Alright guys, I felt compelled to chime in here. There were a few things concerning the game today that I wanted to talk about, but not only that; I wanted to include my 2 cents into some of the topics I've seen on the board this afternoon.
As always, opinion and feedback is welcome.
1. Equal Opportunity Hater
Look! Y'all need to quit hating on Gary Danielson already. In the last couple of years I've heard more and more about how Danielson, (a) hates BAMA, (b) is overly negative, or (c) is secretly dating Tebow the Wonder Child.
First off, yes. Tebow and Danielson are dating. That's obvious. :lol: Danielson is on his own there and I can't help him. But as far as the other stuff, I just have to say that sometimes people need to lighten up a little IMHO.
Look, I'm gonna take some heat for this, but I have to say it. I like the guy! I do. I get a kick out of him, it's largely because of his style. Danielson is the type of guy that is going to say whatever is on his mind at any given time. That's just the way it is. Problem is, we're so condition to think a certain way, and we expect commentators to use a certain etiquette, that anything varying from it is automatically wrong. I don't believe that.
How many times have you guys been watching a game and the commentator talks up the defensive end with 17 felonies on his record, telling us all how lucky college athletics is to have this young man (who is not only a good player mind you, but a good person) participating in the contest? I mean. come on guys. You all hate it, but are conditioned (to a degree) to expect it and dismiss it as political correctness run amok. But then when Danielson delivers one of his trademark, "Ooohhhh! What in the world was he thinking"? lines you get offended.
Speaking of great Danielson lines, here are some of my favorites;
"Mehhhh"!!!
"Aaahhhh....no"!
"What the......."?
"Oh my. Oh my".
Here's what people need to understand about Danielson. Get this and you'll be a lot happier.
Danielson is just negative. That's his style. That's how he comes across, even when I think he's not trying to be negative. Know that, and know that not only does Danielson hate BAMA, he hates everyone! Danielson is an equal opportunity hater. That's what he is. That's what he does. Well, he loves him some Tebow, but aside from that, this is Danielson.
Don't get so bent out of shape when Danielson doesn't sing BAMA's praises on every given play like some sportscasters out there do. That's his personality. He's going to call it his way, and it won't always be positive. But know that, and enjoy it. Heck, I think Danielson is hilarious at times with his commentary because he's only doing or saying what all of us want to at times.
Having said all of that, I can't really defend his comments regarding Grant or Ingram's father, other than to say that in one instance I think Danielson is misinformed, and in another, he simply spoke before thinking. If Danielson was somehow misinformed on Grant's status, it wouldn't be the first time in television history it's happened. It's not that big a deal in my humble opinion. As far as his comments regarding Mark's father, I suspect it was something that Danielson said and then immediately regretted, seeing that it had no bearing on things, and was probably left unsaid. I should also note that initially I thought it was Lundquist that made the comment, but I might be wrong on that. Either way, this is one of those, "cast the first stone" things in my opinion. I mean, who here hasn't done or said something in the moment that they regretted later? Including me now defending Danielson. :lol:
Go easy guys.
2. Voluptuous Verne
Oh my. I'm not sure where to start here, but I guess the question should be asked, what exactly is voluptuous? And the next question should be, is Verne Lundquist that?
Is a 70-something year old man who is a little over-weight considered voluptuous? We should all be a little worried about Tim Brando. I think that Ole Miss loss finally sent Timmy off the deep end.
3. Running Game? We Don't Need No Stinking Running Game!
Okay, I'm not gonna lie people! I was a little disturbed today at our lack of production in the running game. I'm not so concerned about it now, and I'll get back to that in a minute, but bottom line is we have to perform better during SEC play.
Does anyone realize that if we were not playing Arkansas we might have had it handed to us today? I think it's that serious when you play one-dimensional ball in our conference. Arkansas is not a good defensive team. Had we played someone else with a little more balance on both sides of the ball we might not be going into next week with a top-5 ranking.
It seems obvious that we're not the same power running team we were last year.
Is that totally surprising? No. But Alabama needs to be able to move it a little on the ground, and we really struggled doing that today. This team (or any team) cannot be successful over the long haul when picking up 1 or 2 yards on 1st down. You're making things more difficult for your offense, and putting yourself behind the chains when you do that.
Okay, before anyone says, "Well, we had over 100 yards rushing", keep in mind that Trent Richardson got 50+ of that on a play where he should have been tackled for a loss. That was nothing about our offensive line and everything about Richardson.
Okay, having said all of that, I'm reserving judgment on our running game for the moment. Yeah we struggled against our first SEC defense, but we ran it up for 256 against Virginia Tech. Is VaTech an SEC-caliber defense? I would think so. Miami might agree. Miami is back y'all, in case you have not been tuning into ESPN.
I'm willing to reserve judgment, but I'd like to see some improvement in the coming weeks.
4. UNSpeacial Teams
Let me just say this first of all. I'd be surprised, and not pleasantly, if there are not major changes made in this department going into next season.
