Really this could be a pretty short and simple post. There was about zilch in the way of good for the first 30 minutes of play. Dooley's pants were better than Bama's play in the first half. The only high point was the play of Donta Hightower. None of that is a surprise because the lack of focus that had Saban mad at the press was an extension of the lack of focus by the players. Every practice report kinda gave away that Alabama wasn't exactly gearing up for war, like they better be doing around the middle of this week, and typically Bama plays like they practice. So the slow start was an extension of what they did all week. They have been blessed that they have done a great job of making adjustments and that the players respond well after the half.
OFFENSE
The Good....
When AJ can get going, he goes well....
I won't discuss the 1st half here, but it is coming. It was good for him to get some confidence back and he got it by the staff putting the ball on him to turn the game around. Then all of a sudden the passes that missed by 10 yards all of a sudden made it into the hands of everyone that it was supposed to. Hopefully, he won't sit around and worry when he makes a mistake. He doesn't need to make them, but it will happen and his progression and growth is going to depend on him not letting an INT haunt him for a quarter or more.
It wasn't Trent's best showing, but it was enough...
With all the stacking of the line, which wasn't anything new, Richardson's carries were going to be tougher than the Ole Miss game. However, I thought all things considered, he did well getting around 5 a carry for the night. I really wish that they would have kept feeding him the ball early in the game because even if he isn't getting 5 a carry, he's wearing down the UT defense and keeping the pressure off AJ.
(T)Hanks for the A-Maze-ing memories
While a lot of folks will talk about McCarron's stats or his 2nd half. You better start talking about how well Hanks has played. He laid out for 2 or 3 passes that AJ sent him and his athleticism kept those drives going. Same goes for Maze. Maze made a couple of tough grabs and had the 60 yard play early in the game. They have stepped up their play, and they have wanted to make plays. I thought last year that they were too content to let Julio do it for them, but this year they have been the leaders of the group and have made a lot of key plays.
Going for the Kill
I really liked that after UT failed on 4th and inches that Bama went for the kill right away. That turnaround pretty well ended the night and the dream for the Vols.
Kenny Bell catches it this time
Bell keeps folks scratching his head. He has a catch like he had Saturday that was tough. With a corner draped on him, he dives and makes a spectacular TD catch. Other games, he lets it hit him in the hands and he drops it. Bell and White are going to be key parts to the offense in 2 weeks. They have to be able to stretch the field and make LSU guess at what Bama is doing. Bell should be a guy that steps up in 2 weeks because the LSU game should be personal.
The Bad...
Poor Play Calling and Even Worse Execution
This game had all the markings of the La-Mo early on. They were that kinda flat, and making those kind of mistakes. With AJ in a funk, they kept plugging away with him to no avail really. I thought they killed both drives that ended in a FG by not putting the ball in Richardson's hands on 1st down. To me, and this is just my thought here, when you go to 2nd and 10 and then run, you are asking for a stall to occur most times. Go with the safe run on 1st down and get your 3 or 4 or 5 yards and then put the play action or bootleg play in after that. Heck, in the 1st half you would have thought 2 straight runs was illegal.
The Ugly....
The 1st half was just that tough to watch
I just can't begin to tell you how rough it was to know I had to do it, and then do it. Kinda ranked up there with going to the movies with the old bag to see some crap movie about a vampire, some skank and a guy who can't keep his shirt on. They tell me that movie has a sequel, but I can't take another round of such. Likewise, I hope to not have to sit through another half like that. I wish I was kidding when I said it was that ugly. The line got whipped on a ritual-esque basis in the first. It was clear they hadn't been hitting during the week. It was clear that McCullough had not practiced much at RG before the week. It was clear that they just were flat all week and it took a reaming from Saban at the half to get over it.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
The Good....
Hightower reaches a new high...without Calloway's help
I thought this was probably his best game of the year. While a lot of guys were going through the motions and trying to make it to the bye week, Hightower was flying around and getting vocal. His energy caught on. Nico Johnson's game kept improving as the night went on as he fed off Hightower's game. After watching the replay, I realized that UT really couldn't figure out what to do about him. You can see them calling plays and trying to neutralize him, but the more they tried, the more they played into his game. They weren't used to a guy lining up all over the box, and as the night went on, UT's gameplan slowly eroded.
Avoiding the big play this week
After what seems to be a Tide Tradition of late, letting teams score on big plays early, Bama was able to keep a beaten and inexperienced UT offense pinned down to field goals. UT did gash their run defense some, nothing huge but it seemed like they got yards when they wanted at times, but everything seemed to shut down early and often for UT.
The defense is relatively healthy going into the bye
Mosley and Upshaw have some dings it appears, but nothing that will keep either out. The rest of the cast look to be healthy and good to go for LSU. It was key to come out of a rivalry game healthy and be full speed for the biggest game of the year. They have passed all the tests they need to as far as knowing they are that good and can play with LSU's diverse and physical offense. They just need to rest up for a couple of days and then start hitting and get mentally ready for the game.
The Bad...
Soft Coverage on the Fake
I still can't figure out how a safe cover gets blown like that. Nobody thought UT was punting. UT of course knew. Bama knew. The stadium knew. Yet, neither corner played for it. By giving a 10 yard cushion and a first down, they effectively allowed UT to gain life that with simple execution, never happens. Take that play out, I don't know if UT does much of anything all night because they fed off that play for the whole half.
Soft Practice = Missed Tackles
On offense, the lack of hitting results in sluggish play and missed blocks. On defense, the common giveaway to a soft week of practice is arm tackling. In the 1st half, Bama didn't play terribly on D, but they missed a lot of tackles and didn't really wrap up well in the half either. There was a lot of playing through going on. The offense was leaving them on the field for most of the 1st half, and they were not swarming around and disrupting Tennessee's offense in the half.
The Ugly....
None
RANDOM THOUGHTS....
BCS Cleaning Up
Ok, the National Champion one of the following: UA/LSU's winner, Oklahoma State, Clemson, Stanford or Kansas State. Chokelahoma's annual choke job has eliminated them because one of those teams, maybe two will run the table and keep them out even if they win out.
While it may be short lived, what an outstanding job Bill Snyder has done. The OG ol Ball Coach has taken Kansas State from the bottom and once again put them into national consideration. But the football powers that be don't like them down the stretch. They get 4 straight ranked teams (2 home/2 road). Regardless of their final record, they have quality wins against Miami, Baylor, Missouri, and Texas Tech.
I really think Clemson is the team that has the best road to face the SEC Champ. They don't have a terrible schedule, but most of it is on the road from here on out. They are @Tech, @ NCState, and @ USCar with a home layoff against Wake. They then would have a rematch in Jacksonville with Va Tech. There isn't a game mentioned that they shouldn't win. Tech is falling apart. State is....um.....well they didn't listen to Coach Valvano's speech. South Carolina has limped through and without Lattimore, they are in bad shape for a game like that. VT couldn't handle them at home, so I don't see that changing.
Nobody says LSWho now....
