Trench Warfare | Sugar Bowl (3rd Quarter)

1. On the 1st drive of the 2nd half, we’re at 2nd and 15 after a missed block.  Everyone was talking about Heupel getting conservative, but it was execution more than anything.  Trevor steps up after getting drilled on 1st down and delivers a strike to Jaz.  If Jaz catches this, he gets up to the 30 at least.  The defender to his right is flat footed, and Jaz is one of our stronger receivers. Getting to a 3rd and 5 or less is definitely a lot different than 3rd and 15.

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2. Great job scheming to numbers on this play.  I put three red dots on the three bama defenders playside.  We have four to three, since the nose over Ikard is shaded back to the offense’s right.  Having the two receivers out there doesn’t hurt either.

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3. So what I’ve been chirping about all year, running to the path of least resistance is a big deal in the run game.  We get a gain of six on a basic off-tackle play.  Look at how far the line of scrimmage was pushed back!

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4. After bama’s score, we roll out to the left.  We had a lot of success with these plays in the first half, but we just weren’t executing early in the third.  Trevor zipped a good pass to Jalen on this play, but Jalen just dropped it.  Execution is a big thing.  The plays we were making with regularity in the first half just weren’t quite clicking in the 2nd.  Heupel was sticking with it though.

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5. One of the reasons I believe that Brennan Clay will play in the NFL is plays like this.  The guy just does his job.  He catches well out of the backfield, he runs physical, and man alive can he block!  Brennan(left red circle) slices down the outside linebacker who’s coming on a blitz.  He’s smart about it too, because initially the backer is engaged with Irwin.  Had Brennan flew up there and cut him down it would have been a chop block and a penalty, but Clay waits a split second for him to disengage and knifes him down.  Look at the bama defender.  He’s having to put it into four wheel drive and trying to get back up…

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5. (cont.) Because Brennan got that defenders hands down, it gave Trevor the lane to throw the ball that he needed.  Heck of a play.  Heupel putting a lot of trust into Trevor and the o line.  Backed up on the goal line, if you have a penalty in the end zone, it’s an automatic safety.  Heck of a job executing and getting the pass out to Brannon Green.  Have we had a player who makes the most of his opportunities as much as Brannon?  Kid’s just a ball player.

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13 Comments

  • Sooner Ray says:

    Thanks JY, I am waiting patiently to see if any of the backs next season step and and perform like Clay, always where they are supposed to be and taking care of business.

    • Daryl says:

      I don’t about blocking or catching yet, but I think Keith Ford will take care of the running physical. I also think a guy that is not as athletically gifted as Clay but will prove to be as reliable is David Smith. Not as good of a RB but I think will be as good as doing what he asked to do well.

      Brainiacs, I am sure you have already answered this earlier and I missed while I watching the Sugar Bowl for a 4th time. Ford got some touches early in the game but then never came back in. Was he injured again or was this just a coaches decision?

    • JY says:

      Yeah, that’ll be one of the storylines in the fall for sure.

  • Leroy Jenkins says:

    These are great. Just curious, have you thought about doing anything like this for defense? I’d love to see how our blitzes caught Bama off guard. Also, how their RB Henry ran so well against us. Looking forward to the 4th quarter, thanks again.

  • JY says:

    Sorry there just wasn’t that much in the third quarter. 4th is full.

    • soonermusic says:

      Nice post, JY. Agree with your point about execution. Also, totally with you on Clay. Things like being the most assignment reliable, making plays work even when he didn’t have the ball, and being mr. clutch when he did, are some of the reasons why he got (and, imho, deserved) playing time over others who might have had occasional flashier moments. Thanks for highlighting it.

  • Boomer4life says:

    Sooner Magic returned, when the earth quaked while playing Okie st. in stoolwater!