When you watch games like the Iron Bowl, it is often found that fan chatter is talk, and talk is cheap. Here's a hint for those of you who read my thoughts, when I don't talk much during the week of a game, that is a good sign that I see a tough fight. A lot of folks on the message board world had a lot of locker room material about how none of Auburn's players could start or be the top reserve at Alabama or how the staff and the Mahlzahn offense wouldn't dent the Tide defense, etc. If there is one thing that the last 2 years have taught me, this defense doesn't like motion or misdirection, and Auburn does a lot of it. The reverses and flea flickers, etc, are a part of their gameplan week in and out. The onsides kick wasn't but that was a hell of a read by the coaches to see that Bama doesn't cover the front line, it goes straight into return defense. Lots of teachable moments for sure, but a win and a chance at glory still remain. That is something worth being thankful for on the holiday rebound...
OFFENSE
The Good...
Game Manager = Clutch
The thing that really gets me is this. Greg McElroy throws for over 200 yards, has 2 TDs, and completes 2/3rds of all his passes, and there are folks who say he had a bad game because he missed an open guy. Here's a hint, they all do. I saw Manning do it Sunday, should he be benched? There is a human element to the game and there will be mistakes, but it is only when the mistakes are beating you that you need to talk about changing a starter. Mistakes that are benign are just film room improvements. Saban said afterwards that there were a lot of factors in some of the errors from blocking (more on that to come), playcalling (more on that too), and McElroy missing his reads. The biggest anchor for the offense wasn't McElroy anyways, it was this insanity that kept running Ingram right at the stacked line of Auburn. In the end though, McElroy stayed in control and played HIS game and that lead to victory more than anything else.
Just for those crayon chewers who want a true freshman who hasn't sniffed a football this year, since the USCar game (his worst of the year, 2 picks), McElroy has thrown 7 TDs and 1 Int, has gone 77-123 (63%) and has had a passer rating over 100 in all but the UT game. Yes, let's bench the winner for the sexy recruit name. I swear some folks could tear up a steel ball just to be happy, and those guys want to start someone else because they don't score on every drive....this ain't NCAA 2010 or Madden folks. There is no reset button or redos.....
Welcome to the stage Mr. Richardson
Here's the thing, outside the crimson bubble that most of us live in, nobody really knew who Trent Richardson was. They knew who Ingram was because he's in the Heisman talks, and they have watched him play all year and rack up yards. So, when he was held in check and then hurt, a good number of football fans thought doom was near for Bama. Thankfully, the Trent Richardson show that has been kinda pre-empted by the Ingram watch was able to pick up on its regularly scheduled broadcast. The thing that Richardson does that is so impressive is that he can sense the defenders and seems to always get lower and make the tackle target small and punishing. That is why he always gets an extra 3 or 5 yards after contact. They can't get him, but he gets them.
Peek a Boo Holla McGhee
If you had watched any of Auburn's games, you know that they get real soft in the middle of the field. The 2nd best play call of the day came when Peek ran a slant across the flat and found the soft spot in the defense where Greg hit him in stride and the rest is paydirt.
Best timeout ever spent
While they really never said what the play was going to be, but I would bet a steak dinner that it was the Cody flop over tackle play. Auburn sure as hell thought it was. I called pass when I saw Upchurch at fullback because that's been the tip on any formation with Church all year. Would the Cody flop over tackle worked? Probably not since Bama had not gained more than 2 hard yards at any one time all day. I think Saban knew that as well and with Cody at fullback/h back, it was a tip that he was going to lead block over the left side. So it was time to shake up the film scouts. Thank God. Florida will be more apt to stay at home and not load up so much if they see the formation again.
The Bad...