I don't think I have ever sat and watched Auburn just get blasted for 4 quarters like LSU did. Bama should take that tape and observe it well. LSU flexed a lot of muscle early and often. They ran and ran and ran, and when Auburn crept up trying to stop the bleeding, LSU started throwing haymakers. Is LSU beatable? Yes, very much so. Can Bama beat them? Yes. Can they lose to them? Yes. Bama has got to get over this sluggish start business. They cannot take 2 quarters to get it going against a team like LSU. They are a veteran team and they have really rallied together and gotten behind Lee. He definately isn't the player he was in 2008. He is very confident and playing without fear of making mistakes for the first time. Lee isn't a top end QB, but he's that kind of QB that killed Bama last year.
The other factor is the Les Miles risk level. With both teams having a lot on the line, he will more than likely want to step up the tricks and risks. That has been his profile since he was at Ok State. Last year, he outcoached Saban. This year, I think and hope that this is one of those games the players and coaches, Saban in particular, will want.
CyKo done, Steen scrambled,
Bama needs to stay healthy up front, that goes without saying. However, Bama has more than likely lost CyKo for the year and while that isn't a starter lost, it is a key reserve and contributor. Steen should play against LSU, but if he can't go, they are that much shorter on the bench.
Bama has been using a lot of linemen in situations all year. For example, Saturday they had a line of:
TE- Williams
LT- Warmack
LG- McCullough
C- Vlachos
RG- Fluker
RT- Jones
for a play or two. They were basically putting an unbalanced line right out there and challenging UT to stop it. They didn't really stop it. Bama has done formations like that off and on all year. They have played Jones all over the place. They have used Warmack as a pull guard all season. They need to be able to throw things at LSU that they haven't scouted. Bama will need to continue to use multiple looks for the Tigers because they need to keep them off balance. They also need to mentally prepare for what is ahead. That will probably mean less unique looks like the one above.
Next week is the bye week. I will do the mid year report card, as is tradition, and probably hit a few more random thoughts as the 2 weeks progress.
October 24, 2011
October 16, 2011
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly- Ole Miss
Now the march to the play in game is 3 weeks away. There are 2 teams that can beat Alabama right now- LSU and Alabama. Same can be said about LSU. The Ole Miss game was good for them in some aspects, and in others continued to leave "coachable moments".
OFFENSE
The Good.....
Trent being Trent.
I can't begin to describe how he busted the pants off this guy, but the video does all the speaking for me...
The O Line gets involved and breaks Ole Miss early and often
Bama made the decision early on that they were going to be a running team. With 7 rushes in the 1st, and 12 in the 2nd, they were well ahead of where they were a week ago. As a result, they got the OL into the game and got them going. It also resulted in the best performance by Trent, Eddie, and Jalston.
Keeping it short and keeping it safe
There were also was a focus to keep things short and simple for McCarron this week too. Hanks caught the only long pass of the day (36 yards), but for the most part everything was inside and intermediate. Both of which are more to his strengths right now. Getting Williams and Smelley early and often also helped settle McCarron down and get him in a good flow. They were able to keep him out of long pass situations thanks to the run, and really only had 2 3rd and longs to deal with most of the night.
White returning to form
If you just look at his stat line, you would think that DeAndrew White was doing ok, but nothing special. That is where stats lie. White did a lot of things that didn't end up on the stat sheet, but the more he plays the more he displays that he's the 3rd option for the future on offense. He blocks well down field, he runs pretty descent routes and he hustles. Add those intangibles to his size and speed, there isn't much downside to him if he doesn't want there to be.
Fowler redeems
I thought against Vandy, Fowler looked a little soft and sluggish. This week he looked sharper, like he was ready to play, and his cuts and burst were much more in line with a guy who wanted to be playing. Fowler is over hyped by Internet Message Boards, but as a 3rd option behind Lacy and Richardson, he's a great weapon late in the game.
Staying on the field
One of the little things that is getting overlooked is that the offense is not just going 3 and out much. Bama went 8-12 on 3rd and 4th down and had 27 first downs on the night. The 67 plays took over 33 minutes and really wore down Ole Miss and if it wasn't for 2 big runs by Richardson and Fowler, it probably would have been more like 40 minutes and 75 plays.
The Bad...
None
The Ugly...
None
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
The Good...
Upshaw sits
If I had a spot for excellent, this would be it. While the lockjaw, paranoid, they're outtagitus crowd boos this, I applaud it. The 1 quarter sit down was a bigger message to the others as it was to Upshaw. Upshaw's actions weren't vile or overly egregious, but it was a play that is not allowed in a program that has so many rules and procedures in the process. He lost his composure and did something punishable, and was. Hopefully, that is the last time any player has to be disciplined this year.
Once they get going....the going is good
Bama started slow again, more on that soon, but once the defense got going, they absolutely owned the rest of the game. They choked Ole Miss to 7 first downs after the first series, and less than 100 total yards. Ole Miss wasn't real good when it got down to it, but they were good enough that if you let them believe, they could be dangerous. Bama killed belief and Ole Miss's Santa Claus by the half.
Linebacker play
I thought the LB play was really good and part of that came from Mosley returning to play. The other part was that Nico and Hightower really were on top of their game and were in position all night. After 7 games, it is clear that you cannot go sideline to sideline on Alabama. The linebackers are why you cannot. Heck, if the secondary could quit having the mental farts, you could say you can't go vertical either.
1 punt
The best way to keep your weakness from being exposed is to not have to use it. Bama didn't have to punt but just once and heck it was one of Mandell's best of the year.
The Bad....
First Series Fapping
Google search it. Long story short, Bama continues to over read and under react to what they see early on. For the 2nd time in 3 weeks, the first drive was a scoring drive. And in the same time period it is the result of a poorly executed play. Before the lockjaw sets in, Bama wasn't in anything complicated, they were in a base zone (as best I can tell, everyone else was zone) and just blew it. While it was good that Millner pursued and tackled Brassell, the lack of pressure on Mackey and the breakdown in coverage was more or less Bama giving Ole Miss a freebie.
The Ugly....
Kicking a 53 yard Field Goal and busting up your kicker in one swift move
There are so many things wrong with this decision. First is that Ole Miss even knew Foster didn't have the game leg for it. They had a guy on the goal line waiting for the kick. Second, even though it was a 7 point game, why not punt and position? Even if Mandell kicks his traditional 35 yarder, that was better than what they ended up with. The play ended up with a net of 2 yards. The kick was from the 36 and Ole Miss returned it to the 34. Third, Ole Miss had called a timeout, that was plenty of time to get a better play up than that. With Richardson running as well as he did, and Ole Miss sucking like they did, if you are going to go for something that risky, why not put it in the star's hands???? The end result of the head scratcher was 2 yards net, and 1 broken kicker. Foster kicked one more time and lost about 10 or more yards on his kickoff, the worse news is that he didn't have 10 to spare......
RANDOM THOUGHTS
If there was one team I would so love to see in Atlanta, it would be UGA
Why? Well there are really 3 reasons. First, they aren't real good but think they have it all fixed. [insert evil laugh here] Second, Grantham needs an ass whoopin. I don't care who did what, when you embarrass yourself like that on TV, you need one. Richt needs one just to see if he has a pulse. Third, there is nothing sweeter than seeing a team in its backyard get its masculinity ripped from it.
The BCS is gonna have a mess on its hands....
