GIVE...HIM...SIX - Auburn Edition

#2
#2
This game looked like the football version of the Harlem Globetrotters against the Washington Generals...

I'm still full Butch, but you can't teach speed. Unfortunately, nothing will change until we get better, faster players.

Great analysis in the article, btw... thanks for posting!
 
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#4
#4
Am I wrong? But on the first play it looks like McCullers is getting blown off the line. If he doesn't get blown off the play is likely stopped. Am I wrong?
 
#5
#5
Am I wrong? But on the first play it looks like McCullers is getting blown off the line. If he doesn't get blown off the play is likely stopped. Am I wrong?

No, you are not wrong. Entire D-line was blow off the ball for most of the game, from my perspective.
 
#6
#6
Really quality breakdown.

That was some of the worst safety and outside linebacker play I've ever seen at the SEC level. Obviously it'd be easy to just credit Auburn, but it's hard not to recognize how terrible McNeil and the other safeties play. Their last score before the half was inexcusable and can be squarely put on McNeil's shoulders. Luckily (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it) he's only a sophomore and has time to improve.
 
#7
#7
Great stuff...

That first play is what we used to call the counter-gap when Cutcliffe was here when we won the NC...It's basically a trap with a FB leading up into the hole right off of the guard's butt. The design is simply the definition of POWER football--no gimmick, no deception, nothing fancy--just line up and hit a specific person in the mouth. No zone blocking either. The play used to be run from the off-set I with the QB under the center.

Our problems are MULTIPLE on this play, and involve EVERY POSITION and COACHING!

1. McCullers gets blown two yards off the LOS in 1 second according to the clock on the display because he JUST STANDS UP and plays too high! That's his fault and leads me to believe that he should have had a coach SCREAMING in his ear since fall camp to get his pads lower and play with leverage (John Henderson had the same problem, but Dan Brooks fixed him!). McCullers has got to grab some turf and hold his position.

2. Daniel Hood should be penetrating up-field right off the guard's azz (#62) when he pulls and then squat to hold his ground. He stands up and allows the center to shove him out of the play and into J. Smith...

3. J. Smith blindly keeps moving up-field and takes himself out position to be able to collapse back down and attempt to tackle the QB as he runs through the hole.

4. As LBs--we were always told to follow the fullback and he will lead you to the ball. I know AU doesn't call 35 the FB, but for all practical purposes he is a FB. Sapp's assignment is to fill the hole and take on #35 once he sees the wide open hole when the tackle blocks down on McCullers.

5. Which brings our focus to the CB at the top of the screen--what in the sam-Hill are we doing in MAN coverage against a team that leads the SEC in rushing??? IDIOTIC call by the DC!!! You know it's man coverage because the CB is pressed and attempting to run with the receiver at the 30 yd line. This would have been a big play even if Harris had given the ball to the RB because Sapp would never have caught up to him to make the tackle and there was NO ONE on outside contain--this is UNBELIEVABLE, but it's been happening all year.

6. Watch AJ's steps in the frames--He over-pursues the play and runs himself out of the hole. He should be reading #35 and through #62 to the QB. His FIRST STEP should be to take 1 step straight up into the hole and find the ball. Instead--in just 1 second according to the clock--he has ran all the way past McCullers to the opposite side. That offense requires a slow-read from the LB and a progression of scraping....AJ didn't do any of that!

7. Look at Randolph (#37)--he's come down into the box just so that he can stop this type of play. We're in a 4-2-5 in man coverage. Randolph is in perfect position to make the play--but he whiffs attempting an arm-tackle as Harris runs by him.

8. I can't determine who our near-side DB is lined up on their WR--but he gets run out of the play because we're inexcusably in man coverage. If we were in Zone coverage--he could have taken a few steps back, read his keys, and reacted to attempt a tackle to stop the QB and keep the play to 5 or 6 yd gain.

9. Didn't mention #54 Williams--he has to get a piece of that tackle when he blocks down to try to keep him off of McCullers. He should be sealing down off of the OT's butt and be ready to take on #62 from AU and hold his ground.

My conclusion from just these three slides is that--even though we lack team speed--speed didn't hurt us on this play--Poor technique, poor reactions, and poor defensive play-calling (having us in zone coverage) are the culprits.

