September 2, 2012

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly....Michigan

So if you have been looking for this blog link on other sites, you won't see it.  The reasons are the reasons, but my weekly review of the Bama games and Random Thoughts will continue for another year and beyond.  However, if you want to get the first notice when this updates, follow the blog or follow me on twitter @rlb002gbu. 

With that little piece of house keeping done, I thought the game was two parts- the total demolition of Michigan and the letting the boot off the throat of Michigan.  With all the effort to not compare this team to 2010's team, they did the one thing that everyone always remembers about 2010....they let up when they could have kept the pressure on them.  Overall though, I thought it was a good statement for the team to make and the case is made now that they are in the top 4.  In no particular order, those are Oregon, USCal, LSU and Bama. 

OFFENSE

The Good...

4 Backs....4 ways to break a spirit.

The news story for the running backs is that for the first time since 2007, there is no clear cut number 1 back.  Instead, Bama is going to run with a 4 headed attack of Lacy, Yeldon, Fowler, and Hart.  None of which are quite ready to take 20 snaps a game, but all of which can take 35 to 40 a game.  With the focus on play action, that is going to be a necessity.  They have to establish the run with multiple backs to run waggles and play action passes with all 4. 

With a Rebel Yel(don) she cried more more more

After one game, it is easy to get over hyped about Yeldon's ability and potential.  What isn't over hyped is that when he gets the ball, he gets the most out of every carry.  The comparisons begin to all sorts of backs from Ingram and Richardson, because they are closest in fans minds, and Humphrey because he torched teams.  To be honest, he is closer to Alexander than any of those guys because like Shaun, he gets low and is more spins and jukes than power and punch.  Regardless, the upside is unlimited to him because as he gets acclimated to the SEC, he will learn and grow into the next star. 

The TE can be thrown to!!!!

Williams' playaction play was a great play because not only did he get the ball, he clubbed the guy in front of him and rubbed off to get open.  I would like to see them use him and the other TE/HBacks more to get things open and torture safeties.  Putting Williams into the passing game probably won't happen much because Fluker's pass blocking is still weak, but the chances they get to use him and roll him across the field and get him running down hill will be a good thing. 

Fowler moods

It is not a secret that I don't get all giddy about him like some do.  That said, I see his role on the team.  He isn't a starter but he has a niche role that is important.  With Yeldon being the speed back, he's gotta be the power back.  He can provide 10 or so carries a night of bruising up and down running.  Other plays he can be the fullback/h back to lead block and punish.  His blocking improved over the course of the night as his first block was a wiff, but after that he got his head up and drove linebackers around fairly well.  He ain't gonna ever run left but he will move the pile when they need it, and that's a role they desperately need. 

AJ started hot

AJ likes the playaction offense.  It fits his style and mentality.  To be honest, the playbook was pretty bland thus far, and I think they were happy to not have to go deep into the book, but I wish they had worked a little deeper to give teams more to think about in the passing game.  The stat line wasn't great, but the top 2 stats are that they did not have any broken plays and they didn't have to burn any timeouts or have any delay of game penalties to get the play going.  Saban will look at that as much as anything for him.  By the way, I can half way tolerate the tattoo, but the purple bow tie and stealing my sunglasses from 1986 aren't tolerable.....

The bad...

After a quarter and a half, it got meh in a hurry

That isn't a player fault as much as the entire playcalling mentality fault.  It was pretty clear that once up 24, they wanted to nurse it.  The problem with that is the same today as it was in 2010, that is dangerous and can bite you.  I don't think some folks realize that Bama was 1 blown coverage or turnover from being in a game again in the second half.  I thought they got a little too cute with some of the things they were trying to do in the 3rd quarter and it stalled out the offense and resulted in less than great numbers for McCarron. 

OL Pass Protection

Outside of CyKo and Jones, the pass protection was pretty sub par most of the night.  Fluker's footwork for as many games as he has played is just not acceptable.  I lost count watching the replay of how many times he lost containment or just got rushed over.  The issue is that he just doesn't get his feet off the ground.  I know it can be done, I saw Yokozuna climb the top rope and do a splash on jabroni's back in the day.  Fluker just has to get motivated to move.  When he does slide and step out, he's pretty dominating, but when he gets flat footed, he gets his hat handed to him.  Same issue really with Steen.  He hesitates and gets flat and loses his entire containment because he's not fast enough to recover.  Warmack has moments where he just forgets what to do it feels like.  From a run block perspective, all 5 do as good a job as anyone in the nation.  However, with Arkansas, Missouri, and LSU ahead, they won't be afforded the luxury of just running it to death. 

The Ugly....

AJ's shovel pass shoveled poop

It may have been the most feminine pass I have ever seen.  I know this much, he's probably getting hazed (rightfully so) for it, and will get some growling from the staff for it.  That play may be burned at the next bon fire......

DEFENSE

The Good....

Front 7 play

For the most part, I thought the success on defense wasn't individual efforts but the front 7 locking down a mobile QB and holding them to 85 yards and 2.4 per carry.  Granted their starter was out, but that number isn't changing that much.  A program that has always wanted to establish the run, was pretty dormant and ineffective.  Credit guys like Square and Dickson as well as Williams and Stinson for collapsing the pocket and run lanes all night.  Short of one lapse where Michigan beat the containment and the RB danced about 20 yards, there was 0 momentum for the Wolverines via the run. 

Hitting is contagious, I doubt Saban takes them to the doctor

It was pretty clear early that everyone was amped up and ready to pop helmets on both sides.  Short of Johnson losing his composure and going high on Robinson, they laid some really clean hits and they were all fundamentally sound.  No shoulder only shots, no heads down, no flying around and missing stuff, it was all squaring up and popping the guy with the ball. 