They are spared in part because the SEC and Big 12 have a play in game thanks to the LSU/Bama and OSU/OU games. What they don't have is a way to get those two plus more than likely an undefeated Boise, undefeated Wisconsin, and possibly an undefeated Stanford or Clemson. The system that has Forrest Gump'd its way through the last few years without major issues, will probably have one this year and the chant for a plus 1 format will return. I personally like the plus one.
Take this into consideration. Let's say LSU beats Bama on a last second field goal or something. Bama wins out. LSU wins out. Then let's say Wisconsin goes undefeated as does OU. Stanford and Clemson both lose a game but win conference. Now, can anyone say that a one loss Bama team is less worthy than Wisconsin or OU? Especially when neither has a resume worth spit. To me, that is where the system has failed is that great teams have been denied a chance. Bama in this scenario would get Wisconsin and if they won in the Rose Bowl or Sugar Bowl, then they would take the winner of LSU/OU. I think that is the only way to avoid the what ifs that seem to be creeping into things this year. Wanna get real confusing? Say that scenario happens except LSU falls to Arkansas who by the way will only have 1 loss going into LSU more than likely.
Don't Score First. It Only Pisses Bama Off
Best quote by a Dooley male ever.
Next weekend is the 3rd Saturday renewal and it also is the 5th anniversary of when supposedly Saban expressed interest in Bama. It also has been that long since Bama lost to the Vols. UT has not broken 20 points since the 4th and 22 debacle. There isn't a snowball's chance they do this coming week either. UT is on their way to mid-tier with Dooley, unfortunately, because there just isn't a lot of heart on that team. Watching them against LSU, you could see them just break and take their beating over the course of the game. It is pretty clear that UT's guys haven't bought in and won't go all out week in and out for Dooley. With that said, my favorite UT videos....
Don't play this one loud in the office but enjoy....
OFFENSE
The Good.....
Trent being Trent.
I can't begin to describe how he busted the pants off this guy, but the video does all the speaking for me...
The O Line gets involved and breaks Ole Miss early and often
Bama made the decision early on that they were going to be a running team. With 7 rushes in the 1st, and 12 in the 2nd, they were well ahead of where they were a week ago. As a result, they got the OL into the game and got them going. It also resulted in the best performance by Trent, Eddie, and Jalston.
Keeping it short and keeping it safe
There were also was a focus to keep things short and simple for McCarron this week too. Hanks caught the only long pass of the day (36 yards), but for the most part everything was inside and intermediate. Both of which are more to his strengths right now. Getting Williams and Smelley early and often also helped settle McCarron down and get him in a good flow. They were able to keep him out of long pass situations thanks to the run, and really only had 2 3rd and longs to deal with most of the night.
White returning to form
If you just look at his stat line, you would think that DeAndrew White was doing ok, but nothing special. That is where stats lie. White did a lot of things that didn't end up on the stat sheet, but the more he plays the more he displays that he's the 3rd option for the future on offense. He blocks well down field, he runs pretty descent routes and he hustles. Add those intangibles to his size and speed, there isn't much downside to him if he doesn't want there to be.
Fowler redeems
I thought against Vandy, Fowler looked a little soft and sluggish. This week he looked sharper, like he was ready to play, and his cuts and burst were much more in line with a guy who wanted to be playing. Fowler is over hyped by Internet Message Boards, but as a 3rd option behind Lacy and Richardson, he's a great weapon late in the game.
Staying on the field
One of the little things that is getting overlooked is that the offense is not just going 3 and out much. Bama went 8-12 on 3rd and 4th down and had 27 first downs on the night. The 67 plays took over 33 minutes and really wore down Ole Miss and if it wasn't for 2 big runs by Richardson and Fowler, it probably would have been more like 40 minutes and 75 plays.
The Bad...
None
The Ugly...
None
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
The Good...
Upshaw sits
If I had a spot for excellent, this would be it. While the lockjaw, paranoid, they're outtagitus crowd boos this, I applaud it. The 1 quarter sit down was a bigger message to the others as it was to Upshaw. Upshaw's actions weren't vile or overly egregious, but it was a play that is not allowed in a program that has so many rules and procedures in the process. He lost his composure and did something punishable, and was. Hopefully, that is the last time any player has to be disciplined this year.
Once they get going....the going is good
Bama started slow again, more on that soon, but once the defense got going, they absolutely owned the rest of the game. They choked Ole Miss to 7 first downs after the first series, and less than 100 total yards. Ole Miss wasn't real good when it got down to it, but they were good enough that if you let them believe, they could be dangerous. Bama killed belief and Ole Miss's Santa Claus by the half.
Linebacker play
I thought the LB play was really good and part of that came from Mosley returning to play. The other part was that Nico and Hightower really were on top of their game and were in position all night. After 7 games, it is clear that you cannot go sideline to sideline on Alabama. The linebackers are why you cannot. Heck, if the secondary could quit having the mental farts, you could say you can't go vertical either.
1 punt
The best way to keep your weakness from being exposed is to not have to use it. Bama didn't have to punt but just once and heck it was one of Mandell's best of the year.
The Bad....
First Series Fapping
Google search it. Long story short, Bama continues to over read and under react to what they see early on. For the 2nd time in 3 weeks, the first drive was a scoring drive. And in the same time period it is the result of a poorly executed play. Before the lockjaw sets in, Bama wasn't in anything complicated, they were in a base zone (as best I can tell, everyone else was zone) and just blew it. While it was good that Millner pursued and tackled Brassell, the lack of pressure on Mackey and the breakdown in coverage was more or less Bama giving Ole Miss a freebie.
The Ugly....
Kicking a 53 yard Field Goal and busting up your kicker in one swift move
There are so many things wrong with this decision. First is that Ole Miss even knew Foster didn't have the game leg for it. They had a guy on the goal line waiting for the kick. Second, even though it was a 7 point game, why not punt and position? Even if Mandell kicks his traditional 35 yarder, that was better than what they ended up with. The play ended up with a net of 2 yards. The kick was from the 36 and Ole Miss returned it to the 34. Third, Ole Miss had called a timeout, that was plenty of time to get a better play up than that. With Richardson running as well as he did, and Ole Miss sucking like they did, if you are going to go for something that risky, why not put it in the star's hands???? The end result of the head scratcher was 2 yards net, and 1 broken kicker. Foster kicked one more time and lost about 10 or more yards on his kickoff, the worse news is that he didn't have 10 to spare......
RANDOM THOUGHTS
If there was one team I would so love to see in Atlanta, it would be UGA
Why? Well there are really 3 reasons. First, they aren't real good but think they have it all fixed. [insert evil laugh here] Second, Grantham needs an ass whoopin. I don't care who did what, when you embarrass yourself like that on TV, you need one. Richt needs one just to see if he has a pulse. Third, there is nothing sweeter than seeing a team in its backyard get its masculinity ripped from it.
The BCS is gonna have a mess on its hands....
They are spared in part because the SEC and Big 12 have a play in game thanks to the LSU/Bama and OSU/OU games. What they don't have is a way to get those two plus more than likely an undefeated Boise, undefeated Wisconsin, and possibly an undefeated Stanford or Clemson. The system that has Forrest Gump'd its way through the last few years without major issues, will probably have one this year and the chant for a plus 1 format will return. I personally like the plus one.