0 push from the O Line = 0 yards figuratively for Ingram
Ok, this is one part griping about linemen who shoot up like deer when they hear a horn and one part griping about playcalling. There are so many things that just confuse me at times about the playcalling logic. Ingram comes in, the blue sea masses in front of him between the hashes, and you continue to run straight at it. Yet, Richardson comes in, they back off, and Bama runs over tackle. Why can't Ingram run over tackle? I think they tried that maybe twice. I don't know how much of a leash McElroy has with the staff to audible into another play, but I would hope he had enough of one to check to a screen or a swing pass instead of just butting their head against a wall. You can run on Auburn, they're near the bottom of the SEC in rush defense. The thing is that when they've had 2 weeks to get ready, you have to be flexible in your game plan to adjust to the things they are doing. Bama finally got creative, but it took about 20 minutes into the game (game clock wise) to get there. Run, run, pass, punt is a great plan if you are trying to burn clock and get out of the stadium, but when you are trying to dig out of a 14 point hole, not so much....
The offensive line didn't help either. I lost count of how many times the linemen sprung up instead of at the defender. Now, if you never played or didn't play O Line, what happens when you let the defender get under you is that they have control of your position and can drive you backwards, sideways, on your ass, whatever they really want. I also lost count of how many times I saw Barrett Jones standing around while the play was going on. He is a first year player and I give him a little slack, but 12 games in and he's making effort mistakes...that's a concern for me. It would be one thing if he hit his guy, defeated him, and then shot up and the play was over, but the play is on going and he's trotting along like a sideline cameraman. Carpenter also had his worst day. It wasn't Chris Capps part deux or tres, but it wasn't one that he'll want to see on film any time soon. Carpenter still plays left tackle like he would as a guard (his natural position)- very stationary and stiff. Teams have scouted and learned that a bull rush won't beat him very often, but a speed rush off the end will. Dunlap will own him if they don't put the TE or HBack with him.
The Ugly...
The first 10 minutes of the game
I'm not a fan of getting the ball first to start a game in any circumstance, but Bama elected to take the ball first and got great starting position at the 40. They did nothing with it. They sat around for a good while thanks to poor special teams play and got the ball back again at the 40. They did a heaping helping of more nothing. The defense was on the defensive against the spread and they really, REALLY, needed some time to regroup and couldn't get any time because the offense couldn't incorporate any semblance of rhythm at all. Really the offense had to see the defense stiffen up and stop Auburn before they got a first down.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
The Good...
2 and a half quarters of shut down defense
The first quarter wasn't one of the defense's shining moments, nor was the busted coverage in the 3rd quarter, but outside of that it was pretty solid. Man that sounds like moral victory talk, but it is true. I thought Auburn could get 17 or so on Bama just because they do all the motion and hurry up and misdirection stuff that has kept Bama's defense baffled all year. Review any game you want of the following and you will see what I am saying- Va Tech, FIU (1st half), MSU (1st quarter), LSU, Auburn. Once they find their legs and get them back under them, they really don't give up much, and on Friday, they put on a statement performance after they took Auburn's best shot.
Surviving the shit storm
Bama has done this a lot more this season than last and that may be the difference in the SECC this year. They have taken some pretty hard shots from some good teams this year whereas last fall they didn't know how to play from behind very often. This year they have been in a position to lose against Tech, USCar, UT, LSU and now Auburn and survived them all. Yes, survived. They all have been victories because the defense has made the stops and created the turnovers when they needed them most. This week's game was no different as they made the key stops in the 4th to lead to the drive.
Knock that ball down!
I don't care how simple it sounds, but I see so many teams go for the pick instead of just swatting the ball to the turf. When you go for the ball, you usually end up looking back and seeing another guy with it. It isn't a great feeling to be there or watch it. I couldn't tell who swatted (Woodall?) but whomever it was got the best vertical of his life and cleared the ball out.
The Bad...
Heads in the clouds syndrome
It apparently was contagious beyond imagination. Woodall had probably his worst game since becoming a starter. The misdirection and reverses were keeping him out of position a good bit and the unsportsmanlike penalty was just him not acting like a senior. The emotion was good, but it would have been better witnessed on the sidelines. Chavis Williams got caught napping on special teams and they kicked right at him. I can see why he doesn't play despite having the measurables. Barron ate the play fake like it was turkey with the sides. It went on and on, but there wasn't enough brain farts in the air Friday to doom them, just make the game a lot tighter than it needed to be.