It's a fundamental and catastrophic break-down at EVERY position. It appears that Auburn scouted us very well.

One would think that our players would have been coached up on who to read and how to defend this VERY BASIC play. And Malzahn just kept on running it from different formations--the only difference was that the RB would fake up into the LOS when the QB would keep the ball around the end--and kept faking outside when the QB would run the ball up the middle. AU had success either way because they were blowing our DTs and LBs out of the picture and our DBs were running themselves out of the play because they were playing man coverage.

It's been a long, physical season and undoubtedly our guys are beat up physically. Maybe the rest this week will get them mentally and physically where they need to be to win the last 2 games. GO VOLS! :salute:
 
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#8
#8
Great stuff...

That first play is what we used to call the counter-gap when Cutcliffe was here when we won the NC...It's basically a trap with a FB leading up into the hole right off of the guard's butt. The design is simply the definition of POWER football--no gimmick, no deception, nothing fancy--just line up and hit a specific person in the mouth. No zone blocking either. The play used to be run from the off-set I with the QB under the center.

Our problems are MULTIPLE on this play, and involve EVERY POSITION and COACHING!

1. McCullers gets blown two yards off the LOS in 1 second according to the clock on the display because he JUST STANDS UP and plays too high! That's his fault and leads me to believe that he should have had a coach SCREAMING in his ear since fall camp to get his pads lower and play with leverage (John Henderson had the same problem, but Dan Brooks fixed him!). McCullers has got to grab some turf and hold his position.

2. Daniel Hood should be penetrating up-field right off the guard's azz (#62) when he pulls and then squat to hold his ground. He stands up and allows the center to shove him out of the play and into J. Smith...

3. J. Smith blindly keeps moving up-field and takes himself out position to be able to collapse back down and attempt to tackle the QB as he runs through the hole.

4. As LBs--we were always told to follow the fullback and he will lead you to the ball. I know AU doesn't call 35 the FB, but for all practical purposes he is a FB. Sapp's assignment is to fill the hole and take on #35 once he sees the wide open hole when the tackle blocks down on McCullers.

5. Which brings our focus to the CB at the top of the screen--what in the sam-Hill are we doing in MAN coverage against a team that leads the SEC in rushing??? IDIOTIC call by the DC!!! You know it's man coverage because the CB is pressed and attempting to run with the receiver at the 30 yd line. This would have been a big play even if Harris had given the ball to the RB because Sapp would never have caught up to him to make the tackle and there was NO ONE on outside contain--this is UNBELIEVABLE, but it's been happening all year.

6. Watch AJ's steps in the frames--He over-pursues the play and runs himself out of the hole. He should be reading #35 and through #62 to the QB. His FIRST STEP should be to take 1 step straight up into the hole and find the ball. Instead--in just 1 second according to the clock--he has ran all the way past McCullers to the opposite side. That offense requires a slow-read from the LB and a progression of scraping....AJ didn't do any of that!

7. Look at Randolph (#37)--he's come down into the box just so that he can stop this type of play. We're in a 4-2-5 in man coverage. Randolph is in perfect position to make the play--but he whiffs attempting an arm-tackle as Harris runs by him.

8. I can't determine who our near-side DB is lined up on their WR--but he gets run out of the play because we're inexcusably in man coverage. If we were in Zone coverage--he could have taken a few steps back, read his keys, and reacted to attempt a tackle to stop the QB and keep the play to 5 or 6 yd gain.

9. Didn't mention #54 Williams--he has to get a piece of that tackle when he blocks down to try to keep him off of McCullers. He should be sealing down off of the OT's butt and be ready to take on #62 from AU and hold his ground.

My conclusion from just these three slides is that--even though we lack team speed--speed didn't hurt us on this play--Poor technique, poor reactions, and poor defensive play-calling (having us in zone coverage) are the culprits.

It's a fundamental and catastrophic break-down at EVERY position. It appears that Auburn scouted us very well.

One would think that our players would have been coached up on who to read and how to defend this VERY BASIC play. And Malzahn just kept on running it from different formations--the only difference was that the RB would fake up into the LOS when the QB would keep the ball around the end--and kept faking outside when the QB would run the ball up the middle. AU had success either way because they were blowing our DTs and LBs out of the picture and our DBs were running themselves out of the play because they were playing man coverage.

