The Deep Dig
Texas Tech Part II: Offense
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!
Offensive Line Thoughts and Grades
all photos versus Tech via Texas Athletics
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS OFFICIAL OL GRADING LOG
Deep Dig Grading Scale
55 LT Connor Williams - 89 snaps
No disruption allowed
2 knockdowns
DEEP DIG GRADE: 81.07
We were unable to provide the written version of the Deep Dig last week, which was discouraging as Connor Williams, our very own little secret superstar, finally did what no lineman in the history of the Deep Dig has done by breaking the ever-elusive 80-point threshold across both the run-blocking and the pass blocking portion by scoring a total score of 80.42.
When the system was invented in 2012, it separated the run-portion from the pass-portion, and grading scale’s milestones generally represented a player reaching the score in one of two portions, but not necessarily in both. For example, Donald Hawkins got 80-plus point scores in the run-block portion of his grade three times during his senior season at Texas, but never an average of the run and pass-portions that equaled out around this area.
Players like Jake Matthews received 90-plus scores in the pass-block portion alone, but if an average was to be taken of both the run and the pass-portion as the Deep Dig switched to in 2014, it’s very likely his “true” overall scores would have been more like an 86 or 87. Hence, the need for adjustment of the scale as illustrated above.
With Williams improving on his record-score from Baylor to Texas Tech, the following things become clear. We don’t do all this work for no reason. We live in constant anticipation of a future Texas monster and the forecasting of such monsters has been a pretty tough sell around these parts lately. But after grading every snap of every offensive lineman at Texas over now (nearly) four years, we have good news that is final and definitive:
1) Williams has taken the step in his sophomore season that only our most wildly optimistic regulars had foreseen coming. He’s the D’Onta Foreman of the OL. In the midst of such regression amongst the rest of the Texas football team, Williams is flashing red sign of positive development that simply cannot be ignored. He hasn’t been good, he’s been amazing.
2) He could be drafted right now. Right this instant an NFL franchise could feel comfortable spending a 5th to 7th round pick on Williams and giving him a year in an NFL system to develop.
3) He will be a first-round pick should he elect to come out after his junior season.
64 LG Jake McMillon - 75 snaps
1 pressure allowed
1 holding penalty
4 knockdowns, 1 pin
DEEP DIG GRADE: 79.3
If it weren’t for Connor Williams’ recent ascension into the Deep Dig stratosphere of the truly elite, Jake McMillon would be the story of the week. It’s like the poor running back for TCU who went for nearly 200 yards and a touchdown in the same week D’Onta Foreman put up over three bills versus Texas Tech.
We’re here to admit that we were right all along, and somehow likely wrong, as well.
Here’s why: the Deep Dig has said, dating back to the UTEP game, that McMillon needed to be given the opportunity to show he could start — we just didn’t think the optimal position was center. While Patrick Vahe has struggled relative to expectations in the 2016 season, it is the view of the Deep Dig that he is a better option to have in your starting five than Zach Shackelford who has, largely, struggled slightly more. With this said, the idea of benching Vahe for McMillon while McMillon has versatility to play both the guard and center made little sense to us.
We always said McMillon should start — just over Shack, not Vahe.
And that’s where we could have been wrong, and it took seeing what the left side of the line looked like with McMillon and Williams compared to what we’ve seen from the duo of Vahe/Williams to understand what was happening.
While the actual five players of Williams, Vahe, McMillon, Perkins, Hodges are a better overall group of five players at this time than Williams, McMillon, Shackelford, Perkins and Hodges, the second group operates better. It just does. Smoother; less mistakes. In fact, really; no mistakes. Just punch-you-in-the-face, organized violence.
The left side of the offensive line at Texas, for the first time we can remember — dating back past the Sedrick Flowers era and further; all the way to Hopkins and Hawkins — seemed confident in picking up every stunt and in constant communication. More importantly, the combo-blocks and climbing assignments from the duo on the play-side (and at the point of attack) on power concepts was simply a pleasure to watch.
We actually sat there and said, “this is beautiful.” We realized we don’t see it much and that it’s important to take time to smell the roses. It was almost perfect. It was amazing.
There is something about those two players working in tandem that doesn’t just make the run-game click better to the left side, it makes Connor Williams a better offensive tackle. When McMillon was injured to end the game, it was clear that Patrick Vahe, former freshman All-American, was not just a downgrade, but a significant one.
