📡 Alabama's 3rd down issues might be bigger than you think. (link)

[TerryP]

 

[mando]

Starts at the line of scrimmage on both sides especially on early downs. Play calling would also help if we stick to running the ball with RB's but again line of scrimmage must be controlled to do that.

 

[T&B]

Yeah third down on both sides of the ball is killing this team.

If you go back over the past six ranked teams Bama has played (I think) Bama is something like 20 for 80 on converting third down. Meanwhile the opposition is converting at a much higher percentage approaching 50% I believe.

I was listening to an analyst on one of my podcast saying that its remarkable that Bama has only lost 2 games during this stretch because its truly difficult to win a football game with these numbers.

I have supported Hurts, but now I want to see if Tua can help this offense get where it needs to go to win a title. I doubt he gets the chance this season though. I really don't know what more the coaches are waiting on ? I think this team has shown they are very beatable vs a decent defense. It seems as though teams are using the same blueprint to hold our offense down for over a year now due to lack of growth in the passing game.

 

[T&B]

I also recall from the podcast (may have been Chris Landry) that the average distance on third down during this stretch is something like 8 yards. LOL ! uke:

 

[TerryP]

If you go back over the past six ranked teams Bama has played (I think) Bama is something like 20 for 80 on converting third down. Meanwhile the opposition is converting at a much higher percentage approaching 50% I believe.

that's something to look up ...

 

[T&B]

ESPN CFB Analyst discusses Alabama's struggles on third downs

College Football analyst Brad Edwards joined The Game with Ryan Fowler to discuss Alabama's offensive woes on third down. According to Edwards, Alabama has converted 20-79 on third down against their last six ranked opponents which is one of the lowest percentages in college football.

 

[jdpas29]

I couldn’t agree more with his analysis.

 

[Tidestalker]

Yeah third down on both sides of the ball is killing this team.

If you go back over the past six ranked teams Bama has played (I think) Bama is something like 20 for 80 on converting third down. Meanwhile the opposition is converting at a much higher percentage approaching 50% I believe.

I was listening to an analyst on one of my podcast saying that its remarkable that Bama has only lost 2 games during this stretch because its truly difficult to win a football game with these numbers.

I have supported Hurts, but now I want to see if Tua can help this offense get where it needs to go to win a title. I doubt he gets the chance this season though. I really don't know what more the coaches are waiting on ? I think this team has shown they are very beatable vs a decent defense. It seems as though teams are using the same blueprint to hold our offense down for over a year now due to lack of growth in the passing game.

As I've said many times lately... The bigger risk is NOT doing anything significantly different. I'd prefer just reasonable play calling that's dependent on an OL that is clearly better at run blocking, but if OC sir pas-a-lot wants to call pass plays than using Tua could and should be an option.

 

[JoshB]

I'm going to be perfectly honest, the closer this game gets the worse I feel about it.

And the most messed up part of it, is our warped ass fan base wants to put all the blame on a kid that has won over 20 games in two years and no matter WHAT happens this fan base won't be satisfied until the backup becomes "the" guy. Then when an 18-year old kid comes in for his first REAL game action, in a fucking playoff game no less, and the offense does the exact same (or worse) I guess they'll finally be satisfied, right? Right? Because this spoiled fan base is easily satisfied I guess...

 

[Tidestalker]

I'm going to be perfectly honest, the closer this game gets the worse I feel about it.

And the most messed up part of it, is our warped ass fan base wants to put all the blame on a kid that has won over 20 games in two years and no matter WHAT happens this fan base won't be satisfied until the backup becomes "the" guy. Then when an 18-year old kid comes in for his first REAL game action, in a fucking playoff game no less, and the offense does the exact same (or worse) I guess they'll finally be satisfied, right? Right? Because this spoiled fan base is easily satisfied I guess...

If you're referring to me, you have a reading comprehension issue.

The easiest fix would be for the pass happy OC to let the OL and 3 Stud RB's win the game, instead of the iffy passing QB.

But if he insists of putting the ball in the air at an alarming rate, and it's been proven Hurts isn't comfortable in those situations, giving another QB who's shown he's capable a chance isn't that big a deal. It's throwing a football not rocket science... Especially when you consider all our throws are either 1 read or tuck and run.

