Texas Football: Can Tom Herman finally win Big 12 title in 2020?

No more steps in the wrong direction for the defense

The defense took a big step back last season which resulted in Todd Orlando’s firing.

One of the significant reasons the defense was so bad was all of the injuries. Caden Sterns, Joseph Ossai and Juwan Mitchell were among the walking wounded last season.

This season the Longhorns are healthy and have a new philosophy on defense. After Orlando’s firing — and subsequent hiring at USC — Chris Ash and Coleman Hutzler will share the defensive play-calling duties for Texas.

The new co-coordinators inherit a defense that is not only healthy, but they are also experienced. Among the projected starters, there are no underclassmen. There are two redshirt sophomores, but they’ve been with the program three years so technically not underclassmen.

Their best defensive player, Ossai, returns after leading the Longhorns in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, and was second on the team in interceptions. Sterns also returns healthy from an injury-plagued 2019. In addition to Sterns, junior nickelback BJ Foster also returns after playing only nine games last season.

The question for the defense is, “How long will it take for the Longhorns to acclimate to a new defensive system?” They played a hybrid 3-4 under Orlando, but both Ash and Hutzler have a background in the 4-3. Not having spring or summer to install the new system makes things doubly difficult.