Bedford talks tough love

AUSTIN — There was some tough love coming from UT defensive coordinator Vance Bedford following the reshuffling of the offensive staff. He also had some choice words Wednesday after his defense gave up so many 3rd-and-longs at Notre Dame.

Recently demoted Shawn Watson is a “class individual” who does “a great job with quarterbacks,” Bedford said, but new play-caller Jay Norvell brings much-admired intangibles to the program.

“(Norvell) has the demeanor of a defense coach when he coaches,” Bedford said. “I would love to have him on defense (with) his approach and his attitude.”

Norvell is primarily remembered as the Oklahoma assistant who produced some of the greatest WRs in that program’s history. He served as the Sooners co-offensive coordinator from 2010-13. Previously, Watson answered to him. From 2004-06, Norvell was the offensive coordinator and QB coach at Nebraska while Watson served as the Cornhusker TE coach and recruiting coordinator.

Otherwise, it’s a bit of a role reversal for Watson. He was promoted to Louisville’s offensive coordinator after Charlie Strong fired his play-caller four games into the 2011 season.

“(Strong) is going to do whatever is necessary to get the job done,” said Bedford, another longtime Strong assistant. “If that means making adjustments, he’s going to make adjustments. He’s doing the things that he deems necessary to win. Whatever he does, it’s our job as assistant coaches to support him.”

But that doesn’t mean the mood within the athletic complex has been as jovial since Tuesday’s announcement as it appears to be among the Longhorns fan base.

“Your staff is family,” Bedford noted. “When your family is hurting, you’re hurting. We all need to come together as a staff, as a family, to support each other and do whatever is necessary to help this football team win.”

For Bedford, that always starts with the defense.

Notre Dame converted 8-of-14 third downs, including five conversions requiring at least seven yards. Bedford buys into an NFL adage that forcing four 3-and-outs is the same as a turnover. That’s why he’s grilled his troops: “How much different would this game have been if we had gotten off the field (on 3rd-and-long)? How many points would have been taken off the board? If we just do our job, the Texas football team had a chance to win. If we do our job, we’re going to be okay. Saturday night, at South Bend, Indiana, we did not do our job. If we got off the field on third down, no telling what might have happened.”

Bedford admits he’s a tough evaluator and that’s part of the reason no defensive player graded higher than a C. Yet, Bedford garnered his fair share of the heat after Texas got so little pressure on QB Malik Zaire and when halftime defensive adjustments were hard to pinpoint.

“We’re going to blitz and we’re going to blitz,” Bedford said. “We’re going to do what we’ve always done. We’re pretty simple on defense, for the most part. There are one or two minor adjustments you make every ballgame, but we’re going to take the same thing to every ballgame. It starts with this: on defense, if you don’t play hard, you’re not going to play.”

Notre Dame’s Will Fuller’s caught a 66-yard TD reception against a two-deep zone in the 3rd quarter which turned out to be the backbreaker, Bedford said, but quickly added this caveat: the lack of execution on that particular play was indicative of the defense’s entire night.

“Duke (Thomas) should have done a better job of rerouting the (receiver) and the safety (Dylan Haines) should have been over the top. We called a defense designed to stop the passing game. We just, again, didn’t execute.”

Next up is Rice’s option attack generated 56 points and more than 400 yards Saturday, albeit against FCS-level Wagner.

“Option football is assignment football,” Bedford observed. “We’ve got to find ways to corral (QB Driphus Jackson) and get him on the ground. It’s going to be difficult. He’s our main concern right now.”

Bedford has become known for his fiery pitches to the fan base, especially now when 15,000 tickets remain unsold for Saturday’s game. He didn’t mince words during this week’s fireside chat:

“If you’re a fan of The University of Texas, you’re gonna have your asses in those seats. Those players work extremely hard. They want your support, they need your support. If you are truly a Longhorn fan (good, bad, or indifferent) then you’re like the postman (rain, sleet, mud), you’ll come support these players because they work extremely hard. They need your support. We can make DKR a place where people don’t want to come. Why? Because our fans are loud and offensive foes can’t make their checks. That’s what it’s all about. It’s about Game Day. That’s what these young guys look forward to, coming home to a full stadium. You can cheer, you can boo, you can do whatever you want to do, just show up.”