In their season opener, the Texas Longhorns' defense managed to limit the Texas State Bobcats to just seven points. This game marked the debut of defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, who introduced a game plan that, while reminiscent of his predecessor Pete Kwiatkoski's strategies, also featured new elements.
Colin Simmons, primarily known as an edge rusher, took on a different role during the 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 significant increase from the five percent he played in that role over the previous two seasons.
His new duties involved acting as a quarterback spy and executing a looping blitz, while Muschamp's 'Mint' front alignment was used on 20% of the plays, with Simmons primarily serving as the off-ball 'money' linebacker.
Although Simmons did not record any sacks, he showed improvement with a PFF grade of 75.4 for Week 1, an increase from 64.4 last season. His performance in run defense and pass rush also indicated positive development. However, he participated in only 44% of the defensive snaps, as the heat and the team's substantial lead allowed for more substitutions.
As Simmons continues to adapt to his new responsibilities, his potential contributions to the Longhorns' defense are promising.
