🏈 For those who are fretting with the after effects of Shulaitis, how does UT stop a Bama lead offense with Bryce?

[BamaFan334]

Tennessee is going to throw the ball deep on the perimeter a ton. Can the DBs pick up all the vertical threats with all the switch releases UT uses?

Can the DBs defend the long balls and not get burnt?

Can the DBs defend the long balls and not get a bunch of PI calls, extending drives and putting Tennessee in position to score when they could've gotten off the field?

Yep, will be a non-stop assault on our defensive backs. All I've got to say is we better be able to pressure. That Cheetah package may be the key. Wouldn't hurt my feelings to even back To'oto'o back a step to help depth over the middle and let Lawson work East and West.

 

[NickelDoubleDog]

Yep, will be a non-stop assault on our defensive backs. All I've got to say is we better be able to pressure. That Cheetah package may be the key. Wouldn't hurt my feelings to even back To'oto'o back a step to help depth over the middle and let Lawson work East and West.

Agreed. And with the pass rush, the danger is running all those stunts in the cheetah package and a guy getting just slightly out of their lane, and Hooker pulling it down and running for 15-20 yards on 3rd down. It's a really tough task this weekend.

I would fee much better with Bryce - I think Gibbs can go off if Bryce is there, and I think the WRs can get open and Bryce will get them the ball to make plays.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

Yep, will be a non-stop assault on our defensive backs. All I've got to say is we better be able to pressure. That Cheetah package may be the key. Wouldn't hurt my feelings to even back To'oto'o back a step to help depth over the middle and let Lawson work East and West.

Bama's DL has to stop the run 1st. Can't all UT to have success both running and passing. Jimbo's plan of going downfield on 1st down was a success for many series. I believe they threw the ball on every 1st down play for the entire game. #9 and #2 are more average than good on defense and neither are ball hawks.

 

[bamanc50]

Honestly it comes down to how well the gameplan and adjustments are from the coaching staff. Not saying Tennessee can't stop Alabama defensively, but the only thing that has been stopping Alabama offensively is the poor play calling.

Play calling. That’s exactly what worries me about this game. I think the players will be ready to play. The question is BoB ready and not checking out available head coaching jobs. IMO the defense will play lights out and hopefully they will be able to slow down Tennessee’s offense despite the poor play calling. We shall see. RTR

 

[TerryP]

Tennessee is going to throw the ball deep on the perimeter a ton. Can the DBs pick up all the vertical threats with all the switch releases UT uses?

Can the DBs defend the long balls and not get burnt?

Can the DBs defend the long balls and not get a bunch of PI calls, extending drives and putting Tennessee in position to score when they could've gotten off the field?

Let's look at the Tennessee offense for what it is. Another variation of the Air Raid with some Bill Walsh type routes mixed in.

The variations will cost some yards and points. It happens with the Saban defense. If it were a true Air Raid we'd see Saban vs Leach type results.

 

[TerryP]

I believe they threw the ball on every 1st down play for the entire game.

Funny you say that because I looked.

They ran on first down the first four or five series. Jimbo switched a bit, and then went on a streak of throwing on first. Running vs passing 3:5.

 

[NickelDoubleDog]

Let's look at the Tennessee offense for what it is. Another variation of the Air Raid with some Bill Walsh type routes mixed in.

The variations will cost some yards and points. It happens with the Saban defense. If it were a true Air Raid we'd see Saban vs Leach type results.

It looks to cause much more confusion than the Leach Air raid at least. Alabama has shut down Leach's offense the last 2 years. Several other teams have as well, despite Will Rogers being one of Leach's best QBs ever.

I don't think anyone is stopping this Tennessee offense. Last year the DBs couldn't get lined up in time due to the tempo, and DBs got confused when passing WRs off when they used switch releases. Led to some easy TDs, one of them a very long one.

That will have to be cleaned up this year or Tennessee is going to be playing from the lead, and that will adversely affect the offense. The stadium is going to be rocking, and probably will be an even more difficult setting than DRK was when Bama played at Texas in September.

