The final installment of the Texas Translation series focuses on the secondary in Pete Kwiatkowski’s scheme. This will be unique in that Terry Joseph is the passing game coordinator for Kwiatkowski’s defense. Steve Sarkisian brought in Joseph due to the fact that he was able to defend his offense in the passing game. The two will marry their schemes to defend the high-powered passing attacks in the Big 12.
Over the last four seasons in the Pac-12, Kwiatkowski’s scheme has severely limited offenses. Let’s take a look at the yards per game, yards per attempt, touchdowns surrendered and interceptions.
Washington under Kwiatkowski:
| Year | YPG | YPA | TDs | INTs |
| 2017 | 197.2 | 6.1 | 10 | 15 |
| 2018 | 190.1 | 5.8 | 12 | 11 |
| 2019 | 222.2 | 6.3 | 13 | 13 |
| 2020 | 185 | 6.3 | 5 | 3 |
Texas ranks in the same timeframe:
| Year | YPG | YPA | TDs | INTs |
| 2017 | 258.8 | 7.4 | 17 | 16 |
| 2018 | 261.4 | 7.4 | 26 | 12 |
| 2019 | 292.5 | 7.9 | 28 | 12 |
| 2020 | 266.4 | 6.8 | 17 | 10 |
The secondary will be deployed with five defensive backs, therefore it’s not dissimilar to the secondary deployed by the previous regime. Chris Ash’s scheme utilized two safeties, two cornerbacks and a ‘spur,’ with the latter being a linebacker and cornerback hybrid. They have to be physical enough to play like a linebacker but also able to play coverage like a nickel cornerback. It takes a unique athlete, see Chris Adimora for example.
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Defensive Back Personnel
Safety play in Kwiatkowski’s scheme
The first position we look at is free safety. Kwiatkowski often deploys a single-high safety in the center of the field. In the screengrab above, he is standing about 15 or more yards from the line of scrimmage. This is to help in the passing game, especially on vertical routes. This is your coverage safety. Jerrin Thompson should be the guy to man this role for Kwiatkowski and Joseph.
Others could likely be in the mix as well. Incoming freshman J.D. Coffey could also be a name to consider, he has the skills of a ball-hawking safety on the back end. Coffey also fits the mold of another position, the rover. The rover is similar to the spur, but it is a mixture of an outside linebacker and box safety. Coffey fits what they would ask.
⚰️ . pic.twitter.com/Sh59V8Mq0y
— JD Coffey III (@JD_Coffey1) October 24, 2020
Chris Adimora fits the rover as well. Recently, we discussed the idea of giving Adimore the Budda Baker role. Other players who could play this role include B.J. Foster and Tyler Owens. Play them closer to the line of scrimmage and allow them to use their physicality. They would also handle coverage underneath and in the flats.
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The cornerbacks
The secondary will utilize three cornerbacks: Two play on the boundary and one in the nickel. This is very much a standard of all defenses, especially in the Big 12. Most teams utilize 11 personnel with three wide receivers on the field. D’Shawn Jamison is likely going to take one of the boundary spots. The other may be Darion Dunn, the transfer from McNeese State.
Dunn has the size to deal with bigger receivers and has a nose for the ball. He last played in 2019 since McNeese State’s season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. According to the McNeese State website, Dunn hauled in five interceptions with 16 passes defended. Josh Thompson, Jahdae Barron and Kitan Crawford could be in the mix at nickel now that Jalen Green is heading to Starkville.
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