The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly- LSU

After 2 weeks off due to travel requirements (I was in Little Rock and Atlanta after the Ole Miss and UT games), the GBU returns....and not to the best of times.....I'm switching it up because there are some things that I'd rather put up front than the good parts and the bad parts because I think we all know the deal there. 

Random Thoughts....

Kenny Bell won't be saved by his bell or his dumb mouth.....

Kenny Bell ‎...bck n ttown already no it ain’t nun 2 do cuz dis ttown so I’m bout 2 shower n watch tv..sn: not even mad cuz its gne b more if da favoritism keeps up take it how ya wanna....kb7

First, I get that when one is young and such, dumb things are said, it is a given and I'm not innocent of that.  However, there are two things here that just piss me off.  One, if you are going to complain, do it in an intelligent tone.  That shit needs Beaver's mom to step to the back of the plane and decipher for me.  Second, you never, EVER, say things like this during the season.  EVER.  Bell is a loser and his career at Alabama is over before it started.  Keeping him on the team only rewards selfish, undisciplined, and cancerous behavior. 

Really, here's a guy who can't beat out anyone and is more or less a tackle dummy these days (specialist), but he feels like he can jump up and toss his teammates under?  I know how this gets cured and he keeps his spot and it isn't an apology.  He tried that on his page, but was called out on his weak answer (wasn't bout the team apparently....).  He'll be asked to run over the middle and get de-strapped on an in route.  When nobody helps him up, he'll know he's been setup and you move on, stay quiet, and work your way from the bottom up.  When he is attritioned, and the odds are better than running Republican in the south that he's gone, he'll just be another mouthy, lazy Louisiana player gone. 

Enough with the "If we play X...."

I love how there is always a cast of fans that believe that an unknown, untested player is always better than the starter and after each loss it is an opportunity to say such.  The only QB not mentioned to be better to start is Thomas Darrah.  The interesting twist is next year, if AJ doesn't throw for 400 yards and 5 touchdowns each Saturday, do you turn on him? 

I get that some get mad that McElroy isn't a gun slinger and has flaws in his game.  I see them too.  I also see him playing with a lot of effort and doesn't take plays and games off like some do.  I would be more apt to read about players who aren't playing to their capacities and not be as irked as I am to see someone complain when a guy is playing up to his level and is making plays.  McElroy will never beat this team, he won't win the game each and every week, but in the LSU game, he put the defense in a position to give him the chance.  The defense, as has been a theme for a while, didn't step up.  If folks want to find a focal point for their anger, look at the defense.  The defense has yet to play a complete game since conference play started.  I keep reading stupid comments from a guy named "Luciano" who says the team is rebelling against GMac....that's so dumb.  I keep reading how this team would be better with AJ....again dumb.  I had one real man of genius tell me that if Saban had pulled Greg early in the year (when and why?) and gotten AJ in earlier, they would have won Saturday.....again, dumb. 

The offense has issues.  I won't deny that.  However, the play calling and offensive line play are where the issues start and continue to hamper things.  It is hard to say which is causing more problems because the execution up front or lack thereof is making possible good plays go bad, and the playcalling has no identity to it.  In the last 2 years, this team was a downhill running team, and they made their mark with power football.  This year, I can't tell you what they are because it changes by the series.  One series, they run strong, the next they play out of the gun, the next they throw 3 times and go out, then they run, then they mix it up, and so on.  There is no balance or methodology to what the game plan is/was/has been.  I keep saying it and it keeps going on, but you have 2 Heisman caliber guys in the backfield, but yet they don't get fed regularly and cannot get a rhythm going.  If Bama wants to be a pass heavy team, that's fine, be that.  If Bama wants to be a run heavy team, that's fine, be that.  If Bama wants to mix it up and do both, that's fine, be that.  Just don't be a team that has no purpose like they were Saturday and have been several times over.  Personally, I like Bama's offense more when they go north south with Ingram and Richardson and mix some play action passes.  Sitting in the gun and trying to execute from it hasn't been as fruitful.  Of course, everything skunks the Wildcat in execution and productivity now.  In the end, LSU had given up 21 or more points to UF and AU.  AU's high end O only got 24 off this defense.  Bama got enough points on a really good D, they just didn't get enough help. 

