🏈 A question about Coker?

[rick4bama]

While I didn't watch the game, I was listening to it. I know that a lot here want him to start. But, I want to know it any of you know if he is injured? Eli said during the broadcast that Coker had an ice bag tape to his shoulder. That was in the first half when he was talking about this. Did any of you see this while watch the game?

 

[BigCrimson]

I read this somewhere else as well and that is quite odd. Maybe he had an injury in practice or struggling with some inflammation.

 

[jdpas29]

i think it may have been a chip... not an icepack.:rolf:

 

[PhillyGirl]

Apparently earlier in the game, a trainer was working on the shoulder (pre-ice bag application).

 

[We All Bleed Crimson]

I didn't see a shot of him on the sidelines, but I did wonder why we didn't put him in to try to spark the offense and/or let Sims settle down a little.

 

[UAgrad93]

I did see a shot of him chest bumping Blake after the last TD. No ice pack or anything. I too wondered about making a change in an attempt to cause a spark.

 

[Bamabww]

@We All Bleed Crimson & @uagrad93, the coaches were probably afraid the way our OL was blocking that he'd be killed. (I know what both of you mean though, we were desperately in need of a spark.)

 

[UAgrad93]

@We All Bleed Crimson & @uagrad93, the coaches were probably afraid the way our OL was blocking that he'd be killed. (I know what both of you mean though, we were desperately in need of a spark.)

Agreed! I don't think Joe Willie back in his heyday woulda faired any better.

 

[jlabit]

Peyton Manning couldn't have moved the offense with the blocking done by our offensive line.

 

[alabama mike]

Here is my theory:
1. The lack of offensive production was the OLs fault not Sims.
2. Sims can scramble and get out of trouble and Coker can't.
3. Coker was in fact injured.
4. CNS did not think Coker could make the plays or he would have put him in the game.

All speculation on my part.

 

[TheChief]

If the defense does not have to worry about the offense throwing downfield, into fairly tight coverage, more men can be committed to stopping the run and providing pressure. Guaranteed if Manning is the quarterback man to man coverage won't often work. Not with Alabama's wide receivers.

Yet, when an offense cannot truly throw down the field, the defense can stack more men in the box. Rushing is more difficult. Look how close the coverage is when Sims tries to throw the quick out. It worked against an inferior opponent in West Virginia. What we've seen the last two weeks are not the weak sisters of the poor. All that said, I doubt Manning would be running for his life if the defense had to worry about getting torched.

Seems to me placing all the blame on the linemen is somewhat misplaced. We don't have a deep threat. Unless we're playing Florida and no one is within twenty-five yards of the receiver, the decent defenses are going to give us problems.

Now, go ahead and call me a prick again or call me a troll. Say that I just want Coker to play. Say I don't get paid 7 million dollars a year, and I wasn't a college quarterback. Yet, this seems to be what I'm seeing.

 

[bamafan9201]

I don't see how complaining about Sims is the right path in any situation. I agree he did not play a very good game last game, but the O-line wasn't getting off blocks or creating any push. He had the D-line in his lap the majority of the time, forcing earlier throws or scrambles. The playcalling was a little suspect as well. I felt that we could've seen a little more screens and short flips to backs to build up Sims' confidence in this game. I like to think of this game as one to forget. We played better in the Ole Miss game and that was also a pretty bad showing. Let's hope we kick ourselves in the butt because we won't beat TAMU, MISS ST, or AUB playing like this.

On a side note, if we don't turn the ball over a ton like we have been doing we might actually find ourselves in a better situation all around!

 

[TheChief]

A fifth year senior needs to have his confidence built up? Really?

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

You know Chief, the point of the OL was entirely on the basis that they have missed big time assignments. Not getting beat outright, all though that has happened, but downright whiffing. What irks me about you is that Sims never stood a chance with you & you disregard his throws against UF b/c they were wide open. Even though he has made some great throws too. UF's Defense was/is better than Arkansas. That game's success had as much to do with Sims as it had to do with formations or called offenses because he still had to make the plays. But that seems totally irrelevant to you.

There were several formations against Ole Miss & Arkansas where they were not crowding the box & they flat out stopped the run. I played line of scrimmage & line backer & I can attest to this right now that the game is won & lost at the line of scrimmage. Bryant swore by this & 'Bama's success has always hinged on this issue. I don't care who is QB. And what is clear to me about Sims, despite his clear missed throws, is that he has made plays with his feet that Manning, nor any of our previous QB's could make, that otherwise, would've been killed. Have you even acknowledge the asset that Sims has as QB. Nope.

