I may go back later in the week and try to determine which offensive linemen had the best game, but for now, here is my review of Tulane's dominating 40-24 win against Memphis.
1) Stephon Huderson, who was not effective in the first four games, was outstanding even while being overshadowed by Darius Bradwell and Corey Dauphine. He broke an arm tackle at the line on third-and-10 on Tulane's opening series to pick up a first down (if he had been tackled, fans would have been screaming about a terrible play call, but sometimes running on third-and-10 catches opponents off guard).
Huderson then gained 6 and 4 yards on his next two carries before breaking another tackle and showing second effort on a 7-yard run on his fourth carry, On the next play, he caught a swing pass for 22 yards (this is a play Tulane simply has to start using more). Right before the half, he probably scored on a 22-yard run when he turned the corner on the right side and showed more acceleration than in previous games. The refs marked him out inside the 1, and the replay was not totally conclusive, but I think he scored. He then got stuffed for a 2-yard loss on a play that never had a chance with the unblocked guy from the backside getting him before he could get started.
2) I was not sure whether I was watching the Tulane-Memphis game or an extended hype fest for Saturday's Ohio State-Penn State game. The announcers talked incessantly about that game--clearly under studio orders--and the broadcast failed to show some pertinent replays, like the illegal block that negated a good Bradwell run on the opening drive. With television showing replays of virtually every play these days, it was jarring to see important ones skipped.
3) I praised Thakarius Keyes' run support last week, so of course he promptly messed up his leverage on Darrell Henderson's long TD run on Memphis' first play. That was a fundamental error, letting Henderson get to the outside of him, where he was off to the races. De'Andre Williams got knocked to the ground to jumpstart the play.
4) A pulling Keyshawn McLeod had an excellent block on the second TD drive, showing good mobility, and tight end Charles Jones made a good block to help spring Bradwell for his 53-yard score on fourth-and-1. That was the correct call by Willie Fritz, one I knew he would make even though the sentiment in the press box was that he would punt. Tulane was controlling the line early, so there was no reason to think Memphis could stop a fourth-and-1 near midfield. Decisions aren't made in a vacuum. The flow of the game should and does affect coaching decisions.
5) Maybe the key play of the game was Donnie Lewis' touchdown-saving shoestring tackle on Memphis' third play. Safety P.J. Hall, who played like he was stuck in quicksand, got beaten easily, but Lewis just made it over in time to prevent another huge TD, and from there, Tulane whipped Memphis.
As well as the defense played, holding Memphis under 300 yards for the first time since the 2015 Birmingham Bowl against Auburn, it was a rough night for Hall and fellow strong safety Taris Shenall, both of whom are struggling. Hall fell down on what could have been another TD later, but the Memphis QB Hall overthrew Pollard badly when he was behind everyone. On the Tigers' final TD drive, Shenall got beaten twice in a row, first on a wheel route and then on the scoring toss when he was late to react. For the game, Hall was credited with one tackle and Shenall had none.
6) Patrick Johnson was a force, joining Cam Sample for what has the makings of a terrific pair of defensive ends (or defensive end/OLB in Johnson's case). On one drive, Sample pushed a lineman into the running back, allowing Robert Kennedy to make an easy tackle behind the line. Then Patrick Johnson got excellent penetration to blow up a run before registering his first sack. He was even good in pass coverage on one play, getting to the sideline to break up a short pass. Johnson did not do a whole lot when he played as a true freshman or in the first few games this year, but he has really come on.
7) Kendall Ardoin got whipped on the first sack of Jonathan Banks, but Tyler Johnson had a disastrous series on Tulane's field goal drive at the end of the first half. He played pretty well overall while replacing the disappointing Noah Fisher (who has not looked the same since coming back from an injury in the preseason; he showed really quick feet in pass protection the first week of camp), but not on that series, when he was flagged for a false start, gave up a sack, got called for a legitimate hold and then gave up another sack. It's amazing the Wave still scored on that possession.
8) I said it at the time, and I'l say it again: while Fritz showed a good feel for the game, Memphis coach Mike Norvell did not. He called a timeout on second-and-25 with 55 seconds left from the Tulane 48, hoping to get the ball back a la Sean Payton, but the risk/reward quotient was not in his favor. Predictably the way the game had been going, Bradwell immediately gained 22 yards on a draw, Tulane converted the first down and got points out of the drive. If Norvell had not called a timeout, more time would have run off the clock and Tulane might not have scored. The best-case scenario for Memphis was getting the ball back with about 30 seconds left at its 20 or even farther back. That timeout made no sense.
9) I loved the way Banks stretched the ball for a first down near the sideline in the third quarter. Anywhere else on the field, and that's a dangerous play, but if the ball had come loose, it almost certainly would have gone out of bounds. In that situation, stretching it was the right choice.
10) Once Memphis stopped trying to run, Tulane teed off with its pass rush, which was good to see. The contributions from freshmen Carlos Hatcher with a sack around the edge and in particular Juan Monjarres with his sack/forced fumble in the end zone for a safety were big. I'd seen it from Hatcher at times in practice but not from Monjarres, who had two sacks. That is a very good sign.