Missing posters sent for Reamer and Green...
I know Reamer has the elbow thing going and Robbie Green is smaller, but Ali Sharrief isn't exactly my cup of tea vs. the spread. He may be a better tackler, but he has to be in a position to tackle and that's where he falls off. They had decided that because Auburn plays up tempo that it would be better to have Sharrief play Money and keep Barron and Woodall in their spots instead of swapping around like they do when Reamer or Green are in nickel and dime. I would say the 21 points they flung up like poo would dispell that theory, but that's just me.
The Ugly...
Too much flat footing and not paying attention
Yeah that falls under heads in the cloud, but it pissed me off that much it deserves more mention. Damn it.
RANDOM THOUGHTS
Stay tuned for a dissection of the spread playbook
I got a demo for some playbook software the other day and will try to use it to show how the plays develop and how the Tide can defend it. It won't be just top shelf the way I like to do things, but it will have to pass because I am not spending 300 bucks on you turds. I really was trying to find some cool porn and thought I was getting that, but found football instead. My porno for football crazies I guess....I kid Mom...really but not really.
Watching the bowl flush....
Boy, if you think you have the bowl allignment figured out, congrats because there are 3 tiers all of a sudden. Bama and Florida are in the BCS win or lose, nobody will keep them out of the Sugar Bowl for losing even in a route. LSU found grace because Ole Miss is still trying to find its mouthpiece after that butt whoopin, and UT doesn't inspire much when they struggle every week to beat the weaker sisters. Ole Miss, UT, ARK, UGA, USCar, and AU all have 7-8 wins and all look about equal in that any given Saturday they'd beat each other.
I will say that Carolina taking Clem(p)son to the shed wasn't a real surprise. Georgia taking out a year's worth of frustration on a very good Tech team was. Ole Miss losing wasn't a shocker, but the way they got whipped was. Ole Miss had played really well down the stretch again, but they left their game at the 9 yard line vs. LSU. LSU beating the Hawgs wasn't a real surprise, but letting the Hawgs tie them late was another sign that they just aren't tough enough to be with Bama and Florida yet. The bowl projections are pretty well locked up as far as the BCS, but the others may be about who can fill the stadium where....
BCS- Bama/UF vs Texas- Unless Nebraska pulls off a miracle, this one has been a lock since August
Sugar- Bama/UF vs TCU- I pity the loser because a let down looms with TCU hitting on all cylinders
Cap 1- LSU vs PSU/Iowa- Thank you MSU says the Hat getting fat with a wife who serves up not cat...if there is a shakeup in the BCS, Iowa could be here, but if all goes as planned it is JoePa
Outback- UT vs. Wisconsin/PSU- all really depends on Iowa's home for the holidays, but neither is a tough match for the Vols
Cotton- Ole Miss vs. Nebraska or OSU- If it is the Pokes vs. the Siss, the underachiever bowl is upon us...Really like the Pelini vs. Nutt matchup though
Chick Fil A- UGA vs. Clemson/Va Tech- If they take Tech, the Bobo era will be over fo sho, I know some think that Clemson will beat GTech, but I am not one of those. Tech would be the fit for the Chick but nobody wants the in state rematch either
Music City- S Carolina vs. UNC/Miami- 2 great coaches with 2 unpredictable teams on one matchup and a present/past meets future in the other
Liberty- Arkansas vs. Houston- better add a digit to the scoreboard when these two hit it
Papa Johns- Kentucky v. UConn/WVa-
Indy- Auburn vs. aTm/Iowa St.- really is about who goes where in the world, I don't think either side wants to see Auburn v. ISU, but Bama fans with evil hearts like mine do....
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