It's been a long, physical season and undoubtedly our guys are beat up physically. Maybe the rest this week will get them mentally and physically where they need to be to win the last 2 games. GO VOLS! :salute:

This is beautiful. Just fantastic commentary. Thank you, sir, for sharing. Something else I thought was puzzling as I watched: the frequent use of what appeared to be the Nickel package (or 4-2-5, either way, replacing a LB with a DB).

Why take a LB off the field against a team that has every intention of running the ball down your throat?

#6 -- Forgive me, as I've never played football, but can you indulge a fellow VOL and explain in a little more detail, what you mean with the bolded section?

What is a slow-read? Like reading his keys? i.e., the pulling guard? I feel like have an idea what you mean, but would love to hear you explain in further detail, as I'm sure others would too.

It looked to me like AJ was moving laterally (uh, kind of laterally, not the greatest scrape technique, hips all turned, not really "tracking the back" very well) toward the correct hole, but was met by the LT after his chip on 98.

Personally I didn't blame Sapp here, as I assumed he had contain responsibility in this set. Although like you mentioned, he was toast anyway if the RB got the ball.

I, too, was inclined to lay most of the blame on the line for getting basically blown up. Football is a game of one-on-ones and we flat out didn't win them.
 
#9
#9
This is beautiful. Just fantastic commentary. Thank you, sir, for sharing. Something else I thought was puzzling as I watched: the frequent use of what appeared to be the Nickel package (or 4-2-5, either way, replacing a LB with a DB).

Why take a LB off the field against a team that has every intention of running the ball down your throat?

#6 -- Forgive me, as I've never played football, but can you indulge a fellow VOL and explain in a little more detail, what you mean with the bolded section?

What is a slow-read? Like reading his keys? i.e., the pulling guard? I feel like have an idea what you mean, but would love to hear you explain in further detail, as I'm sure others would too.

It looked to me like AJ was moving laterally (uh, kind of laterally, not the greatest scrape technique, hips all turned, not really "tracking the back" very well) toward the correct hole, but was met by the LT after his chip on 98.

Personally I didn't blame Sapp here, as I assumed he had contain responsibility in this set. Although like you mentioned, he was toast anyway if the RB got the ball.

I, too, was inclined to lay most of the blame on the line for getting basically blown up. Football is a game of one-on-ones and we flat out didn't win them.

My sarcasm meter is off the charts here--because most of the time I just piss people off...but I'll bite....

Back-side (the side away from where the play is designed to go) LB always has to step up towards the LOS when he sees the guard (62) pull so he can fill that hole. Then he has to find the ball and scrape down the LOS (move laterally down the Line of Scrimmage) to prevent the RB/QB from cutting back to the "back" side. It's doesn't happen "slow", but it's a disciplined progression.

AJ didn't do any of those things...
 
#10
#10
My sarcasm meter is off the charts here--because most of the time I just piss people off...but I'll bite....

Back-side (the side away from where the play is designed to go) LB always has to step up towards the LOS when he sees the guard (62) pull so he can fill that hole. Then he has to find the ball and scrape down the LOS (move laterally down the Line of Scrimmage) to prevent the RB/QB from cutting back to the "back" side. It's doesn't happen "slow", but it's a disciplined progression.

AJ didn't do any of those things...

No, no. I meant my post sincerely. As someone who is trying to learn the game and better understand the little details one typically only gains from playing, your post was very insightful. Thank you for clarifying further.
 
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#11
#11
No, no. I meant my post sincerely. As someone who is trying to learn the game and better understand the little details one typically only gains from playing, your post was very insightful. Thank you for clarifying further.

If you wouldn't mind giving me your email address, I'd love to have your input on future breakdowns.

[ :hi:
 
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#13
#13
Great stuff...

That first play is what we used to call the counter-gap when Cutcliffe was here when we won the NC...It's basically a trap with a FB leading up into the hole right off of the guard's butt. The design is simply the definition of POWER football--no gimmick, no deception, nothing fancy--just line up and hit a specific person in the mouth. No zone blocking either. The play used to be run from the off-set I with the QB under the center.

