[Hank 91]

I watched the play about a million times last night, and I'm still sure whom to blame. Even though it was 4th and 1, we were still in our base package, which is fine, but the entire front seven was drawn up close. Thomas was on the line, but spread a bit wide in a two-point stance and fronted by a tight end. Murphy was also standing, and off the line of scrimmage by a yard or two. The play went away from him, so he was never involved. As Price was barking signals, Skov jumped up into the gap between Gardner and Stephens. Just as the ball was being snapped, Vaughters streaked into the next gap, between Stephens and Anderson. (Again, I don't know what the responsibilities are supposed to be, but this seems to make sense, since all four linebackers were surrounding the three down lineman.) As the lines engaged, Skov was immediately bottled up, then popped into the next gap over, almost as if he was running a stunt. The problem, of course, was that Vaughters was already there. The two collided and took each other out of the play. Thomas, meanwhile was being adequately blocked by a tight end, leaving a gaping hole on the right side of the offensive line. Even given all that, Sankey's run should've gained only ten yards. As strong as the secondary has been tackling, I'd have expected them to make the play. (Admittedly, our best taking corner, Wayne Lyons, was on the opposite side.) Jordan Richards and Ed Reynolds both closed on Sankey, but he made them both miss. If this had been a game of two-hand touch, Sankey still would've scored.

It isn't realistic to think that a defense can hit the right assignments and make the tackles on every single play, but it's unfortunate that one bungled play essentially changed the outcome of the game. Certainly, the offense shoulders 98% of the blame here, but I'm sure I wasn't the only one here who thought the game was over when Murphy snared that pick-six. The ten-point lead seemed insurmountable; this play proved it wasn't.

[Hank 91]

I watched the play about a million times last night, and I'm still sure whom to blame. Even though it was 4th and 1, we were still in our base package, which is fine, but the entire front seven was drawn up close. Thomas was on the line, but spread a bit wide in a two-point stance and fronted by a tight end. Murphy was also standing, and off the line of scrimmage by a yard or two. The play went away from him, so he was never involved. As Price was barking signals, Skov jumped up into the gap between Gardner and Stephens. Just as the ball was being snapped, Vaughters streaked into the next gap, between Stephens and Anderson. (Again, I don't know what the responsibilities are supposed to be, but this seems to make sense, since all four linebackers were surrounding the three down lineman.) As the lines engaged, Skov was immediately bottled up, then popped into the next gap over, almost as if he was running a stunt. The problem, of course, was that Vaughters was already there. The two collided and took each other out of the play. Thomas, meanwhile was being adequately blocked by a tight end, leaving a gaping hole on the right side of the offensive line. Even given all that, Sankey's run should've gained only ten yards. As strong as the secondary has been tackling, I'd have expected them to make the play. (Admittedly, our best taking corner, Wayne Lyons, was on the opposite side.) Jordan Richards and Ed Reynolds both closed on Sankey, but he made them both miss. If this had been a game of two-hand touch, Sankey still would've scored.

It isn't realistic to think that a defense can hit the right assignments and make the tackles on every single play, but it's unfortunate that one bungled play essentially changed the outcome of the game. Certainly, the offense shoulders 98% of the blame here, but I'm sure I wasn't the only one here who thought the game was over when Murphy snared that pick-six. The ten-point lead seemed insurmountable; this play proved it wasn't.