If you are under or around the age of 23, this is probably the first title you can remember or the first that you really understood/enjoyed. It will be an interesting study to watch how fans remember this team against past champs from the 60s and 70s as well as the 92 team. That will be a good debate through the summer after recruiting ends. I just hope we don't have to wait 17 years for the next title....
Offense
The Good....
The rushing firm of Ingram and Richardson are standing by to run for you, call now...
They had heard about the "number 1 rushing defense" for a month. They had heard about the Heisman jinx. In the end, however, the 2 headed monster that terrorized pretty much every team on the 14 game romp, was the deciding factor. Ingram's foot was an issue, and he did look a little buffeted so to speak, but he got his game legs under him after about 7 or 8 minutes and really rebuked any doubters about how good he is. Richardson gives a nice counter punch to Ingram and his 49 yard romp was almost a dagger to the Horn hopes. The best thing about them is that they are back and they really like playing with each other.
No turnovers
The passing game was not on and really it was clear that Bama didn't want to throw any more than it had to. Once they found their strides, the rest was pretty basic and they could stay like that because they were not turning the ball over.
Good down hill blocking on the left
The pass blocking.....eh....you'll find them below, but when Bama quit trying to be Texas and started being Bama, they dominated Texas up front and down the left side. Texas's safety, 21 Gibbons?, was a true wimp. He must have played in the Marcus Carter "Keep my Jersey and face Purdy for da Ladies" school of play. They picked up on that and ran at him most of the night. Getting the linemen and tight ends to the second level and when they did, some of Texas's DBs retreated instead of going after the runner and/or blocker.
Surviving the first and best punch
Bama didn't pass block very well and McElroy didn't progress well either, and they took some serious punches early. They took some more punches in the 3rd quarter and early fourth, but they absorbed them and kept their cool and as a result, they were able to grind out the fight and win.
The Bad...
No passing game at all
Bama wasn't really wanting to throw, but if they had been in a situation where they needed to throw to win the title, I don't think they could have. Thankfully, Bama didn't need to pass much to win. There were 3 issues with the pass efforts. First, Greg had gorilla glue on his hands and wouldn't release the ball under pressure. Second, the OL was just getting beat off the snap. After both Greg and the OL had such a great game vs. UF, this game looked more like what we saw 2 months ago from both. The third criminal was the WR core. Lot of quitting on routes, not breaking routes to help Greg under pressure, no separation from the defensive backs, and on and on. Cignetti is a great recruiter, but a poor position coach.
Playcalling in the 3rd quarter
Just too tight and too predicable. Bama didn't make any offensive progress in the quarter and only had 15 yards. It opened the door for Texas to find momentum and left a great defense on the field too long.
The Ugly...
NONE
Defense/Special Teams
The Good...
Good hard nosed hitting out there
There will be some that say if McCoy didn't get hurt, things are different. Maybe, maybe not, but Texas put him out in the open on a stupid play call. The result was a clean and brutal hit to his shoulder that benched him for the night. It set the tone for the night because every run was met with a shot. Every pass short of 3 or 4 were met with a hard shot. They were going to impose their will and impose their power on Texas and it was up to Texas to respond, and they couldn't.
Turnovers created
A true freshman versus a Bama defense at this level will leave a few crumbs to grab and they found 5. I will say this, Texas has a good QB in Gilbert but asking him to go out there in that situation was a no win. He did make the best of it and made some strides. A full spring and summer will do him good and they will be a contender next year, but last night he was fresh meat on the hook. Bama slicked the ears back and went a lot faster and dialed up a lot more pressure on him and it resulted in the difference in the game.
Dareus has a spin move?
It was news to him too. I did take guilty pleasure in the stiff arm though. Seeing a 300 lb man truck a player is always fun. It was the cap on a great season and a great game. He was giving Texas fits all night and they were still having nightmares from Suh, they will have Dareus dreams too. You can make donations to Texas Matress Fund at your local Logan's Roadhouse...
McClain
If this was it, he left it out there. The stat lines may not say how good he did, but every play he was dissecting Texas offense down and short of 2 maybe 3 plays, he had Texas answered before they toed the line. Another great debate will be where Rolo sits with such legends as Jordan (LeRoy not Chris), Bennett, Thomas, and others. Personally, he's there with them, he's a different player than Biscuit or DT, but maybe a lot more like Jordan. I really wish he and Donta could have played all year together but if he stays, we can see that. If not, oh what could have been.
Secondary in the 1st half
The secondary had a lot of help in a green QB not being fully into the game, but they were swarming and keeping everything in front of them and making stops. I thought Johnson had a good game for the entire game, but the rest of the crew all played well in the first half.
Anders' payback
What happens when the big U passes on you? You pay them back when you get the chance. Anders played exceptionally well all night, but the sack and fumble when TX had a chance to win or tie the game was a moment I won't forget anytime soon.
The Bad...
The 3rd quarter pressure and secondary play
The mo was with the defense heading into the half, but they lost it and the secondary play was a big reason. Bama dialed back the pressure and tried to zone and cover TX to submission. That wasn't really working. Even when Bama held and forced a punt, they were losing the field position war. Eventually, the young TX QB found his stride and started picking on a veteran secondary. Bama's pass rush evaporated quickly and it was odd that the corner blitz that has been a bread and butter play for them all year was nowhere to be found.
