Texas Defense - Learn from the Longhorn Staff

Step into the mind of one of college football’s rising defensive back coaches, Mark Orfe, as he takes you inside the art of cornerback play at the University of Texas. Born and raised in Houston and a product of Texas Southern, Coach Orfe has coached at South Carolina under Steve Spurrier and Will Muschamp, led units at Montana State and Utah State, sharpened defenses at Alabama and Rutgers, and now brings his journey full circle back home to Texas.

This course gives you a front-row seat to his teaching progression and defensive philosophy. Coach Orfe breaks down what he believes makes an elite corner:

• Ball production: not just PBUs, but takeaways that flip momentum.

• Press-man dominance: disrupting timing and rhythm from the line of scrimmage.

• Pattern matching: using concepts to play faster and smarter.

• Block destruction & tackling: setting the edge and being physical on the perimeter.

• Footwork & transitions: mastering “break foot, drive foot” efficiency to win every rep.

• DNA of defense: toughness, communication, discipline, football IQ, and accountability.

With detailed practice progressions emphasizing contact, agility, and technique you’ll learn how to create a culture where corners aren’t just cover guys, but complete defensive backs who play violent, disciplined, and smart football.

Coach Orfe shares the drills, mindset, and coaching standards that develop NFL-ready players, while emphasizing how to demand small, repeatable fundamentals that lead to big-time game results.

This isn’t just scheme it’s the blueprint for building tough, disciplined, ball-hawking defensive backs who win games in December and January.

Lecture delivered at THSCA Coaching School 2023 - Houston, TX

Recorded at the THSCA Coaching School and Convention in San Antonio, TX - July 2024