I was rewatching the final play from a few angles after a UGA fan said "If the safety does his job, it's an easy pick"
I noted what Tua did (only because he told me and I knew what to look for) regarding the safety, but found something else interest.
Georgia is running 4 DL, and everyone else in coverage. 2 deep safeties leaves 5 guys to cover the 5 eligible receivers.
The big thing is that there was double coverage on the TE #82, Irv Smith. On the winning TD, he's the one who is running from the right side of the line to the left on a slant.
That leaves #4, Jerry Jeudy, in the WR spot by the TE, running a deeper slant but inside the deep safeties. The guy that is supposed to be covering Jeudy operates almost as if he's playing zone - not sure if this is because he is unaware that the WR that is far right (Ridley) is streaking and is already well beyond his ability to cover.
While all this is going on, #3 for UGA appears to give a good bit of cushion to the safety valve, #34 Damien Harris, but floats back with Irv Smith (who is already being covered by the other LB for UGA).
Basically, if Tua doesn't get the look to DeVonta that he wants, he has an open Damien Harris for at least a moderate gain, and an open Jeudy (thanks to the guy who is supposed to be in man coverage with him breaking to focus on Ridley) pretty open and very close to the first down marker by the time he would get the ball.
UGA's safety bit, but UGA had two breakdowns on deep coverage on that play (not just one) and the safety valve is there in the speedy Harris who likely would get a good bit of yardage (if the guy who was supposed to cover Jeudy sticks with him, then the LB breaking to cover the TE would allow for Harris to get a pretty big gain).
In summary:
Harris, the safety valve, is open enough to get some yardage - with his speed, maybe to a manageable 3rd and 7, 8
Jeudy, slanting from the right to the left, is underneath the safeties and his cover has broken off. Tua has an option that gets him REALLY close to the first down marker (Jeudy is at least 17 yards by the time of the release)
DeVonta Harris, of course, blows past his cover man and the safety holds thanks to Tua (even though that safety really wasn't in position to break up a pass to Jeudy, he might be able to stop him from getting a first down)
The only people truly covered by UGA's defense on that play was Ridley (streaking on the opposite side of DeVonta Smith) and Irv Smith (the TE). With only 4 DL rushing, Tua had plenty of time to pick it all apart.
I noted what Tua did (only because he told me and I knew what to look for) regarding the safety, but found something else interest.
Georgia is running 4 DL, and everyone else in coverage. 2 deep safeties leaves 5 guys to cover the 5 eligible receivers.
The big thing is that there was double coverage on the TE #82, Irv Smith. On the winning TD, he's the one who is running from the right side of the line to the left on a slant.
That leaves #4, Jerry Jeudy, in the WR spot by the TE, running a deeper slant but inside the deep safeties. The guy that is supposed to be covering Jeudy operates almost as if he's playing zone - not sure if this is because he is unaware that the WR that is far right (Ridley) is streaking and is already well beyond his ability to cover.
While all this is going on, #3 for UGA appears to give a good bit of cushion to the safety valve, #34 Damien Harris, but floats back with Irv Smith (who is already being covered by the other LB for UGA).
Basically, if Tua doesn't get the look to DeVonta that he wants, he has an open Damien Harris for at least a moderate gain, and an open Jeudy (thanks to the guy who is supposed to be in man coverage with him breaking to focus on Ridley) pretty open and very close to the first down marker by the time he would get the ball.
UGA's safety bit, but UGA had two breakdowns on deep coverage on that play (not just one) and the safety valve is there in the speedy Harris who likely would get a good bit of yardage (if the guy who was supposed to cover Jeudy sticks with him, then the LB breaking to cover the TE would allow for Harris to get a pretty big gain).
In summary:
Harris, the safety valve, is open enough to get some yardage - with his speed, maybe to a manageable 3rd and 7, 8
Jeudy, slanting from the right to the left, is underneath the safeties and his cover has broken off. Tua has an option that gets him REALLY close to the first down marker (Jeudy is at least 17 yards by the time of the release)
DeVonta Harris, of course, blows past his cover man and the safety holds thanks to Tua (even though that safety really wasn't in position to break up a pass to Jeudy, he might be able to stop him from getting a first down)
The only people truly covered by UGA's defense on that play was Ridley (streaking on the opposite side of DeVonta Smith) and Irv Smith (the TE). With only 4 DL rushing, Tua had plenty of time to pick it all apart.
