Of the 498 total offensive yards that we produced last night, basically half of them were rushing, half passing. We have balance this year. Balance in our offense has been missing for as long as I can remember, though I do not remember many games before 1999. Still, it has been a long time since Alabama could say that they were balanced offensively. That being said, here are a few observations I have from week 1 that I feel are key to us getting to the Rose Bowl this year:
1) Our line, though they made many mistakes, wore down a great defense and imposed their will in the fourth quarter.
2) I don't know the exact numbers, but I remember us having 3rd and 7+ many times in the second half, and McElroy stepped up and made huge throws on several of them to keep drives alive. This was a rare occurance under the leadership of JPW. That intangible that McElroy has is huge.
3) McElwain was hired on his reputation for distributing the football to several different players in multiple formations, as well as focusing on being balanced in the game plan; as I mentioned earlier, our 498 yards were virtually split down the middle.
4)Nick Saban was not as animated as he has been in the past when it comes to his sideline temper; I believe this is a sign of great confidence in his team's ability to overcome and overwhelm. Overcome and overwhelm we did.
5)There is plenty to worked on, especially in the stupid penalty department. That being said, once we clean that up we will be one of maybe 2 or 3 teams capable of taking down the gators. If we get better as the season goes along and clean up the stupid mistakes, Florida will not make it out of Atlanta with a ring. This team is visibly better than last year's team, in my opinion. They are faster and more physical on defense, and the offense is more balanced and has more weapons than last year.
6)The kicking game has improved tremendously. P.J. Fitzgerald was booting the ball ten yards further than he ever did last year, and had two great punts inside the Tech 10 yard line. Tiffin was a solid 4/5, missing on a kick that he has struggled with his entire career (a kick lined up right on an upright, which is hard to judge in terms of how much angle to put into the kick- I would know, I used to be a kicker and it is not easy to make that kick.) If we can clean our our special teams coverage, that unit will be as good as any in the country.
7) Last and most importantly, the 10-5-6 win trend every three years will obviously end this year... Alabama has finally arrived home from a rough probation period. Depth is there, talent is there. We are reloading from this point forward, no more rebuilding.
Roll Tide, and here's to taking out the Gators in Atlanta!:cheers:
1) Our line, though they made many mistakes, wore down a great defense and imposed their will in the fourth quarter.
2) I don't know the exact numbers, but I remember us having 3rd and 7+ many times in the second half, and McElroy stepped up and made huge throws on several of them to keep drives alive. This was a rare occurance under the leadership of JPW. That intangible that McElroy has is huge.
3) McElwain was hired on his reputation for distributing the football to several different players in multiple formations, as well as focusing on being balanced in the game plan; as I mentioned earlier, our 498 yards were virtually split down the middle.
4)Nick Saban was not as animated as he has been in the past when it comes to his sideline temper; I believe this is a sign of great confidence in his team's ability to overcome and overwhelm. Overcome and overwhelm we did.
5)There is plenty to worked on, especially in the stupid penalty department. That being said, once we clean that up we will be one of maybe 2 or 3 teams capable of taking down the gators. If we get better as the season goes along and clean up the stupid mistakes, Florida will not make it out of Atlanta with a ring. This team is visibly better than last year's team, in my opinion. They are faster and more physical on defense, and the offense is more balanced and has more weapons than last year.
6)The kicking game has improved tremendously. P.J. Fitzgerald was booting the ball ten yards further than he ever did last year, and had two great punts inside the Tech 10 yard line. Tiffin was a solid 4/5, missing on a kick that he has struggled with his entire career (a kick lined up right on an upright, which is hard to judge in terms of how much angle to put into the kick- I would know, I used to be a kicker and it is not easy to make that kick.) If we can clean our our special teams coverage, that unit will be as good as any in the country.
7) Last and most importantly, the 10-5-6 win trend every three years will obviously end this year... Alabama has finally arrived home from a rough probation period. Depth is there, talent is there. We are reloading from this point forward, no more rebuilding.
Roll Tide, and here's to taking out the Gators in Atlanta!:cheers:
