Tag: Pete Kwiatkowski

Former Longhorn Emmanuel Acho is excited about Texas football

Former player turned analyst, Emmanuel Acho, released a video on Twitter discussing how excited he is about the team.

It isn’t just the media that seem excited or in approval of the hiring of Steve Sarkisian and his staff. ESPN gave the Texas Longhorns a grade of A- for the hiring. Also, a former player in Emmanuel Acho spoke about his excitement level in a tweet.

The now analyst was once roaming the confines of Darrel K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Acho joined the Longhorns in the 2008 recruiting class as a four-star and the No. 23 ranked player in the state of Texas. He would go on to play in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles, but is now a member of Fox Sports.

In the opening of his video, Acho spoke to the fact that the Longhorns got it right with the hiring of Sarkisian. Even went as far as to say that he hasn’t “been more excited about Texas football in a decade.” That would date back to the end of the Mack Brown era of Texas football that saw a string of nine or more wins in 12 consecutive years. Brown also was responsible for nine-straight seasons with 10 or more wins.

Acho spoke specifically about the hire of Sarkisian as the best offensive coordinator in the SEC. He mentioned the best special teams coach from the SEC in Jeff Banks. The Fox analyst also couldn’t go on without mentioning his former teammate in Blake Gideon. He was the best special teams coach in all of college football during the 2019 season. Acho would point to the fact that special teams are vitally important to championship level teams.

He finishes up by discussing the additions of Kyle Flood who helped his offensive line with the Joe Moore Award and defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski. His defenses have produced first-round talent for the NFL, something Texas hasn’t seen in five years. Not to mention, Kwiatkowski’s defense has finished top 15 in scoring every year since 2015.

To be a great head coach, you have to be a great delegator of responsibility. And Steve Sarkisian has assembled a miraculous staff. Texas football, get excited.

Acho is bringing the same level of excitement in his tweet that has been seen on most social media platforms.

Nobody wins the offseason quite like the Texas Longhorns.

Texas Translation: Projecting the secondary in Kwiatkowski’s scheme

With a new defensive coordinator now in play, let’s break down the Texas secondary with Pete Kwiatkowski at the helm in 2021.

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

(Courtesy of Patrick Conn/Longhorns Wire)

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.

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.

(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

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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Texas Translation: Projecting linebackers in Kwiatkowski’s scheme

With the new defensive scheme being deployed for the Texas Longhorns, let’s take a look at who might be factors at the linebacker position.

Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski is bringing a new scheme to Austin. The defense runs a four-man front with two defensive tackles and two outside linebacker-pass rusher hybrids. At the second level, PK’s scheme deploys two inside linebackers.

In Chris Ash’s scheme, they ran a weakside linebacker (WILL) which was typically DeMarvion Overshown’s role. The second linebacker was the middle linebacker (MIKE) manned by Juwan Mitchell. With Kwiatkowski’s scheme, the linebackers are deployed as two inside linebackers, similar to inside linebackers in a 3-4 scheme.

Texas’ two starters from a year ago are projected to once again be the focal points at the second level in 2021.

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Linebackers Personnel

(Courtesy of Patrick Conn/Longhorns Wire)

The two linebackers in this scheme will have to be able to play sideline to sideline. That means they must be able to operate in space and cover a lot of area. When it comes to an instinctive, physical player that can handle himself in open space, Overshown is the player that comes to mind immediately.

With the depth at linebacker, Jaylan Ford would be an ideal candidate for the position as well. He has the ability to move sideline to sideline but lacks the in-game experience, but that should come in time. The 2021 recruiting class additions of Morice Blackwell and Terrence Cooks could find their way to the field as well given their athleticism at the position.

One candidate to move to linebacker is current safety Tyler Owens. He’s a player who can make plays in the open field. That is the biggest key when it comes to playing the position for Kwiatkowski.

Texas Translation: Projecting personnel into Pete Kwiatkowski’s defensive front

Texas’ defensive coordinator will bring a new scheme to Austin. Let’s take a look at personnel options on the defensive line.

What may be the biggest question among Texas fans right now surrounds the new defensive scheme. Continue reading “Texas Translation: Projecting personnel into Pete Kwiatkowski’s defensive front”

Three things Pete Kwiatkowski will bring as the defensive coordinator for Texas

Texas’ defensive coordinator hire was a name that not many saw coming.

Texas’ defensive coordinator hire was a name that not many had on their radar. Continue reading “Three things Pete Kwiatkowski will bring as the defensive coordinator for Texas”

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Locked on Longhorns Podcast: Depth chart predictions, new defensive scheme

Patrick Conn breaks down Texas football’s depth chart predictions and touches on the new defensive scheme under Pete Kwiatkowski.

“Locked on Longhorns” host Patrick Conn begins the show by diving into the depth chart predictions for Texas football next season.

Who is the favorite to win the quarterback battle now that Sam Ehlinger has chosen to declare for the NFL draft? Is Casey Thompson or Hudson Card in more prime position to take over for Steve Sarkisian? Running back, wide receiver (H) and wide receiver (Z) seem fairly cut and dry. Two positions that might be a little murkier are tight end and wide receiver (X). Who are the leading candidates to win those starting roles?

