Random Thoughts

I typically do a GBU after each game, and for the last 2 games (MSU & GSU) I haven't been able to for a variety of reasons.  I won't this week because the emotional termoil that comes from losing to Auburn is such that regardless of what one says, he/she will be wrong.  When Bama loses to Auburn, there is always 2 crowds:  Crowd 1 wants blood for failure, and Crowd 2 wants Crowd 1 to shut up and pretend the loss never happened. 

So, in lieu of the GBU, this week, is more random thoughts about things as is for Alabama Football. 

Reality Bites

When it gets down to it, we all oversold the talent level and coaching depth that Bama had.  From spring on to Friday's debacle, the truth is that this team has underachieved the hype level, and possibly overachieved the realistic bar that should have been set when the season was starting. 

The truth is that this team has a lot of jimmy's and joes but not many that get the Xs and Os.  That's why you see the same OL failures regardless of who they plop in, that's why you see the same breakdowns in the zone coverage each week, that's why you see the same missed opportunities each week, and why the defense always seems to let the opponent live in the second half.  They just don't know football beyond a talent overcoming knowledge level.  There isn't a Rolando McClain, that craps more football knowledge than most on the team have, to lead them.  There isn't a Mike Johnson to pick up the slack when others fail.  There isn't a Javy Arenas to tackle clean on the edges and read the play pre snap.  We all believed that the names we had heard about each year would be enough to overcome a lot of odds on defense, and the glaring issues up front on offense.  The truth is that while the names are there, the game isn't there to follow it.  We all believed that guys like Ingram, Square, Hightower, and other injured players would be fine.  They weren't.  It was painfully obvious with Ingram and Hightower that they were gutting it out.  It also has become painfully obvious that there wasn't a sense of urgency as before.  More players are thinking about Sundays than they are playing in the Championship. 

Fans scapegoated Greg McElroy for a lot of things about the offense.  You notice the fans have started to dull down that complaint after AJ McCarron- the heir apparent- continues to live in the Saban woodshed.  The truth is the offense is more of a victim of poor coaching and an unwillingness to change than the talent or packages used.  The wrinkles of 09 were now more of the same this year.  The Wildcat was tamed so often that it is now painful to watch.  The first half of the Auburn game was open and attacked the defense.  The second half was tight and conservative and took all the air out of the Tide offense.  The players didn't change from half to half, but the coaching philosophy did.  That's what is wrong with the offense.  The philosophy is not geared to win games like USCar, LSU, and AU. 

The coaching is near non-existent on offense when it gets down to it.  Many of you have lauded Coach Pendry, but if you see what they look like now that it is 80% his players and really 100% his coached players, the offensive line is just not gritty and tough enough to win in the SEC.  The passive, and often exposed offensive line resembles much of what his lines did at Houston when David Carr was being ruined.  Players like Warmack, Carpenter, and Steen are getting beaten by "lesser" recruits because those guys are getting coached to win, Bama's guys are getting by on talent.....well those that have it do.  During the Shula years, I tired of hearing what great recruiters some coaches were and that they were too valuable to lose.  I said then as I do now, what good is recruiting if you can't coach what you get?  That's where Bama is in so many positions.  With the defensive line just not making a dent in any team, it left me to wonder, where's all this stud/beast/monster talent they've recruited?  It is there, but it has plateaued as well because the coaching was getting a pass thanks to veterans and a 400 pound nose guard that bought in.  Davis has really not produced on his end of the process when you watch players like Luther Davis and Darrington Sentimore look the same today as they did in the spring.  The linebackers are getting good coaching from Sunseri, but they were better when the OLBs were getting coaching from a dedicated coach.  Watching Chavis Williams get exposed as the teams got better was hard on the eyes and heart.  Watching Jerrell Harris just play at all just is hard to watch really. 

And there is where the reality bites deepest.  The names like BJ Scott, Jerrell Harris, Tyler Love, the countless names of DBs no longer on the team, JuCo's like Brandon Lewis that cannot break the 3 deep, Kendall Kelly, Nick Fanuzzi, Star Jackson, and on and on that were just studs, beasts, monsters, or whatever the hell you call them these days but not a one has the intangibles like toughness, desire, or knowledge to contribute and really for those still on the team don't look like they will contribute ever.  Physically, they look the part.  They look good in their uni's, they run fast, and have all the weight room stats, but on the field, they are inferior.  They can't catch, block, or follow the play.  That's where coaching starts.  It starts in the recruiting process.  It should be weeded out before they sign the LOI, and while it isn't perfect  and Saban is probably better than most.  However, the gaps are showing itself again.  Poor DB and DL recruiting has started to rear its head.  Suspensions happen and attrition happens, but losing a Robbie Green should not have hurt as bad as it did.  Losses like Alfy Hill, for now, shouldn't hurt as bad as it did, but it did when Upshaw was gimpy. 

