Alu and the Quick Snap Gas

Tyson Alualu doesn't have a bad body, but he isn't cut. He's high motor, but revved too long and the pistons can seize. His future is as a rotational tackle. Alu brings it every down, but when every down starts stacking up, he loses some of the fire that makes him, some of the motor that makes him great.

1. 1st and 10 at UTAH 24 Eddie Wide rush for 1 yard to the Utah 25.

Left defensive end in a 4-2 look, Tyson reads run, disengages from the right tackle and runs laterally to engulf Wide after one.

2. 2nd and 9 at UTAH 25 Jordan Wynn pass complete to Jereme Brooks for 27 yards to the Cal 48 for a 1ST down.

LDE, good jump, Alu swims right tackle Bergstrom, frees himself to the quarterback but can't close before Wynn passes down field.

3. 1st and 10 at CAL 48 Sausan Shakerin rush for 6 yards to the Cal 42.

(Quick snap) Alu is caught off guard and doesn't factor.

4. 2nd and 4 at CAL 42 Sausan Shakerin rush for 8 yards to the Cal 34 for a 1ST down.

Utes are attacking with hurry up and Alu is suffering. He's somewhat slow off the snap and can't escape Boogerstrom's block.

5. 1st and 10 at CAL 34 CALIFORNIA penalty 5 yard offside defense accepted.

In desperation, Bears nose tackle Aaron Tipoti jumps offside to kill the clock.

6. 1st and 5 at CAL 29 Jordan Wynn pass complete to David Reed for 15 yards to the Cal 14 for a 1ST down.

Alu is again slow off the snap and again doesn't separate. He's breathing hard. He's gassed.

(Hurry up)

7. 1st and 10 at CAL 14 Sausan Shakerin rush for 1 yard to the Cal 13.

Still at left end, now in a 3-4 look, Alu shows little power off the snap and barely contributes.

(Hurry up)

8. 2nd and 9 at CAL 13 Eddie Wide rush for 2 yards to the Cal 11.

Back in a 3-3, Alu is again slow off the snap and his power is hustle power. He's digging deep.

9. 3rd and 7 at CAL 11 Jordan Wynn pass incomplete.

Play call confusion freezes the hurry up and the Utes snap with one second remaining on the play clock. Our hero regains himself. Cal breaks in a true 3-4 and rushes only three. Alu rips inside separating from Bergstrom, splits the double team when right guard Zane Taylor attempts to assist and gives Wynn the eye, forcing him out of the pocket right. Boogerstrom shows his pro skills by plunging his left hand into Alu's neck hole, grabbing hold of his shoulder pads and falling backwards tackling both. It's not flagged. It's never flagged. Damage done, a panicked Wynn throws errant incomplete.