“If I determine the enemy's disposition of forces while I have no perceptible form, I can concentrate my forces while the enemy is fragmented. The pinnacle of military deployment approaches the formless: if it is formless, then even the deepest spy cannot discern it nor the wise make plans against it.”
― Sun Tzu, 5th Century BC
Just as Texas’ first offensive series disoriented Georgia’s defense, so the Horns’ first defensive series set the tone by confusing the offense’s reads. Georgia had no tape on the heavy fronts since they really weren’t used during the season. In addition, the slanting, stunts, blitzes, bluffs and zone drops left Fromm unsure whether to shit or go blind. In many cases he just went ahead and did both.
On the first play, UGa comes out in 11 personnel but flexes out the TE for a 4 wide, single back look. Texas is in a 4-2 nickel with both ends standing up. Brandon Jones is the overhang man defending the slot. Texas 6 in the box vs 5 OL. Jones comes down as a run supporter to the C gap which allows the DL to slant to the right, straight into the inside zone run. No gain. If Fromm knew he had 7 in the box he should check to a pass play but he can’t know if the pre-snap move is a bluff.
2nd play is a checkdown behind the LOS. RB gains 4 yds. 3rd play Georgia aligns in a tight 4 wide and Texas answers with a radar look. Roach at NT is the only guy with his hand on the ground. 2 rushing DL slant right, Shark is the added rusher from the LB spot. Johnson comes delayed on a looping stunt and Graham takes the running back. Georgia picks it up and Fromm is able to hit a short sideline pass In front of the coverage to convert.
On the 4th play of the drive (1st & 10) Georgia is in 20 personnel and Texas again aligns 4-2 with Locke the overhang man and Boyd in press coverage on the opposite side. Locke bluffs run support and drops. Boyd releases the WR and comes up as the force man to TFL Swift. Again Texas ends up with 7 to stop the run. Loss of 2.
On the 5th play Georgia goes empty which is nuts IMO since the there is no run threat. Texas has a heavy 3 man front (Omenihu, Nelson, Roach) with Johnson coming as the added rusher and dropping 7. Fromm can’t find anyone and takes off, tackled by GJ for a short gain.
The next play is 3rd and 9 with UGa in 4 wide. Texas goes 3-2 dime with both LBs up in the A gaps and BJ Foster coming up as a 2nd level defender – effectively a 5-1 front. Foster is an added rusher, Shark drops as a robber and Johnson has coverage on the RB. Fromm gets heavy pressure, can’t find anyone and chucks it OOB. I don’t think he even knew what the coverage was, much less where the weak spots should be.
I’m sure the coverage looked like a Chinese fire drill to Fromm. In some cases I had to watch it 3 or 4 times to figure out what was happening. And the quick pressures definitely reset the clock in his head. The first 2 running plays put the pressure to move the offense squarely on Fromm’s shoulders. And except for the 3rd down conversion, Fromm had no clue what the coverage was. There, he was able to ID a wide open man in single coverage once his line bought him time. Todd Orlando’s defense sure looked Formless to Jake Fromm. That old Chinese guy sure knew what he was talking about.