Some first half Observations after watching the OFFENSE:
Overall, Alabama was out of sync as you saw when you watched live. The Tide struggled to block on the edges in the run game. Sims was not sharp in the pass game either.
General observations:
Alphonse Taylor struggled at right guard. Missed a couple key blocks in the first half, one leading to a five-yard loss for Yeldon after two nice runs. Expect the right guard spot to continue to revolve.
OC Lane Kiffin really liked this bunch formation used in single back and I-Form. He would bunch WR/WR/FB or WR/TE/FB tight to one side of the line. He would run and pass out of it - the runs didn't work (see those plays about Shepherd pulling below) and overall it wasn't too effective. He ran it 7 times in the first 22 plays.
It's safe to say now that Alabama's primary passing formation is Shotgun or Pistol with 3 WR's and OJ Howard tight to the offensive line.
Remember my post about opposing teams making Sims throw in windows from here on out? Arkansas blitzed just 3 times on Alabama's 11 pass attempts in the first half.
Sims' 3rd and 3 pass to Cooper on the opening drive was way over his head, but it was the deflection on second down that caused it. Arkanasas led the nation in deflected passes (according to ESPN) coming into Saturday, and with his pass batted down on second and 3, He tried throwing it over the defender trying to knock it down this time and it sailed.
Film shows what you already know - absolutely zero excuse on either muffed punt. Punt return 101 stuff for Christion Jones and Maurice Smith, who touched the second one.
-That sack before the missed field goal in the second quarter was all on TJ Yeldon missing his block AND an obvious miscommunication on the OL. Five OL went to block 3 down lineman to the right, leaving Yeldon to cross Sims and pick up a defensive end alone.
On Sims:
Similar to last week, he was tolerable overall first and second half (hard to call a 2-0 TD/INT ratio horrible in any case), but not nearly the player we saw in the opening weeks and he's gone from an offensive asset to a question mark the past two weeks. He had some bad throws, some bad decisions and as I said on the board last week, Arkansas dared him to make precise throws.
In the end, Sims' most explosive plays were good reads, but even against Ole Miss he threaded a couple throws in tight windows. Didn't really see that at all this week
The Good:
-Great read by him on the 47-yarder to Howard in the second quarter. Linebacker bit on the play fake and Sims knew he had OJ open. Quick, decisive, smart play.
-Bought time and found Yeldon out of the backfield on the TD pass in the second quarter.
-Bought time, flushed out and found D. White on a 3rd-and-8 late in the second quarter.
Not So Good
-Throw to the endzone in the second quarter from Sims to Amari was a really bad one. Forced to Amari
- Throw to start a drive late in the second quarter was so off I'm not sure if it was way behind D. White or way underthrown to Amari Cooper.
OL
2nd and 13 sweep in first quarter - Taylor got beat, Shepard pulled and couldn't get to his man, and if he got by that Fowler was struggling to get his guy blocked. That kind of day.
They ran the exact same play/formation in the second quarter with the same result. Shephard couldn't get out there. OJ Howard missed a block.
It has Howard, Jones and White bunched tight to the line right, which in my opinion is getting a little cute. Either get some guys in to block or play fake. Asking two WR to block on the edge multiple times is a little odd (though he's probably setting that formation up for a pass later in the game).
This post was edited on 10/12 1:10 PM by dcreeves
https://alabama.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=427&tid=205321281&mid=205321281&sid=885&style=2
Overall, Alabama was out of sync as you saw when you watched live. The Tide struggled to block on the edges in the run game. Sims was not sharp in the pass game either.
General observations:
Alphonse Taylor struggled at right guard. Missed a couple key blocks in the first half, one leading to a five-yard loss for Yeldon after two nice runs. Expect the right guard spot to continue to revolve.
OC Lane Kiffin really liked this bunch formation used in single back and I-Form. He would bunch WR/WR/FB or WR/TE/FB tight to one side of the line. He would run and pass out of it - the runs didn't work (see those plays about Shepherd pulling below) and overall it wasn't too effective. He ran it 7 times in the first 22 plays.
It's safe to say now that Alabama's primary passing formation is Shotgun or Pistol with 3 WR's and OJ Howard tight to the offensive line.
Remember my post about opposing teams making Sims throw in windows from here on out? Arkansas blitzed just 3 times on Alabama's 11 pass attempts in the first half.
Sims' 3rd and 3 pass to Cooper on the opening drive was way over his head, but it was the deflection on second down that caused it. Arkanasas led the nation in deflected passes (according to ESPN) coming into Saturday, and with his pass batted down on second and 3, He tried throwing it over the defender trying to knock it down this time and it sailed.
Film shows what you already know - absolutely zero excuse on either muffed punt. Punt return 101 stuff for Christion Jones and Maurice Smith, who touched the second one.
-That sack before the missed field goal in the second quarter was all on TJ Yeldon missing his block AND an obvious miscommunication on the OL. Five OL went to block 3 down lineman to the right, leaving Yeldon to cross Sims and pick up a defensive end alone.
On Sims:
Similar to last week, he was tolerable overall first and second half (hard to call a 2-0 TD/INT ratio horrible in any case), but not nearly the player we saw in the opening weeks and he's gone from an offensive asset to a question mark the past two weeks. He had some bad throws, some bad decisions and as I said on the board last week, Arkansas dared him to make precise throws.
In the end, Sims' most explosive plays were good reads, but even against Ole Miss he threaded a couple throws in tight windows. Didn't really see that at all this week
The Good:
-Great read by him on the 47-yarder to Howard in the second quarter. Linebacker bit on the play fake and Sims knew he had OJ open. Quick, decisive, smart play.
-Bought time and found Yeldon out of the backfield on the TD pass in the second quarter.
-Bought time, flushed out and found D. White on a 3rd-and-8 late in the second quarter.
Not So Good
-Throw to the endzone in the second quarter from Sims to Amari was a really bad one. Forced to Amari
- Throw to start a drive late in the second quarter was so off I'm not sure if it was way behind D. White or way underthrown to Amari Cooper.
OL
2nd and 13 sweep in first quarter - Taylor got beat, Shepard pulled and couldn't get to his man, and if he got by that Fowler was struggling to get his guy blocked. That kind of day.
They ran the exact same play/formation in the second quarter with the same result. Shephard couldn't get out there. OJ Howard missed a block.
It has Howard, Jones and White bunched tight to the line right, which in my opinion is getting a little cute. Either get some guys in to block or play fake. Asking two WR to block on the edge multiple times is a little odd (though he's probably setting that formation up for a pass later in the game).
This post was edited on 10/12 1:10 PM by dcreeves
https://alabama.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=427&tid=205321281&mid=205321281&sid=885&style=2
