The four best players on the field in the Auburn/Louisville game were Montravius Adams, Carl Lawson, Tray Matthews, and Josh Harvey-Clemons.
Adams was consistently disrupting plays in the Louisville backfield. Muschamp would reduce Carl Lawson down inside to rush over the guard in 3rd down and long situations, creating a devastating mismatch in favor of Auburn. In addition to forcing the interception by Louisville on the first play of the game. He had 4 tackles, 3 QB hurries, 2 TFL's, and a sack in less than 2 full quarters on the field. In fact, Lawson's absence in the 2nd half due to a hip flexor is what allowed Louisville to get back in the game.
Josh Harvey-Clemons was everywhere.... being physical, covering all areas of the field, hitting hard, being in the right place to pick off two Auburn passes, and flying downfield to make the tackle on special teams. Ditto for Tray Matthews. The two former Georgia safeties both made huge impacts for their new teams defensively.
Jason Fanaika was an absolute beast for Utah against Michigan. I haven't seen a single defender in the country that sets the edge against the run like this kid does. Extremely, extremely physical player that plays with great leverage on the ball. The very first offensive play of the 2nd half for Michigan won't show up on the stat sheet for Fanaika, but if you watched that play, it's one that will get all the guys in the room going during film study. He single handedly wrecked the entire left side of Michigan's offensive line on that play. He abused the sophomore Mason Cole all game.
Ohio St. wide receiver Michael Thomas abused Kendall Fuller in their matchup. It was either a big catch for a TD or a pass interference call virtually everytime the two were matched up. Fuller can play, but if your technique isn't sound against a kid like Thomas, you're in for a bad day. Fuller got lazy in his technique.
Skai Moore picked off two passes in the endzone that saved two potential North Carolina TD's. They were the difference in that football game that preserved the win for Coach Spurrier.
There's plenty to talk about studying matchups all over the country from last weekend's games, but Christian Hackenberg isn't as bad as he's playing right now. I've pointed out his glaring flaws previously in an attempt to curb some of the embellishment of just how good of a prospect he was being made out to be.... but he's not this bad. There's simply not much you can do when your offensive line is giving up sacks against a 2 man rush.
James Franklin better get this fixed or he'll be back to drawing an assistant's salary before he knows it.
