In their season opener, the Texas Longhorns' defense effectively restricted the Texas State Bobcats to a mere seven points. This match was the first for defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, who introduced a game plan that, while reminiscent of his predecessor Pete Kwiatkoski's approach, incorporated fresh strategies.
A significant change involved Colin Simmons, known primarily as an edge rusher. In this game, he spent around 80% of his plays in a loose five-technique alignment outside the offensive tackle, and he also took five snaps as an off-ball linebacker, a notable increase from the previous two seasons where he played this role only 5% of the time.
Simmons took on new responsibilities, which included serving as a quarterback spy and executing a looping blitz, while also participating in Muschamp's 'Mint' front alignment.
Though Simmons did not record any sacks, he showed improved performance compared to last season, achieving an overall PFF grade of 75.4 for Week 1, an increase from 64.4 during the same timeframe last year. His grades in both run defense and pass rush reflected this upward trend.
However, he played just 44% of the defensive snaps, partly due to the heat and the team's commanding lead, allowing for more backup play. As Simmons continues to adjust to his new role, Longhorns fans may look forward to his growing contributions to the defense.