 

[JoshB]

If you're referring to me, you have a reading comprehension issue.

The easiest fix would be for the pass happy OC to let the OL and 3 Stud RB's win the game, instead of the iffy passing QB.

But if he insists of putting the ball in the air at an alarming rate, and it's been proven Hurts isn't comfortable in those situations, giving another QB who's shown he's capable a chance isn't that big a deal. It's throwing a football not rocket science... Especially when you consider all our throws are either 1 read or tuck and run.

If you felt offended, then yeah it probably was about you...

But I didn't even see your post before I posted that. The funny thing is literally everything about what you said is pretty dumb if I'm being honest. "Pass happy OC".

Pass happy, right?
223 passes for the starting QB this season...
382 in 2016
393 in 2015
391 in 2014
336 in 2013

But Daboll is "pass happy" right?

And that last part of what you said, my God how simplistic and wrong can you possibly be? This is why you (and me and everyone else here THANK GOD isn't the coach). "It's throwing a football not rocket science." That's all it is, huh? Wonder why 90% of college QBs dont work out then? That's odd, if it's that simple you would think every single team in the country would have a Joe Montana right? And please stop with the whole thing of Tua "showing he's capable", he's shown he's capable against beaten down defenses that are down 40-0 or second/third stringers. Stop. Jalen has lost two games in two years and has shattered all kinds of records, he's actually shown he's capable against ACTUAL competition. And what people like you dont get is you're just setting Tua up for failure. There is absolutely no chance he can live up to the expectations some of you have put on him. He can just simply step into the starting role in his very first start in the playoffs against one of the best defensive lines in the country? Did you even THINK before you actually typed out "no big deal?"

 

[Tidestalker]

If you felt offended, then yeah it probably was about you...

But I didn't even see your post before I posted that. The funny thing is literally everything about what you said is pretty dumb if I'm being honest. "Pass happy OC".

Pass happy, right?
223 passes for the starting QB this season...
382 in 2016
393 in 2015
391 in 2014
336 in 2013

But Daboll is "pass happy" right?

And that last part of what you said, my God how simplistic and wrong can you possibly be? This is why you (and me and everyone else here THANK GOD isn't the coach). "It's throwing a football not rocket science." That's all it is, huh? Wonder why 90% of college QBs dont work out then? That's odd, if it's that simple you would think every single team in the country would have a Joe Montana right? And please stop with the whole thing of Tua "showing he's capable", he's shown he's capable against beaten down defenses that are down 40-0 or second/third stringers. Stop. Jalen has lost two games in two years and has shattered all kinds of records, he's actually shown he's capable against ACTUAL competition. And what people like you dont get is you're just setting Tua up for failure. There is absolutely no chance he can live up to the expectations some of you have put on him. He can just simply step into the starting role in his very first start in the playoffs against one of the best defensive lines in the country? Did you even THINK before you actually typed out "no big deal?"

You don't get it. Who gives a single sh*t about what Alabama did against Vanderbilt 10 weeks ago?

When it comes down to evaluating an OC who's got distinctly more talent than 9/10 of the teams he's playing, those games could literally be called by a monkey and it wouldn't matter.

When I say pass happy I'm talking about the Auburn game - When it was all on the line.

In terms of saying no big deal - It's not. You're asking a quarterback who was a top 100 player in the country and has a years worth of practices, game film, and legitimate live experience to play quarterback for a few series'. Shocking stuff there.

Thank goodness Saban's a-hole wasn't clinched so tight against USC or we may have never seen that Jalen was a good option.

Are you OK with the 3 RB's getting 18 carries? Talk about setting people up for failure... Jalen got hung out to dry.

 

[rolltide66]

If you felt offended, then yeah it probably was about you...

But I didn't even see your post before I posted that. The funny thing is literally everything about what you said is pretty dumb if I'm being honest. "Pass happy OC".

Pass happy, right?
223 passes for the starting QB this season...
382 in 2016
393 in 2015
391 in 2014
336 in 2013

But Daboll is "pass happy" right?