Take this into consideration. Let's say LSU beats Bama on a last second field goal or something. Bama wins out. LSU wins out. Then let's say Wisconsin goes undefeated as does OU. Stanford and Clemson both lose a game but win conference. Now, can anyone say that a one loss Bama team is less worthy than Wisconsin or OU? Especially when neither has a resume worth spit. To me, that is where the system has failed is that great teams have been denied a chance. Bama in this scenario would get Wisconsin and if they won in the Rose Bowl or Sugar Bowl, then they would take the winner of LSU/OU. I think that is the only way to avoid the what ifs that seem to be creeping into things this year. Wanna get real confusing? Say that scenario happens except LSU falls to Arkansas who by the way will only have 1 loss going into LSU more than likely.
Don't Score First. It Only Pisses Bama Off
Best quote by a Dooley male ever.
Next weekend is the 3rd Saturday renewal and it also is the 5th anniversary of when supposedly Saban expressed interest in Bama. It also has been that long since Bama lost to the Vols. UT has not broken 20 points since the 4th and 22 debacle. There isn't a snowball's chance they do this coming week either. UT is on their way to mid-tier with Dooley, unfortunately, because there just isn't a lot of heart on that team. Watching them against LSU, you could see them just break and take their beating over the course of the game. It is pretty clear that UT's guys haven't bought in and won't go all out week in and out for Dooley. With that said, my favorite UT videos....
Don't play this one loud in the office but enjoy....
October 10, 2011
The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly- Vanderbilt
This was one of those games that just lends to the saying- "You play like you practice". When Bama practices hard and at full speed all week, they usually look sharp. When they take days off or do more walk through stuff, they always come out sluggish and slow. So, was the slow start on both sides, or as Coach Saban said "lacked intensity", a shock? No. I think the shock was that it took a whole half to wake up.
OFFENSE
The Good....
Amazing how if you establish the run, you break opponents....
I won't get into play calling yet, but it wasn't a fluke or a miracle that when Bama geared down and quit the cute stuff and got down to helmet to helmet, north and south offense that they broke Vandy down and even the passing game looked better once the run started to get steam. Getting Richardson, the by far best player on offense, more touches and putting him in situations to make plays is always a good thing, and after a half of dust catching, he was utilized and the game shifted from sleepy slugging to knockout blow when that started.
Big individual efforts
After weeks of being MIA, DeAndrew White found his game. His 2 TDs were both great plays on HIS part. I thought Smelley did a better job of getting involved in the game and separating. Hanks also continued to get back up to speed and had another step in the right direction after missing 2 games.
Not the best game by the OL, but for the most part good enough
As you know, I always will believe that you have to start out with the run to get the OL into the game and get the trench battle set up early. Bama didn't do that, but for the most part, they were able to protect and get the running game going enough to let Bama bide its time until they could wake up.
The 2 AJs.....The good one
Last week, I read a lot of the replies and emails, I didn't reply back for a reason. I get that some want to believe something, and in a way they are right. There is the good AJ that moves in the pocket and makes plays. There is the AJ that manages the game and doesn't have INTs that have hurt the team since week one. He won't lack fear of throwing. He won't ever lack the excitement when they score. All of which are good things that make him the starter.
The Bad....
The 2 AJs.....The Bad one
The flip side is that he makes some really bad decisions that he shouldn't this far down the road. The first TD was a throw that he's very lucky to have completed. It was put in a place that only his WR could get to it, and that is good, but in the red zone, you never EVER do anything like that unless it is the last play of the game or 4th down. If he chokes up on the ball or shorts it, that's a pick. He could throw it 5 times and maybe gets the 1 completion. What is worse, he didn't get a lot of love for his play from Saban when he returned from the sideline. He got a scolding about protecting the ball. His 2nd TD pass to White was a big throw, but it was into double coverage. He's getting away with those passes for now, and as long as he keeps getting away with it, so be it, but a tuck and run or two wouldn't hurt.
The Ugly....
Play calling in the first half
Simply put, when your best player has 7 carries and 34 yards or whatever it was, those are both just not acceptable. The lack of intensity that the offense had was from one part poor play calling that put the ball into their best energizers- Richardson and Lacy/Fowler. Now, I can understand that the lack of Lacy probably meant they couldn't just shoulder up Trent and go, but 7 carries for him and 5 for Fowler? 12 run plays out of 36 plays in the half. It isn't just that. You have Jones and Fluker who are good run blockers. You have Warmack who has played much better on the run now that they have adjusted to his abilities. Vlachos has some iffy moments each week, but he still is a solid run blocking center week in and out. So with all that said, why again are you not running??? This is a game that really should have been about 21 or 28 to zip at half. Vandy was scrappy and your Daddy's Vandy and all, but Alabama contributed a lot to how well they looked.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
The Good....
Shutout
I'm not as wild about the whole "we knocked another QB out" thing, but I am wild about how they have only given up about a TD per week. The big thing was that against Vandy, they didn't have their best day, and against anyone worthwhile it might not have been as forceful, they still were able to flip the switch and choke out another opponent. This week's defensive stand was more team than individuals. Florida was more individuals, but this week was more of an effort of 11 to get there.
Improvement up front
I know when I scan through the message boards on Sunday or Monday, there is often a complaint here there and yonder about how the defensive line isn't making plays or haven't played up to expectation. That really isn't the case. In the 3-4, the down 3 are not expected to disrupt as much as they are to create space. Williams has made some plays, but more importantly, he is starting to see and understand his role more. Some of the hits that you see Hightower and Upshaw make are the result of Jesse Williams and Josh Chapman. Chapman has really played well this year. I really haven't noticed him getting moved out of a lane or losing containment. Square and Dial have also been big parts in how this team gives up next to nothing on the run. This week you could see them collapsing down and it was much easier for them to rush linebackers or keep them in space without a lot of linemen in their space. Their work was most noticed when Vandy ran screens and their linemen weren't in position to block safeties and corners from busting the play.
The turnovers are starting to trickle through
I would like to have a few more picks and fumbles by now, but the end results make it hard to complain there. I thought Rodgers played pretty well given the "talent" around him. I thought Bama started to break him when they got a few hits on him and it caught up to him with 2 late INTs.
The Bad...
Special Teams Play
Whether it was the status quo short kickoffs that resulted in better than should be field position, status quo punts that turn over after 7 yards, or the missed extra point, it wasn't a game that Coach Williams will put on his resume. I just hate seeing a great play busted up by a lousy kick and Shelley did that with a full on shank. The kickoffs and punts, well I'm about to the point where I'm numb to it. It will stink all year and that won't change without steroids. The extra point miss and hopefully it stays singular, is never something that should happen. EVER.
The Ugly....
