Even a couple of days later, it's hard to fully comprehend exactly what happened to Memphis football against Tulane.
The Tigers (5-2, 2-1 American Conference) turned it over six times in a stunning 31-17 loss to the Green Wave (3-3, 1-1). Memphis, which going into the game had been very good at taking care of the ball, ultimately couldn't overcome those mistakes.
Here's a breakdown of each turnover, and a couple of other plays, with a look into what went wrong and how it might affect the Tigers moving forward.
First fumble
The Tigers get to the line quickly, but — as they often do — they take some time before snapping it. Running back Manny Covey motions into the backfield. Tulane has two linebackers behind the four defensive linemen. Makai Williams threatens
blitz, backs up and then ultimately does blitz on the right side of the Tigers' line.
Covey, who is positioned to quarterback Marcus Stokes' right, picks it up. Stokes is looking to the right, where there are two receivers running a crossing pattern.
But the problem comes on the left side. Warren Roberts Jr. beats left tackle Xavier Allen and bends around enough to hit Stokes' arm and force the fumble. Stokes never feels the pressure coming.
Second fumble
A key point in the game after Tulane fumbled on a kickoff after Memphis' first touchdown.
And this time, the pressure comes from the opposite side. The Green Wave line up with four linemen, with Roberts lined up in front of Memphis right tackle Aaron Karas. But Roberts drops into coverage after the snap, and Tulane's linebackers stay back. So there are only three rushers.
Tulane runs a stunt on the left side of Memphis' line. That temporarily gets right guard Maarten Woudsma's attention as Karas is engaged with Ed Smith IV. By the time Woudsma looks back to his right, Smith has cut inside and is past Karas with a clean path to Stokes.
Stokes again never sees the pressure. He's looking left the entire time, where there are two receivers out wide. Smith decks Stokes, and the Green Wave recover the ensuing fumble.
Third fumble
With Memphis driving, Stokes hands it off to Covey. He misses a gap that might have gone for a huge gain off the right side of the line and instead cuts left into a mess of bodies.
Smith again knocks it out to give the Green Wave the ball back.
First interception
Memphis gets the ball back after an ill-advised pass by Tulane quarterback Trace Johnson. The Tigers have it with 10 seconds left in the half at the Tulane 32, and the first play is an incompletion.
The Tigers are trying to get a few extra yards for a field goal attempt because of the wind. Two receivers are stacked on the left side. Tychaun Chapman is lined up behind Stonka Burnside and runs an out about 7 yards down the field. Tulane is worried about a deep pass into the end zone, but every Tigers receiver runs something underneath. Chapman has a cushion and has space to work back to the ball if it's thrown about 5 yards down the field.
But Stokes' pass is deeper. It's not even near Chapman but is right at defensive back TJ Smith, who makes the catch as Chapman is turning toward the ball. By the time Chapman recognizes it, Smith already has the ball and is racing toward the end zone. With no one else on that side of the field, only Stokes has a shot to get him but doesn't have the speed to track Smith down.
Turnover on downs at goal line
Memphis gets the ball after the half and promptly drives down to the Tulane goal line. On fourth-and-goal, coach Charles Huff decides to go for it.
The Tigers run what looks like a read option with Stokes and Jaylin Carter. Tulane's front gets a push, and when Stokes pulls it, there's a ton of space on the left side. But Joshua Moore is behind the defensive line and stays in his gap. When Stokes starts running, he pops out from behind the line and is there to make the tackle behind the line of scrimmage.
Second interception
Facing a third-and-3 in the red zone, the Tigers are trying to pick it up with a short pass. Chapman runs a slant, and Stokes gets the ball out quickly.
This time, it isn't on him. Chapman has space, and the throw gets there fast. It bounces off what looks like Chapman's shoulder, though, and ricochets right into the arms of Kevin Adams III. It's a backbreaking end for what was another promising Memphis drive.
Tulane fourth-down conversion
Despite all of the turnovers, Memphis still has a chance to pull off what would be a stunning escape win. Tulane is facing a fourth-and-1 inside the last two minutes, and coach Will Hall decides to keep his offense on the field.
With running quarterback Dagan Bruno in the game, Memphis' defensive line is focused on the middle of the line and potentially on a quarterback sneak. Bruno checks the play at the line and hands it to Johnnie Daniels. Memphis' line cracks forward on the middle and gets a good push, and Taylor Burton even reaches a hand out to Daniels. But Daniels bumps it around the right side of the line, and Anthony Richard overcommits as he's following a receiver in motion.
Daniels cuts it back and makes a beeline for the end zone.
Third interception
The third interception isn't very consequential. Memphis is down by 14 with only a few seconds left and the game is essentially over. On the play before the interception, Stokes made an impressive throw moving to his left that Burnside dropped in the end zone.
Stokes throws into what is basically triple coverage and is trying to hit Jermane Hayes. It's undercut by Adams.
More concerning is that the play features yet another protection breakdown against four-man pressure. Center Phillip Gray blocks PaLanding Drammeh into his teammate, but Drammeh then squirts through the gap between Gray and Woudsma. Stokes has barely any time and gets hit hard as he delivers the pass.
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Film breakdown shows what happened on Memphis football's 6 turnovers vs Tulane