Jake McMillon is the second-best player on the Texas offensive line and he can’t get back to his position at left guard soon enough — “optimal” starting five talent-wise be damned.
We were totally right about McMillon in some ways and 100% wrong about him in others.
56 C Zach Shackelford - 89 snaps
3 run-stuffs, 1 sack allowed
1 chop-block penalty
2 knockdowns
DEEP DIG GRADE: 77.02
You look at the grades from the entire offensive line and you see why D’Onta Foreman is still running in long touchdowns on the Texas Tech defense even on Thursday morning. Shack had, by far, his best game of the season versus Texas Tech. Again, we wonder if it is just the Tech defense being pure trash or whether it is the offensive line simply being more efficient with McMillon in as opposed to Vahe or if Shack is finally just getting stronger and better with moving his feet through engagement and staying balanced and square.
You can make an argument on any side that would be backed up via our data, but as is usually the case, the true answer is likely some mix of all things mentioned.
76 RG Kent Perkins - 89 snaps
1 run-stuff allowed
1 chop-block penalty
1 knockdown
DEEP DIG GRADE: 76.69
It was another above-average game on the whole out of Perkins, but we stick by our midseason projection that the ship has sailed on his NFL hopes. He simply has never taken that next step and with three games left of his career plus, hopefully, a bowl game, his time has probably been up to turn on the jets for a good year now.
58 Brandon Hodges - 89 snaps
1 stuff, 1 pressure allowed
1 knockdown
DEEP DIG GRADE: 77.13
A trend for the Texas OL was terrific play out of all involved, and you see on the scale above that these sorts of scores from every member of the offensive line will always, always, always result in dominant offensive efforts from the team as a whole barring disastrous QB play or complete outlier tertiary circumstances. It was Hodges’ second-best grade of the season.
After two weeks of splitting snaps basically series-for-series with Tristan Nickelson, Hodges got all the action to himself in Lubbock and played at an above-average-to-very-good level.
Reserves
77 Patrick Vahe - 18 snaps (12 at LG, 6 at jumbo H-back)
63 Alex Anderson - 3 snaps at LG
72 Elijah Rodriguez - 6 snaps at jumbo package TE
78 Denzel Okafor - 6 snaps at jumbo-package TE
OL snaps per disruption allowed or penalty caused
Skill-position snap counts and one-liners
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SKILL PARTICIPATION CHART
Quarterback
7 Shane Buechele - 82 snaps
- We’re not even putting Tyrone Swoopes in this category anymore. He’s a glorified running back who sometimes lines up under center.
Running Back
33 D’Onta Foreman - 66 snaps
21 Kyle Porter - 14 snaps
18 Tyrone Swoopes - 8 snaps
- D’Onta Foreman is the best running back in the nation and if he’s not invited to NYC for the Heisman ceremony it will be a snub of disastrous proportions. Rest assured, the Deep Dig will have representatives in the Big Apple to cover the whole shebang should the committee do the right thing and tell No. 33 to come up there and receive his deserved recognition nationally for what has been a truly magical season.
Wide Receiver
9 Collin Johnson - 69 snaps
3 Armanti Foreman - 65 snaps
2 Devin Duvernay - 40 snaps
6 Jake Oliver - 36 snaps
11 Jacorey Warrick - 31 snaps
8 Dorian Leonard - 23 snaps
13 Jerrod Heard - 10 snaps
1 John Burt - 3 snaps
- This is the Collin Johnson you’ve heard about from the media at practices. The one who dominates the catch-point, snatches footballs from high in the air with acrobatic moves and uses such athleticism through every portion of the catch that it makes your head spin. He was the snap leader for Texas versus Texas Tech and probably should be moving forward. We finally got to witness the Collin Johnson breakout. Between D’Onta Foreman’s record-setting day, Connor Williams’ and Jake McMillons’ performances and Collin Johnson’s breakout, it was the week of the Texas Monster.
Tight End
42 Caleb Bluiett - 32 snaps
47 Andrew Beck - 32 snaps
- Did somebody say tight ends?
Did he play on offense? Nope.
Scholarship players who did not record a snap on offense versus Texas Tech (doesn’t include special teams participation if applicable):
As we turn our attention to (yet another) make-or-break game for Charlie Strong at Texas (how many are there going to be?)
… we thank you, once again, for reading.
For questions about methods of data-capture or particular plays, please reference the Deep Dig Live.
