🏈 Dee Hart and DeAndrew White out for the season.

[BAMA JAMMA]

I would be lying if I said I wasn't concerned. Most of the guys we have lost played larger roles that just their respective positions. Fowler being the most significant. Really wished we had that solid go-to Ole reliable TE threat or RB out the backfield. Fowler really helped add another gear or two. Dee was the small speedy back who appeared to be gaining momentum.

I know we're deep but getting into the SEC grinder with this young of kids is gonna be interesting to see how the respond and who steps up . The kids have mentioned they look for opportunities like this (in a positive sense) so well see.

 

[bamaraider]

I think we're really missing Brad Smelley, he was AJ's go to guy on 3rd down and in the flat...Which brings me to my next question, where the hell is Michael Williams? 6'7 TE, he should be shredding everyone! Same goes with Harrison Jones and Brian Volger, they need to step up...

As far as Dee Hart's injury, really not a big blow to the depth chat, Saban said they might move Brent Calloway to the RB position...Only thing I am worried about is Lacy's hamstring might reoccur later in the year.

 

[JoshB]

I would be lying if I said I wasn't concerned. Most of the guys we have lost played larger roles that just their respective positions. Fowler being the most significant. Really wished we had that solid go-to Ole reliable TE threat or RB out the backfield. Fowler really helped add another gear or two. Dee was the small speedy back who appeared to be gaining momentum.

I know we're deep but getting into the SEC grinder with this young of kids is gonna be interesting to see how the respond and who steps up . The kids have mentioned they look for opportunities like this (in a positive sense) so well see.

Yeldon can most def. be that reliable back out of the backfield. Not just as a safety valve for AJ tho, he runs down field routes.

 

[jdpas29]

Bama hasn't needed to show anything yet. squatting on wins usually doesn't look great.

 

[TerryP]

Bama hasn't needed to show anything yet. squatting on wins usually doesn't look great.

In those cases, the only thing people remember are the bad things. IE: The two successful drives by Ole Miss, not the other nine that ended with INT's or punts.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

All I am saying is that I have attended over 300 Alabama games and I am telling you that there were more low blocks and hits in this game than I can remember. The three that were in the random youtube video may have been legal but they were just a tiny sample of what I saw in person and the majority took place off screen and away from the play.


Ole Miss players dove at our player's legs all night long and we were lucky not to have more knee and ankle injuries than we did, that's all I am saying...:sealed_1blue:

As long as we have bigger, stronger and faster players than our opponents, it will happen more often, but it will always happen. The natural tendency when getting beat on a play, such as the play with Perry, is to lunge at the legs. Also, a smaller team relying on misdirection, quick hitters and short passing will rely on cuts to equalize the game.

[video=youtube;ElFfdR2urhg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElFfdR2urhg&feature=related[/video]

[video=youtube;ZFztjtOPc0g]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFztjtOPc0g&feature=related[/video]

 

[Billie Bob]

\

Bama hasn't needed to show anything yet. squatting on wins usually doesn't look great.

I think you are correct. By any measurement we were very vanilla against the Rebel Bears

Also, I do believe that these injuries are going to force our hand to play more to our depth strengths and that means more attention at the wide receiver position. We are still very deep at receiver and my prediction is you will start to see more passing attempts by AJ. And the stacking-the-box crap that is been going on since 2009 will more than ever force us to increase our pass attempts and stretch the field more than we have thus far.

 

[JoshB]

I remember the year you're talking about but they were getting criticized because players were diving at the BACK of defenders knees and even diving at their knees when the player was engaged with another lineman. I remember that happening to Glen Dorsey when LSU played Auburn. Arkansas lineman did that sh*t alot a few years ago, who remembers Marcel Dareus trailing on a play and one of their linemen running over and diving at the back of his knees?

 

[It Takes Eleven]

I remember the year you're talking about but they were getting criticized because players were diving at the BACK of defenders knees and even diving at their knees when the player was engaged with another lineman. I remember that happening to Glen Dorsey when LSU played Auburn. Arkansas lineman did that sh*t alot a few years ago, who remembers Marcel Dareus trailing on a play and one of their linemen running over and diving at the back of his knees?