And that last part of what you said, my God how simplistic and wrong can you possibly be? This is why you (and me and everyone else here THANK GOD isn't the coach). "It's throwing a football not rocket science." That's all it is, huh? Wonder why 90% of college QBs dont work out then? That's odd, if it's that simple you would think every single team in the country would have a Joe Montana right? And please stop with the whole thing of Tua "showing he's capable", he's shown he's capable against beaten down defenses that are down 40-0 or second/third stringers. Stop. Jalen has lost two games in two years and has shattered all kinds of records, he's actually shown he's capable against ACTUAL competition. And what people like you dont get is you're just setting Tua up for failure. There is absolutely no chance he can live up to the expectations some of you have put on him. He can just simply step into the starting role in his very first start in the playoffs against one of the best defensive lines in the country? Did you even THINK before you actually typed out "no big deal?"

This is a good set of numbers, wondering what the mix was? How many rushing plays and how many total plays were run? Showing how many passing plays were run doesn't actually tell much. Have to have total plays and would also be a nice to have if the Pass Plays that blew up and turned to rushing plays would help tell the story. But, hey, this is just me and I could be mistaken

 

[TerryP]

This is a good set of numbers, wondering what the mix was? How many rushing plays and how many total plays were run? Showing how many passing plays were run doesn't actually tell much. Have to have total plays and would also be a nice to have if the Pass Plays that blew up and turned to rushing plays would help tell the story. But, hey, this is just me and I could be mistaken

Going strictly from how statistics are recorded, the ration of run to pass this season is more unbalanced than it's been in years. Through 12 games there's been 276 plays recorded as passing attempts, 531 plays as rushing attempts.

It's a really easy season to play with the numbers and make them support a lot of theories.

 

[TerryP]

It's a really easy season to play with the numbers and make them support a lot of theories.

And, for what it's worth, one of those that's getting on my nerves is "why didn't the running backs get more carries" against Auburn. Bo and Damien both carried the ball three fewer times than their season average. Jalen carried it six more times than his season average.

Here's where the numbers can be played with--a lot. You can point to Damien getting more yards per carry than any other player the team. You can look at the rushing yards the team has this season ... but wait, we have to subtract lost yards on sacks, right? Oops, what happens to Jalen's rushing numbers here?

We can go round and round and round and round ... we'll still stop on the same thing: the team didn't execute against Auburn.

 

[TUSKtimes]

And, for what it's worth, one of those that's getting on my nerves is "why didn't the running backs get more carries" against Auburn. Bo and Damien both carried the ball three fewer times than their season average. Jalen carried it six more times than his season average.

Here's where the numbers can be played with--a lot. You can point to Damien getting more yards per carry than any other player the team. You can look at the rushing yards the team has this season ... but wait, we have to subtract lost yards on sacks, right? Oops, what happens to Jalen's rushing numbers here?

We can go round and round and round and round ... we'll still stop on the same thing: the team didn't execute against Auburn.

I agree 100% with the lack of execution being the problem and just a lack of focus and physicality to boot. That's hard for a Saban coached team to swallow. This time last year we were swinging everything wide and we just were too much finesse. I thought they tried to work on this with different sets and more of a run downhill mentality through the season.

At this point, I'm more concerned with turning Jalen loose with credible running plays than I am with throwing the slant route. When he has the defenses full attention everything he does just look better.

 

[TerryP]

I agree 100% with the lack of execution being the problem and just a lack of focus and physicality to boot. That's hard for a Saban coached team to swallow.

That's hard for a fan of a Saban coached team to swallow.

 

[RollllTide!]

All these opinions are just like assholes . Everybody's got one and none of them are completely correct. I just hope that we see some Smash Mouth football. we need to dominate both lines and execute and with that we will be just fine. If we have a game like we had against FSU we will win. RollllTide.

 

[EasyTider]

Deciding to go smash mouth against Clemson's front 7 will be much easier said than done.

 

[RollllTide!]

Deciding to go smash mouth against Clemson's front 7 will be much easier said than done.

I know that but it has to be the answer. When we dominate the lines we win. That has been one of our weakness after FSU. Don't know why but it has been a problem all year. When it happens Jalen is da man.