Cal vs. Texas (Sept. 19, 2015) Film Review

[Shannon Kelley]

OK, look. We're bad at Cover 2. That's all there is to it. 

The corner (Antwuan Davis here) can't cover both routes. Make them throw the shorter one — best case you get a good break on the ball and jar it loose, worst case they get 10 yards and the first down. But if you let them throw the corner, it's 20+ yards like it was here. It didn't help that Davis slipped. This was the hit that got Haines ejected, by the way. 

I think the question why cov 2 on 3rd and 7? I would have rather seen qtrs called here to have forced the low ball as you mentioned. However, give the offense credit here. The QB threaded the needle. They didn't play the coverage bad as much as a smash concept, which they run here, perfectly attacks the corner with a high low read (again as you perfectly point out).. Great job

 

[Shannon Kelley]

I'm not sure if Heard saw the linebacker, but it's a good thing he didn't throw this ball ... except he fumbled it.

Cal has the Inside Zone outnumbered, so I think Heard is thinking he'll take the easy yards afforded by the very soft coverage on Daje. I put a red box around the linebacker — look where he is in the cable cam view when Heard pumps the ball the second time. 

I wish they'd have these backs actually run a route after they don't get the handoff. It wouldn't have mattered here because of the pressure. I'm very entertained watching the feet of the linemen. The least active ones are always Doyle and Flowers. 

I think there are a few points to consider that add to your outstanding commentary.

1) You have a corner playing 8 yds off the X receiver with no scuff player underneath. A quick slant or even a 5yd hitch is really the call here. Cal is unsound with this current structure.

2) Heard's read is the mike backer on the RPO. The Center and the play side guard allow leakage which force heard to attempt to throw off balance. As you mention when you count the numbers, Cal has the advantage. We have 5 to block 6. So, reading the Mike and throwing off him is correct. (watching the play, had he handed it, we would have gashed them) however, that seems because of improper alignment from Cal, which SHOULD go against the norm.) In other words, 9 out of 10 times, MIKE should make that tackle. This leads to my point, the MIKE initially steps up..That being said, as soon as the MIKE steps up, ball should be out, thus the Center and play side guard losing leverage, should never have come into play.

3) If heard just gets rid of the ball on time, none of this should ever happened. And that will be the coaching point all week to him from his Coach."Get the ball out".

4) Lastly, you mention the RB's running routes when they don't get the hand off. In an RPO, the back does not know if it is a pull or a give.(Even when the RB's KNOW the numbers are on their side, SOMETIMES the QB screws up and misreads it!!! I see it everyday) uhhgggg. That being said, the OL is supposed to be run blocking as to set the defense up to think run, so the LB's step up, which allows for a throw behind them based on them being out of alignment. The RB's HAVE to run through as if they have the ball when it is pulled, as to keep the LBers having to step up and respect the run. That is why we don't coach them to run routes. If anything, we want them to carry out the run as if they have it...That makes this hell to defend!!

Thanks again for your analysis!!! Great stuff.

 

[Ryan Bridges]

3) If heard just gets rid of the ball on time, none of this should ever happened. And that will be the coaching point all week to him from his Coach."Get the ball out".

Good stuff. I was wondering if Heard's height came into play here. It seems like he missed his window and thought he could wait for Daje to reach the next one. 

 

[Ryan Bridges]

I think the question why cov 2 on 3rd and 7? I would have rather seen qtrs called here to have forced the low ball as you mentioned. However, give the offense credit here. The QB threaded the needle. They didn't play the coverage bad as much as a smash concept, which they run here, perfectly attacks the corner with a high low read (again as you perfectly point out).. Great job

It's our go-to coverage on 3rd & 6+ it seems. It's one of the complaints I'd have about the defensive coaches because it's been predictable and, I'd argue, a big reason we've had such a hard time getting off the field on 3rd down. To be fair, it was our favorite 3rd down call last season, too, and we were pretty good then. But I would expect the coaches to accept reality and change things up soon.

 

[utisdabomb12]

Patrick Vahe, the right guard, has improved quite a bit since week one. Look at him work to the second level to block the other linebacker. Somehow, senior center Taylor Doyle ends up on the ground — you can find him there pretty regularly. If they aren't already, by the end of this season I believe the two freshmen will be the best linemen on the team.

Yep. I think it's honestly time to make a move at center. Raulerson needs to be at center, he can't be any worse than Doyle. Flowers isn't great but not sure we have a ton of guys right now that can give us a huge upgrade at that position. I do think Raulerson would be an upgrade at center. If we could just get someone that can stay on his feet there would be a huge upgrade at center (it's that bad for Doyle). 

Vahe and Williams are probably better than the film actually shows because they have to "work" with guys so far behind the 8 ball (Flowers and Doyle). Vahe and Williams are both going to be good ones.