Upshaw loses his composure
I find it interesting how the POV is always shaded by fandom. I've read that he was breaking away, or that the guy was holding his leg, or that we don't know what happened before. The answers to those are no, no, and so? The lineman's hands were on the ground catching himself when Upshaw threw him down. It was a great play on his part up until he lost his composure and swiped at him. He didn't hit him, and it wasn't like he was raring up to kick an extra point, he'd missed that too given how well Bama teaches kicking, but the point is what kind of player are you? I see Hightower drilling and beating men senseless out there, but he always pulls them up. The point is that Bama isn't that program where cheap shit goes. I don't care what anyone did before, retaliation is only what they want. Besides, this is Vandy. They are about as clean as it gets. The truth is that the LT had whipped him a couple of times, and did a few more afterwards, and he was frustrated.
With all that said, is he in trouble? Not bad. He probably will get a little tough love and if it happens any more, he probably loses some PT or starts. In any case, hopefully this is a blip and not a sign of things to come. He's too good of a ball player to be caught with the bush league stuff.
RANDOM THOUGHTS....
What did we learn????
UGA v. UT
Tennessee is not close to ready for prime time. Georgia will get a false sense of pride and control, but this game was more or less a sign that UT is just really behind the times. South Carolina has passed them, Florida has lived ahead of them, and GA is ahead of them. Vandy will run with UT this year. Kentucky will root for their basketball team to show up......Dooley has his work cut out for him. Word is that the team is probably more like the 2000 Bama team at the moment and could roll up into a tent at this point.
Florida State v. Wake Forrest
My momma always said never is as never was....FSU has cracked again and now Jimbo has to pull off his best coaching trick of date to avoid Shula comparisons.
Auburn v. Arkansas
When you give up yards faster than the national debt rises, your offense won't save you every week. Arkansas has found their stride of sorts after the 1st half of the aTm game. They will be a handful for LSU at the end of the year.
Florida v. LSU
Les Miles is nuts, but he's stomping the shit out of everyone else's right now. Comparing scores of Bama and LSU v. FL is not going to justify anything. What was justified is that the SEC is a 2 team race that will be decided when LSU goes to Tuscaloosa. There are 2 teams that can beat LSU- Alabama and LSU. There are 2 teams that can beat Alabama- LSU and Alabama.
Speaking of Les Miles....
There isn't much better in the way of interviews than absorbing the full Les Miles interview experience. It is always one of those things where you know at some point, somewhere in the interview, Les will say that "really?" kinda statement. Apparently he has rubbed off on Mathieu as he proclaimed that he's thinking about big plays when on dates.....Ya know, I think about a lot of things, but when I was on a date, it wasn't football. Well, now that I think bout it, I did used to try to remember stats during parts of the dating process relative to the goal that I was trying to achieve......
Need proof that the Internets lies to you?
Just a midway reminder that there is always a lot of bullshit on the Internets:
Blake Sims will be featured a lot in the Wildcat- Right now, if Sims could be featured between the sidelines it would be a start.
CyKo will be starting by mid year- This one probably had some legs under it in August, but there are two things that were against him. One, Saban leans on experience over raw talent 9 times out of 10. Two, he's not that solid against the pass rush yet.
Michael Bowman is blowing it up- Apparently it wasn't football.
One of the quarterbacks had a better scrimmage (Sims) and it wasn't close- It wasn't really true at the time, but now it really reflects how perception plays out doesn't it? You saw what you wanted to see and said so.
Scott Moore said....- Next.
OFFENSE
The Good....
Amazing how if you establish the run, you break opponents....
I won't get into play calling yet, but it wasn't a fluke or a miracle that when Bama geared down and quit the cute stuff and got down to helmet to helmet, north and south offense that they broke Vandy down and even the passing game looked better once the run started to get steam. Getting Richardson, the by far best player on offense, more touches and putting him in situations to make plays is always a good thing, and after a half of dust catching, he was utilized and the game shifted from sleepy slugging to knockout blow when that started.
Big individual efforts
After weeks of being MIA, DeAndrew White found his game. His 2 TDs were both great plays on HIS part. I thought Smelley did a better job of getting involved in the game and separating. Hanks also continued to get back up to speed and had another step in the right direction after missing 2 games.
Not the best game by the OL, but for the most part good enough
As you know, I always will believe that you have to start out with the run to get the OL into the game and get the trench battle set up early. Bama didn't do that, but for the most part, they were able to protect and get the running game going enough to let Bama bide its time until they could wake up.
The 2 AJs.....The good one
Last week, I read a lot of the replies and emails, I didn't reply back for a reason. I get that some want to believe something, and in a way they are right. There is the good AJ that moves in the pocket and makes plays. There is the AJ that manages the game and doesn't have INTs that have hurt the team since week one. He won't lack fear of throwing. He won't ever lack the excitement when they score. All of which are good things that make him the starter.
The Bad....
The 2 AJs.....The Bad one
The flip side is that he makes some really bad decisions that he shouldn't this far down the road. The first TD was a throw that he's very lucky to have completed. It was put in a place that only his WR could get to it, and that is good, but in the red zone, you never EVER do anything like that unless it is the last play of the game or 4th down. If he chokes up on the ball or shorts it, that's a pick. He could throw it 5 times and maybe gets the 1 completion. What is worse, he didn't get a lot of love for his play from Saban when he returned from the sideline. He got a scolding about protecting the ball. His 2nd TD pass to White was a big throw, but it was into double coverage. He's getting away with those passes for now, and as long as he keeps getting away with it, so be it, but a tuck and run or two wouldn't hurt.
The Ugly....
Play calling in the first half
Simply put, when your best player has 7 carries and 34 yards or whatever it was, those are both just not acceptable. The lack of intensity that the offense had was from one part poor play calling that put the ball into their best energizers- Richardson and Lacy/Fowler. Now, I can understand that the lack of Lacy probably meant they couldn't just shoulder up Trent and go, but 7 carries for him and 5 for Fowler? 12 run plays out of 36 plays in the half. It isn't just that. You have Jones and Fluker who are good run blockers. You have Warmack who has played much better on the run now that they have adjusted to his abilities. Vlachos has some iffy moments each week, but he still is a solid run blocking center week in and out. So with all that said, why again are you not running??? This is a game that really should have been about 21 or 28 to zip at half. Vandy was scrappy and your Daddy's Vandy and all, but Alabama contributed a lot to how well they looked.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
The Good....
Shutout
I'm not as wild about the whole "we knocked another QB out" thing, but I am wild about how they have only given up about a TD per week. The big thing was that against Vandy, they didn't have their best day, and against anyone worthwhile it might not have been as forceful, they still were able to flip the switch and choke out another opponent. This week's defensive stand was more team than individuals. Florida was more individuals, but this week was more of an effort of 11 to get there.
Improvement up front
I know when I scan through the message boards on Sunday or Monday, there is often a complaint here there and yonder about how the defensive line isn't making plays or haven't played up to expectation. That really isn't the case. In the 3-4, the down 3 are not expected to disrupt as much as they are to create space. Williams has made some plays, but more importantly, he is starting to see and understand his role more. Some of the hits that you see Hightower and Upshaw make are the result of Jesse Williams and Josh Chapman. Chapman has really played well this year. I really haven't noticed him getting moved out of a lane or losing containment. Square and Dial have also been big parts in how this team gives up next to nothing on the run. This week you could see them collapsing down and it was much easier for them to rush linebackers or keep them in space without a lot of linemen in their space. Their work was most noticed when Vandy ran screens and their linemen weren't in position to block safeties and corners from busting the play.