Yes, Virginia, there are problems internally.  Nothing as cancerous as what Auburn has, nothing as severe as what Georgia or UT or the Shula years were like, but problems.  They are stale, and the voices are stale.  They need new ideas from new voices that get new buy in.  That is why Coach Willis was so good for the team.  He had a new view of things from a style that beat the spread.  Saban listened to Willis often and his coaching of OLBs was very very good.  His loss was big this year because they needed him more than before.  However, with a little soul searching, and a few new faces internally that can bring some new intensity to the process, next year can be a good year.....

Reality Rules....

While things may seem bleak, and some of the feelings I have may be emotionally driven, there is a good chance that with tweaks, next year has promise. While the QB is a question mark, and really whomever it is between AJ and Sims, they are going to be on a short leash, but the line should be better with a focus on grit.  The QB will have Trent Richardson, the spinning Eddie Lacy, and possibly Crowell or another player to be named to carry the load.  With a renewed focus on smash mouth football, and drubbing defenses instead of dink and dunk, they can be dominating on offense again.  They will still have Hanks, maybe Maze, Norwood, and a host of young talent that hopefully will be ready. 

On defense, a year of growth from Square will only improve him as he is playing better than Dareus right now.  Getting Williams at NT will do wonders since Murphy is about as imposing to defenders as all you can eat buffets are to OLs these days.  Getting Mosley yet more coaching and PT will improve his game.  Getting Nico healthy will help his game a lot.  He's played so well in spite of things really, that when 100%, he should resemble the player of 09 v. 2.1.  Finding a Sam and Jack will be a challenge, but the Jack should be covered.  If Hightower returns, and he should, he would be better suited there now.  Mosley and Johnson can cover the ground now and know what they are doing.  Hightower is at his best going north and south and attacking the QB now than he is at playing in space.  The secondary can't be much worse than it was at times this year.  Millner and Kirkpatrick will be a year more experienced, and Menzie will be healthy.  With Menzie healthy, he should beat out Millner or flip with him.  Fulton hopefully will play some.  Green's return will be big as he and either Lester or Barron (doubtful) will be experienced in the deep cover.  Getting some fresh blood like Dix and others will give them some options too. 

There is a lot of ifs and buts in the future, and with that always comes that damn * that seems to follow any prediction.  However, it is this simple- if Bama gets back to tough, gritty play on both sides of the ball and gets away from the passive aggressive style they've allowed to take over this year, they will win more games than this year.  If they continue to play stylish yet without real substance, these types of years where the quality wins are fewer than the process should allow will continue. 

Why message boards are fun, but dangerous....

I know, the boards are where fans brood, and who am I to deny their place in the world?  I would say that the only bet I haven't seen at this point is a trade of spouses or a poke in the pokesack with one.  I love stupid.  I'll bet you 5000 dollars......, I'll bet you 1000 dollars...... that stuff is comical because you aren't going to pay up, either side, it is just conjecture.  The fighting and foolishness is fun to me.  However, I've learned over time that folks take this shit serious.  Folks, if you read it on a message board, it ain't gospel, it is opinion. 

See Camgate.  There was another shoe to drop for weeks.  Have you heard the thud?  I haven't.  Sure, it stinks like shit, looks like shit, probably is covered in it, but that doesn't matter today does it?  Really?  The truth is that there are way too many people talking out of their poopmaker about the subject and using all this mystery and cloak and dagger reference to mask that they don't know jack, but can make it entertaining.  For the record, I don't know a whole lot of firm subject matter on it other than what some folks in ATL have told.  Nothing earth shattering or stuff that wasn't already said.  So, why don't I mask it and make it sound like I'm In Like Flynn?  Because I don't have time to sit and keep a lie going each and every freakin day.  Really, message boards are fun, and there is sometimes truth in the drumbeat, but so many folks now wanna be the next Walls that they press and get pissy when you call bull. 

If you wanna history lesson, the GBU was originated a decade ago to balance against the bull that posters put out there.  Funny how after 3 coaches, 4 if you count Price, an SEC Championship, a National Championship, and so much more, the same ol fan bull stays true.........