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. Coach Orlando is a real guy, Johnson said. 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. One of the key subplots to USC's season opener against Arizona State is the performance of the Trojans' defense, more specifically the secondary. I feel the 4-3 will help those guys to show their talents and more people will come out of Texas.. Orlando has 15 years of experience as a collegiate defensive coordinator in total, with previous stops at Florida International and Connecticut. If that sounds like the start of a football romantic comedy, it isnt you wont find two more hard-nosed personalities than Orlando and Herman. This season has not gone according to plan for anybody, especially the defense, and major changes will be headed USCs way. Texas blows lead against Cal State Fullerton in 6-5 loss. The only two Pac-12 schools behind them are Cal and winless Arizona. Behind them, USC has transfers like Xavion Alford and Chris Thompson, not to mention a slew of freshmen. Though Todd Orlandos (DC, USC) time at Texas came to a screeching halt after the 2019 regular season, one thing is clear, the man can create pressure. The Longhorns used lightning package variation the remainder of the season, allowing only 21 points per game the rest of the way. Herman clearly agrees. USC defense has different feel in camp after full offseason Due to the pandemic, USC was unable to implement new defensive coordinator Todd Orlando's scheme in person before the 2020. You would think its hard to learn, but he made it so simple.. 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. DeForest left last month to coach at North Carolina State. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG) Up front, the Longhorns moved third-down specialist Breckyn Hager into one of the 4i-technique DE positions, where his scrappy playing style allowed him to battle bigger offensive linemen despite his smaller stature (6'2" 240). He brings a passion, energy, toughness and discipline to his coaching, Helton said, and those characteristics were evident in our discussions. Fail big.. The way you practice is the amount of plays youre going to get. USC essentially ran a 4-2 front last season under former defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast. When youre giving up that many rushing yards, thats not a good thing with us, Orlando said. If youre thinking in football, youre playing slow.. But so far, its all been against an offense the USC defense knows very, very well. Most recently, Orlando coached at USC for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He also coaches the linebackers. Through spring and summer, the physical, hard-nosed brand of defense Todd Orlando promised to bring to USC remained strictly theoretical. Considering how long players have had to learn the scheme, Orlando made clear he wont be as forgiving when it comes to forgetting assignments. Orlando now resides in Los Angeles with the USC Trojans and it will be interesting to see how the PAC 12 chooses to attack the Orlando system. Arizona State still had some success against this front with a 17-yard touchdown run in the third quarter against the look. 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.. He joined The Times after six years with the Southern California News Group. Todd Orlando was announced as USCs defensive coordinator Friday, ending a lengthy search for Clancy Pendergasts replacement that had dragged into its fourth week. No. And Charles Omenihu won the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year award in 2018 with 9.5 sacks playing in the same scheme that ultimately limited Orlandos last defense in Austin. 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. And that might just be the way it is moving forward. He knows the tendencies of the receivers, the quarterbacks, the linemen, what they have to offer. Senior middle linebackerGary Johnsoncame from a junior college in 2016 where the scheme was significantly less complex. If the Trojans are going to take a step forward as a program this season, its going to need its defense to make some serious progress. The two DEs (4is) in the B gaps close off the lifeline for every Spread team, the conflict gaps. As the season progresses, look for true freshman Raesjon Davis to sneak his way into the starting lineup. However, Orlando was stubborn in keeping his defensive ends playing heads up on opposing offensive tackles instead of giving them early-down opportunities from the five technique like James Lynch enjoyed at Baylor. Before joining Tom Hermans staff at Texas, Orlando was viewed as a rising defensive mind in college football. Orlandos defensive turnaround in Austin stems back to that interview in Columbus. Hes got that mindset. The Trojans were also missing Brandon Pili, an experienced senior who would have definitely been in the rotation, on Saturday. He said of Orlandos teaching, He has one of those play calls where its constant blitzes. A clearer picture of USCs new defense should crystallize in the coming days, with contact no longer limited. "I feel like I need to take some time for my wife, kids and grandkids while also looking to see if I can help college football on a larger scale," Patterson told Horns247. Through it all, Orlandos stayed on Hermans staff. 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. 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. The Times first reported his hiring Monday. Will Alabama transfer Ishmael Sopsher be healthy enough to do so? Orlando now becomes the seventh defensive coordinator in seven seasons for FAU. LOS ANGELES USC has its new defensive coordinator, Todd Orlando. Odds & lines subject to change. "We are excited to have. Herman said Orlando would be the first assistant in his foxhole. 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. Todd Orlando, who has 16 years of experience as a collegiate defensive coordinator, was named USC's defensive coordinator in January of 2020. Orlandos scheme isnt complicated at least by memorization standards. Orlandos players have a different term for that distinction. And as Saturday showed, thats a group with a long way to go. 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. in the 80s, most NFL defenses also carry a hybrid DE, regardless if basing out of a three or four-down defense. You have to look at the film and say, This guy can wreck a game, Orlando said. The trickle-up effect is in full swing. Orlando needs opposing offenses to be one-dimensional, and against great quarterbacks that means sacrificing numbers in the box. 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. Theyre the best in the country. 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. That style of play didnt transfer to the NFL and the NFL didnt understand what type of player this guy was. 20 Southern California, however, has been different because of the coronavirus pandemic. 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. Orlando turned down that job, too. 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. 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. 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. But after successfully rebuilding the Texas defense in his first season, the Longhorns experienced a sharp defensive downturn in 2019. Defensive coach Todd Orlando of the Texas Longhorns reacts during play against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second . 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. Even former Big 12 Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury got a head coaching job with the Cardinals on nothing more than his offensive acumen. Aside from one spring practice, the intricacies of his scheme were installed only over Zoom. Then Utah States defensive coordinator, Orlando flew to Columbus, Ohio to interview with Herman for Houstons defensive coordinator job in January of 2015. So no matter the look, USCs run defense needs to get better. But Barry and USC opted not to continue their discussions, and Orlando became the leading candidate. It also gives him the ability to put players in situations to take advantage of deficiencies within an offensive scheme or weaker/slower players. So what did game No. 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). Those disguised blitzes are a favorite ploy. Orlando is a linebackers coach in a defense that asks the linebackers to be the primary playmakers on the team. Longhorns defensive coordinator Todd Orlando debuted his "cowboy" package in a 45-14 win over Louisiana Tech last Saturday. The pairing, if things break right, could bring Texas back to where it expects to be annually. The time is now! This might be the most talented position group on the USC roster, but there are still some concerns. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. You hear about soggy eggs and burnt toast. 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. He joined The Times after six years with the Southern California News Group. Orlando lost both of his starting inside linebackers after the 2018 season and both were productive in his scheme. Orlando took a linebacker off the field, added a third safety and unveiled Texas lightning package.. looks seen in many Power Spread offenses. Hands-on coaching was limited to distanced learning. USC played just five defensive linemen against Arizona State. 3 Kansas in 75-59 win. By Coachlamons @nukeit1981 Dec. Todd Orlando sees USC defense as work in progress USC defense showed positive signs in opening win over ASU Coach Todd Orlando of the USC Trojans during USC football practice at the. Players retained more than he expected, and coaches got to know players better than they would have otherwise. Today will be the day, Orlando said Wednesday morning. That will change Saturday, as USC takes on San Jose State in the 2021 season opener. 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. Orlando utilizes a number of disguised blitzes and coverages out of his 3-4 front, which can cause havoc for an offense trying to sort through things quickly. 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.