The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly- Penn State

Well, it was the first road test for the Tide in 2011, and it didn't start out very well, but once the team as a whole got its legs under it, they began to slowly take the game over and finally put away PSU.  From the staff's perspective, they have to be pleased because it had enough positives and negatives to build upon. 

THE OFFENSE

The Good...

AJ gets adjusted

Despite all the hand wringing about AJ and Phillip, the bottom line thus far is that one has actual PT and the other has none.  On the road, against 100,000 white outed, loud, Nits, there was one choice and it was McCarron to start.  The difference in week one and this week was that AJ had reserved himself to the fact that he wasn't going to hesitate and he would let it fly.  The results were much improved.  While there were some passes that he will get scolded about in film and practice, most of them were on point.  As a whole, he had better touch when he needed it, and better zip when he needed to press it.  He also was a lot calmer in the pocket than he was a week ago, and at A Day, as he seemed to not let everything get to him as much. 

Trent plugs away and finally gets his 100

While the OL does have issues, Richardson played much better and made a lot better cuts than he did in week one.  They needed to just prove they could run with authority against an ok Penn State team.  2 bad weeks of running would have sent red flags across the BCS that would have had everyone stacking the line and daring Bama to throw. 

Bama gets Hanks back!!!!

They needed him sooner, but it is what it is.  While the WR play wasn't terrible, they have missed his ability to find the bubble in the defense and gives 2 young QBs a real steady and solid option to use.  The other big upgrade is that Hanks is a very solid blocker on the outside.  The run game has missed having him there to seal the outside. 

Michael Williams has his breakout game....

A week after he was a bit of a goat for the muff, he stepped up and made probably the best catch of his career in the 3rd quarter.  It was nice to see them dedicate to working him into the actual game plan.  While he probably won't be as much if they get Hanks and Carter (more on that later), because they will take snags from him, but in the meantime I hope to see him showcased some more because he is a big weapon to use.  Williams gives them a large target to drag over the middle to create mismatches with smaller DBs and LBs. 

All the little things that I like....

I like seeing things like Lewis at fullback because Fowler has not shown he can lead block with any effectiveness, neither has Smelley.  I liked seeing more stretch formations to create one on one mismatches.  I liked seeing the counter used, but I would have liked to have seen the backside covered more.  I liked seeing the use of pre-snap motion to get the defense confused and out of position more, not to mention show the QB what they were doing.  One thing PSU did that I thought was good, just for reference, was when the backup QB faked the snap to get Bama to show their hand pre-snap.  It is the little things in a game that make me happy sometimes....

The Bad...

There are liars, damn liars, and statisticians....

Mark Twain knew football apparently.  To listen to some, you would think this was a glorious victory that will be a Daniel Moore painting overnight.  What if I said to you that Bama only went 2 for 7 in the second half on 3rd down?  Or that Bama again struggled to put the ball in the endzone when in the redzone?  They were 3 of 5 with 2 FGs.  While they did almost amass 200 yards rushing, they had 102 yards and averaged less than 5 per carry.  If you take out Lacy exposing a worn out D, it wasn't quite as awesome as some are trying to spin it.  Remember, a great running back can make a mediocre offensive line look good.  Shaun Alexander and Bobby Humphrey both did. 

See it is easy to point to stats and do what you want with them.  The bottom line is that Bama was just physically better than PSU.  Penn State isn't the Penn State that many of us remember as kids, and they sure aren't a major victory given they are probably another mid-tier Big whatever they are now member.  The team Bama out-manned is probably at best a 7 win team. 

Lots of MIAs....

While the comment about White is a bit confusing and concerning, he wasn't the only one who was lost in transition.  While the Internets wants to fight about Phillip Sims, his lack of PT doesn't worry me as much, nor do his tweets by the way, as Brad Smelley's blocking going MIA....again....or Steen's run blocking going MIA, or Warmack's cardio plan going MIA, CyKo's PT was a bit surprising especially as many issues as they were having during the game. 

The Ugly...

Offensive Line regressions

While some want to have a fight over who should be where and what not, it isn't one player.  It would be easy to target Steen, and some of it is painfully obvious, it isn't just him.  Warmack isn't playing great either.  Vlachos should be an anchor but the signs that he's only as good as his bookends are there.  In 2009, he had Jones and Johnson that could cover for him.  In 2010, he didn't have Johnson, and this year he doesn't have a Johnson or a Jones to bookend him.  Now, he's on his own and he's struggled at times.  Vlachos was lineman of the week for the team, which is good, but was there a runner up?  You'd be hard pressed to name one with as many misses and gaffes as they had through the course of the game. 

Alabama has a lot of work to do if any level of championship is going to be in sight.  I think there is a little false optimism about pass blocking because PSU didn't really do that much, outside of the world record for swatted passes, and using them as a litmus test is dangerous.  Remember, last year Bama trounced them and folks were sky high, but in the end, it was false optimism.  Until this OL shows it can be both consistent and dominant, I don't believe in them enough to say they can win the West at this point.   More thoughts on the Line and speculation by folks to come....