The turnovers are starting to trickle through
I would like to have a few more picks and fumbles by now, but the end results make it hard to complain there. I thought Rodgers played pretty well given the "talent" around him. I thought Bama started to break him when they got a few hits on him and it caught up to him with 2 late INTs.
The Bad...
Special Teams Play
Whether it was the status quo short kickoffs that resulted in better than should be field position, status quo punts that turn over after 7 yards, or the missed extra point, it wasn't a game that Coach Williams will put on his resume. I just hate seeing a great play busted up by a lousy kick and Shelley did that with a full on shank. The kickoffs and punts, well I'm about to the point where I'm numb to it. It will stink all year and that won't change without steroids. The extra point miss and hopefully it stays singular, is never something that should happen. EVER.
The Ugly....
Upshaw loses his composure
I find it interesting how the POV is always shaded by fandom. I've read that he was breaking away, or that the guy was holding his leg, or that we don't know what happened before. The answers to those are no, no, and so? The lineman's hands were on the ground catching himself when Upshaw threw him down. It was a great play on his part up until he lost his composure and swiped at him. He didn't hit him, and it wasn't like he was raring up to kick an extra point, he'd missed that too given how well Bama teaches kicking, but the point is what kind of player are you? I see Hightower drilling and beating men senseless out there, but he always pulls them up. The point is that Bama isn't that program where cheap shit goes. I don't care what anyone did before, retaliation is only what they want. Besides, this is Vandy. They are about as clean as it gets. The truth is that the LT had whipped him a couple of times, and did a few more afterwards, and he was frustrated.
With all that said, is he in trouble? Not bad. He probably will get a little tough love and if it happens any more, he probably loses some PT or starts. In any case, hopefully this is a blip and not a sign of things to come. He's too good of a ball player to be caught with the bush league stuff.
RANDOM THOUGHTS....
What did we learn????
UGA v. UT
Tennessee is not close to ready for prime time. Georgia will get a false sense of pride and control, but this game was more or less a sign that UT is just really behind the times. South Carolina has passed them, Florida has lived ahead of them, and GA is ahead of them. Vandy will run with UT this year. Kentucky will root for their basketball team to show up......Dooley has his work cut out for him. Word is that the team is probably more like the 2000 Bama team at the moment and could roll up into a tent at this point.
Florida State v. Wake Forrest
My momma always said never is as never was....FSU has cracked again and now Jimbo has to pull off his best coaching trick of date to avoid Shula comparisons.
Auburn v. Arkansas
When you give up yards faster than the national debt rises, your offense won't save you every week. Arkansas has found their stride of sorts after the 1st half of the aTm game. They will be a handful for LSU at the end of the year.
Florida v. LSU
Les Miles is nuts, but he's stomping the shit out of everyone else's right now. Comparing scores of Bama and LSU v. FL is not going to justify anything. What was justified is that the SEC is a 2 team race that will be decided when LSU goes to Tuscaloosa. There are 2 teams that can beat LSU- Alabama and LSU. There are 2 teams that can beat Alabama- LSU and Alabama.
Speaking of Les Miles....
There isn't much better in the way of interviews than absorbing the full Les Miles interview experience. It is always one of those things where you know at some point, somewhere in the interview, Les will say that "really?" kinda statement. Apparently he has rubbed off on Mathieu as he proclaimed that he's thinking about big plays when on dates.....Ya know, I think about a lot of things, but when I was on a date, it wasn't football. Well, now that I think bout it, I did used to try to remember stats during parts of the dating process relative to the goal that I was trying to achieve......
Need proof that the Internets lies to you?
Just a midway reminder that there is always a lot of bullshit on the Internets:
Blake Sims will be featured a lot in the Wildcat- Right now, if Sims could be featured between the sidelines it would be a start.
CyKo will be starting by mid year- This one probably had some legs under it in August, but there are two things that were against him. One, Saban leans on experience over raw talent 9 times out of 10. Two, he's not that solid against the pass rush yet.
Michael Bowman is blowing it up- Apparently it wasn't football.
One of the quarterbacks had a better scrimmage (Sims) and it wasn't close- It wasn't really true at the time, but now it really reflects how perception plays out doesn't it? You saw what you wanted to see and said so.
Scott Moore said....- Next.
October 3, 2011
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly- Florida
After Saturday's win, Bama now moves into the tested undefeated class with LSU and Clemson. The biggest take away from the game is that Bama can take a punch and fight through it to win. While the 1st quarter is one that the coaches will use, they will hope to not see the 18 or so minutes of lost composure and errors again.
OFFENSE
The Good...
Better Goal Line Offense
For the real man of genius who insisted that I was dumb, I hope that you saw the difference when the linemen get lower and drive their guys back. If anyone questions if the line was scolded and worked on this week in goal line situations, play the 1st and goal from the 1 and this week's sneak from the 1. Much better job of getting in and driving back to allow AJ to scoot over the goal line. They were much more focused in the red zone of hitting their blocks and getting Trent and co over the goal line all night. It was good to see them take a bad moment and improve and learn from it.
When Trent taketh away, he keeps taking...
This was a big game for Trent. This was his hometown school so to speak. He has friends there, he's heard the jawing over the years from them, and this is the only time he'll ever get to play in front of that crowd. So, when he went to Bama and took away the potential of one of the most dominating offenses in football history from Florida (imagine Tebow, Cooper, Nelson, Hernandez, Demps, Rainey, and Trent Richardson on one team....), he returned to take more than pride. From his first carry, he basically was in his "zone" and was wanting the ball. They couldn't feed him the ball enough and he wanted more when they pulled him late in the game. I like seeing that.
Better blocking performances by several
Trent's big day, and Lacy's TD, were helped in large part because Bama has begun to go downhill more and less zone block. Warmack, who has been the focus of much ire by more than just me, found his block assignment to his liking because he absolutely mauled him for 4 quarters. They also have adjusted some of the counters to work towards his abilities instead of pushing beyond who and what he is. In other words, they are shorter counters to the 0 or A gap instead of B or C/4-5 gaps. They also have included more H Back assistance in the last two weeks with Underwood and Williams (on occasion) sliding inside to give backside help and seal the lanes.
Screen like a pig...
There wasn't a lot in the way of the passing game that was working well. Credit Florida's team speed for a lot of that, but the screen plays to Richardson and Maze were probably the best 2 plays from the passing game on Saturday. They were well timed as well, as Florida was bringing 6 or 7 on both instances and they were able to put more hats on smaller helmets down field as a result.
The Bad...
McCarron regressed back to 2010 McTats
I know as I type this, the big chested homer will caw on about how it was a great win and blah blah fart blah blah. It was for the most part, but upon further review, AJ didn't have a good game. In a way, this is good for 2 reasons. First, it is a teaching moment. He can be taken to film and talked to and asked what he thought and why he did some of the things he did. Then he can apply and grow from those mental errors and hopefully not make them again. Second, it proved to the team that even with their new QB struggling as he did, they can win through the run and defense. Now, if you wonder what it was that he did that was "Bad", it was a combination of 3 things that most "Team AJ" fans accused McElroy of doing. He held the ball too long on a few plays, sailed several that nearly killed Hanks and Williams, and he really should have had about 3 INTs but was fortunate to see them hit the ground. I said this during the game, and I again ask it now but wasn't he supposed to have the arm to make all the throws Team AJers? Before you go off on a brooding hate, I fully disclose that AJ is the starter and should be the starter, but there were many fans who proclaimed without fear of recourse that he could do it all and open the offense up. Saturday, I saw a player who was more content with short passes and handing it off and could not hit go routes or fades than I did the Internet version of him.
