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

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

Big, space-filling defensive tackles

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No matter what you want to call Kwiatkowski’s base defensive scheme, the only two true defensive linemen are going to be defensive tackles. Their goal is to fill as much space as possible on the line of scrimmage for linebackers and bodies from the secondary to clean up and make tackles.

Alfred Collins, T’Vondre Sweat and Keondre Coburn should be the guys to play the role. Collins is seen as a traditional defensive tackle while the latter two spent most of their snaps playing nose tackle. Defensive line coach Bo Davis will have the job of transitioning them to the position full time.

The two defensive tackles may be the most important part of the front seven, especially in the run game. If they can get two offensive linemen on them, second-level defenders are going to be able to step up and make plays. With the depth and personnel Texas now has up the middle, it could become one of the strong suits of the defense.