The Deep Dig
Texas Tech Part I: Defense
presented by Wendy Swantkowksi, DDS
Looking for experienced, family and cosmetic dental care in the Houston-Memorial area? Go with the best! OB sponsor Wendy Swantkowski, DDS. Call 281-293-9140 and find out why so many Orangebloods members are her patients!
Market Shares and Futures
Our curator was unable to get the Deep Dig columns posted last week (Baylor) due to health-related distractions, but it doesn’t mean our basement of maniacs didn’t still chart and collect all the data. Therefore, to get you a little caught up, here are how the rankings shook out through eight games, post-Baylor and coming into the Tech win:
1. Breckyn Hager
2. Anthony Wheeler
3. Chris Nelson
4. Malik Jefferson
5. Jason Hall
6. Poona Ford
7. Malcolm Roach
8. Paul Boyette
9. Charles Omenihu
10. Dylan Haines
so now …
THE TOP 10 RANKINGS (through nine games)
(Player) (% total team productivity created) (movement in ranking from last week)
1. FOX Breckyn Hager (even) 7.82%
2. LB Malik Jefferson (+3) 7.62%
T3. LB Anthony Wheeler (-1) 6.34%
T3. DT Poona Ford (+3) 6.34%
5. S Jason Hall (even) 6.33%
6. DT Chris Nelson (-3) 6.28%
7. FOX Malcolm Roach (even) 6.15%
8. DT Paul Boyette (even) 5.57%
9. DE Charles Omenihu (even) 5.19%
10. CB Kris Boyd (NR) 5.03%
Falling out of the Top 10: S Dylan Haines (10).
Defensive Snap Counts and Quick Hits
Click here for the official participation chart
INTERIOR D-LINE
95 Poona Ford - 45 snaps (32 at NT, 13 at DT)
97 Chris Nelson - 35 snaps (34 at NT, 1 DT)
93 Paul Boyette - 32 snaps (29 at NT, 2 at DE, 1 at DT)
98 D’Andre Christmas - 2 snaps (2 at NT)
- The defensive linemen aren’t broken up into nose and tackle categories this week. The reason why is simple. As you can tell by the distribution of snaps at both positions (or by a simple glance at the participation log), the DT position was not used with much frequency at all versus Texas Tech.
- Out of 100 defensive snaps charted (yes, 100) it was only on 15 of them that Texas even had two big bodies in the middle of the defensive front. This is because Charlie Strong elected to address the Tech offense and talented QB phenom Pat Mahomes 85 percent of the time with a defensive line of only three players, and the players utilized on the edge were always DE, FOX and overhang-type personnel instead of a traditional defensive tackle on the weak-side and a traditional SDE to the strength. The goal was clearly to try and give Texas the best chance at generating pressure with only three rushers up front while dropping most everybody else into coverage.
END
90 Charles Omenihu - 28 snaps
91 Bryce Cottrell - 26 snaps
FOX/SAM/“Double Fox”/Overhang
44 Breckyn Hager - 60 snaps
32 Malcolm Roach - 58 snaps
40 Naashon Hughes - 22 snaps
41 Erick Fowler - 11 snaps (9 at FOX, 2 at MLB)
- When you picture a defensive front that has one big, penetrating nose in the middle and two “tweener”-type rush specialists on either side, it’s easy to see why the “true” SDE position went the way of the dodo bird versus Tech in much the same way the “true” DT position did. If Texas was only going to bring a three-man rush, it’s pretty clear to see who the staff wants on the edges.
- Hager and Roach seeing so much run in this setting should be of absolutely no surprise to the program’s close observers and regulars to our dark basement. The simple fact is that the SDE position has not been one that has generated the amount of pressure or disruption that many expected coming into the year. We will go on record as saying that Charles Omenihu will one day be a force off the edge, but it’s looking more and more like he’s a two-year project with legitimate hopes of a Year 3 breakout much more than he was ever a one-year fixer-upper with a Year 2 breakout on deck. It just hasn’t completely come together for Charles O. yet.
- Many in our basement became a little bit choked-up seeing a trio of Erick Fowler, D’Andre Christmas and Breckyn Hager completely caving in the offensive line on Patrick Mahomes for a sack (each player was credited with a half, although we understand three halves don’t equal one). It seems like just yesterday they were all three just glimmers in the eyes of the most maniacal Texas fans.
