We’re all going to have a lot of free time this offseason and that means extra time to look deeper at members of the Pittsburgh Steelers 2020 draft class. I’m going to be focusing on the Steelers first selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, wide receiver Chase Claypool, over the course of the next few weeks. My deeper dive series into Claypool will include a 2019 season game-by-game contextualization. These contextualizations will include close looks at his targets, blocking and special team contributions.
This series continues on with a complete contextualization of Claypool’s 2019 Notre Dame game against New Mexico.
CLAYPOOL PLAY-BY-PLAY TARGETS VERSUS NEW MEXICO
| QRT | TIME | DWN | DIST | LOS | RES | YDS | AREA | DIST | YAC | LINK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13:00 | 1 | 10 | UNM 39 | I | * | 1 | 31 | * | VIDEO |
| 1 | 2:32 | 1 | 10 | ND 43 | I | * | 1 | 6 | * | VIDEO |
| 2 | 14:40 | 2 | 10 | UNM 35 | C | 20 | 5 | -3 | 23 | VIDEO |
| 2 | 3:41 | 1 | 10 | ND 20 | I-PI | * | 4 | 49 | * | VIDEO |
| 2 | 1:56 | 1 | 10 | ND 46 | C | 17 | 5 | 17 | 0 | VIDEO |
| 2 | 1:50 | 1 | 10 | UNM 37 | C-TD | 37 | 4 | 32 | 5 | VIDEO |
| 2 | 0:10 | 1 | 10 | UNM 39 | I | * | 1 | 39 | * | VIDEO |
| 2 | 0:06 | 2 | 10 | UNM 39 | C | 22 | 5 | 22 | 0 | VIDEO |
| 3 | 8:47 | 2 | 1 | ND 44 | I-TA | * | 1 | 6 | * | VIDEO |
CLAYPOOL TARGET BREAKDOWN VERSUS NEW MEXICO
In total Claypool was targeted nine times against New Mexico and he caught four of those passes for 96 yards. 28 of those receiving yards came after the catch. One other target against New Mexico, a deep pass to Claypool later in the second quarter, resulted in pass interference call on the defender and thus resulted in a 15-yard gain per the penalty. The four other incompleted passes to Claypool against New Mexico were uncatchable with one being a throwaway midway through the third quarter. Claypools two explosive plays against New Mexico couldn’t be any different. His first one happened on a screen pass to the right side and included him powering his way through a few defenders for a gain of 20-yards. His second big play happened on the very next play after the wide receiver screen and on that one he beat the cornerback easily on a post route after giving a slot nod to the outside. There was no deep safety in the middle of the field on this pass play and it made for an uncontested win/touchdown for Claypool, who registered an average reception distance of 17 yards in the game.
CLAYPOOL BLOCKING BREAKDOWN VERSUS NEW MEXICO
Claypool had three very nice block attempts against New Mexico and you can see those below. Two of the blocking efforts that Claypool had against New Mexico came on runs to his side that ultimately resulted in long touchdowns.
CLAYPOOL SPECIAL TEAMS BREAKDOWN VERSUS NEW MEXICO
Claypool once again played quite extensively on the Notre Dame punt coverage team against New Mexico. Below is just one great example of him winning easily as a gunner on the outside with sort of a push/pull technique. Claypool was not credited with a tackle against New Mexico, but was effective on the punt coverage units just the same.
CLAYPOOL GAME SUMMARY VERSUS NEW MEXICO
Claypool’s second game of 2019 was just as productive as his first and in several phases. Not only did he catch another four passes for 96 yards and a touchdown, he also drew a 15-yard penalty on a deep target and helped contribute on two other rushing touchdowns with blocks. Perhaps the only negative from the New Mexico game concerning Claypool was his inability to stack the defender deep down the left side of the field on his first target of the game. The ball was just to his outside as he was correcting his route a little back to the inside. It wasn’t a huge faux pas but just something noted in the broadcast during the replay of the incompletion. Claypool showed once again against New Mexico that he is tough to bring down after the catch. His special team effort throughout the game against New Mexico was great once again.
NOTRE DAME VERSUS NEW MEXICO FULL GAME