The next segment is all about the big boys up front. With left tackle Samuel Cosmi off to the NFL, where does Texas turn for the new blindside blocker? Andrej Karic is the name to watch. Karic played 106 snaps in 2020 and didn’t give up a single sack. Junior Angilau at left guard and Denzel Okafor at right guard seem like locks. Jake Majors, much like Karic, took a step forward as the center where Kerstetter was moved back out to tackle. At right tackle, it could come down to Derek Kerstetter and Christian Jones. Will Kerstetter win that battle?

To close the show, Conn takes a look at the new defensive scheme that Pete Kwiatkowski will bring to Austin. He likes to run the 2-4-5 that looks like the 4-2-5. Who could be the outside pass rushers in this scheme? The interior seems a lot easier to peg with Keondre Coburn and Alfred Collins. Conn also touches on inside linebacker fits, who could play the rover safety position and the starters in the secondary.

Should Texas target Tennessee transfer Henry To’o To’o?

With the recent news of Tennessee linebacker Henry To’o To’o entering the trasnfer portal, Texas needs to swing big.

One of the many moves that the newly assembled Texas staff will have to do under Steve Sarkisian before Feb. 3’s National Signing Day is to identify talent. The next step is executing a plan to recruit those players to the Forty Acres.

Former Washington Huskies defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski is bringing a whole new scheme to this team. It did wonders in the Pacific Northwest as a top tier defense since the moment he arrived from Boise State with Chris Petersen.

Not only did Kwiatkowski run a very effective defensive scheme in college football, he also developed NFL talent. To execute the scheme, you have to have the players to deploy it.

His defensive front is two defensive lineman and four linebackers. The outside backers play the role very similar to the ‘Jack’ role in Chris Ash’s scheme. Jacoby Jones, Marqez Bimage, or Moro Ojomo could fill that void but they need more than a couple of starters and a backup. One option could potentially be Tennessee linebacker Henry To’o To’o, who entered the NCAA transfer portal on Wednesday.

To’o To’o led the Vols with 68 tackles over nine games this past season. He also added 7.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one interception returned for a touchdown. The former freshman All-American made plays all over the field. Would he be interested in coming to Texas?

During the recruiting cycle in 2019, To’o To’o was recruited by Sarkisian at Alabama and Kwiatkowski at Washington. That could play right into the hands of the Longhorns hands. He was the No. 3 outside linebacker from the class as a four-star recruit.

This is one transfer to keep an eye on.

Texas Football Recruiting: Longhorns offer current Kansas commit Garfield Lawrence

Texas recently offered three-star defensive end Garfield Lawrence, who originally committed to Kansas on Nov. 30.

Texas has recently sent an offer to Garfield Lawrence, a 2021 defensive end out of Tyler, Texas. The three-star prospect committed to Kansas on Nov. 30 but decided not to sign during early signing day. The Longhorns will be pushing hard to flip Lawrence before the Feb. 3 signing date.

Lawrence had an impressive senior season for Tyler Legacy High School and has garnered more attention because of it. He finished with 48 tackles, 12.0 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.

Flipping the defensive end would not be the first 2021 prospect Texas has taken from a Big 12 opponent. Three-star quarterback Charles Wright was once committed to Iowa State and three-star defensive tackle Byron Murphy flipped from Baylor.

New defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski and reported defensive line coach Bo Davis have just under a month to change Lawrence’s mind.

Rating

Stars Overall State Position
247 3 – 103 49
Rivals 3 – – –
ESPN 3 – 69 48
247 Composite 3 770 106 49

Vitals

Hometown Tyler, Texas
Projected Position Defensive end
Height 6-4
Weight 240

Recruitment

  • Offered on Jan. 19, 2021
  • No visit yet

Offers (Current Kansas commit)

  • Arkansas
  • Boston College
  • Houston
  • Kansas
  • Kansas State
  • SMU
  • Tennessee
  • Texas

Crystal Ball

Film

Twitter

Opinion: Texas should use Chris Adimora in a Budda Baker role

With a new defensive coordinator joining the Longhorns, Chris Adimora could be used in a similar way as Washington’s Budda Baker.

Now that Texas has zeroed in on defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski, several questions arise. Continue reading “Opinion: Texas should use Chris Adimora in a Budda Baker role”

Texas Football: Early projected 2-deep depth chart on defense

Texas will be transitioning schemes with Pete Kwiatkowski. Here is the projected two-deep roster for Texas heading into the 2021 season.

After a thorough search, Steve Sarkisian finally made a move at defensive coordinator as Washington’s Pete Kwiatkowski is expected to accept the role at Texas. The longtime west coast coach will bring his excellent track record down to the Big 12 in the attempt to stop some of the best offenses in the country.

His base defense seems a bit odd, being one of the first adopters of playing nickel consistently. Kwiatkowski then runs out two defensive tackles, two outside linebackers/pass rushers, and two middle linebackers. At times, it can look like a 2-4-5 and at other times more like a 4-2-5.

With the change in scheme comes the question of personnel. Do the players left behind by Tom Herman and Chris Ash fit into what Kwiatkowski wants to run? Some transfers and late additions to the 2021 recruiting class could help but for now, they will have to adapt to what is given.

Take a look at what the potential starting lineup could look like for Texas’ defense next season.