MIKE
46 Malik Jefferson - 61 snaps
30 Tim Cole - 36 snaps
WILL
35 Edwin Freeman - 65 snaps
23 Jeffrey McCulloch - 35 snaps
- The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist and the greatest trick Charlie Strong ever pulled was giving TTU’s ‘Coach Bro’ a hot carl (old-Chicago style) by having Malik Jefferson spy Tech QB Patrick Mahomes. Jefferson frequently showed speed to the edge and the flats in pursuit of a scrambling Mahomes that fans haven’t seen in almost a calendar year. If Jefferson keeps up this level of production, he’ll be back atop the chart soon. Between the Baylor and Tech games, he’s made it a race to the finish with Breckyn Hager for King of the Deep Dig mountain.
- 65 snaps for Edwin Freeman? It’s not often that one gets by on us around here, but we must admit, we were all taken aback by Anthony Wheelers inability to play Saturday given the death of his grandfather. We wish the Wheelers all the best. The greatest news about Freeman from the game is that he, a missed-tackles machine all season, was not among those who were caught whiffing against Tech.
SECONDARY
NICKEL
11 PJ Locke - 78 snaps
25 Antwuan Davis - 16 snaps (8 at dime, 8 at nickel)
18 Kevin Vaccaro - 7 snaps
DIME/CHEETAH
5 Holton Hill - 76 snaps
CORNER
24 John Bonney - 90 snaps
2 Kris Boyd - 78 snaps
1 Sheroid Evans - 21 snaps
9 Davante Davis - 8 snaps
SAFETY
31 Jason Hall - 69 snaps
14 Dylan Haines - 68 snaps
4 Deshon Elliott - 52 snaps
19 Brandon Jones - 8 snaps
- Welcome back to the fold, Holton Hill! Thanks to the defense playing predominantly in a dime package versus Texas Tech (something we haven’t seen all year and a clear indication of Charlie Strong’s fingerprints in game-planning) Hill was one of the day’s leading snap participants. Hill did not allow one completion into his downfield responsibility or a coverage burn while racking up six points for tackles and only missing one. It was a very good day for Hill that should aid his case in getting back to seeing the field more often. Versus Texas Tech, Hill looked like the most sure open-field tackler in the Texas secondary versus Tech. In fact, he had some tackles so nice that we’re debating internally about whether to make a “Holton Hill Rule” in 2016 giving double points for great open-field tackles in space.
- Kevin Vaccaro at nickel? Charlie Strong, you crafty old fox.
- John Bonney, your snaps-leader versus Texas Tech … Raise your hand if you saw that one coming preseason.
- Everyone’s favorite preseason All-American Davante Davis is starting to creep back into our lives? Slowly but surely, he is, indeed. Davis’ 2016 season has been a major disappointment given expectations, but at least he’s seen the field for the last two games after not recording a snap versus Kansas State. Davis was on the field for three defensive snaps versus Baylor and that ticked up to 8 against the Red Raiders.
- Kris Boyd is coming on as the team’s best disruptor of the football at the catch-point, but he’s a risk-taker that can find himself in position to allow completions by being over-aggressive; just have a look at the downfield coverage stats …
Coverage Stats on Downfield Pass Attempts vs. Tech
K Boyd - 3 PBU, 1 INT, 3 completions allowed, no burns
J Bonney - 2 PBU, 1 completion allowed, no burns
P Locke - 1 PBU, 1 completion allowed, no burns
J Hall - 1 PBU, no completions allowed, no burns
D Elliott - 1 PBU, no completions allowed, no burns
S Evans - 1 PBU, no completions allowed, no burns
H Hill - no completions allowed, no burns
D Haines - no completions allowed, no burns
A Davis - 1 completion allowed, no burns
D Davis - no completions allowed, no burns
B Jones - no completions allowed, no burns
K Vaccaro - 1 completion allowed, no burns
Snaps per production generated (through nine games)
players who have not yet caused 2016 production not included; *players with under 100 total defensive snaps in 2016 not included
Did He Play on Defense? No He Didn’t …
scholarship players on defense that have played at least a defensive snap in 2015, but did not against Texas Tech
LB Anthony Wheeler - 457 snaps on defense in 2016
DL Jordan Elliott - 60 snaps on defense in 2016
DL Gerald Wilbon - 25 snaps on defense in 2016
LB Cameron Townsend - 3 snaps on defense in 2016
This Week in Missed Tackles …
For a total of 13 missed tackles on defense versus Tech, In case Vance Bedford asks.
