Player Review: Cody Sullins vs. UCLA
One point of conversation that has been almost completely looked over in the Tennessee Volunteers / UCLA Bruins game last Saturday was the difficulty that the Tennessee rushing attack had in maintaining success. The Jonathan Crompton storyline is certainly the more fashionable thing to talk about this week, but to dismiss Tennessee's 2.6 yard-per-rush average as the result of UCLA sticking 10 men in the box and ignoring the pass is a drastic oversimplification of what happened. In fact, it was not really a function of the number of men in the box at all, but more of the front four on the Bruins defensive line. And to be really specific, it was a function of the two defensive tackles.
Here we enter the blissful wonder of ESPN 360 and game archives. I'm going to walk through some of the UT offensive line play on the rushing plays and use the video records as case studies. (I haven't found it on the SEC website yet.) The short answer is that UCLA was able to neutralize the center in the zone blocking schemes, mostly due to the play of UCLA's outstanding defensive tackle Brian Price.
1st Quarter, 9:18 left, 3rd and 1
On this play, the two defensive tackles are engaged by the right guard and right tackle. The play was a zone rush to the left, so the offensive line's first step was leftward. (The defensive tackles stepped first to their left, and were thus met by the right side of the line.) The center Cody Sullins was free to run out to the second level and block the middle linebacker directly. Since the tackles stepped away from him, he had absolutely no line blocking responsibility. Montario Hardesty followed Sullins on the cutback run for a 13 yard gain and a 1st down.
Prior to the snap - note the alignment of the D-tackles to the left of the center.
Note that Cody Sullins is untouched at the line and is running toward the linebacker.
What's interesting to note here is that Sullins really didn't do a good job of blocking the linebacker, but he did manage to force him into a spot where the fullback could do the job. (Hint: it's hard to block on your back.)
But by now you can see the hole opening up for Hardesty. The video game cam shows a great picture of the blocking. Here, note the well-executed cut block by the right guard and note that the center is already out to the middle linebacker by the time Hardesty even gets the ball.
The key here was that the defensive line was unable to counter the position gained by the offensive line's first step. This was actually fairly common whenever the center had the block-and-release responsibility on the play (that is, whenever SUllins was only the support blocker on linemen and had the responsibility to go to the second level against the linebackers). Let's now look at a play where Sullins had to take on a tackle direclty.
2nd Quarter, 3:14 left, 1st and 10
Here, UCLA places 7 in the box in a fairly vanilla defense. The defensive line is in a very similar alignment to the above play, but one defensive tackle is assigned to engage the center direclty.
The result is that Sullins gets pushed back into the backfield, inhibiting the cutback play and allowing the linebackers to flow to the hole. With the wonders of MS Paint:
Sullins has been pushed two yards deep into the backfield, taking away much of Hardesty's ability to choose his running lane. Hardesty now has to travel laterally rather than downfield with his cut, and the extra time gives the defense enough time to adjust and be there. The play ends in a 2 yard gain for Tennessee, but this is an overall win for UCLA.
As the game progressed, UCLA increasingly assigned the tackle to square up against the center, which was a large part of the reason that the running game ran into some difficulty. The outside runs were still available, but without a consistent cutback option, the running game was not able to generate the yardage it needed.
It didn't take stacking the box for UCLA to slow down the run, as we have heard all week. Instead, it was a defensive line adjustment that took advantage of the least experienced player on the offensive line and the tremendous asset of UCLA's defensive tackles.
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Unforunate that UCLA's best defensive lineman got to lineup in front of our walkon center
Is there any way that the offense can counter this? Other than having success in other areas to keep the defense honest.
Depends on the play.
Often, one of the guards can offer a supporting block for a step or two before heading out to the second level. Extensive use of cut blocks can sometimes make a defensive linemen skittish as well. But options are limited because the defensive line can move and adjust before the snap, but the offensive line can’t.
by David Hooper on Sep 16, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I hope I can.
With ‘360, it’s easier for me to replay the game enough to find these things, even with those random commercial breaks on replay. (^hint, hint, ESPN, I’m watching your commercials while doing this…^)
by David Hooper on Sep 16, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Heck of a job, good breakdown, line play is mostly a mystery to me.
RIP Steve McNair (1973 - 2009) Retire #9!
Member of the Committee to Keep Keith Bulluck.
