Texas Longhorns Scrimmage No. 1 Defensive Notes: “I don’t think we need to worry about the defense”
After talking to a couple of sources who viewed this morning’s scrimmage we have a lot more detail to share after Justin’s immediate intel post.
One thing seems clear, the defense carried the day, though the offense did have its moments.
In this installment we’ll focus on the defense, just as one of IT’s sources did. I talked to this source the other day and he said “I think we know what to expect on offense, I’ll pay more attention to the defense, especially the defensive line.”
First, the structure is important. There were about 100 total snaps, perhaps a few more. At times it was ones vs twos, at others, during the red zone, it was ones vs ones. Sark emptied the bench and played everyone.
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This guy’s first takeaway was, “I don’t think we need to worry about the defense.”
(I can’t say who I got this information from but he has seen a lot of football up close throughout the decades.)
If you’re pressed for time a solid summary would be: The offense didn’t break a lot of runs. The safeties played well, all four of them. The linebackers know their fits matched to coverages behind them and the D-line is staying in their gap and trusting the players behind them will do their job. In other words, team defense appears improved.
For more, keep following.
“I like the way they (defense) played.” They played mostly Cover 1. At times they’d have Michael Taaffe back and then he would move up and Mukuba would roll back to cover the middle.
Defense held its own in the first half and the second half.
“Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton looked good. Trey Moore looked good, probably would have had a strip if it was reviewed. He’s a smart, aware play. Jahdae Barron looked good at corner. Andrew Mukuba picked Quinn Ewers.”
“AC and VB started with Barryn Sorrell and Ethan Burke. They got pressure on the QB, collapsed the pocket mostly from the interior. Colton Vasek had an offsides. One critique of the defense was they did have too many stupid penalties.”
“Gavin Holmes had 2-3 PBU’s and Jelani McDonald would have probably had an interception if there was review. He thought he picked it anyway.”
“The D-end group is impressive, though I didn’t see a ton from Colin Simmons. I thought Sydir Mitchell looked in better shape than in the spring. Looks like he’s moving a lot better which you have said. I think he’s going to make some plays this year.”
“Only injury was what looked like a stinger to Morice Blackwell.”
“Bill Norton and Jermayne Lole got some pressure on second team, they were getting a push inside.”
“First team defense wasn’t the only one getting pressure, second team defense did too. But, I must say the second team O-line looks like the real deal.”
“They were stunting up front and bringing a linebacker behind them.”
“Athleticism is oozing on the defense. I’ve seen teams like this before but not from a Texas team in a long while.” He would go on to mention the athleticism of some of the great Nebraska teams.
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Negatives beyond the penalties included the offense getting the better of the defense in two-minute and end of half situations. But, they did hold the offense to field goals and the quarterbacks and receivers were playing well in that setting.
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Another negative was the punting. As excited as the source was for the defense he was that concerned about punting. He said he didn’t see a single good punt, but he did see a good punt return or two. DeAndre Moore was named there.
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