🏈 Balanced/Smalanced

[CtrlAltDel]

Sure, I like the passing and the "balance". Hopefully 'Bama has not lost it's ability to run the ball powerfully.

McElwain, being the great OC that he is, has altered the game plan radically from last season. He plays to his team's strengths better than many in the business.

Is the front line able to allow the RB's to get those chunks of yardage all season long like they did last year? I doubt it. I will believe it when I see it.

I love the power running game and wish forward passing was not legal. 'Bama really gave themselves a persona last season with the rushing attack. Slowly, but very surely, 'Bama carved out a niche that was identified by an unstoppable run attack.

McElroy is a great QB and we should all be grateful he is doing well but, his passing ability can't be the reason that Alabama has altered it's look so radically.

As the season winds on and Alabama meets a team that can somewhat cover their receivers, will the run game still be there as a stalwart alternative?

 

[alagator]

I love the power running game and wish forward passing was not legal. 'Bama really gave themselves a persona last season with the rushing attack. Slowly, but very surely, 'Bama carved out a niche that was identified by an unstoppable run attack.

And yet, if my memory serves me correctly, that Mickey-Mouse, frilly-panties, 'soft' Spread Offense run by Florida last year averaged more Rushing Yards per game AND per attempt.

I really do not care if we run the ball like a sledgehammer or like a magician - but I really hope we model ourselves more like a Florida or Southern Cal. Especially Southern Cal - who for years has demonstrated you can run the ball BOTH with brute force (see Len-Whale White) and finesse (see his teammate Reggie Bush) all the while enjoying a downfield passing attack (see their QB Matt Leinart).

 

[bamafan4ever]

I'm rather fond of balanced.

 

[TerryP]

This makes no sense to me.

Right now, with a more difficult schedule than 2008, we are averaging @ 70 yards per game more than we did at the same time last year.

There is no radical difference.

Different formation, yes.

We have our guards and tackles pulling more this year than last year but they are also more agile than the group was last year.

Hell, as good as Andre was, I'd love to see him attempt to run a left tackle trap counter play. Bottom line, he couldn't.

 

[4th-and-1]

i think our running game is far more dangerous this year.. our passing game is the number one reason. but it is also far less predictable.. our rushing attack has not lost any power, but it has gained the ability to keep a defense guessing.

 

[Alabama17Tide]

I'm a balance guy myself. To win the National Title this year were going to have to
have the big play ability in the passing game.

That pass offense will make our running game even that much more dangerous.

 

[Wiseace615]

Kind of reinforcing what TerryP said:

In 2008 we averaged 41.2 carries per game. (56 % of the time)
So far in '09: 45.3 carries per game. (60 % of the time)

So if anything, we're actually running a little more often.

I'm still of the school of thought that states: balanced offensive attack + ability for explosive plays + strong defense = a damn good team.

 

[reger60]

I especially love the ground game in the fourth quarter while we're protecting a lead and we're using it to burn off the clock as we exploit our depth and superior conditioning. However, if for some reason we find ourselves in a game where we are trailing by two or three touchdowns (see Sugar Bowl v. Utah), we'll be happy that we have a strong, quick-strike vertical passing attack.

With weapons like Jones and Maze, I love that our passing game has become a legitimate threat. It can't help but open things up for our dominating rushing offense. Consequently, the threat of the run will create coverage mismatches that McElroy is quickly learning how to exploit.

There's a reason for the balance.

 

[CtrlAltDel]

I appreciate the opinions and I agree with all of you. Perhaps I wasn't seeing what I should have been seeing. I have said more than once that I am no great football mind.:smile:

 

[psychojoe]

To piggyback on what Reger said, the passing game does open up our running game. I am (perhaps unjustifiably at this point) much more confident in Greg checking into a long pass when the defense loads the box against our running game than I was with JPW.

 

[CtrlAltDel]

I agree, Joe. I was looking at things the wrong way. It is refreshing to have a pass attack that is dangerous. I was under the impression that for the passing game to flourish the running game had to suffer.

 

[Bo]

To piggyback on what Reger said, the passing game does open up our running game. I am (perhaps unjustifiably at this point) much more confident in Greg checking into a long pass when the defense loads the box against our running game than I was with JPW.

Ditto.