Precisely, going low at the back of the players' knees is exactly how Dorsey was hurt, and far different from the re-stated 2011 rules that continue to allow a cut block facing the player.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

\

Our players are not taught to block that way, they are taught to keep their feet under them. Just a few years back Auburn was being heavily criticized for diving at Alabama and other team's players feet and knees, I saw that same thing going on this weekend with Ole Miss.

I think that diving at other players feet and knees is dirty pool, it causes serious and unnecessary injuries. I never did it when I played and I thought when players tried to do it to me that is was a dangerous cheap shot.

That is my opinion.

Let's keep an eye on Ole Miss the rest of the season and keep track how many players have their college playing careers damaged and ended by playing football that way...

As to whether Bama coaches the cut block, look to 4:45 and Kenny Bell being sprung for a good gain.

[video=youtube;hvYWBh9BfmQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvYWBh9BfmQ[/video]

Alabama certainly taught the cut block before use of hands in blocking was legalized, creating the upright sumo battles of today. See how many USC players are cut on this play:

[video=youtube;43sUuvFQewE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43sUuvFQewE[/video]

[video=youtube;UqqXUpkt14U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqqXUpkt14U&feature=related[/video]

[video=youtube;e_tjnsjb_-8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_tjnsjb_-8&feature=relmfu[/video]

 

[Bo]

As to whether Bama coaches the cut block, look to 4:45 and Kenny Bell being sprung for a good game.

I didn't see a 4:45 mark, and ain't 1971, 1979, and 1980 a little early for Kenny Bell?

Seriously though, nothing wrong with a cut block as long as it is straight in front of the defender, and he is not already engaged with another blocker up high. I look at it like this. If you are against blocking someone below the waist, are you against tackling the ball carrier below the waist? Granted, tackling that low is not good form, but if that's the only way you can get to him that is what you have to do.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

I didn't see a 4:45 mark, and ain't 1971, 1979, and 1980 a little early for Kenny Bell?

Seriously though, nothing wrong with a cut block as long as it is straight in front of the defender, and he is not already engaged with another blocker up high. I look at it like this. If you are against blocking someone below the waist, are you against tackling the ball carrier below the waist? Granted, tackling that low is not good form, but if that's the only way you can get to him that is what you have to do.

Good points.

I accidentally put the USC clip in twice, but reloaded right after I posted it. Try refresh and it's the top one. I believe it's Hanks taking Mathieu's legs on a third quarter completion to Bell.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

Making a Cut Block when you absolutely have to and making a Cut Block because you like to are two completely different things...

Like I said earlier, there are new rules trying to eliminate injuries due to cut block that were not in place until the last couple of years, so videos from 5 or 10 years ago are irrelevant...



Some teams (Like Ole Miss) Cut Block more than others, why is that?

I'm not sure the consensus is that Ole Miss cut blocks more than others. Again, for some offensive schemes and for some plays in particular, cut blocks are part of the strategy. In addition, as many players and experienced observers will note, blocking low is an equalizer against a larger or stronger opponent, or an opponent with momentum.

There's no question the new rules are intended, and I hope they're effective, to reduce injuries from an unprepared opponent taking a low blow, particularly from the side; however, taking the legs of a defender has been and remains a key part of offensive strategy.

Should Hanks not have taken Mathieu's legs in the first clip above, allowing the defender to close space, slow Kenny Bell and allow pursuit to shorten the gain? Should an offensive lineman not take a defender's legs, forcing them to drop their hands and allow for a passing lane on a slant? Should running backs be required to be trucked by a blitzing LB or DB intent on doing harm to their QB?

You don't like getting your legs taken. As an end and linebacker, I didn't either, but when possession changed and I was looking at a larger nose tackle or needing to take an angle on a middle linebacker, it was and remains a good strategy. When we ran slants, it was foolish to let your man get in the way and bat it down.

RTR,

Tim