Again today we come within a hair of giving up a kickoff return for a touchdown. Again today we allow a team to line up in a punt formation against us, only to fake it and pick up the first down. That in itself if not so bad. What's unacceptable is the fact that we seemingly had it defensed. We saw it coming. Then we allowed them to make the first down....again.
This is just the second coming of that same old cavalry, people. The only difference is that in years past, we didn't have the depth or athleticism to put superior athletes onto coverage teams and expect big things. Under Shula we had to make due and hope for the best. We shouldn't have to resort to that now.
It's my opinion that unless something changes with our special teams, they will cost us a game within SEC or bowl play.
5. Very Shula-esq
If anyone has an explination on why McElroy was still in the game at the 7-minute mark with us up 35-7 and having already lost one key player, I'd like to hear it.
Did McElroy need the work?
Were we trying to rub it in, having Greg hand it to Terry Grant time and again on the infamous "Darby" play?
That one bothered me a little.
6. Dont'a
I hope that Dont'a is alright, but I don't think that will be the case. I know that earlier today Terry was saying that Dont'a was out for the season, but I have not talked to Terry since seeing that last bit of info, and might be a bit late to the party on this one.
Going with the limited info I have at this time, I would have to think that things are bad. Hightower, judging by his demeanor after the hit, has at the very least, a tear somewhere. That is almost always season-ending. I don't want this taken the wrong way, but at this point, I hope Dont'a has a tear. Things could be a lot worse if that is not the case. Keep your ear fixed to the Coach Saban convos coming later this evening or tomorrow for more information.
7. Can I Get A Block in The Back, From the Congregation?!
Judas H. Priest! Not to harp on it y'all, but good grief! At what point do people who have played football all of their life just magically figure it out? This seems to be a game to game thing.
Again, we're talking special teams, so I'm not going to go overboard on it, but some things need to be fixed. They're not things that have just started to occur either. These are trends.
8. I'll Take McElroy for 300 Please!
Someone asked the question earlier this week. If given the chance, would you take McElroy or Ryan Mallett as your quarterback?
I never responded to that question, but I'll give my answer now. I'd take McElroy any day of the week, and twice on Saturdays.
Mallett is a solid quarterback who seemingly has all the tools. He'd be an asset to Jim McElwaine and Alabama. I'd still take McElroy though. McElroy seems to have "IT". Whatever IT is, Greg has it. He possesses the intangibles, along with a better arm than most people expect.
I think I saw everything I needed to see from McElroy in the VaTech game to open the season. My opinions were only reinforced today. I think Greg is the gunslinger that Brodie Croyle was, except, he's better. If it makes the media feel better to call him a "manager", then so be it. I can live with that, and ride it all the way to a championship if need be.
As always, opinion and feedback is welcome.
1. Equal Opportunity Hater
Look! Y'all need to quit hating on Gary Danielson already. In the last couple of years I've heard more and more about how Danielson, (a) hates BAMA, (b) is overly negative, or (c) is secretly dating Tebow the Wonder Child.
First off, yes. Tebow and Danielson are dating. That's obvious. :lol: Danielson is on his own there and I can't help him. But as far as the other stuff, I just have to say that sometimes people need to lighten up a little IMHO.
Look, I'm gonna take some heat for this, but I have to say it. I like the guy! I do. I get a kick out of him, it's largely because of his style. Danielson is the type of guy that is going to say whatever is on his mind at any given time. That's just the way it is. Problem is, we're so condition to think a certain way, and we expect commentators to use a certain etiquette, that anything varying from it is automatically wrong. I don't believe that.
How many times have you guys been watching a game and the commentator talks up the defensive end with 17 felonies on his record, telling us all how lucky college athletics is to have this young man (who is not only a good player mind you, but a good person) participating in the contest? I mean. come on guys. You all hate it, but are conditioned (to a degree) to expect it and dismiss it as political correctness run amok. But then when Danielson delivers one of his trademark, "Ooohhhh! What in the world was he thinking"? lines you get offended.
Speaking of great Danielson lines, here are some of my favorites;
"Mehhhh"!!!
"Aaahhhh....no"!
"What the......."?
"Oh my. Oh my".
Here's what people need to understand about Danielson. Get this and you'll be a lot happier.
Danielson is just negative. That's his style. That's how he comes across, even when I think he's not trying to be negative. Know that, and know that not only does Danielson hate BAMA, he hates everyone! Danielson is an equal opportunity hater. That's what he is. That's what he does. Well, he loves him some Tebow, but aside from that, this is Danielson.
Don't get so bent out of shape when Danielson doesn't sing BAMA's praises on every given play like some sportscasters out there do. That's his personality. He's going to call it his way, and it won't always be positive. But know that, and enjoy it. Heck, I think Danielson is hilarious at times with his commentary because he's only doing or saying what all of us want to at times.
