We have all heard the comments at one point or another. The Big 12 Conference is all offense and no defense. You can point to those 45-38 football games, or 66-58 all out track meets between explosive offenses. So where are the defenses? Kansas State, Iowa State and TCU have shown to play good defense. Unlike the SEC Conference and a handful of other teams, there are no elite defenses. No units that can go out and shut down the opposing offense and get the ball back for your team.
Recently on the Big Noon Kickoff on Fox Sports, Urban Meyer ripped into the Big 12 for their lack of elite talent. The former National Championship winning coach at Florida and Ohio State proclaimed that isn’t a lack of talent in Texas since they were able to get players like Jeff Okudah out of the DFW area. He goes on to say that they need change.
“You’re telling me between 2008 and 2020, that’s 12 years, you’ve had two first-rounders on defense?” Meyer asked in disbelief. “Most schools are disappointed if you don’t have two first-rounders per year. To me, I knew it was bad. I didn’t know it was that bad. That’s terrible. That needs to change. I think Chris Ash going to Texas, he’s not a good defensive coach. He’s an elite defensive coach with an elite reputation and can develop players. Alex Grinch, I would anticipate the same. You’re going to see some movement, hopefully, in the Big 12. I’m going to tell you right now, there won’t be a national champion out of the Big 12 as long as that continues.” – via 247Sports
Meyer gave new Texas defensive coordinator Chris Ash a great compliment during his rant about the Big 12’s defenses. The lack of first-round talent isn’t something that has gone on unnoticed, for the Longhorns it has been five years since their last opening round draft selection. During the Mack Brown era at Texas they had plenty of talent go in the first round, however with Charlie Strong and then Tom Herman it just hasn’t come to fruition.
That isn’t to blame Herman seeing as how this is his fourth year so the guys he recruited to Austin haven’t been eligible yet. The talent in the recruiting classes have been there but as we often say it has been the development. Todd Orlando and his staff haven’t been able to get the most out of their guys and preparing for the next level of football. Things might change with Ash. Meyer made a point to go get Ash after his defense shut down Meyer’s offense at Ohio State. The Texas defensive coordinator was instrumental in bringing a National Championship caliber defense to the Buckeyes.