense Todd Orlando promised to bring to USC remained strictly theoretical. His defensive coordinator would be Todd Orlando., hiring him from Florida International. Find out which 3 #USC players go to the Bears in an NBC Sports Chicago mock draft. Orlando has always been multiple, but it seemed like in the end there was just too much going on which was evident by Head Coach Tom Hermans decision to go with Chris Ash as the DC who is known for a simpler style reflecting Ohio State (with more of a Quarters base). 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. 20 Southern California, however, has been different because of the coronavirus pandemic. Todd Orlando (born March 24, 1971) is an American football coach. How you practice around here is going to be how many reps you get, Orlando said. 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. 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. Thats important to me. Is Todd Orlando's Big Picture Coming Into Focus? Orlandos scheme isnt complicated at least by memorization standards. That will change Saturday, as USC takes on San Jose State in the 2021 season opener. Their camp D was a 3-4, but once the season hit, the packages started to proliferate. Todd Orlando sees USC defense as work in progress Orlando will get his first chance to determine the impact of the tradeoff when the Trojans begin their truncated season . USC has officially found the new face of its defense. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Want to keep up with all the latest FAU football and recruiting news? He knows the tendencies of the receivers, the quarterbacks, the linemen, what they have to offer. At Texas, Orlando oversaw a defense that improved from 80th to 24th in points allowed. 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. It left a big void in our defensive line, experiencewise, Pili said. Orlando has previously doubled as linebackers coach, a position that USC split last season between Johnny Nansen, who coached inside linebackers, and Joe DeForest, who coached outside linebackers. Follow Antonio on Twitter @AntonioCMorales. A Pasadena native, he currently lives in the South Bay. Herman just needed to know if the pair would mesh personally. Get full team previews, schedules, scouting reports, conference predictions, and national rankings. Some of the stuff he was about to say, I was already thinking. When we sat down and started to talk it was just so similar, Orlando told 247Sports. Arizona State just out-executed the Trojans defense in the run game. Coach Todd Orlando of the USC Trojans during USC football practice at the University of Southern California on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. The timing between Daniels and his receivers was off all game. Then Utah State's defensive coordinator, Orlando flew to Columbus, Ohio to interview with Herman for Houston's defensive coordinator job. Once I left, I thought we were one and the same.. Toughness is for naught if the player and coach relationship isnt strong enough to offset those consistent practice blows. The Longhorns used lightning package variation the remainder of the season, allowing only 21 points per game the rest of the way. 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. 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. 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. Some of the stuff I was about to say, he was already thinking. One question I am asking to college football experts is this: Should Todd Orlando emphasize complexity of scheme or simplicity of scheme against Jayden Daniels and the Sun Devils on Saturday? 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. 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. But beyond those six players, USC has question marks. Were not going to know the answer to that question until Nov. 7, but Todd Orlando seems very confident this defense will have everything straightforward and understood., Sign up for the Trojans Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. 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. He is an experienced and successful defensive coordinator who has made an impact everywhere he has coached.. He spent just two weeks as an assistant in Lubbock, before Helton and USC came calling. Todd Orlando looks to bring more physicality to USC's defense this year. Orlando's new USC defense set to debut after pandemic delays The familiarity with the opponent will be gone. Herman said Orlando would be the first assistant in his foxhole. Orlando has a long coaching career with multiple stops across the country. It rotated just one inside linebacker (Kanai Mauga) in, and that was only for a handful of plays. Herman wanted a coordinator capable of calling a multiple defense, and Orlando fit that bill. 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. One key element I talked about in my latest book, Hybrids: The Making of a Modern Defense, is the use of a more positionless defensive gameplan going forward into the future. Through spring and summer, the physical, hard-nosed brand of defense Todd Orlando promised to bring to USC remained strictly theoretical. The 2019 National Championship saw a battle of Spread teams that featured two of the most efficient offenses in the country (and two of the best QBs as well). But structurally, in our opinion, its still so sound.. He also spent two years covering preps for the Orange County Register and Torrance Daily Breeze. During his time as defensive coordinator at Texas, his defense forced 65 turnovers and ranked in the top 10 nationally for . You would think its hard to learn, but he made it so simple.. 9 Texas pummels No.