As we turn our attention to Part II: Offense, we thank you, once again, for reading.
Texas Tech Part I: Defense
presented by Wendy Swantkowksi, DDS
Looking for experienced, family and cosmetic dental care in the Houston-Memorial area? Go with the best! OB sponsor Wendy Swantkowski, DDS. Call 281-293-9140 and find out why so many Orangebloods members are her patients!
. . .
Market Shares and Futures
All Texas Tech Game Photos via UT Athletics
Here’s how the productivity rankings are tallied, as always, Deep Dig data and statistics are likely to differ from “official” statistics kept by the university:
Solo Tackles: 1 point
Assisted and Boundary-Assisted Tackles: .5 points
Touches-Down and Untouched Force-Outs: 0 points
Sacks: 2 points
QB Hits: 1 point
QB Pressures: 1 point
TFL: 2 points
Batted Passes: 1 point
Fumbles Caused: 3 points
Fumbles Recovered: 1.5 points
Run-Stuffs: 1 point (on top of tackle if applicable)
Pass Break-Ups: 1 point
Blowups (a PBU that ‘blows up’ the opposing WR): 2 points
Interceptions: 3 points
Defensive Touchdowns: 6 points
Missed Tackles: -1 point
Safeties: 4 points*
FOR DBs ONLY (new in 2016)
Lockdown Bonus: A bonus awarded (3 points for CB, 2 points for S and Nickel**) that can be whittled down by the following negatives stats:
Completions allowed: -.5 points
Burns: -2 points
* the “Paul Boyette Rule” (adopted in November of 2016) says that defensive players who cause offensive holding penalties in the opposing end-zone with result in safeties will be awarded a safety.
** points per total snaps in the game. If a player was only a 50% snap participant as an outside cornerback, the lockdown bonus he’d start out with would be only 1.5 points.
Standings in the Deep Dig’s Productivity Market Share Rankings represent the number of points the player has scored to this point in the season per the Deep Dig’s official records.
The rankings will be updated weekly through the season as players move in and out of the Top 10 and market-shares shift toward the future. For now, Malik Jefferson is lurking in the shadows, poised to reclaim his position atop the heap …
Here’s how the productivity rankings are tallied, as always, Deep Dig data and statistics are likely to differ from “official” statistics kept by the university:
Solo Tackles: 1 point
Assisted and Boundary-Assisted Tackles: .5 points
Touches-Down and Untouched Force-Outs: 0 points
Sacks: 2 points
QB Hits: 1 point
QB Pressures: 1 point
TFL: 2 points
Batted Passes: 1 point
Fumbles Caused: 3 points
Fumbles Recovered: 1.5 points
Run-Stuffs: 1 point (on top of tackle if applicable)
Pass Break-Ups: 1 point
Blowups (a PBU that ‘blows up’ the opposing WR): 2 points
Interceptions: 3 points
Defensive Touchdowns: 6 points
Missed Tackles: -1 point
Safeties: 4 points*
FOR DBs ONLY (new in 2016)
Lockdown Bonus: A bonus awarded (3 points for CB, 2 points for S and Nickel**) that can be whittled down by the following negatives stats:
Completions allowed: -.5 points
Burns: -2 points
* the “Paul Boyette Rule” (adopted in November of 2016) says that defensive players who cause offensive holding penalties in the opposing end-zone with result in safeties will be awarded a safety.
** points per total snaps in the game. If a player was only a 50% snap participant as an outside cornerback, the lockdown bonus he’d start out with would be only 1.5 points.
Standings in the Deep Dig’s Productivity Market Share Rankings represent the number of points the player has scored to this point in the season per the Deep Dig’s official records.
The rankings will be updated weekly through the season as players move in and out of the Top 10 and market-shares shift toward the future. For now, Malik Jefferson is lurking in the shadows, poised to reclaim his position atop the heap …
. . .
