OFFENSE
The Good...
Downhill running.
It is amazing what happens when you just get into the helmet on helmet stuff and quit trying to out think folks. Richardson has nothing but good things ahead of him. His running style plays well into the big sets that they run with. More on that to come. TR has just a very small tackle area and as FIU's secondary and linebackers can attest, when you hit him, if you hit him, you don't get a real good soft spot to lay into him. You hit a pad or helmet when you get him. He has a very good leg drive and moves the pile because he's just that strong. Upchurch, before he got hurt, was moving up and down the field well. Upchurch's injury, if it takes more than a week or two, may throw him to 3rd string because Richardson showed off his blocking skills and didn't do bad. Ingram was still weak from the flu, but looked good for the situation, but he won't be back up on the fluid levels until later this week.
Cody the fullback
There is something sinful in enjoying watching smaller players duck him on the goal line than take him on. I'll deal with that sin just fine.
Stepping upI was really really pleased to see a few names we had all written off step up due to injuries and illness. When Julio went down and Upchurch went down, and the offense kinda sputtered around some, it was good to see McCoy and Alexander and Grant all come to play, finally, and play rather well. I would be surprised to see Jones play a whole lot, if at all, so they need to take this opportunity to step up and play well to get more reps when the games get serious.
Greg being Greg
This game was a better example of who McElroy is and how he likes to play. He's a very controlled quarterback that knows his game and executes it. He is ok with the scrambling and stuff he had to do last week, but when he's allowed to play in the pocket, he is very good at checking down and finding the reads. What is more impressive is even when he is rushed, he steps up and still makes a very catchable pass. I think the WR/RB/TE's appreciate the fact that they aren't having to climb the ladder and get popped by head hunting safeties this fall and are probably going to work harder to get to him.
The big 3 get going
I mentioned the TE's earlier, but really the game was about Peek, Dial and Williams getting going at what they do. Peek is a good blocker, not great, but he is the first TE Bama has had in a long time that could do a good job blocking and be a threat in the passing game. Dial is probably a better blocker and has good hands, but doesn't have Peek's athleticism to get clear the way he does. Williams is still raw in a lot of respects but he can block and that's really all they want him to do for now. Smelley played, but he looks unsure about what his role is for some reason.
The Bad...
Playcalling in the 1st Half
It is still too cute. Last year they came out firing and fizzled late, this year they fizzle then erupt. I guess it is good that they are able to wear down opponents and beat them in the 4th, but what happens when they play a team with an adequate offense? We can hypothesize ourselves into oblivion about how good or bad things would be, but I'd rather know that this team can come out, kick the shit out of somebody and go on. It isn't like FIU was awesome or good no matter how much Stewart the water pale says they are, they weren't. They had one player that might, MIGHT, have been on the 2 deep for Bama, that's not enough to make them a real opponent. The stats tell a half truth in the end. They are scoring and getting yards, but it takes them a long time to get them.
From Center Right is not playing well at all
We can again spin and shake things around about it, but folks, when you go to the Center and look down the right side of the line, it isn't working as well as it should. I lost track Saturday and didn't want to count Sunday, the number of penalties that just killed drives because of a holding or false start. The other thing that worries me is that they just don't blow people off the line. FIU's defense wasn't that impressive or that big and imposing, Va Tech's was, but this one should have been a steamroller session. I'm willing to give Jones a learning curve pass, but Vlachos while not being a starter has played center long enough to be better than what he's played. I've labored over Drew Davis to the point I'm just not going to. The same 4 people whine the loudest about him.
The Ugly...
Nothing really.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
The Good...
2nd half adjustments aka they decided to rush...
