Jahdae Barron explains his Star season
Jahdae Barron surprised himself by how many negative plays he was able to make last year, totaling 11.5 tackles for loss on the year in his first at his new position at Star.
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“When I created my goals for the season I most definitely, on the tackles for loss, I most definitely went over that.”
The Longhorns moved the promising young cornerback inside to the Star position (nickel) which helped the whole defense settle into a new identity built around Match Quarters coverage which asked the Star to serve as a hybrid between a cornerback playing man coverage and a strong safety hovering near the box.
He did a lot of damage in both roles and really ticked up his tackle for loss numbers against TCU, where he inflicted 3.5 by jumping the Horned Frogs perimeter screen game. At Media Days he spoke to his new role at Star and how he was prepared to crush TCU’s screens.
Alerted by Terry Joseph
Texas’ cornerbacks coach and defensive passing game coordinator Terry Joseph is a big proponent of preparing and coaching up his defensive backs to anticipate particular plays every week in order to inflict negative plays and turnovers.
He had one in mind against TCU he went over with Barron.
“My coach showed me a quick, we watch film throughout the whole week and I showed him what plays I wanted to make and stuff like that but I remember vividly we were in the hotel and he just tapped me and was like ‘let me show you something again.’ And he reminded me of this play, and it was a play Oklahoma State ran and they ran it versus Guilbeau, and he said ‘we will get this play, one time.’ And I remember it vividly we got it, 27 came to block and they threw a swing pass to #3…
…and it was amazing that was the play he showed me literally like an hour before going onto the Bevo walk.”
Texas’ ability to jump and shut down TCU’s screens without walking Jaylan Ford out of the box helped them lock up the Frog running game (aside from one play) and gave Texas a great chance to win that game had the offense managed a better showing.
Coming back in 2023
Moving Barron to Star had a big impact because of his capacity for handling a wide variety of tasks.
“When my coach moved me at the position he told me at the end of the day it created value for myself. Just to be able to play in the box and still go play and cover guys in the slot and to be able to tackle in space and stuff like that. But at the end of the day I’m still learning corner and safety and critiquing my game at nickel. I want to do it all.”
It’s not unlikely that he’ll lock down a draft position in 2024 for showing so many different skills which can translate across the field.
Should a player who might man up a slot receiver on a vertical route without safety help like a corner one play and blitz or force the edge like a safety the next have receiver more accolades on the 2022 All-Big 12 team? Or garnered more hype for the coming season on the preseason All-Big 12 poll?
I asked Jahdae Barron that question.
“That’s out of my control, who people want to choose, everyone has their opinions so all I can do is control the controllable. But I can tell y’all, I will be ready September and I will play at a high standard every single time.”