Texas Tech Part II: Offense
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!
. . .
Offensive Line Thoughts and Grades
all photos versus Tech via Texas Athletics
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS OFFICIAL OL GRADING LOG
Deep Dig Grading Scale
55 LT Connor Williams - 89 snaps
No disruption allowed
2 knockdowns
DEEP DIG GRADE: 81.07
We were unable to provide the written version of the Deep Dig last week, which was discouraging as Connor Williams, our very own little secret superstar, finally did what no lineman in the history of the Deep Dig has done by breaking the ever-elusive 80-point threshold across both the run-blocking and the pass blocking portion by scoring a total score of 80.42.
When the system was invented in 2012, it separated the run-portion from the pass-portion, and grading scale’s milestones generally represented a player reaching the score in one of two portions, but not necessarily in both. For example, Donald Hawkins got 80-plus point scores in the run-block portion of his grade three times during his senior season at Texas, but never an average of the run and pass-portions that equaled out around this area.
Players like Jake Matthews received 90-plus scores in the pass-block portion alone, but if an average was to be taken of both the run and the pass-portion as the Deep Dig switched to in 2014, it’s very likely his “true” overall scores would have been more like an 86 or 87. Hence, the need for adjustment of the scale as illustrated above.
With Williams improving on his record-score from Baylor to Texas Tech, the following things become clear. We don’t do all this work for no reason. We live in constant anticipation of a future Texas monster and the forecasting of such monsters has been a pretty tough sell around these parts lately. But after grading every snap of every offensive lineman at Texas over now (nearly) four years, we have good news that is final and definitive:
1) Williams has taken the step in his sophomore season that only our most wildly optimistic regulars had foreseen coming. He’s the D’Onta Foreman of the OL. In the midst of such regression amongst the rest of the Texas football team, Williams is flashing red sign of positive development that simply cannot be ignored. He hasn’t been good, he’s been amazing.
2) He could be drafted right now. Right this instant an NFL franchise could feel comfortable spending a 5th to 7th round pick on Williams and giving him a year in an NFL system to develop.
3) He will be a first-round pick should he elect to come out after his junior season.
64 LG Jake McMillon - 75 snaps
1 pressure allowed
1 holding penalty
4 knockdowns, 1 pin
DEEP DIG GRADE: 79.3
If it weren’t for Connor Williams’ recent ascension into the Deep Dig stratosphere of the truly elite, Jake McMillon would be the story of the week. It’s like the poor running back for TCU who went for nearly 200 yards and a touchdown in the same week D’Onta Foreman put up over three bills versus Texas Tech.
We’re here to admit that we were right all along, and somehow likely wrong, as well.
Here’s why: the Deep Dig has said, dating back to the UTEP game, that McMillon needed to be given the opportunity to show he could start — we just didn’t think the optimal position was center. While Patrick Vahe has struggled relative to expectations in the 2016 season, it is the view of the Deep Dig that he is a better option to have in your starting five than Zach Shackelford who has, largely, struggled slightly more. With this said, the idea of benching Vahe for McMillon while McMillon has versatility to play both the guard and center made little sense to us.
We always said McMillon should start — just over Shack, not Vahe.
And that’s where we could have been wrong, and it took seeing what the left side of the line looked like with McMillon and Williams compared to what we’ve seen from the duo of Vahe/Williams to understand what was happening.
While the actual five players of Williams, Vahe, McMillon, Perkins, Hodges are a better overall group of five players at this time than Williams, McMillon, Shackelford, Perkins and Hodges, the second group operates better. It just does. Smoother; less mistakes. In fact, really; no mistakes. Just punch-you-in-the-face, organized violence.
The left side of the offensive line at Texas, for the first time we can remember — dating back past the Sedrick Flowers era and further; all the way to Hopkins and Hawkins — seemed confident in picking up every stunt and in constant communication. More importantly, the combo-blocks and climbing assignments from the duo on the play-side (and at the point of attack) on power concepts was simply a pleasure to watch.
We actually sat there and said, “this is beautiful.” We realized we don’t see it much and that it’s important to take time to smell the roses. It was almost perfect. It was amazing.
There is something about those two players working in tandem that doesn’t just make the run-game click better to the left side, it makes Connor Williams a better offensive tackle. When McMillon was injured to end the game, it was clear that Patrick Vahe, former freshman All-American, was not just a downgrade, but a significant one.