The Defense is where my ire and concern really lies though.  9 games in and they still can't play zone, still can't tackle, still can't get in position, and now cannot pressure or create plays against a bad team.  Here's the facts on the ground, LSU's offense was horrible going in, their QBs had been subpar all year.  Jordan Jefferson had not thrown a TD since their opener and had 8 INTs including 7 in the last 7 games.  He really is one of the worst QBs in the conference.  You wouldn't know it from the game would you?  Jarrett Lee is a guy we all know.  He has not been much better.   He did have a nice game against the Gators, but his game against Auburn was Lee's par game.  Did either look weak or confused?  No.  Did Stephen Garcia?  No.  Why?  Saban and Smart have become stale and scared in the play calling.  The good game plan in the first half went away and was lethargic and predictable in the 2nd half. 

I don't have as many issues with a player like CJ Mosley because he's trying hard and learning on the job.  I do have a problem when I see guys with experience that aren't playing hard or with focus.  After 9 games, and a bye week, the defense should not be dealing with poor tackling nor should you be seeing blown assignments like it has had.  Millner is a freshman, and I give him that discount, but he's played enough downs because they can't get off the field....anyways, he's got enough time and practice to know his zone assignment.  Each week, he gets bassackwards with that and that play is usually a damaging one.  Each week, someone in the secondary has a blown assignment and gives up a big play.  Each week, the linebackers suck inside too quick and expose the backside and give up a big play.  Each week, you see the opposing offense wanting it more than Bama's defense.  That part bothers me more than anything.  The difference is more than vocal leaders on defense.  The difference is that last year, they made plays and got turnovers, sacks, and 3 and outs.  Those things put the offense in better spots and created more scoring opportunities.  This year, they aren't doing any of those things often and it forces this offense to execute more 80 plus yard drives. 

Really folks, if you want to complain, complain about the defense.  Fussing because someone is not a vocal leader is just a hard on grudge.  Vocal leaders are born, they aren't coached.  Vocal leaders have to be recruited.  Bama has recruited a lot of names and a lot of potential, but I think we are starting to see that they have the bill of goods but have not received nearly the appraised value from it. 

OFFENSE

The Good....

Julio's catch

He can't make the easy ones every time, but he makes the tough ones every time.  When he gets in the endzone and extends his body, it is about as automatic as it gets. 

Ingram looking like the Ingram of old

I thought Ingram played his best game since Duke or ARK.  He was shifting, cutting, and using the blocks the way he did last year.  There was one play where he stopped on a dime, made 2 guys miss, and got an extra 5 yards.  The reason you won't remember this much is because the staff iced him in the second half.  In any case, it was a good start for the 2nd half run, and really they need him to start demanding the ball and getting the ball.  He makes great things happen when he does. 

McElroy doing as much as he can

I can sense some of you grinding your molars just reading that.  Piss off.  Given how poorly the line played, and how many drops were committed by the TEs and WRs, he had a really solid game.  He did his part in all honesty.  His passes were good as a whole, and he only missed on a handful.  The interception was on Dial, McElroy will carry it on his stats, but Dial flat out muffed it.  The fumble was a bang bang play that was on the OL, but he'll carry that stat too.  He missed Maze by about 2 inches on a go route, but that happens.  His TD pass to Jones was one that he doesn't make last year or 4 weeks ago.  I know there are those who want to detract from what Greg means and has done for this team, but he plays tough, plays smart, and does enough to win the game. 

The Bad...

Playcalling.

