Share

Huge thanks to Bama Hammer for finding and posting this clip of all twelve of TJ Yeldon’s touches against Michigan. Those folks over there are doing some great work (the Weekly Auburn Moment of Zen is appointment reading). First the video, and then a little breakdown after the jump:

The video cannot be shown at the moment. Please try again later.

(if the embed doesn’t work as it is wont to do of late, you can view the video at Bama Hammer as linked above and here).

Some takeaways from the clip:

  • Yeldon touches the ball 12 times. Seven of them go for either a first down or a touchdown.
  • He touched the ball eight times with ten or more yards to go for a first down. He converted the first down four times.
  • Of the remaining four carries where he didn’t convert on the first carry, he was given the ball again on the next snap and he converted the first down both times.
  • He was successful on 100% of his touches (Defined as less than 45% of the necessary yardage for a first down on first down, 60% on 2nd, and 100% on 3rd or 4th). For comparison, no SEC back who received five or more carries in a a game had a 100% perfect game last season regardless of opponent. Vick Ballard got closest with 90% on 10 carries against Memphis.
  • Coach Saban defines an explosive play as any carry over 13 yards, or reception over 17. Yeldon had four explosive plays, or an explosive play every three touches. When the back is successful on all downs and explosive every three touches, that’s something special.

Here’s the breakdown I came up with from watching the clip, so my yardage may be slightly different on a play by play basis, but the total is the same: 137 yards.

Down and Dist. Field Pos. Qtr Result
1st and 10 Mich 29 1Q 14 yd rush, 1st down
1st and 10 Mich 15 1Q 5 yd rush, 2nd down
2nd and 5 Mich 10 1Q 5 yd rush, 1st down
1st and 10 Bama 34 2Q 40 yd rush, 1st down*
3rd and 18 Mich 34 2Q 26 yd rec, 1st down
1st and Goal Mich 8 2Q 4 yd rush, 2nd down
1st and 10 Bama 48 3Q 5 yd rush, 2nd down
2nd and 5 Mich 45 3Q  10 yd rush, 1st down
1st and 10 Bama 47 3Q 10 yd rush, 1st down
1st and 10 Mich 41 3Q 8 yd rush, 2nd down
1st and 10 Bama 25 3Q 9 yd rush, 2nd down
2nd and Goal Mich 1 inch 4Q Touchdown

* On this particular play, he was tackled from behind by Kevin Norwood who tripped into him. Had he not been brought down by his own man, he had a straight shot to the end zone for what would have been an additional 26 yards on this carry and would have made the score at that point of the game 28-0.

Share