Your objectivity is what is so irritating, which is what drives me crazy about any fan base. Sims had the best game of any 'Bama QB, you were silent & 'Bama loses you throw him under the bus as soon as you can. That is garbage, plain and simple. Yes, Sims has a lot of work to do. Yes, he is QB that doesn't fit the Manning mold. However, as long as he contributes to wins, I don't care if he is throwing like he is slinging $&%! (as Bryant used to say), as long as he plays winning football. He could be better, he needs to get better, & he could've lost some games too (argument could be made against Ole Miss), he hasn't yet but I am certain he won us some games too (against Ark) at least.

Lastly, I haven't seen one thing from any of our other QB's that would've made difference in our games yet. Having command of the huddle & making the right calls, Sims has done better. He could do better, but from what I have seen from Coker is that he is flat out lost. I think that is fundamentally why he isn't out there now.

 

[UAgrad93]

A fifth year senior needs to have his confidence built up? Really?

ANY QB regardless of their classification needs some easy, quick throws to get them in a rhythm. They don't need to have to try and thread a needle on their first 4-5 attempts. Putting that kind of pressure on any QB can lead to a long day.

 

['65 Cobra]

You know Chief, the point of the OL was entirely on the basis that they have missed big time assignments. Not getting beat outright, all though that has happened, but downright whiffing. What irks me about you is that Sims never stood a chance with you & you disregard his throws against UF b/c they were wide open. Even though he has made some great throws too. UF's Defense was/is better than Arkansas. That game's success had as much to do with Sims as it had to do with formations or called offenses because he still had to make the plays. But that seems totally irrelevant to you.

There were several formations against Ole Miss & Arkansas where they were not crowding the box & they flat out stopped the run. I played line of scrimmage & line backer & I can attest to this right now that the game is won & lost at the line of scrimmage. Bryant swore by this & 'Bama's success has always hinged on this issue. I don't care who is QB. And what is clear to me about Sims, despite his clear missed throws, is that he has made plays with his feet that Manning, nor any of our previous QB's could make, that otherwise, would've been killed. Have you even acknowledge the asset that Sims has as QB. Nope.

Your objectivity is what is so irritating, which is what drives me crazy about any fan base. Sims had the best game of any 'Bama QB, you were silent & 'Bama loses you throw him under the bus as soon as you can. That is garbage, plain and simple. Yes, Sims has a lot of work to do. Yes, he is QB that doesn't fit the Manning mold. However, as long as he contributes to wins, I don't care if he is throwing like he is slinging $&%! (as Bryant used to say), as long as he plays winning football. He could be better, he needs to get better, & he could've lost some games too (argument could be made against Ole Miss), he hasn't yet but I am certain he won us some games too (against Ark) at least.

Lastly, I haven't seen one thing from any of our other QB's that would've made difference in our games yet. Having command of the huddle & making the right calls, Sims has done better. He could do better, but from what I have seen from Coker is that he is flat out lost. I think that is fundamentally why he isn't out there now.

The problem I see with Sims is that his abilities have topped out and opposing defenses have it figured out now. He had a great game against Florida, but he still made numerous mistakes in that game. The point that I have to agree with TheChief on is that Blake does not have a legitimate deep ball and that is whether he has time to throw or not. We see what happens once defenses figure out a one-dimensional QB - they stack the deck. This has alot to do with our line blocking as well in my opinion, because we are constantly seeing more players in the box.

Blake also seems to get spooked easily and/or lock on to his target which makes a defense's job easier. I don't know what the deal is with Coker. Maybe he just sucks as it turns out. Who knows? But I do think that we cannot make it to the playoff with Blake at QB because he is not improving anymore. He has plateaued based on his skill set and opposing defenses know this and can now game plan accordingly making the job substantially more difficult for our offense (including the running game) - stack the box to stop the run and the short throws b/c the QB can't consistently go over the top. I wish it were different, but that's how I see it anyway.

 

[We All Bleed Crimson]

Here is my theory:
1. The lack of offensive production was the OLs fault not Sims.

.

I agree the OL was bad.
I have several post this season stating the OL is a big concern - in my opinion.
Cristobal's system isn't working... OR... we don't have the players that we originally thought we did. - again, my opinion, but I believe it's justified.
Last year was his first year coaching our OL, the Va Tech game (does anyone remember?) was a disaster offensively - couldn't run or pass. Had to have a big game from the special teams in that one. And even at the conclusion of the season vs Oklahoma, AJ was sacked 100 times (obvious exaggeration on the number) because we couldn't protect the pocket when we needed to.
This year, we don't seem to be able to open holes consistently and pass protection isn't solid either. And, as I have observed in games, I see a lineman miss a block and turn to look at the guy he missed while other defenders run past him when he should be looking for someone else to hit.

I think we do have the talent. I know we have a great coach. And for those reasons I will continue to be expecting great things from this team.
But, we have to pay attention to the details and fundamental things that allow the foundation of success to be solid.

ROLL TIDE EVERYONE!!!