Texas Football: Defense has to force more three-and-outs in 2020

A big key to success for the potentially rejuvenated defense of the Texas football program in 2020 could be getting out of the cellar in forcing 3-and-outs.

There might be no other defense that will have more pressure to perform at an improved level in 2020 in the Big 12 than that of the Texas football program. Texas turned over their coaching staff this offseason (and even some assistants before the Alamo Bowl), largely due to the poor play of the defense throughout much of Big 12 play and in the home loss to the LSU Tigers.

Given that the Big 12 does have a very explosive nature of offenses to it, the Texas defense does get some relief in the public eye for how bad they were statistically in some regards last season. Texas allowed more than 290 passing yards per game, 2.2 passing touchdowns, and around 13.0 first downs by pass last season.

In most passing stat categories per game last season, Texas allowed more than they achieved themselves. One regard where that rang especially true was in the lengthier drives they would allow. Texas did not let star junior quarterback Sam Ehlinger get the ball in his hands enough game in and game out during the Big 12 slate.

According to Football Outsiders, Texas ranked 117th among FBS programs last season in first down rate (the number of drives that resulted in at least one first down or a touchdown). Nearly 80 percent of the drives that the Texas defense was put on the field resulted in a touchdown or at least one first down.

Texas also ranked dead last among all FBS programs last season in busted drive rate (the number of drives that the defense allowed zero or negative yards). The Longhorns only had four percent of the drives that their defense was on the field where they held the opposing offense to zero or negative yards.

In these two stat categories, the Texas defense was abysmal. They also didn’t tend to thrive too well in terms of the field position battle. The defense didn’t help here.

Texas ranked at No. 86 among FBS programs in terms of available yards percentage last season.

But how can the Longhorns turn this all around this coming season to get the defense sturdier than they were last year? The answer should lie in the front seven blowing up plays in the backfield faster and the secondary holding up for longer.

While rising junior linebacker Joseph Ossai was good last season, he’ll need to register more than 14.5 tackles for loss this fall if Texas is to take their defensive production to the next level. Rising senior defensive end Ta’Quon Graham will also have to continue his trek up in tackles for loss.

Last season, Ossai and Graham combined for 24.0 tackles for loss. The talent between the two of them could easily generate 30+ tackles for loss and 15.0 sacks this coming season.

And with former senior starting safety Brandon Jones now gone to the NFL, the secondary will have to find someone else to step up. Jones was the glue that held the front seven connected with the secondary last season. Rising junior star safety Caden Sterns will need to pick up his production this season and register at least five or six pass deflections, and get more than one interception.

The Texas defense has a lot of talent on it, but the defense not being able to contain opposing offenses, thus resulting in less time in Ehlinger being on the field was a huge problem. This is a problem that Texas needs to fix, and fast under the direction of recently hired defensive coordinator Chris Ash.

The play of the Texas defense needs a well-rounded effort stemming from the defensive line all the way up to the safeties and nickelback. Texas has the talent to compete with the best Big 12 defenses, and they did at one point under former defensive coordinator Todd Orlando and ex-head coach Charlie Strong.