Texas Football: Urban Meyer wrong about Big 12’s lack of defensive talent

Former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer gave his take with the Fox Sports crew on the lack of defensive talent surrounding Texas football in the Big 12.

Entering the 2020 season, the Texas football program should be radically reshaped in terms of look and scheme on both sides of the ball. At the conclusion of the 2019 regular season, Texas parted ways with former defensive coordinator Todd Orlando, and then offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Tim Beck soon thereafter.

Texas replaced Orlando with former Rutgers head coach Chris Ash as the next defensive coordinator. And Beck was replaced by former Ohio State passing game coordinator Mike Yurcich as the next offensive coordinator. Ash should be able to implement a pretty different defensive scheme than what Orlando was able to during his time on the Forty Acres.

However, there are still outside critics of the quality of defensive play not just of the Longhorns, but of the Big 12 as a whole entering the 2020 season. Former Ohio State Buckeyes head coach and two-time National Champion Urban Meyer gave his take this week on the quality of defensive talent in the Big 12 in the modern age, or lack thereof.

Meyer gave his opinion on how the Big 12 lacks the overall defensive talent and player development that other blue bloods around the country like the Buckeyes, Alabama Crimson Tide, and Clemson Tigers. He gave this take on Fox Sports’ Big Noon Kickoff this week. Here’s more on what he had to say on the matter (monologue thanks to 247Sports).

"“You’re telling me between 2008 and 2020, that’s 12 years, you’ve had two first-rounders on defense?” Meyer asked in disbelief. “Most schools are disappointed if you don’t have two first-rounders per year. To me, I knew it was bad. I didn’t know it was that bad. That’s terrible. That needs to change. I think Chris Ash going to Texas, he’s not a good defensive coach. He’s an elite defensive coach with an elite reputation and can develop players. Alex Grinch, I would anticipate the same. You’re going to see some movement, hopefully, in the Big 12. I’m going to tell you right now, there won’t be a national champion out of the Big 12 as long as that continues.”"

While Meyer does have a point as far as the lack of defensive talent pushed out of Big 12 programs into the NFL Draft goes, his argument that these teams don’t produce at all while the players are in college is misguided. The Big 12’s defense can actually fair pretty well at times outside of the Big 12. For example, the Longhorns actually put up one of the better fights against the eventual National Champion LSU Tigers last season (in their 45-38 home loss) than any other SEC defense.

Texas also completely shut down the skilled 2019 Utah Utes team in an Alamo Bowl romping, by the final score of 38-10.

Just because the Big 12 plays at a higher tempo doesn’t mean that they can’t develop quality defensive players. The Big 12 can always recruit better on both sides of the ball, but that means the Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners have to continue to show out on the national scene. If that comes to fruition, then the results on the recruiting trail will follow.

There is little doubt that the Longhorns have ample room to improve on the defensive side of the ball. But that was the purpose to making all of the coaching staff changes that they did over the offseason.