Our problems are MULTIPLE on this play, and involve EVERY POSITION and COACHING!

1. McCullers gets blown two yards off the LOS in 1 second according to the clock on the display because he JUST STANDS UP and plays too high! That's his fault and leads me to believe that he should have had a coach SCREAMING in his ear since fall camp to get his pads lower and play with leverage (John Henderson had the same problem, but Dan Brooks fixed him!). McCullers has got to grab some turf and hold his position.

2. Daniel Hood should be penetrating up-field right off the guard's azz (#62) when he pulls and then squat to hold his ground. He stands up and allows the center to shove him out of the play and into J. Smith...

3. J. Smith blindly keeps moving up-field and takes himself out position to be able to collapse back down and attempt to tackle the QB as he runs through the hole.

4. As LBs--we were always told to follow the fullback and he will lead you to the ball. I know AU doesn't call 35 the FB, but for all practical purposes he is a FB. Sapp's assignment is to fill the hole and take on #35 once he sees the wide open hole when the tackle blocks down on McCullers.

5. Which brings our focus to the CB at the top of the screen--what in the sam-Hill are we doing in MAN coverage against a team that leads the SEC in rushing??? IDIOTIC call by the DC!!! You know it's man coverage because the CB is pressed and attempting to run with the receiver at the 30 yd line. This would have been a big play even if Harris had given the ball to the RB because Sapp would never have caught up to him to make the tackle and there was NO ONE on outside contain--this is UNBELIEVABLE, but it's been happening all year.

6. Watch AJ's steps in the frames--He over-pursues the play and runs himself out of the hole. He should be reading #35 and through #62 to the QB. His FIRST STEP should be to take 1 step straight up into the hole and find the ball. Instead--in just 1 second according to the clock--he has ran all the way past McCullers to the opposite side. That offense requires a slow-read from the LB and a progression of scraping....AJ didn't do any of that!

7. Look at Randolph (#37)--he's come down into the box just so that he can stop this type of play. We're in a 4-2-5 in man coverage. Randolph is in perfect position to make the play--but he whiffs attempting an arm-tackle as Harris runs by him.

8. I can't determine who our near-side DB is lined up on their WR--but he gets run out of the play because we're inexcusably in man coverage. If we were in Zone coverage--he could have taken a few steps back, read his keys, and reacted to attempt a tackle to stop the QB and keep the play to 5 or 6 yd gain.

9. Didn't mention #54 Williams--he has to get a piece of that tackle when he blocks down to try to keep him off of McCullers. He should be sealing down off of the OT's butt and be ready to take on #62 from AU and hold his ground.

My conclusion from just these three slides is that--even though we lack team speed--speed didn't hurt us on this play--Poor technique, poor reactions, and poor defensive play-calling (having us in zone coverage) are the culprits.

It's a fundamental and catastrophic break-down at EVERY position. It appears that Auburn scouted us very well.

One would think that our players would have been coached up on who to read and how to defend this VERY BASIC play. And Malzahn just kept on running it from different formations--the only difference was that the RB would fake up into the LOS when the QB would keep the ball around the end--and kept faking outside when the QB would run the ball up the middle. AU had success either way because they were blowing our DTs and LBs out of the picture and our DBs were running themselves out of the play because they were playing man coverage.

It's been a long, physical season and undoubtedly our guys are beat up physically. Maybe the rest this week will get them mentally and physically where they need to be to win the last 2 games. GO VOLS! :salute:

Mike
That play was beautifully designed and executed and to me it shows what a team can do with a good fullback although all you hear is that the fullback is a thing of the past. What are your thoughts on that.

I also believe AJ would be better suited to play rush end as he seems to get out of position to much from the LB position.
 
#14
#14
Mike
That play was beautifully designed and executed and to me it shows what a team can do with a good fullback although all you hear is that the fullback is a thing of the past. What are your thoughts on that.

I also believe AJ would be better suited to play rush end as he seems to get out of position to much from the LB position.

I really don't know if AJ could play DE--he hasn't shown a consistent ability to get off of blocks well...I personally think he's a tweener--he REALLY can't cover at all--but maybe better suited for the "Mike" LB in the 3-4...