Poor communication and focus on 2 plays
Green and Woodall didn't have their best night, nor did Barron. Arenas got flat owned on one touchdown, but all of it comes back to communication. McClain can bark and point but if you don't understand or pay attention when on you own, wide open touchdowns and coverage breakdowns occur.
The Ugly...
There ain't nothing special about these special teams
The thorn in Bama's otherwise perfect season all year has been its own special teams. They can't cover a pooch kick or onsides kick still. Nor can they get Smelley to pay attention when on the field. The nightmare started on a bad read by either PJ or Cory on the fake punt. Really that falls on the staff because they call the audible or pull that audible and force a punt. Missing extra points, going MIA on kick returns, netting 30 yards a punt, etc. It wasn't a great day to be the special teams coach and it really was the area that kept Texas alive.
Poor execution relative to the dunking of Gatorade process
I would say Rogers and Anders didn't practice before hand. I would say Bama will have a little summer drill on the Gatorade dunk technique and maybe bring in some of the old Giants to consult on the skill and technique. Saban got earholed by the cooler. It was no wonder he didn't smile.....
RANDOM THOUGHTS
Some turd will say "geez did we win?" or "can't you be happy". Believe me, they won and I am very, VERY, happy to see a 17 year slide end. It wasn't perfect, but it feels perfect to be back at a place where I've watched in 78,79 and 92 prior to now. Where this team rests with this group of greats, time will judge more, but to me the list is still:
1. 1979-80- This team is kinda forgotten because there weren't any Daniel Moore moments like the Stand or the Domination, but this team was just as close to perfection as a Bryant coached team could be. This team surrendered only 8 TDs all year, 2 coming in the bowl vs. ARK. They only gave up 13 points to out of conference opponents. Minus LSU, they scored over 24 each game. They were a buzz saw that tore through the conference and nation and after 2 years of being slighted by ND and USCal in the polls, this team took the entire pie and left no doubt how good they were.
2. 1978-79- They weren't perfect, but they played a murder's row level of opponents. In the year, they played Nebraska and USCal as well as a tough conference. The thing about this team was that they just wouldn't give up and they had such balance on both O and D. When you watch some of the old games of this team, it is amazing how good they were and how many NFL stars there were on that team.
3. This team- The difference with them and 92 is a better offense. I think with Ingram and Richardson and the grit and leadership that McElroy provides, they edge out 92. I think the 92 D was better than this one, but the gap between the offenses that year are greater than the gap between Ds.
4. 1992-3- Most fans on message board consider this the benchmark team because it is the first one they ever saw in person. It was the best defense that Bama has fielded since 1980 and it rarely let anyone score or have a life, but the offense on that team was so blah. Barker had some good games, and Lassic and Co had a good bowl, but none dominated consistently like those above did.
NFL thinkin
It is never too early to think about the Juniors and Seniors and 3rd year Sophs that may be thinking about a big payday. Here's the early, and always subject to change look:
Rolando McClain- 1st Round. He has nothing to play for or prove right now, I would like to see him back, but that is selfish and a chance like what he has now is too good to pass up.
Kareem Jackson- 3rd round. I think he needs to come back and get another year. He had good games and bad games this year and the depth of talent in the NFL Draft pool is deep. Arenas won't scratch the 1st round, he definately won't. 2nd or 3rd round money is good by our standards, but by NFL paydays, it isn't. He really needs to stay unless his family is in poor financial condition.
Javier Arenas- 2nd or 3rd Round. If Arenas were 5'11 or 6', he's probably a top 5 pick. His size will be held against him because he'll be guarding guys like TO, Calvin Johnson, Randy Moss, etc that will just tower over him. The other knock may be that he plays nickel corner almost constantly and those types of corners don't get drafted in the early rounds. He is physical enough and his return capacities will push his stock as will his knowledge of how to play.
Terrence Cody- 2nd or 3rd if he stays in shape, 4th or 5th if not. Cody will be fighting against the shadow of Andre Smith and the road he took both for himself and in how scouts look at him. He isn't ever going to be slim and toned, but NTs aren't supposed to be. However, they don't want to take a big round pick on a guy who may not stay in playing shape enough to get their money's worth out of him. If he can stay in shape for the combines and private workouts, and if he can show his value to teams like the Patriots and Cowboys, they will be likely to take a pure 3-4 tackle like Cody in the early rounds.
Mike Johnson- 2nd or 3rd. Johnson is a great college guard, but Bama linemen have dissapeared in the last decade after being drafted. What may separate him from his alumni is how physical he is and what kinda power number he can put on in the combine. A big combine could push MJ up to the late 1st-early 2nd range.
The rest of the seniors are all speculative late picks or free agents. Many of them will go out like nobody else they saw in their 4 or 5 years though and when they enter the working world with a nice piece of bling and a solid education, they will have received great life lessons from Saban and experiences on the field that will translate into performance situations when the time comes. Not everyone can say that.
