This season is really wide open now.
Impressive win with a backup qb, 2 frosh on the line, and refs in Bamas pocket. Just a game jimbo flat out shouldn’t have been close in. /hat tip
Thank god.
Why Alabama Lost.
People in Alabama have been brought back down to earth after taking a pasting at the hands of Texas A&M. Jimbo talked the talk, and then backed it up. It was a great victory for Jimbo. Finally, the student defeated the teacher.
Alabama’s defense played its poorest game in my memory. Losing Malachi Moore, an All American caliber safety on the second play from scrimmage set the tone. During the entire game, the vaunted Alabama defense failed to sack the QB or consistently to knock the stuffing out of him. It was almost like watching a Golden defense, waiting then reacting. There was no fire in the players. Alabama had no answer to A&M’s 3rd down preferred play, the flair pass out to a back coming out of the backfield. A&M did it time and again converting 3rd downs to keep drives going
The offense played even worse than the defense. Alabama’s offensive coordinator should be shown the door. The guy is pass happy, and the running game reminds me of ours, no imagination, no motion, and most of all little or no deception. Alabama is down to two healthy RBs–Brian Robinson a power runner with quick but not fleet feet and Roydell Williams, a bowling ball who has a burst but then seems very clumsy, bad balance, and easy to tackle. Alabama has no speed demon in the backfield.
Their young QB Bryce Young is pass happy as is their offensive coordinator. Had Alabama just rushed the ball, passing fewer than ten times, they would have won the game handily. Bryce never passes. Numerous times, he had an open field in front of him, and he passed the ball away resulting in incompletions.rather than running it for good yardage. There are no QB keeper plays in this year’s playbook. Opposing teams know this. There is precious little deception, and defnders needn’t worry about containing the QB. Knowing the QB won’t run, defenders are not fooled by counter plays which comprise some of the longest rushing plays in college football.
Alabama has no speed in the backfield. WR Metchie is sometimes used in the end around, but rushing wide is just outside of the Tide playbook, making defending the rush so much easier. Billingsley thought to be a potential All American TE dropped two crucial passes. Latu, the second team TE is better; he’s a converted basketball player with a huge size advantage and should be elevated to first team. Saban has a player he has been hesitant to advance. He’s a player that has the same explosive qualities as Jaylen Waddle, being able to turn a short reception into a chunk play. That player is Jo Jo Earle. Putting Earle in together with Metchie would put great pressure on defense keeping up with grayhounds.
Being pass happy took down the Tide. They scored FGs instead of TDs. Bryce Young appeared to want the glory of scoring passing TDs and in so doing chose not to take advantage of what the defense was giving up, that is, rushing the ball over the goal line.
Inopportune penalties, especially pass interference calls, one fumble, and one interception killed many Alabama drives.
Next week, the Tide goes up against MSU and Mike Leach. MSU has a good rushing defense and will put great pressure on Bryce Young. MSU will score, but beating Saban after a loss is a task that is daunting even for the great Mike Leach. To be sure, Saban will be a wild man this week in practice. Saban is going to make a ajustments, and MSU will face a Bama team with fire in their eyes. They may well get blown out of the stadium by the dethroned Crimson Tide.
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They’re not dethroned yet but if Georgia beats them in Atlanta in December, having two losses probably keeps them out of the four team playoff or should anyway. You’ve got MSU and Auburn as far as who could pose any challenge on the schedule and I don’t really think they’ll lose either, so we’ll see if UGA can pull it off at the end or not.
I concur with your assessment TMC. Georgia’s defense is best in the nation. Their offense has shown steady improvement. MSU could be a problem if the Tide pass defense is fooled by Leach, but I don’t see it happening. Auburn does not have consistent QB play though they’ll play their hearts out in the Iron Bowl. I think Bama beats them by ten points…
There are lot of adjustments Bama will to make to win playing Georgia. Bryce Young came to Alabama as a multi-threat QB. If Saban unleashes Bryce as a ball carrier, their rushing offense will be improved demonstrably. JoJo Earle has to see more playing time. He’s All American quality who for the most part rides the pine in accord with “the process.” His speed is needed in the passing game. It was ridiculous that Texas A&M was able to hold the Tide to zero sacks. As I said earlier, I was watching a reenactment of the Al Golden defense. You cannot have Malachi Moore sitting on the bench disqualified, for he is a game changing player vital on the playing field.
MSU is the next game, and I wouldn’t miss this game for anything. The Pirate’s team will test Saban who at heart is a defensive coach. Damn, I’ll never stop lamenting our spurning of Mike Leach, and how most people on this board thought he’d drag Miami down which is just the opposite of what he has done in both Lubbock and Pullman.
this is the year for UGA to win it…they look to be better and more talented than alabama on both sides of the ball.
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Georgia has to win it this year if they are ever going to get one.
Indeed Georgia looks like the best team to me. Certainly, the Dawgs have the premier defense, and their offense is improving.
I am disappointed by the Tide team this year. Their defense was supposed to be one of the best units ever. They’ve not lived up to pre-season predictions. On offense, Saban needs more speed. Time for JoJo Earle to get more playing time.
Georgia may have peaked too early but as of this week, they are the team to beat. Great defense, so-so offense but their defense is really good.
Wouldn’t be shocked if they lose a game, or two, they are supposed to win sometime this season.
Bama has a good team but not as good as last year. Clemson isn’t really the Clemson we’re used to seeing. Losing a generational talent like Trevor Lawrence is hard to overcome.
At least we don’t have to worry about our favorite team blowing the NC this year. I’m to a point where I don’t even want to follow them anymore. Haven’t watched any games save the highlights against Central CT. Sad!