Week 4: Underrated Defensive Performances

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 4 had a lot to unpack. There were so many great games and defensive performances, that some slipped through the cracks. Today I will be highlighting some defenders who went under the radar this past weekend. Let's dive into it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["317906"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f5b2fe14920"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This safety had a nice evening for Dakota Ridge. The 6'0 180-pound junior had 8 total tackles (7 solo, 1 assisted), TFL, 1 FF, 1 FR. Offerdahl is a hard-hitting safety who comes down in the box and lays the boom to unsuspecting ball carriers. He has very good athletic ability due to very good speed, change of direction, and acceleration. Offerdahl's mental processing was on full display. He'll watch the QB's eyes and put himself in a position to make a play. One aspect that impressed me was his ability to stay patient. He stays patient, not getting overzealous and jumping a tackle. An example of his good competitive toughness was when the RB fumbled the ball, he was the first one on it. Fantastic prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1280066"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f5b2fe149b7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hawkins had a nice performance against Dakota Ridge. He had a season high 7 tackles (5 solo, 2 assisted), and 2 TFL. Hawkins used his good speed and acceleration to consistently be in the backfield. Hawkins uses his low pad level to out leverage the offensive line, and uses his good strength to maneuver them away, or push through them. He shed some blocks, and still managed to grab the tackle. Hawkins was a headache for the offensive line all night. Creating pressures on the QB or stuffing the run, Hawkins was making his name known throughout the night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1297857"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f5b2fe14a2b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Enzo is continuing his domination against offensive lines. Even in the loss to Denver West, he showed out. He had 15 total tackles (8 solo, 7 assisted) 5 TFL, and 1 sack. He currently has 15 TFL through 4 games. He used his good acceleration to initiate contact first with the OL, utilizing a powerful bull rush to knock them off their toes. Showed good use of hands, by putting them in the proper place, and moved the OL around with ease. Hernandez continues to impress me, week in and week out. As an undersized defensive lineman, he is eating. He's only a junior with more room to grow. Keep an eye out of Enzo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1394930"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f5b2fe14a9a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Mavromat showed why he deserves more playing time, especially on defense. Against Rocky Mountain, he had 5 tackles and 1 QB hurry. He is a playmaker on defense and special teams. Nico has very good athletic ability due to very good acceleration, speed, and good change of direction. He runs with a head full of steam to tackle the defender. Mavromat has very good competitive toughness, and you can see he gives it his all on each snap. He uses his good mental processing skills by watching the QB's eyes and diagnosing the play. He stops defenders in their tracks, not allowing them any extra yards. One play that really stood out to me was he almost blocked a punt by a hair. He has a lot of potential, and is only a sophomore. Get to know him before he starts really popping off.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Cody Homm","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Flagler","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f5b2fe14ba6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Homm showed his dual position ability against Miami-Yoder. The RB/LB had 12 total tackles (8 solo, 4 assisted) combined with 19 carries for 108 yards and 1 touchdown. Homm has good athletic ability due to good speed, acceleration, and change of direction. He used his good mental processing and RB knowledge, to ID which gaps to run/stuff and attack the run. Homm showcased his good competitive toughness by being consistently where the ball carrier was. He'd help his teammates finish tackles, and played after the whistle. Good performance by the junior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1495286"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f5b2fe14c36"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rounding off this list is [player_tooltip player_id='1495286' first='Jericho' last='Andrews']. Andrews had a massive performance against Rock Canyon. The free safety had 17 total tackles (10 solo, 7 assisted) with 3 TFL. He has very good athletic ability due to very good speed, acceleration, and good change of direction. Andrews showed his very good athletic ability by coming in like a missile from the deep safety position to tackle the ball carrier. Andrews watched the QB's eyes and diagnosed the play, putting himself in position to succeed. Very good competitive toughness. He was all over the field running sideline to sideline to help his teammates finish tackles. He's a hard hitter, and would come down into the box to help with the run game. This was his best performance this season, and I'm excited to see how he follows it up in week 5.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->