Having said all of that, I can't really defend his comments regarding Grant or Ingram's father, other than to say that in one instance I think Danielson is misinformed, and in another, he simply spoke before thinking. If Danielson was somehow misinformed on Grant's status, it wouldn't be the first time in television history it's happened. It's not that big a deal in my humble opinion. As far as his comments regarding Mark's father, I suspect it was something that Danielson said and then immediately regretted, seeing that it had no bearing on things, and was probably left unsaid. I should also note that initially I thought it was Lundquist that made the comment, but I might be wrong on that. Either way, this is one of those, "cast the first stone" things in my opinion. I mean, who here hasn't done or said something in the moment that they regretted later? Including me now defending Danielson. :lol:
Go easy guys.
2. Voluptuous Verne
Oh my. I'm not sure where to start here, but I guess the question should be asked, what exactly is voluptuous? And the next question should be, is Verne Lundquist that?
Is a 70-something year old man who is a little over-weight considered voluptuous? We should all be a little worried about Tim Brando. I think that Ole Miss loss finally sent Timmy off the deep end.
3. Running Game? We Don't Need No Stinking Running Game!
Okay, I'm not gonna lie people! I was a little disturbed today at our lack of production in the running game. I'm not so concerned about it now, and I'll get back to that in a minute, but bottom line is we have to perform better during SEC play.
Does anyone realize that if we were not playing Arkansas we might have had it handed to us today? I think it's that serious when you play one-dimensional ball in our conference. Arkansas is not a good defensive team. Had we played someone else with a little more balance on both sides of the ball we might not be going into next week with a top-5 ranking.
It seems obvious that we're not the same power running team we were last year.
Is that totally surprising? No. But Alabama needs to be able to move it a little on the ground, and we really struggled doing that today. This team (or any team) cannot be successful over the long haul when picking up 1 or 2 yards on 1st down. You're making things more difficult for your offense, and putting yourself behind the chains when you do that.
Okay, before anyone says, "Well, we had over 100 yards rushing", keep in mind that Trent Richardson got 50+ of that on a play where he should have been tackled for a loss. That was nothing about our offensive line and everything about Richardson.
Okay, having said all of that, I'm reserving judgment on our running game for the moment. Yeah we struggled against our first SEC defense, but we ran it up for 256 against Virginia Tech. Is VaTech an SEC-caliber defense? I would think so. Miami might agree. Miami is back y'all, in case you have not been tuning into ESPN.
I'm willing to reserve judgment, but I'd like to see some improvement in the coming weeks.
4. UNSpeacial Teams
Let me just say this first of all. I'd be surprised, and not pleasantly, if there are not major changes made in this department going into next season.
Again today we come within a hair of giving up a kickoff return for a touchdown. Again today we allow a team to line up in a punt formation against us, only to fake it and pick up the first down. That in itself if not so bad. What's unacceptable is the fact that we seemingly had it defensed. We saw it coming. Then we allowed them to make the first down....again.
This is just the second coming of that same old cavalry, people. The only difference is that in years past, we didn't have the depth or athleticism to put superior athletes onto coverage teams and expect big things. Under Shula we had to make due and hope for the best. We shouldn't have to resort to that now.
It's my opinion that unless something changes with our special teams, they will cost us a game within SEC or bowl play.
5. Very Shula-esq
If anyone has an explination on why McElroy was still in the game at the 7-minute mark with us up 35-7 and having already lost one key player, I'd like to hear it.
Did McElroy need the work?
Were we trying to rub it in, having Greg hand it to Terry Grant time and again on the infamous "Darby" play?
That one bothered me a little.
6. Dont'a
I hope that Dont'a is alright, but I don't think that will be the case. I know that earlier today Terry was saying that Dont'a was out for the season, but I have not talked to Terry since seeing that last bit of info, and might be a bit late to the party on this one.
Going with the limited info I have at this time, I would have to think that things are bad. Hightower, judging by his demeanor after the hit, has at the very least, a tear somewhere. That is almost always season-ending. I don't want this taken the wrong way, but at this point, I hope Dont'a has a tear. Things could be a lot worse if that is not the case. Keep your ear fixed to the Coach Saban convos coming later this evening or tomorrow for more information.
7. Can I Get A Block in The Back, From the Congregation?!
Judas H. Priest! Not to harp on it y'all, but good grief! At what point do people who have played football all of their life just magically figure it out? This seems to be a game to game thing.
Again, we're talking special teams, so I'm not going to go overboard on it, but some things need to be fixed. They're not things that have just started to occur either. These are trends.
8. I'll Take McElroy for 300 Please!
Someone asked the question earlier this week. If given the chance, would you take McElroy or Ryan Mallett as your quarterback?
I never responded to that question, but I'll give my answer now. I'd take McElroy any day of the week, and twice on Saturdays.
Mallett is a solid quarterback who seemingly has all the tools. He'd be an asset to Jim McElwaine and Alabama. I'd still take McElroy though. McElroy seems to have "IT". Whatever IT is, Greg has it. He possesses the intangibles, along with a better arm than most people expect.
I think I saw everything I needed to see from McElroy in the VaTech game to open the season. My opinions were only reinforced today. I think Greg is the gunslinger that Brodie Croyle was, except, he's better. If it makes the media feel better to call him a "manager", then so be it. I can live with that, and ride it all the way to a championship if need be.