Bell flop
I probably shouldn't be as irritated as I was/am about him dropping a TD pass, but I am. The thing about it is this, if a guy is gonna talk and say this that and the next, when it is time to put up or shut up, you better put up. When a ball hits you square in the hands, well, it is what it is. AJ has already lost faith in White, so Bell has a great chance to earn a spot this year and next, but if he can't make big plays, he won't get many looks.
The Ugly...
None
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
The Good....
Interior Pressure improves
The Upshaw pick 6 was a product of great interior pressure from Gentry. Uphsaw actually was getting beaten by his guy, but luck is a fickle date sometime and she put Upshaw in the right spot to make a play. It was good to see all the defenders rally to him and make sure he was finding paydirt too. Defensive guys love to score touchdowns and it doesn't happen a whole lot, so when they see the chance, they always seem to give a little bit more to get their guy home.
Demps and Rainey= 24 feet of offense
I credit Twitter for the title. They accumulated fewer feet than the 3 D Linemen and Jack are tall. That is domination in any shape or form and for the 2nd straight year, they were forced to be 1 dimensional early and often. Granted Demps was hurt by a kicker.....wait I gotta compose myself.....and that probably lessened the performance, but it was obvious early that they couldn't man up and plow up the middle- they didn't have a runner built for that- and the more they tried to stretch the run left or right the more they played into Bama's strength.
Helmet popping
I know folks like "Boom". It sells tickets and gets on TV, but it isn't always a great thing. However, when Saturday was done, both sides had swapped paint pretty well. It was clear after Florida came out swinging, that Bama was gonna have to impose itself one play at a time and start to make them quit. It took a lot longer than it did Arkansas or Penn State, but Florida did tap out late in the 3rd after they just couldn't swing back and hit helmets like Bama was.
Great vision by Hightower, Barron, and others
I single these two out in particular because I noticed them several times making the right angles and reading the play pre-snap. You saw Florida having a lot of issues with communicating their play on defense, but when you have 2 guys with 3-4 years starting in key roles, the difference is easy to notice. I was very impressed by Hightower's lateral quickness to snare Rainey and one of their WRs in the open field. For a guy of his size to be able to move that well, even with angles, is amazing. Factor in a knee injury, and then it is almost unbelievable.
The Bad...
A first quarter to forget.
The first play was a bust either on Dre, Lester or both. My guess is that it was Lester since Barron drifted back to support Menzie's backside. Regardless, it was a bad start. The next series or three weren't much better as they let Florida pick and prod them down the field at will for about 18 minutes or so. What I would guess is the most damaging of this time frame is that it displayed that Bama is slow to adjust to two plays- the slant and any inside route. Way too many crossing routes hit without a guy on them early on.
I would wet myself if kicking and punting was improving...
It is bizarre to me that folks want to argue how the short kickoffs are a planned thing. I've never heard of a plan where you kick to the 10. If you are kicking to avoid or disrupt a return, you either kick it to the back pylon or you squib it straight down the middle of the field with about 10 hops on it. I would have thought that this week's game had dispelled the myth that kicking high and short worked given that Florida lived around midfield through the first half. I really have never heard a coach with any defensive background say they would give up 10 yards up front for some thing in return. Now, punting is consistent I suppose, but it isn't great. The odd thing is that it takes about killing him to get a great punt out of him. What is probably more concerning is that after he was hit in the knee, they were more than happy to keep him out there than try another punter.....
The Ugly...
None
RANDOM THOUGHTS
So what did this game teach us????
Well, it sure enough said that the following positives are true:
Georgia fans feel like Christmas came early when Florida lost their QB and USCar lost to Auburn. However, when I look at the East, I don't see a front runner. With Brantley out, Florida has a much lower shot of winning the East. They cannot put that kind of pressure on a true Freshman, I don't care how highly recruited he was. South Carolina has lived on borrowed time all year. Navy and others about did it to them, but Auburn (who is the master of borrowed time) caught them and exposed that they have 0 defense and no passing attack.
Vandy is overachieving, but their schedule will catch them. Tennessee is too young for prime time. UT didn't handle the loss to UF well and another loss to UGA could result in a very long fall for Flashy Pants. Tennessee has to beat UGA to have any shot at surviving and getting to play "Who wants their ass whooped by the national champion?" Kentucky....well basketball is just around the corner.
That leaves UGA. Now the Bulldogs will tell you that they have fixed the problems and they are full speed ahead. That's easy to say when you donkey punch a low end school and the weak sisters of the West. Their signature win is a next to last West team, let that sink in. They looked weak against Boise, and weak on defense against USCar. They can and should beat UT because they aren't ready for the show yet. They go to Vanderbilt who has been a trap game for UGA for years it seems. They still aren't a favorite to beat UF in the Non Alcoholic Cocktail Bowl with or without Brantley. Florida's defense can outlast a team like UGA because they don't have the same wear it down and pound you down mentality or a defense that imposes itself like Bama or LSU can. Here's the bigger catch for UGA to me, Auburn and Georgia Tech are the absolute last teams that they should want to see. Two spread offenses with talented runners against their defense is a bad recipe to me. I think whomever survives the (L)East is probably doomed to get a beat down from either Bama or LSU.
OFFENSE
The Good...
Better Goal Line Offense
For the real man of genius who insisted that I was dumb, I hope that you saw the difference when the linemen get lower and drive their guys back. If anyone questions if the line was scolded and worked on this week in goal line situations, play the 1st and goal from the 1 and this week's sneak from the 1. Much better job of getting in and driving back to allow AJ to scoot over the goal line. They were much more focused in the red zone of hitting their blocks and getting Trent and co over the goal line all night. It was good to see them take a bad moment and improve and learn from it.
When Trent taketh away, he keeps taking...
This was a big game for Trent. This was his hometown school so to speak. He has friends there, he's heard the jawing over the years from them, and this is the only time he'll ever get to play in front of that crowd. So, when he went to Bama and took away the potential of one of the most dominating offenses in football history from Florida (imagine Tebow, Cooper, Nelson, Hernandez, Demps, Rainey, and Trent Richardson on one team....), he returned to take more than pride. From his first carry, he basically was in his "zone" and was wanting the ball. They couldn't feed him the ball enough and he wanted more when they pulled him late in the game. I like seeing that.
Better blocking performances by several
Trent's big day, and Lacy's TD, were helped in large part because Bama has begun to go downhill more and less zone block. Warmack, who has been the focus of much ire by more than just me, found his block assignment to his liking because he absolutely mauled him for 4 quarters. They also have adjusted some of the counters to work towards his abilities instead of pushing beyond who and what he is. In other words, they are shorter counters to the 0 or A gap instead of B or C/4-5 gaps. They also have included more H Back assistance in the last two weeks with Underwood and Williams (on occasion) sliding inside to give backside help and seal the lanes.