Our curator was unable to get the Deep Dig columns posted last week (Baylor) due to health-related distractions, but it doesn’t mean our basement of maniacs didn’t still chart and collect all the data. Therefore, to get you a little caught up, here are how the rankings shook out through eight games, post-Baylor and coming into the Tech win:
1. Breckyn Hager
2. Anthony Wheeler
3. Chris Nelson
4. Malik Jefferson
5. Jason Hall
6. Poona Ford
7. Malcolm Roach
8. Paul Boyette
9. Charles Omenihu
10. Dylan Haines
so now …
THE TOP 10 RANKINGS (through nine games)
(Player) (% total team productivity created) (movement in ranking from last week)
1. FOX Breckyn Hager (even) 7.82%
2. LB Malik Jefferson (+3) 7.62%
T3. LB Anthony Wheeler (-1) 6.34%
T3. DT Poona Ford (+3) 6.34%
5. S Jason Hall (even) 6.33%
6. DT Chris Nelson (-3) 6.28%
7. FOX Malcolm Roach (even) 6.15%
8. DT Paul Boyette (even) 5.57%
9. DE Charles Omenihu (even) 5.19%
10. CB Kris Boyd (NR) 5.03%
Falling out of the Top 10: S Dylan Haines (10).
. . .
Defensive Snap Counts and Quick Hits
Click here for the official participation chart
INTERIOR D-LINE
95 Poona Ford - 45 snaps (32 at NT, 13 at DT)
97 Chris Nelson - 35 snaps (34 at NT, 1 DT)
93 Paul Boyette - 32 snaps (29 at NT, 2 at DE, 1 at DT)
98 D’Andre Christmas - 2 snaps (2 at NT)
- The defensive linemen aren’t broken up into nose and tackle categories this week. The reason why is simple. As you can tell by the distribution of snaps at both positions (or by a simple glance at the participation log), the DT position was not used with much frequency at all versus Texas Tech.
- Out of 100 defensive snaps charted (yes, 100) it was only on 15 of them that Texas even had two big bodies in the middle of the defensive front. This is because Charlie Strong elected to address the Tech offense and talented QB phenom Pat Mahomes 85 percent of the time with a defensive line of only three players, and the players utilized on the edge were always DE, FOX and overhang-type personnel instead of a traditional defensive tackle on the weak-side and a traditional SDE to the strength. The goal was clearly to try and give Texas the best chance at generating pressure with only three rushers up front while dropping most everybody else into coverage.
END
90 Charles Omenihu - 28 snaps
91 Bryce Cottrell - 26 snaps
FOX/SAM/“Double Fox”/Overhang
44 Breckyn Hager - 60 snaps
32 Malcolm Roach - 58 snaps
40 Naashon Hughes - 22 snaps
41 Erick Fowler - 11 snaps (9 at FOX, 2 at MLB)
- When you picture a defensive front that has one big, penetrating nose in the middle and two “tweener”-type rush specialists on either side, it’s easy to see why the “true” SDE position went the way of the dodo bird versus Tech in much the same way the “true” DT position did. If Texas was only going to bring a three-man rush, it’s pretty clear to see who the staff wants on the edges.
- Hager and Roach seeing so much run in this setting should be of absolutely no surprise to the program’s close observers and regulars to our dark basement. The simple fact is that the SDE position has not been one that has generated the amount of pressure or disruption that many expected coming into the year. We will go on record as saying that Charles Omenihu will one day be a force off the edge, but it’s looking more and more like he’s a two-year project with legitimate hopes of a Year 3 breakout much more than he was ever a one-year fixer-upper with a Year 2 breakout on deck. It just hasn’t completely come together for Charles O. yet.
- Many in our basement became a little bit choked-up seeing a trio of Erick Fowler, D’Andre Christmas and Breckyn Hager completely caving in the offensive line on Patrick Mahomes for a sack (each player was credited with a half, although we understand three halves don’t equal one). It seems like just yesterday they were all three just glimmers in the eyes of the most maniacal Texas fans.