As mentioned earlier, you have to have an identity.  This staff has yet to find one for them.  McElwain got p'wned by Chavis, and Saban has continued to stay neutral as each week the same plays are called that are now stale.  They are gonna have to open up the playbook or gear it down and grind it out with a power run attack.  This fruit basket turnover philosophy just doesn't work. 

The Ugly....

Offensive line play just flat out stinks

I get so tired of seeing the whiff.  Vlachos has really really really regressed.  His preseason injury has him out of shape and when you watch him play, he just looks like a guy who isn't in game shape, even for a lineman.  What's worse, they let a guy who is not even 300 lbs look like a bulldozer against them.  Warmack couldn't contain any of his assignments.  Jones contained but didn't budge them.  Carpenter is just happy to be there, and I'll be happy when he's matriculated.  McCullough pass blocks ok, but is too small to push the right side in the run block.  For weeks, they have let McElroy take hits that he didn't need to take.  The fumble Saturday was another in the long line of poor communication and fundamentals up front.  I don't know how many times this year it has happened, but there sure have been a lot of sacks that occur because the guards double down instead of covering their space.  Warmack is a habitual offender of that.  Fluker can't get back fast enough, but next year can't either in a lot of positions up front.......


DEFENSE

The Good....

First half effort

I thought that the defense answered the bell early.  They got put in a tough spot after the INT, but held to a field goal.  After a horrible punt, they held to a 3 and out.  The entire first half, they kept LSU off balance and made them look more like the offense that we had watched week in and week out.  They had 3 3 and outs in the first half and held the Tigers to a field goal.  All in all, going into the half, I thought things were in good shape.  Sadly, the defense never came out of the tunnel after the half. 

The debut of a healthy 4some of Upshaw, Dareus, Square, and Hightower

It has taken 8 games and a bye to see the healthy foursome, or as healthy as it will be this year, but they looked good when they used them up front on nickel situations.  Of course, the bigger thing here is that when they put Donta up and put his hand down, they have to have good play from Johnson and Mosley.  They played as well as could be asked. 

The Bad....

No 3 and outs in the 2nd half....

When you just don't stop an opposing team, you don't win games.  Bama had LSU pinned down, but did not stop LSU once in the 2nd half.  Say what you want about the offense, but Bama's defense did not get off the field on their own.  They also gave up a score or a score opportunity each drive in the 2nd half.  LSU scored 21 points and missed a FG in the 2nd half.  That's just too many points and too much moving up and down the field going on.  The same team that just looked good as anyone for the first 30 minutes, was MIA the entire second half. 

Mark Barron picked the wrong week to have his worst game of his career

The two biggest plays by LSU were both moments where Barron was out of position.  The Randle TD romp was a really telling play.  Barron gets out of position and doesn't really try to catch him or take an angle to try.  To his credit, he did hustle to stop Shepherd later on, but he flat out didn't try on that play.  If it had only been that play, it maybe wouldn't have been so bad, but the 4th and 1 reverse was another out of position moment.  Will folks remember him for this game?  No.  They'll remember the MSU game.  I wish that player was appearing at this point.  Hopefully, in film study, they ride him and it makes him play pissed. 

The Ugly...

Letting another subpar offense look spectacular

I'm not going to beat the horse any more today, but when you let the 3 worst QBs in the conference look awesome, well, it isn't just a "played the best game of their life" moment, it is a "coached the worst game again of my life" moment for Smart and Saban.  Really, the defensive issues are as much coaching as they are player issues.  The thing that really starts to irritate me about things is that Saban spends a lot of time talking about being results oriented and all that bull.  At some point, the coaches need to just say that they got beat in a coaching duel.  Saban got his process processed by a grass eatin wild eyed guy, and he's got another humbling in a few weeks if he doesn't start getting things turned around on defense.  As great as Saban is, and as great as he is at creating defensive mismatches, this year hasn't been one of those years.  It has looked more like the LSU team after their championship.