Jake McMillon is the second-best player on the Texas offensive line and he can’t get back to his position at left guard soon enough — “optimal” starting five talent-wise be damned.
We were totally right about McMillon in some ways and 100% wrong about him in others.
56 C Zach Shackelford - 89 snaps
3 run-stuffs, 1 sack allowed
1 chop-block penalty
2 knockdowns
DEEP DIG GRADE: 77.02
You look at the grades from the entire offensive line and you see why D’Onta Foreman is still running in long touchdowns on the Texas Tech defense even on Thursday morning. Shack had, by far, his best game of the season versus Texas Tech. Again, we wonder if it is just the Tech defense being pure trash or whether it is the offensive line simply being more efficient with McMillon in as opposed to Vahe or if Shack is finally just getting stronger and better with moving his feet through engagement and staying balanced and square.
You can make an argument on any side that would be backed up via our data, but as is usually the case, the true answer is likely some mix of all things mentioned.
76 RG Kent Perkins - 89 snaps
1 run-stuff allowed
1 chop-block penalty
1 knockdown
DEEP DIG GRADE: 76.69
It was another above-average game on the whole out of Perkins, but we stick by our midseason projection that the ship has sailed on his NFL hopes. He simply has never taken that next step and with three games left of his career plus, hopefully, a bowl game, his time has probably been up to turn on the jets for a good year now.
58 Brandon Hodges - 89 snaps
1 stuff, 1 pressure allowed
1 knockdown
DEEP DIG GRADE: 77.13
A trend for the Texas OL was terrific play out of all involved, and you see on the scale above that these sorts of scores from every member of the offensive line will always, always, always result in dominant offensive efforts from the team as a whole barring disastrous QB play or complete outlier tertiary circumstances. It was Hodges’ second-best grade of the season.
After two weeks of splitting snaps basically series-for-series with Tristan Nickelson, Hodges got all the action to himself in Lubbock and played at an above-average-to-very-good level.
Reserves
77 Patrick Vahe - 18 snaps (12 at LG, 6 at jumbo H-back)
63 Alex Anderson - 3 snaps at LG
72 Elijah Rodriguez - 6 snaps at jumbo package TE
78 Denzel Okafor - 6 snaps at jumbo-package TE
. . .
OL snaps per disruption allowed or penalty caused
. . .
Skill-position snap counts and one-liners
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SKILL PARTICIPATION CHART
Quarterback
7 Shane Buechele - 82 snaps
- We’re not even putting Tyrone Swoopes in this category anymore. He’s a glorified running back who sometimes lines up under center.
Running Back
33 D’Onta Foreman - 66 snaps
21 Kyle Porter - 14 snaps
18 Tyrone Swoopes - 8 snaps
- D’Onta Foreman is the best running back in the nation and if he’s not invited to NYC for the Heisman ceremony it will be a snub of disastrous proportions. Rest assured, the Deep Dig will have representatives in the Big Apple to cover the whole shebang should the committee do the right thing and tell No. 33 to come up there and receive his deserved recognition nationally for what has been a truly magical season.
Wide Receiver
9 Collin Johnson - 69 snaps
3 Armanti Foreman - 65 snaps
2 Devin Duvernay - 40 snaps
6 Jake Oliver - 36 snaps
11 Jacorey Warrick - 31 snaps
8 Dorian Leonard - 23 snaps
13 Jerrod Heard - 10 snaps
1 John Burt - 3 snaps
- This is the Collin Johnson you’ve heard about from the media at practices. The one who dominates the catch-point, snatches footballs from high in the air with acrobatic moves and uses such athleticism through every portion of the catch that it makes your head spin. He was the snap leader for Texas versus Texas Tech and probably should be moving forward. We finally got to witness the Collin Johnson breakout. Between D’Onta Foreman’s record-setting day, Connor Williams’ and Jake McMillons’ performances and Collin Johnson’s breakout, it was the week of the Texas Monster.
Tight End
42 Caleb Bluiett - 32 snaps
47 Andrew Beck - 32 snaps
- Did somebody say tight ends?
. . .
Did he play on offense? Nope.
Scholarship players who did not record a snap on offense versus Texas Tech (doesn’t include special teams participation if applicable):
. . .
As we turn our attention to (yet another) make-or-break game for Charlie Strong at Texas (how many are there going to be?)
… we thank you, once again, for reading.
For questions about methods of data-capture or particular plays, please reference the Deep Dig Live.
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