MIKE
46 Malik Jefferson - 61 snaps
30 Tim Cole - 36 snaps
WILL
35 Edwin Freeman - 65 snaps
23 Jeffrey McCulloch - 35 snaps
- The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist and the greatest trick Charlie Strong ever pulled was giving TTU’s ‘Coach Bro’ a hot carl (old-Chicago style) by having Malik Jefferson spy Tech QB Patrick Mahomes. Jefferson frequently showed speed to the edge and the flats in pursuit of a scrambling Mahomes that fans haven’t seen in almost a calendar year. If Jefferson keeps up this level of production, he’ll be back atop the chart soon. Between the Baylor and Tech games, he’s made it a race to the finish with Breckyn Hager for King of the Deep Dig mountain.
- 65 snaps for Edwin Freeman? It’s not often that one gets by on us around here, but we must admit, we were all taken aback by Anthony Wheelers inability to play Saturday given the death of his grandfather. We wish the Wheelers all the best. The greatest news about Freeman from the game is that he, a missed-tackles machine all season, was not among those who were caught whiffing against Tech.
SECONDARY
NICKEL
11 PJ Locke - 78 snaps
25 Antwuan Davis - 16 snaps (8 at dime, 8 at nickel)
18 Kevin Vaccaro - 7 snaps
DIME/CHEETAH
5 Holton Hill - 76 snaps
CORNER
24 John Bonney - 90 snaps
2 Kris Boyd - 78 snaps
1 Sheroid Evans - 21 snaps
9 Davante Davis - 8 snaps
SAFETY
31 Jason Hall - 69 snaps
14 Dylan Haines - 68 snaps
4 Deshon Elliott - 52 snaps
19 Brandon Jones - 8 snaps
- Welcome back to the fold, Holton Hill! Thanks to the defense playing predominantly in a dime package versus Texas Tech (something we haven’t seen all year and a clear indication of Charlie Strong’s fingerprints in game-planning) Hill was one of the day’s leading snap participants. Hill did not allow one completion into his downfield responsibility or a coverage burn while racking up six points for tackles and only missing one. It was a very good day for Hill that should aid his case in getting back to seeing the field more often. Versus Texas Tech, Hill looked like the most sure open-field tackler in the Texas secondary versus Tech. In fact, he had some tackles so nice that we’re debating internally about whether to make a “Holton Hill Rule” in 2016 giving double points for great open-field tackles in space.
- Kevin Vaccaro at nickel? Charlie Strong, you crafty old fox.
- John Bonney, your snaps-leader versus Texas Tech … Raise your hand if you saw that one coming preseason.
- Everyone’s favorite preseason All-American Davante Davis is starting to creep back into our lives? Slowly but surely, he is, indeed. Davis’ 2016 season has been a major disappointment given expectations, but at least he’s seen the field for the last two games after not recording a snap versus Kansas State. Davis was on the field for three defensive snaps versus Baylor and that ticked up to 8 against the Red Raiders.
- Kris Boyd is coming on as the team’s best disruptor of the football at the catch-point, but he’s a risk-taker that can find himself in position to allow completions by being over-aggressive; just have a look at the downfield coverage stats …
Coverage Stats on Downfield Pass Attempts vs. Tech
K Boyd - 3 PBU, 1 INT, 3 completions allowed, no burns
J Bonney - 2 PBU, 1 completion allowed, no burns
P Locke - 1 PBU, 1 completion allowed, no burns
J Hall - 1 PBU, no completions allowed, no burns
D Elliott - 1 PBU, no completions allowed, no burns
S Evans - 1 PBU, no completions allowed, no burns
H Hill - no completions allowed, no burns
D Haines - no completions allowed, no burns
A Davis - 1 completion allowed, no burns
D Davis - no completions allowed, no burns
B Jones - no completions allowed, no burns
K Vaccaro - 1 completion allowed, no burns
. . .
Snaps per production generated (through nine games)
players who have not yet caused 2016 production not included; *players with under 100 total defensive snaps in 2016 not included
. . .
Did He Play on Defense? No He Didn’t …
scholarship players on defense that have played at least a defensive snap in 2015, but did not against Texas Tech
LB Anthony Wheeler - 457 snaps on defense in 2016
DL Jordan Elliott - 60 snaps on defense in 2016
DL Gerald Wilbon - 25 snaps on defense in 2016
LB Cameron Townsend - 3 snaps on defense in 2016
. . .
This Week in Missed Tackles …
For a total of 13 missed tackles on defense versus Tech, In case Vance Bedford asks.
. . .
As we turn our attention to Part II: Offense, we thank you, once again, for reading.
