The Trench Report - Cal vs Auburn
Trenches Report – Auburn (9-7-24) (Game 2) (W, 24-17)
OFFENSE - Offensive Line and Other Blockers
Background
- Auburn has clear NFL talent in its front 6.
- The Bears are missing two starting offensive linemen (McDonald and Vatikani).
- Auburn was ultra-aggressive, as reflected by:
- 17 times Auburn rushed 5
- 16 times Auburn rushed 6!
- Auburn frequently walked up a safety that did not blitz
- At left tackle, Morrow and Stoffel alternated each drive (for the entire game) and therefore received roughly equal playing time.
Grades (Not “curved” for Auburn’s excellent front 6)
Offensive line MVP: Swinney, B+ (not inc. snaps). He was stout in pass protection, and had a couple of very good run blocks, including on the Thomas TD run. He did get pushed into the backfield on one play. The quality of snaps were not included in his grade.
Reimer: B. He was consistent and was not beat that often in pass or run blocking.
Stoffel: C+. He was beat in pass protection, was not stellar in run blocking, and may have missed an assignment once.
Session: C. Same comments as Stoffel.
Wykoff: C. He was pushed around a couple of times in the run game, and was mediocre in pass protection.
Morrow: C-. Morrow gave up the most QB pressures. He frequently had to block #15, Keldric Faulk, a potential early NFL pick. This was a challenging assignment for the second game ever playing OL. He had one very good block in the run game where he opened a hole (picture below).
Javian Thomas: In limited blocking reps, Thomas proved a very willing, and very effective blocker (picture below). He would receive an A, if not for the limited opportunities.
QB Pressures by Player (Number)
Morrow: 4 (does not include coverage sack, so perhaps 5)
Session: 2.5
Stoffel: 2
Wykoff: 1.5
Reimer: 1
Ott: 1
Swinney: 0 (my notes did not ding him for any QB pressures – I may have missed 1)
DEFENSIVE FRONT - DL and OLB
Background
- The defensive front was excellent against UC Davis. The big question was whether Auburn would be able to push around the Cal front? The answer was a resounding no. Other than Cheikhsaliou Fall, no Cal player looked physically overmatched.
- Cal blitzed 14 times by my count. Here are some notable plays when Cal blitzed:
- 41 yard pass on Auburn’s first drive (zone blitz - Cal rushed only 4)
- Burrell TFL for -1
- Buchanan sack
- Ja’ir Smith sack for 7 yard loss
- Fade pass to the end zone, and pass interference call against Cal
- No gain on run play
- Nohl interception in end zone nullified by pass interference call - this was the only time Cal rushed 7 and played a cover 0 defense.
QB Pressures by DL and OLB
McCulloch: 5 (inc. deflection that led to Ja’ir interception)
Keanaaina: 4
Carlton: 2
Tounkara: 2 (counting the holding that he drew)
C. Fall: 1
DL - Grades and Comments
Defensive Front MVP: Keanaaina, A-. He sheds blocks well, and was stout in the running game. He put substantial pressure on the QB (pictures below).
Burrell: B+. Burrell was strong throughout and did not get pushed around in the run game. He had a TFL and may have had a “hand” in causing an INT (picture below).
Bollers: B-. Bollers was strong and did not get pushed around, but did not have impactful plays. After the athleticism and strength on display against UC Davis, I expected more of an impact.
Correia/McKenzie: Not graded. McKenzie came in on the second team DL when Correia was injured. They both looked strong, did not get pushed around, but did not have impactful plays.
OLB – Grades and Comments
McCulloch: A-. He rushed the passer very well, and is stronger and more stout in the run game than last year. He does not receive an A because he did not impact the run game that much.
Carlton: B+.Carlton was strong on the edge, and did not get pushed around. When he gets to the QB, it is often through strength and persistence, while McCulloch will get there through spins and speed/athleticism.
Tounkara: B+. Two QB pressures is impressive in limited snaps as a pass rushing specialist.
C. Fall: C+. He played a key role on the Buchanan forced fumble (picture below), but was pushed around in the running game on multiple occasions (pictures below).
M. Williams: Not graded. Did not get pushed around but did not have impactful plays in limited reps.
FEATURED PLAYS
Keanaaina: On the first Auburn drive, when Auburn scored a touchdown, it had a 41 yard pass. Keanaaina busts past the center and an attempted double-team, and nearly prevented the bomb.
McCulloch: On Auburn’s second drive, Bollers jumps into the neutral zone. McCulloch made a nice move past the LT and pressured the QB. The penalty was accepted on the incomplete pass.
Swinney: On Cal’s second drive, Swinney takes on a tough Auburn LB beyond the line of scrimmage, but is pushed back 1 yard behind the line of scrimmage, leaving Ott no space. Swinney did not get pushed around much.
Morrow: This was Morrow’s best run block of the game. He engulfed the Auburn DL and pushed him back 2 yards. The hole allowed a 6-yard gain for Ott.
Burrell: On the first interception by Williams, Burrell may have slightly glanced the ball - it is hard to tell. The throw had a slight wobble and it could be the reason it bounced off the WR hands.
Wykoff: Mental error by Wykoff here. He believes it is a silent count where he needs to tap Swinney to cue Swinney to snap. In the first photo, it is already snapped and Wykoff is still looking back at Mendoza! The DL runs right past him, and takes a clean shot on Mendoza right as he throws it. The play was nullified due to Callloway’s illegal motion.
Burrell: On Auburn’s 4th drive, Burrell’s explosive first step and strength lead to a -1 yard TFL. Carlton had good push and forced the RB to the inside.
Morrow: Morrow gets beat by the future NFL player (#15), and Ott is stopped for no gain.
Fall: On Auburn’s first drive of the second half, Fall has two rough plays. In the first, he engages a pulling OL behind on Auburn’s side of the LOS, and was then pushed back about 4 yards. The Auburn RB runs for 5.
Fall: In the second play, he was pushed out of the gap giving a big hole to RB Hunter for a 22 yard run.
Jaivian Thomas: My favorite block of the day! Jet is one-on-one with an Auburn LB in the open field and flips him. Later in the game, he did it a second time!
McCulloch: Auburn has an open receiver downfield and instead of a long gain, McCulloch uses his speed, gets to the Auburn QB, hits his arm, and Ja’ir Smith ends up intercepting it.
Stoffel: He whiffs on an inside move.
Wykoff: On Rogers' key QB run on 2nd and 9, Wykoff with the great seal block on #15.
Swinney: At the end of the game, when Thomas nearly broke loose for a TD, Swinney carved the hole open. It was a 6-yard run.