Eric Berry for Heisman!!
by Pride of the Southland on Sep 16, 2009 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm learning as I go.
I perhaps mention it too often, but being a Broncos fan forced me into learning some O-line stuff when they were the only zone blocking team in the league. Since then, I try to pick up a bit here and there. I’m still a novice, but I know enough to know when I don’t know something, and I avoid that.
by David Hooper on Sep 16, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions
That was a superb analysis
Please forward a copy to James Cregg, OL Coach. ;)
Ah, never mind. I ‘m sure he figured it out during the game but couldn’t do anything about it because it’s a walk-on vs. an NFL prospect.
I concur, excellent breakdown of zone blocking
When the OL cut blocks effectively, it forces the DL to kick step slightly backwards while using their arms to disengage the blocker down and away from their knees. Any time you can get the DL thinking “guard the knees” is time the RB has to explode past them. I was eager to see the effects of zone blocking on the Vols’ offensive system.
My seats are in YY, first row. In addition to having seats with backs (braggart alert), I love the POV it gives me on running plays. You get to watch the blocking set up and produce holes and cutback lanes for the RB’s.
Keep ’em coming, Hoop. Great work.
Ball, oskie, cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle... for this is the WINNING EDGE.
Thanks.
The line still has some growing to do with the zone blocking. They’ve only seen a non-UT opponent for two games, and it makes a big difference. But it’s an outrageously fun system for linemen and I don’t think we’ll be worried about line recruiting for very long.
by David Hooper on Sep 16, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
On UT's drive of the game ...
Cory Sullins was in for Vlad Richard at left guard and on second (or third?) down got thrown to the ground like a rag doll, resulting in immediate pressure. Also, leaving the LE unblocked on fourth (or fifth) down didn’t do Crompton any favors. Having watched the game in person, I placed almost all the blame on Crompton, but clearly that’s not the whole story.
This is fantastic
My hope is either that McNeil gets “healthy”, or that Sullins is only going to get better the rest of the year. Unfortunately, this is like the Year of the DT in the SEC, since we’ll have to face Georgia’s combo plus Mt. Cody, aside from what we’ll see this week.
Will - Rocky Top Talk
The question is
Is Josh McNeil at 75% better than Sullins at 100%? I don’t know the answer, I’m just wondering aloud.
Keep in mind
About a week and a half ago we were hearing that Josh McNeil’s career was over so I’m still not sold on how effective he could really be.
"The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it."
by Getoffmyvols on Sep 16, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Centers are usually the smallest linemen
and the guards are named such because they ‘guard’ the center. But the extra 20 lbs. of McNeil might have made a difference, assuming his knee was solid.
by David Hooper on Sep 16, 2009 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions
I love McNeil's heart, but
I doubt he’d have done much better. We didn’t exactly blow holes in defensive lines last year. I think the answer is you try like hell to not run right at the strength of the defense. Or like your beloved Broncos with their dirty blocking tactics, you take out a knee or two early in the game.
Never Again. Retire #8 NOW!
heh
I ’preciate the effort, but I see the smirk behind that bait…
Besides, that’s my beloved Broncos with their former dirty blocking tactics. Now they just rely on unfathomable luck.
by David Hooper on Sep 16, 2009 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Loved that call
on that play on CBS, that was Gus Johnson at his finest.
Will - Rocky Top Talk
by Will Shelton on Sep 16, 2009 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions
I had to go back and listen to it again.
You’re right, though. He has a great voice for broadcasting and he has a good knack for staying under control mentally, even when he’s screaming out in total disbelief. If only Stokley hadn’t ruined his touchdown call timing by running along the goal line for so long… ;-)
by David Hooper on Sep 16, 2009 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions
The way Stokely nonchalantly ran across the field
I thought he somehow thought he was already in the end zone. I mean, he’s jogging across the field there at the end.
My brother’s a lifelong Bengals fan, if he wasn’t used to heartbreak, I would have felt bad for him.
As a Colts fan, I miss Stokely. To go from Peyton Manning to Kyle Orton is nearly cruel and unusual punishment, then payday arrives and it’s all good.
Never Again. Retire #8 NOW!
By the way,
the low-res is due to screen cap’ing ‘360. If you can think of a way to get higher res shots, I’m all ears. Just keep in mind that I don’t have a DVR…

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