Secondary play early

I will say this and expect the grumbles, but I didn't like the secondary play as a whole.  The obvious breakdowns were there, but I saw at least 7 plays where the secondary was beaten and Michigan just didn't execute.  However, early on, they had to confuse Robinson and make him second guess himself.  Mission accomplished.  Between the guys up front hitting him around, and the secondary moving around and showing zone playing man and visa versa, he was rattled and struggling for a good while. 

CJ Mosley

His touchdown was a product of good pressure and him doing a good job of shadowing Robinson in the flat.  Dickson beat his man and bore down on Robinson in the end zone.  So, his timer is short anyways because he's deep in the endzone, add a blitzer bearing down on him, he's ready to get it out of his hand as fast as he can.  That means he isn't reading his progressions, he just knows that X Y Z H are in areas.  When that happens, a linebacker as good as CJ is in space sits back, reads, and cuts the pass off.  That play is a good sample of his play.  He loves to move in space and follow the play.  He's very smart and probably is going to be better than Rolo when his career ends.  I say that because he sees the game better than Rolo did at this point. 

The Bad...

Two breakdowns, two pants needing feces removed

As folks on www.crimsonchat.com will tell you, I talked about the inexperienced secondary being an issue early this year.  After game 1, that issue is still there.  If you slow down several plays, they gambled and got lucky.  However it wasn't a gamble and pick or a gamble and a swat, it was a gamble and the QB couldn't hit the guy or the WR muffed it.  There was a lot of that.  Millner was probably the most guilty of doing it.  It worked for him but there are better QBs ahead.  Belue made some rookie mistakes, and despite fans trying to fool themselves into thinking playing in Pigmuff JuCo League means he's experienced, he's a rookie and has never played this kind of speed and talent.  Neither corner worry me as much as the poor safety play. 

Both breakdowns are equal blame on corners and safeties.  The issue is that they too are not experienced in meaningful plays outside of Lester.  Lester got a stinger but before that it seemed that they were trying to use him like he was Barron.  That's not a good experiment because he's too timid and hesitates too much.  He's better in center field.  Sunseri is more that role, but he lacks the speed to react to things.  I cringe to think how they deal with Arkansas WR and Missouri's WRs with him.  HaHa looks like a hitter but seems to be slow to react to things he sees.  That is to be expected because he never played either.  Both are out there for the first time in a real game and it looked that way when they played.  I am just going to say, I hope Perry is only playing because Lester got hurt.  All I am going to say bout that.

The Ugly...

Kickoffs

Saban and Williams want to get air under the ball.  I get the theory, but if you have a guy running it out every time, you increase the odds of a bad play.  We all know Foster can donkey punch the ball out of the endzone now that the ball is up.  So what if they are at the 25?  I'd rather know they are at the 25 every time than maybe at the 15 once, and 35 the next and I'm not talking about their 35....Talking to Griffith last year, they want all their kickers to sky it and not worry about the distance.  That didn't work last year and it has potential to be a problem this year.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Penn State- Welcome to Unhappy Valley for 30 years

The prison sentence they are going to deal with is justified.  Fans will hate it.  Boosters will hate it.  Recruits will hate it.  Nostalgic fans like me will hate it.  That doesn't lessen the need to make an example.  Socially unacceptable things like covering up child abuse so that the legacy of JoePa is preserved is not acceptable.  Penn State now embarks on the long redemption to find their new identity.  The long term penalties will be gone, and with it will be a program that has been relevant for 40 years.  The odds that they return to prominence is small.  Even smaller will be the crowds eventually.  The legacy of Paterno, as much as his estate wishes it wouldn't be, will be the empty seats from his empty moral compass. 

Savannah State take that whoopin, pay the bills

You can bitch about the score Okie State put on them, but hey, they shelled out 400,000 for that beating.  They were getting their money's worth.  Besides, would you rather them do what cross state Chokelahoma did?  Savannah gets another big payday next week with the Criminoles.  Another 475,000 for that massacre, and they pay for the entire athletics program.  That's why it is ok.  They want that whooping so that gymnastics and basketball and baseball and soccer and water basket weaving teams get theirs.  Remember, South Florida, Southern Miss, Ohio, and others used to do it, and they have all become quality mid-tier opponents to play now.  So, yes, Mike Gundy is a jerk, but the beating they put on D7 Savannah State is not a good sample of his issue.  The first time he doesn't get his way this year, and I hope it happens often, will show why he's not likeable. 

Time for LSU and Alabama to cut off the rest of the SEC....

One thing that twitter and facebook have taught me this weekend is that other schools are more than happy to trade on the foundation that LSU and Alabama have put in.  Many UGA fans point to the strength of the SEC, and I'm sure Auburn and other fans would too if they could win, but the truth is that the SEC isn't that strong as much as it is blessed to house 2 of the best teams in the last decade.  Meyer's Florida teams need consideration for the dominance of the BCS too, but the rest of the SEC has not supported that argument.  Georgia failed to stop Michigan State.  The same MSU that got plastered by Bama's 3rd string a year before.  Auburn looked soft and lacking depth vs. Clemson.  The same Clempsun that got hung a 70 by West Virginia (who I think win the Big 12 this year).  The rest are just as guilty over the last year or 3.  Auburn and Georgia fans are more guilty of talking about how great a conference they play in.  So, it isn't how good the SEC is, it is how good Bama and LSU have been for 6 years. 

1 comment:

  1. Hate to see you not posting on BOL, but I will continue to read your thoughts here.

    Good job and the last paragraph... I may have to borrow ;)

    ReplyDelete