You don't have to line a guy up in the "traditional" FB position to utilize him as a lead blocker--'ol Gus is proving that to be true. And I do prefer utilizing a FB.

Let me say that it is a matter of philosophy--and it appears that CBJ and Bajakian DON'T favor the use of lead blockers in their offense. They will bring their TEs down to PREVENT the back-side OLB or DE from crashing down to blow up a play, or to fill behind a pulling guard or tackle--but they don't lead the RB into the hole.

However, if you want to control the clock, establish a power running attack, and utilize play-action passing--AU, Bama, LSU, and Stanford are the textbook examples--and they use a lead blocker, whether he lines up as a FB or as an H-Back. And, AU's record of success running the ball stands for itself. LSU's offense is probably the more TRADITIONAL example, but they both do a great job. And that red team is pretty good running the ball, too.

Fla blew our game open last year by running a similar play to the first one highlighted by Carner from the AU game. They inserted Burton and ran basically the same play Auburn ran against us all day. They pulled a guard and used a lead blocker to the weak-side of the defense and Burton popped through the hole and outran everyone to the endzone. (here's a good view of that play: 2012 Florida Gators vs Tennessee Highlights - YouTube
check out the play at the 2:44 mark. Notice that our #94, Sentimore, collapses in the hole instead of getting driven out of it like McCullers--that's all he can really do in that situation. But he would have been driven out if he had stood up like McCullers. AJ reads the play and scrapes over--but doesn't keep his outside shoulder free and gets taken out by their FB.)
 
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#15
#15
I really don't know if AJ could play DE--he hasn't shown a consistent ability to get off of blocks well...I personally think he's a tweener--he REALLY can't cover at all--but maybe better suited for the "Mike" LB in the 3-4...

You don't have to line a guy up in the "traditional" FB position to utilize him as a lead blocker--'ol Gus is proving that to be true. And I do prefer utilizing a FB.

Let me say that it is a matter of philosophy--and it appears that CBJ and Bajakian DON'T favor the use of lead blockers in their offense. They will bring their TEs down to PREVENT the back-side OLB or DE from crashing down to blow up a play, or to fill behind a pulling guard or tackle--but they don't lead the RB into the hole.

However, if you want to control the clock, establish a power running attack, and utilize play-action passing--AU, Bama, LSU, and Stanford are the textbook examples--and they use a lead blocker, whether he lines up as a FB or as an H-Back. And, AU's record of success running the ball stands for itself. LSU's offense is probably the more TRADITIONAL example, but they both do a great job. And that red team is pretty good running the ball, too.

Fla blew our game open last year by running a similar play to the first one highlighted by Carner from the AU game. They inserted Burton and ran basically the same play Auburn ran against us all day. They pulled a guard and used a lead blocker to the weak-side of the defense and Burton popped through the hole and outran everyone to the endzone.

Thank you!! Hope to see some improvements on the D after the week off.
 
#16
#16
Thank you!! Hope to see some improvements on the D after the week off.

You know--we really reacted well and played tough for the first QTR....then all .... happened....

I have a lot of problems with us running man-coverage--EVER--but the other problems are probably more of being BEAT UP and lack of depth than anything else--and being physically beat up does impact the attitude and intensity more than anyone wants to admit.

I do think our D will play well against Candy--and look for our beloved Vols to go 6-6 and make a bowl! GO VOLS! :salute:
 
#17
#17
#18
#18
Make no mistake about it. Auburn beat us worse than even Oregon did. The only good thing you can take out of this game is knowing that Auburn just gave the whole country a small preview of what they are going to do to that piss poor bammer squad in a few more weeks. If they put 55 on us, imagine what they'll do to the criminal tide who got their @sses handed to them (in the stats, not on the scoreboard) by LSU. Bammer is not the team people think they are. They lack depth in key positions and will be unable to stop Auburn's spread attack. Auburn wins that one 63-0.
 
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#19
#19
#20
#20
I really don't know if AJ could play DE--he hasn't shown a consistent ability to get off of blocks well...I personally think he's a tweener--he REALLY can't cover at all--but maybe better suited for the "Mike" LB in the 3-4...