I will have other observations later in the day, but I've run out of time.
1) Stephon Huderson, who was not effective in the first four games, was outstanding even while being overshadowed by Darius Bradwell and Corey Dauphine. He broke an arm tackle at the line on third-and-10 on Tulane's opening series to pick up a first down (if he had been tackled, fans would have been screaming about a terrible play call, but sometimes running on third-and-10 catches opponents off guard).
Huderson then gained 6 and 4 yards on his next two carries before breaking another tackle and showing second effort on a 7-yard run on his fourth carry, On the next play, he caught a swing pass for 22 yards (this is a play Tulane simply has to start using more). Right before the half, he probably scored on a 22-yard run when he turned the corner on the right side and showed more acceleration than in previous games. The refs marked him out inside the 1, and the replay was not totally conclusive, but I think he scored. He then got stuffed for a 2-yard loss on a play that never had a chance with the unblocked guy from the backside getting him before he could get started.
2) I was not sure whether I was watching the Tulane-Memphis game or an extended hype fest for Saturday's Ohio State-Penn State game. The announcers talked incessantly about that game--clearly under studio orders--and the broadcast failed to show some pertinent replays, like the illegal block that negated a good Bradwell run on the opening drive. With television showing replays of virtually every play these days, it was jarring to see important ones skipped.
3) I praised Thakarius Keyes' run support last week, so of course he promptly messed up his leverage on Darrell Henderson's long TD run on Memphis' first play. That was a fundamental error, letting Henderson get to the outside of him, where he was off to the races. De'Andre Williams got knocked to the ground to jumpstart the play.
4) A pulling Keyshawn McLeod had an excellent block on the second TD drive, showing good mobility, and tight end Charles Jones made a good block to help spring Bradwell for his 53-yard score on fourth-and-1. That was the correct call by Willie Fritz, one I knew he would make even though the sentiment in the press box was that he would punt. Tulane was controlling the line early, so there was no reason to think Memphis could stop a fourth-and-1 near midfield. Decisions aren't made in a vacuum. The flow of the game should and does affect coaching decisions.
5) Maybe the key play of the game was Donnie Lewis' touchdown-saving shoestring tackle on Memphis' third play. Safety P.J. Hall, who played like he was stuck in quicksand, got beaten easily, but Lewis just made it over in time to prevent another huge TD, and from there, Tulane whipped Memphis.
As well as the defense played, holding Memphis under 300 yards for the first time since the 2015 Birmingham Bowl against Auburn, it was a rough night for Hall and fellow strong safety Taris Shenall, both of whom are struggling. Hall fell down on what could have been another TD later, but the Memphis QB Hall overthrew Pollard badly when he was behind everyone. On the Tigers' final TD drive, Shenall got beaten twice in a row, first on a wheel route and then on the scoring toss when he was late to react. For the game, Hall was credited with one tackle and Shenall had none.
6) Patrick Johnson was a force, joining Cam Sample for what has the makings of a terrific pair of defensive ends (or defensive end/OLB in Johnson's case). On one drive, Sample pushed a lineman into the running back, allowing Robert Kennedy to make an easy tackle behind the line. Then Patrick Johnson got excellent penetration to blow up a run before registering his first sack. He was even good in pass coverage on one play, getting to the sideline to break up a short pass. Johnson did not do a whole lot when he played as a true freshman or in the first few games this year, but he has really come on.
7) Kendall Ardoin got whipped on the first sack of Jonathan Banks, but Tyler Johnson had a disastrous series on Tulane's field goal drive at the end of the first half. He played pretty well overall while replacing the disappointing Noah Fisher (who has not looked the same since coming back from an injury in the preseason; he showed really quick feet in pass protection the first week of camp), but not on that series, when he was flagged for a false start, gave up a sack, got called for a legitimate hold and then gave up another sack. It's amazing the Wave still scored on that possession.
8) I said it at the time, and I'l say it again: while Fritz showed a good feel for the game, Memphis coach Mike Norvell did not. He called a timeout on second-and-25 with 55 seconds left from the Tulane 48, hoping to get the ball back a la Sean Payton, but the risk/reward quotient was not in his favor. Predictably the way the game had been going, Bradwell immediately gained 22 yards on a draw, Tulane converted the first down and got points out of the drive. If Norvell had not called a timeout, more time would have run off the clock and Tulane might not have scored. The best-case scenario for Memphis was getting the ball back with about 30 seconds left at its 20 or even farther back. That timeout made no sense.
9) I loved the way Banks stretched the ball for a first down near the sideline in the third quarter. Anywhere else on the field, and that's a dangerous play, but if the ball had come loose, it almost certainly would have gone out of bounds. In that situation, stretching it was the right choice.
10) Once Memphis stopped trying to run, Tulane teed off with its pass rush, which was good to see. The contributions from freshmen Carlos Hatcher with a sack around the edge and in particular Juan Monjarres with his sack/forced fumble in the end zone for a safety were big. I'd seen it from Hatcher at times in practice but not from Monjarres, who had two sacks. That is a very good sign.
I will have other observations later in the day, but I've run out of time.
