Texas needs its defense to get third-down stops and turnovers

Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty ImagesThe concern for Texas Longhorns defensive coordinator Todd Orlando has been growing in recent weeks.

In 2017, Texas was one of the elite third-down defenses in the country, ranking No. 3 nationally in allowing opponents to convert only 27.1 percent of those attempts.

This season, the Horns haven’t been as consistent, ranking No. 69 nationally as a result of opponents converting at a 39-percent rate.

And that rate is trending in the wrong direction, defensive coordinator Todd Orlando said last week.

“Third down we’re starting to slide a bit. I don’t like the progression that we’re going into. Our third-down defense, at least in the last three or four years, has…