THE DEFENSE

The Good....

The White Stuff....

After the first 8 or so minutes of play, the Defense started to pretty well enforce its will upon Penn State and their mis-managed offense.  Once they took Penn State's best shot, they pretty well took various angles to return the favor.  Penn couldn't take the same shot, and Bama's defense feasted on poor QB play and having a physically advanced defense that over matched and overwhelmed a slower offense. 

Great LB play

I thought most of the LBs played very well against a team that is built to run and grind on the LBs over time.  Mosley, Johnson, and Hightower in particular had very good games even if their individual stat lines don't exactly say it.  See, stats don't tell you everything.  Anyways, the objective was pretty clear up front, don't let them behind you, and as a result, they didn't blitz as much, but they confused Penn State enough that they never were in trouble until the end of the game when it looked like Bama's defense was thinking about the bus. 

Creating opportunities

I thought Dre had his best game in a while as he locked his guy down for the most part and created 2 fumbles.  The rest of the secondary had a lot of chances as well.  I think Lester now leads the nation in trapped interceptions and Menzie and Dre lead in Interceptions though the fingers.  While at some point, they do need to get more picks, the fact they are getting on the ball better is a positive sign. 

Good depth showing

Dial, Hubbard, Gentry, and others had a fairly good showing as reserves.  I thought the defense looked its best when Dial subbed for Williams.  He created more pressure and was collapsing the pocket consistently.  I won't be surprised when he beats out Williams.  I thought Hubbard gave them some good minutes while Upshaw was injured.  I won't be surprised if he isn't used more down the road.  Gentry is just one of those guys who puts in the work and gets the best of what time he gets it seems.  I would almost call him a starter in the nickel right now.  He gets better push than guys much bigger than him and seems to always be in the play. 

8 drives of 5 plays or less

This is one of those things I look for.  How many 3 and outs and how many less than 6 and outs.  Last year, Bama gave up too many 3rd and make its.  This year, the success of the team and the defense alike will be dictated by how often they can get off the field before 2 sets of downs.  It keeps them fresh and keeps the offense on the field.  Both are very good things if you like winning. 

The Bad...

First drive is a dud

The game, unfortunately for the D, was bookended by bad drives for the D.  The good in this is that Saban and Smart now have something to chew on them all week about.  The first drive was just one of those things that seem to creep up with this team where they come out flatter than a 3 week old Coke and leave about the same aftertaste.  The tackling was less than stellar in the first drive, and the next couple weren't much better, and it allowed State to get confidence and momentum for a brief period.  It took Bama the whole drive to get its legs under it and actually make adjustments to stop Penn State. 

The Last One stunk worse....

After a 14 play, slow bleeding drive to start the game, they ended the game with a 16 play slower bleed.  They allowed Bolden to get confidence and lost their focus as they let Bolden get a first down on the first play, on third and long they let him get 15.  From there it was just one after another and another.  They got a holding penalty, and it should have broken PSU, but instead they beat Millner and Lowery in the corner and set up a TD. 

The Ugly....

None

SPECIAL TEAMS

It was another good week for specialists like Sunseri and Depriest.  Dix also joined in the hit parade and made his first big play of his career.  Maze had another good punt return that flipped the field.  Now, on to the part y'all give a shit about apparently....

While I prefer to see the ball sail in the endzone and force starts at the 20, I get what they are doing on kickoffs.  Foster is still the same erratic kicker he's always been.  So, they've taken him off his driver and put him with his 5 wood.  Everyone hits their 5 good.  So, he's putting it about 10 or so yards shorter than what he would, but the height on the kicks is allowing Vinni and Trey to swarm in and keep things inside the 30.  If he could kick it out with consistency, they'd ask him to do that.  He can't, so they don't ask. 

Punting is a different matter.  There is a lot of work that needs to be done here.  Mandell is still the same up and down punter he was last year.  He can kill one or get one to turn over and bounce 20 yards from time to time, but most are short, off the side of his foot, or just flat off.  They need him to flip the field and a 30someodd average isn't it.  If he gets enough height on the kicks and the hang time works into the coverage team's range, that helps some and has thus far worked, but they haven't faced a good return man yet. 

RANDOM THOUGHTS....

Georgia has an E-Richt-ile Dysfunction

This is my quote and copyrighted by rlb002 circa 2011.  Deal with it.  Anyways, all preseason, you heard the following lies form Dawg fans:

Every defense is better in year two, Bama's was, ours will be too!
The D knows the plays now, it will be better!
They have so much talent to not be good!