You don't have to line a guy up in the "traditional" FB position to utilize him as a lead blocker--'ol Gus is proving that to be true. And I do prefer utilizing a FB.

Let me say that it is a matter of philosophy--and it appears that CBJ and Bajakian DON'T favor the use of lead blockers in their offense. They will bring their TEs down to PREVENT the back-side OLB or DE from crashing down to blow up a play, or to fill behind a pulling guard or tackle--but they don't lead the RB into the hole.

However, if you want to control the clock, establish a power running attack, and utilize play-action passing--AU, Bama, LSU, and Stanford are the textbook examples--and they use a lead blocker, whether he lines up as a FB or as an H-Back. And, AU's record of success running the ball stands for itself. LSU's offense is probably the more TRADITIONAL example, but they both do a great job. And that red team is pretty good running the ball, too.

Fla blew our game open last year by running a similar play to the first one highlighted by Carner from the AU game. They inserted Burton and ran basically the same play Auburn ran against us all day. They pulled a guard and used a lead blocker to the weak-side of the defense and Burton popped through the hole and outran everyone to the endzone. (here's a good view of that play: 2012 Florida Gators vs Tennessee Highlights - YouTube
check out the play at the 2:44 mark. Notice that our #94, Sentimore, collapses in the hole instead of getting driven out of it like McCullers--that's all he can really do in that situation. But he would have been driven out if he had stood up like McCullers. AJ reads the play and scrapes over--but doesn't keep his outside shoulder free and gets taken out by their FB.)

That Florida game makes my stomach churn.

Now AJ, not getting off that block, that's most likely due to lack of coaching technique, right? Dip the inside shoulder down to prevent the OL from getting the clean lick?
 
#21
#21
Make no mistake about it. Auburn beat us worse than even Oregon did. The only good thing you can take out of this game is knowing that Auburn just gave the whole country a small preview of what they are going to do to that piss poor bammer squad in a few more weeks. If they put 55 on us, imagine what they'll do to the criminal tide who got their @sses handed to them (in the stats, not on the scoreboard) by LSU. Bammer is not the team people think they are. They lack depth in key positions and will be unable to stop Auburn's spread attack. Auburn wins that one 63-0.

gave you a like because agreed about AU beating us worse than Oregon...but it was early in the year when we played Oregon, and we were less beat up.

However, I don't agree that AU will beat Bama. AU got beat by LSU--and Bama's defense is better than LSU's.

It will be an interesting game, but the Bammites will STOP AU's running game by getting penetration and physically beating AU's OL--effectively making AU one-dimensional. After that--AU is done! Bama matches up very well with AU's offense....just like LSU did.

And AU's defense is like toilet paper when it hits water...
 
#22
#22
That Florida game makes my stomach churn.

Now AJ, not getting off that block, that's most likely due to lack of coaching technique, right? Dip the inside shoulder down to prevent the OL from getting the clean lick?

AJ's just didn't fill the hole--didn't get out there soon enough so that he could keep his outside shoulder free. He also plays too high--giving their FB the chance to pop him in the mouth (watch his head jerk back at contact--a clean hit).

If he gets out there quicker (instead of running up into their tackle) and keeps his feet up under him--he can explode up through that FB and neutralize him, whether he leads with his inside shoulder or with a forearm shiver, or with his helmet.

He could have at least been able to turn the play back in where Lathers (34) was scraping over and might have made the tackle.
 
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#23
#23
You know--we really reacted well and played tough for the first QTR....then all .... happened....

I have a lot of problems with us running man-coverage--EVER--but the other problems are probably more of being BEAT UP and lack of depth than anything else--and being physically beat up does impact the attitude and intensity more than anyone wants to admit.

I do think our D will play well against Candy--and look for our beloved Vols to go 6-6 and make a bowl! GO VOLS! :salute:

I thought they played well the first quarter myself and I have been saying that depth is a huge problem for us. I heard the other day that McCullers is play close to 60 snaps a game and they would only like for him to be playing 30-35. When they get tired I am sure the first thing to go is proper technique.


Jancek seems to be set on playing man coverage and I am not sure you can play that style every snap of every game in the SEC. I hope he can adjust but only time will tell.
 

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