The first half had rushes on the FIU QB, and they had struggles, but at the half the fire was lit and the rest was downhill. One of the main things I noticed in their adjustments was the use of more matchups in situations than just saying this is our guy at WE/SE or NT/DT. For example, you saw Dareus line up outside at end on one play, the next you would see him at NT. Hightower was at Money on the Nickel and then at Strong End in the Dime. Anders would be at Jack/Strong End in the Nickel and then Weak End on the Dime. They did a lot of this and really, I think they look better in the Dime than the Nickel thus far. The upgrades of Barron and Green to the Dime unit give them more opportunities to blitz with different looks and assignments and not get caught in a mismatch or a draw.
Even when sluggish, they only give up 7
I don't think even the staff would tell you that the defense came out and played lights out. When you come out a little flat, maybe even a little soft, and only give up 7 points on your defense, that's a good night. FIU had 0 run game and really they didn't even try after a while to run. Credit the front 5-6 most of the night for making the FIU offense one dimensional early and often.
Javy's Return Game
When the game was still tight, whether they were down 1 or up 6, the only spark they were getting at those points was Arenas. I've been impressed with his new found patience at return man. It may cost him a TD or 2, but I'll trade those 2 for a year's worth of quality returns and not putting the offense in bad situations like he did at times last year.
Better night for Marquis Johnson
After a week's worth of fan mail that I'm sure was less than stellar, he responded in a way a corner needs to, especially a senior corner, he played well. I thought for the most part, he held his own with a much taller WR and he made adjustments during the week and wasn't overplaying or jumping the route too soon. It will be interesting in seeing if he can keep that up. I can however see why he held his job against Scott, who struggles with playbooks, and Dre Kirkpatrick who needs more PT before he can really be an option.
Getting some depth on the chart
It was nice to see the defense go 2 and 3 deep at several spots with Gentry, Kirkpatrick, Woodson, Square, and others get some major PT. It is a shame that Square is down for the rest of the year because I liked what I saw from him and liked what he allowed the defense to do with him at Jack/End or at Tackle. I hope to see several more next Saturday because they are going to have to build depth for this season's flu bug and for long term success.
The Bad...
One Flat Start...
You play how you practice and between the 3 Bs that they had to get over (bumps, bangs, and bruises) from a tough opponent, I imagine the week of practice was limited early on. Then add the flu and other situations they are dealing with, and you get that softer than usual, for lack of a better term, practice week. The result was a defense that pinned its ears back at times and then went through the motions at other points. The 3rd and long conversion on the first series was just a bad series of events because there wasn't much of a rush on a QB in his own endzone, and the coverage man (Green) stumbled and the opening was there. That was followed up by a substitution error that had the staff calling timeout. They were able to regroup after the TO, but giving up the field the way they did was a tone for the half.
The scoring drive was pretty lifeless when it got down to it because they got marched on. Special teams didn't help matters by kicking off out of bounds. The first play was a 16 yard pass, but there was a 15 yard penalty and Bama had FIU 1st and 25. You would think this would be the part where they step it up and shut them down, they did for a bit but then gave up a pass interference penalty and a 25 yard completion to Hilton. They had a chance to bristle up and end it with a field goal, but after a Barron sack, they picked on him with that tall WR. After that, the defense started to wake up, and only gave up 3 plays over 10 yards afterwards.
The Ugly...
Special Teams Bungles
I see 3 things happening on special teams that are going to continue to frustrate fans and coaches. First is that they are using inexperienced players in the unit. I see a lot of backups and freshmen being used, the only starter I see being used is Barron. Rogers has done this for 4 years, but he lacks speed to track down a burner. The second issue is that they take the worst angles on plays. On the TD Saturday night, that is the thing you will see 3 or 4 players do. Marquis and Upshaw (who is too slow for ST) both commit inside and just open up the field to Hilton. The rest wasn't much more than a finish the drill exercise and not get caught giving up on film. The third thing I see is just the lack of control they have on the kicks. Tiffin got a scolding for kicking out of bounds when he was trying to avoid Hilton, but they have kicked to the wrong man 2 weeks in a row or not done their scouting well enough to know not to tease fate. You would think that Arenas in practice would be a good test run for your ST unit, but I can't say that they look well practiced.
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