Yes folks, Georgia fans are Bama fans around the Shula and Dubose years.  That's who they have now is a Shula/Dubose kinda coach.  For a guy hyped as a great coach, Todd Grantham isn't earning the 401K distribution much less the paycheck.  When you get down to it, watching Georgia was like watching Rudy.  You know they want to, but they just can't, and eventually they will make 1 play and everyone will be all happy for nothing.  Richt will get some time to let the heat die down as Coastal Carolina and Ole Miss are not going to threaten them much...I don't think anyways....but then comes a 6 game stretch that will determine his fate. 

vs. MSU- despite their loss, they have a lot more speed and stamina that UGA
@ UT- meet the SEC dark horse, and UGA will validate them
@ Vandy- who has always baffled Georgia for some reason. 
vs. UF- Probably the one that he MUST win
vs. New Mexico State- Tough game for UGA coming off Florida and the emotions of a probable lost season
vs. Auburn- that golden horseshoe up their butt will strangle UGA right now

So they have a real possibility of going 4-6 into Kentucky and Tech.  A losing record, even 6-7 won't save Richt now.....

Kill the in-fighting

I like a good argument as long as it has a productive fight in it.  However, when I read stupid shit that goes like this:

"Saban was testing Sims"

"You are a fill in the blank fan"

I can say that neither are worth while.  Now, have I refrained from name calling in my times?  No.  I'll freely let you know if you are a dumbass.  And, yes I get my fair share of complaints because I dare say something negative about "My Beloved Crimson Tide" (that's a classic Bama Mag line that is just nauseating).  However, when you intend to just go after someone because you don't like their opinion, that doesn't make you worthwhile. 

Remember, the mass bulk of these folks who try to do the whole "how dare you" routine were the same during Shula.  They didn't want to say or think that there was ever something needing improvement.  Occasionally, they would hint there was, but they'd try to spin the issue as doing the best with what they have- like that ever made it better. 

Folks, there are issues on this team, none that are as deadly or as corrosive as what Shula allowed to fester, but they are issues that can have Bama back in the Capital One Bowl.  That, by the way, is not where this team needs to be in January and a trip there is a disappointment for all, or at least should be.  Talking- whether complaining or applauding- about what it takes to be a BCS team should be what we all are after and sometimes it takes pointing flaws and pointing to successes to get there.  My biggest fear is that the fans will allow themselves to have another 2000 creep into their culture.  To think that they were greater than they remotely were and have to spend a whole year asking how and why is something that I hope to never experience again.  Yes, Captain Obvious, I know Saban isn't Dubose or Shula or Fran or Bryant or Stallings or Ears Whitworth. 

Offensive Line Observations.........

Ok, on to the meat and potatoes.  For yet another week, the O line continues to have issues with establishing itself.  The pass blocking was improved from week one, but I didn't think PSU was all that good on defense to begin with.  They had one good player (71), but outside of him, they were predominately slow.  I think the test for Bama and how good they can/will be is 2 weeks away when they play the Hawgs. 

The issue isn't the lack of play for CyKo.  It isn't Jones at LT.  It is the middle three and their lack of cohesion.  Warmack is out of shape, that isn't a guess, that's a reality.  Steen is young, but he also isn't progressing.  Vlachos plays ok for the most part, but there are times where he's either overwhelmed because he's not sure who to help between the guards or gets exposed for his lack of mobility.  Fluker isn't nearly in the trouble that the guards are, but there have been times where he's been flat footed and abused by much lesser players. 

For what it is worth, I don't really think it is the coach.  I actually think he's done a good job with what he had to work with.  Keep in mind, there are some bad habits that he's gotta work through breaking.  They don't just break because he's there.  He doesn't have a LT that is ready.  The one they wanted to be the LT this fall is dead.  Cyrus is getting the playbook and the speed adjustment as best he can, but fans need to quit expecting every week to be that week where he jumps in.  He's not ready.  Just like DJ wasn't as a true Frosh, and 99 percent of all linemen aren't as freshmen.  That isn't a knock against him, but it is a knock against fans who expect more than they should and spend hours lobbying to empty boxes for them to play. 

Eventually, CyKo is their LT, is that this year?  Time will tell and really only Saban, McElwain and Stoutland can dictate that.  I do think that when he does start, if this year, Steen is the odd man out.  He is a tough practice guy, but he's limited in where he can go as a lineman.  Warmack, if he ever gets in shape, is a much better guard.  I won't be surprised if they don't start looking at McCullough at RG at some point or Boswell if they want to keep AMC tuning to the left. 

What will force the staff to make a change?  Heh, I think we all know a horrible showing against an SEC opponent seems to force their hand better than anything.  Do I want that?  No.  I would like to see them work on the right side a little more, or leave a TE/HBack in to assist with the blocking but I don't care to see much fruit basket turnover after September.  I think they (the staff) have made their bed and are content to sleep in it as far as who the five are based on what they see in practice and what they review in study. 

Next year, I think they have more changes to make.  If Jones stays, he probably plays center.  Neither "backup" has done well or won the staff's confidence.  I won't be surprised if they don't look for a JuCo guard or to convert Arie or another backup tackle to guard.  I don't think, at this time, either guard's job is safe going into the future unless they see the light.