Screen like a pig...
There wasn't a lot in the way of the passing game that was working well. Credit Florida's team speed for a lot of that, but the screen plays to Richardson and Maze were probably the best 2 plays from the passing game on Saturday. They were well timed as well, as Florida was bringing 6 or 7 on both instances and they were able to put more hats on smaller helmets down field as a result.
The Bad...
McCarron regressed back to 2010 McTats
I know as I type this, the big chested homer will caw on about how it was a great win and blah blah fart blah blah. It was for the most part, but upon further review, AJ didn't have a good game. In a way, this is good for 2 reasons. First, it is a teaching moment. He can be taken to film and talked to and asked what he thought and why he did some of the things he did. Then he can apply and grow from those mental errors and hopefully not make them again. Second, it proved to the team that even with their new QB struggling as he did, they can win through the run and defense. Now, if you wonder what it was that he did that was "Bad", it was a combination of 3 things that most "Team AJ" fans accused McElroy of doing. He held the ball too long on a few plays, sailed several that nearly killed Hanks and Williams, and he really should have had about 3 INTs but was fortunate to see them hit the ground. I said this during the game, and I again ask it now but wasn't he supposed to have the arm to make all the throws Team AJers? Before you go off on a brooding hate, I fully disclose that AJ is the starter and should be the starter, but there were many fans who proclaimed without fear of recourse that he could do it all and open the offense up. Saturday, I saw a player who was more content with short passes and handing it off and could not hit go routes or fades than I did the Internet version of him.
Bell flop
I probably shouldn't be as irritated as I was/am about him dropping a TD pass, but I am. The thing about it is this, if a guy is gonna talk and say this that and the next, when it is time to put up or shut up, you better put up. When a ball hits you square in the hands, well, it is what it is. AJ has already lost faith in White, so Bell has a great chance to earn a spot this year and next, but if he can't make big plays, he won't get many looks.
The Ugly...
None
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
The Good....
Interior Pressure improves
The Upshaw pick 6 was a product of great interior pressure from Gentry. Uphsaw actually was getting beaten by his guy, but luck is a fickle date sometime and she put Upshaw in the right spot to make a play. It was good to see all the defenders rally to him and make sure he was finding paydirt too. Defensive guys love to score touchdowns and it doesn't happen a whole lot, so when they see the chance, they always seem to give a little bit more to get their guy home.
Demps and Rainey= 24 feet of offense
I credit Twitter for the title. They accumulated fewer feet than the 3 D Linemen and Jack are tall. That is domination in any shape or form and for the 2nd straight year, they were forced to be 1 dimensional early and often. Granted Demps was hurt by a kicker.....wait I gotta compose myself.....and that probably lessened the performance, but it was obvious early that they couldn't man up and plow up the middle- they didn't have a runner built for that- and the more they tried to stretch the run left or right the more they played into Bama's strength.
Helmet popping
I know folks like "Boom". It sells tickets and gets on TV, but it isn't always a great thing. However, when Saturday was done, both sides had swapped paint pretty well. It was clear after Florida came out swinging, that Bama was gonna have to impose itself one play at a time and start to make them quit. It took a lot longer than it did Arkansas or Penn State, but Florida did tap out late in the 3rd after they just couldn't swing back and hit helmets like Bama was.
Great vision by Hightower, Barron, and others
I single these two out in particular because I noticed them several times making the right angles and reading the play pre-snap. You saw Florida having a lot of issues with communicating their play on defense, but when you have 2 guys with 3-4 years starting in key roles, the difference is easy to notice. I was very impressed by Hightower's lateral quickness to snare Rainey and one of their WRs in the open field. For a guy of his size to be able to move that well, even with angles, is amazing. Factor in a knee injury, and then it is almost unbelievable.
The Bad...
A first quarter to forget.
The first play was a bust either on Dre, Lester or both. My guess is that it was Lester since Barron drifted back to support Menzie's backside. Regardless, it was a bad start. The next series or three weren't much better as they let Florida pick and prod them down the field at will for about 18 minutes or so. What I would guess is the most damaging of this time frame is that it displayed that Bama is slow to adjust to two plays- the slant and any inside route. Way too many crossing routes hit without a guy on them early on.
I would wet myself if kicking and punting was improving...
It is bizarre to me that folks want to argue how the short kickoffs are a planned thing. I've never heard of a plan where you kick to the 10. If you are kicking to avoid or disrupt a return, you either kick it to the back pylon or you squib it straight down the middle of the field with about 10 hops on it. I would have thought that this week's game had dispelled the myth that kicking high and short worked given that Florida lived around midfield through the first half. I really have never heard a coach with any defensive background say they would give up 10 yards up front for some thing in return. Now, punting is consistent I suppose, but it isn't great. The odd thing is that it takes about killing him to get a great punt out of him. What is probably more concerning is that after he was hit in the knee, they were more than happy to keep him out there than try another punter.....
The Ugly...
None
RANDOM THOUGHTS
So what did this game teach us????
Well, it sure enough said that the following positives are true:
- Bama can play on the road in a hostile environment
- Bama can take a serious punch/attack and weather it to win
- They don't panic like they did last year.
- Bama can enforce their will on top end teams and make them one dimensional
- Bama cannot flip the field with their kicking/punting game.
- Bama still struggles with interior routes
- The offense does not start or restart at will yet.
Georgia fans feel like Christmas came early when Florida lost their QB and USCar lost to Auburn. However, when I look at the East, I don't see a front runner. With Brantley out, Florida has a much lower shot of winning the East. They cannot put that kind of pressure on a true Freshman, I don't care how highly recruited he was. South Carolina has lived on borrowed time all year. Navy and others about did it to them, but Auburn (who is the master of borrowed time) caught them and exposed that they have 0 defense and no passing attack.
Vandy is overachieving, but their schedule will catch them. Tennessee is too young for prime time. UT didn't handle the loss to UF well and another loss to UGA could result in a very long fall for Flashy Pants. Tennessee has to beat UGA to have any shot at surviving and getting to play "Who wants their ass whooped by the national champion?" Kentucky....well basketball is just around the corner.
That leaves UGA. Now the Bulldogs will tell you that they have fixed the problems and they are full speed ahead. That's easy to say when you donkey punch a low end school and the weak sisters of the West. Their signature win is a next to last West team, let that sink in. They looked weak against Boise, and weak on defense against USCar. They can and should beat UT because they aren't ready for the show yet. They go to Vanderbilt who has been a trap game for UGA for years it seems. They still aren't a favorite to beat UF in the Non Alcoholic Cocktail Bowl with or without Brantley. Florida's defense can outlast a team like UGA because they don't have the same wear it down and pound you down mentality or a defense that imposes itself like Bama or LSU can. Here's the bigger catch for UGA to me, Auburn and Georgia Tech are the absolute last teams that they should want to see. Two spread offenses with talented runners against their defense is a bad recipe to me. I think whomever survives the (L)East is probably doomed to get a beat down from either Bama or LSU.
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