In their season opener, the Texas Longhorns' defense successfully limited the Texas State Bobcats to only seven points. This game marked the first for defensive coordinator Will Muschamp in his current role, where he implemented a game plan that, while similar to that of his predecessor Pete Kwiatkoski, introduced new strategies.
One notable adjustment was the deployment of Colin Simmons, who is typically recognized for his role as an edge rusher.
In this game, Simmons spent approximately 80% of his plays in a seven- or loose five-technique alignment outside the offensive tackle but also took five snaps as an off-ball linebacker, a significant increase from his previous two seasons where he only played this role five percent of the time.
Simmons' new responsibilities included acting as a quarterback spy and executing a looping blitz, while three of his snaps were part of Muschamp's 'Mint' front alignment.
This defensive setup positions a defensive tackle directly across from the center, with two defensive linemen on the inside shoulders of the offensive tackles and a 'jack' linebacker positioned outside the tight end or tackle away from the passing strength. In this scheme, Simmons was utilized as the off-ball 'money' linebacker, while linebacker Rasheem Biles filled the jack position.
Although Simmons did not make a significant impact on the plays he was involved in, he demonstrated awareness and positioning in unfamiliar roles. His only notable issue occurred when he fell for a quarterback run fake on one play. Muschamp's Mint front was utilized on 20% of the Longhorns' plays, with Simmons primarily serving as the off-ball money linebacker during those instances.
