Texas Football vs. Tulsa: 5 Week 2 storylines to watch

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Texas Spring Game AUSTIN, TX – APRIL 21: Defensive coordinator Todd Orlando of the Texas Longhorns calls plays on the sideline during the Orange-White Spring Game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on April 21, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

4. Todd Orlando’s response

The Week 1 effort against Maryland saw some up and down results for the Texas defense. Second-year defensive coordinator Todd Orlando was given some widespread praise during the off-season for his efforts in his first year on the Forty Acres. This season could be special for him too.

This defense will thrive through all the returning experience at all levels. Nearly every position across the board for the Horns had upperclassmen starting. That could change in the coming weeks if the defense has similar struggles to what happened in the first quarter against Maryland.

Some injuries have crept in for the Horns on the defensive side of the ball, but it doesn’t seem like anything too serious or long-term. The only player that is officially declared as out for the Tulsa matchup is senior wide receiver John Burt. The rest of the injuries could all see those players take the field at some point against Tulsa.

Last week, it was the jet sweeps from interim Maryland coach Matt Canada and the passing game that beat the Texas defense early on. Orlando clamped down especially after the rain delay got out, but the offense couldn’t come up big when it mattered most. This could turn into a learning experience for Orlando for the rest of the 2018 campaign.

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