 

[BamaFan334]

It looks to cause much more confusion than the Leach Air raid at least. Alabama has shut down Leach's offense the last 2 years. Several other teams have as well, despite Will Rogers being one of Leach's best QBs ever.

I don't think anyone is stopping this Tennessee offense. Last year the DBs couldn't get lined up in time due to the tempo, and DBs got confused when passing WRs off when they used switch releases. Led to some easy TDs, one of them a very long one.

That will have to be cleaned up this year or Tennessee is going to be playing from the lead, and that will adversely affect the offense. The stadium is going to be rocking, and probably will be an even more difficult setting than DRK was when Bama played at Texas in September.

We will need to control the clock and smother them. Good thing is Gibbs and McClellan are more than capable. I have no doubt that stadium will be twice as loud as Texas. They are chomping at the bit and looking to end twelve years of misery. This is what college football is about, and games like this is what keeps me here and still putting up with the rest of college football. I bet tailgating will be a ton of fun for a 3:30 game as the weather finally starts cooling down some.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

It looks to cause much more confusion than the Leach Air raid at least. Alabama has shut down Leach's offense the last 2 years. Several other teams have as well, despite Will Rogers being one of Leach's best QBs ever.

I don't think anyone is stopping this Tennessee offense. Last year the DBs couldn't get lined up in time due to the tempo, and DBs got confused when passing WRs off when they used switch releases. Led to some easy TDs, one of them a very long one.

That will have to be cleaned up this year or Tennessee is going to be playing from the lead, and that will adversely affect the offense. The stadium is going to be rocking, and probably will be an even more difficult setting than DRK was when Bama played at Texas in September.

Dont need them in lead...for sure...
Noise rachets up...and emotional pull...

And DBs not getting... lined up....
DC should be 100% prepared...but ..........

 

[NickelDoubleDog]

We will need to control the clock and smother them. Good thing is Gibbs and McClellan are more than capable. I have no doubt that stadium will be twice as loud as Texas. They are chomping at the bit and looking to end twelve years of misery. This is what college football is about, and games like this is what keeps me here and still putting up with the rest of college football. I bet tailgating will be a ton of fun for a 3:30 game as the weather finally starts cooling down some.

Gibbs has really upped his game since the first few.

McClellan - not as high on him as early on. I think he has great pure running skills, but I don't think he's physical. And that fumble last week was a killer. Killed another chance to score and go up 3 scores (IIRC), in which case the game becomes a win without any drama.

Roydell is running pretty well.

I know he won't play because of the others in front of him and pass pro concerns, but Jamarrion Miller is a better pure runner than the guys in front of him besides Gibbs (Miller is more physical between those two).

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Gibbs has really upped his game since the first few.

McClellan - not as high on him as early on. I think he has great pure running skills, but I don't think he's physical. And that fumble last week was a killer. Killed another chance to score and go up 3 scores (IIRC), in which case the game becomes a win without any drama.

Roydell is running pretty well.

I know he won't play because of the others in front of him and pass pro concerns, but Jamarrion Miller is a better pure runner than the guys in front of him besides Gibbs (Miller is more physical between those two).

I tell you this truth...

You have to see Gibbs in person to appreciate...

The guy has speed and quickness....and cuts.....rarely i have ever seen...

 

[Justneedme81]

Gibbs has really upped his game since the first few.

McClellan - not as high on him as early on. I think he has great pure running skills, but I don't think he's physical. And that fumble last week was a killer. Killed another chance to score and go up 3 scores (IIRC), in which case the game becomes a win without any drama.

Roydell is running pretty well.

I know he won't play because of the others in front of him and pass pro concerns, but Jamarrion Miller is a better pure runner than the guys in front of him besides Gibbs (Miller is more physical between those two).

That was Jase's first fumble in 3 seasons at Alabama. I think Jase will bounce back against Tennessee. I like his game.

 

[NickelDoubleDog]

That was Jase's first fumble in 3 seasons at Alabama. I think Jase will bounce back against Tennessee. I like his game.

He played sparingly in 2020, all in mop up duty.

Last year he was looking good as a receiver out of the backfield. 50 touches before missing the rest of the year with an injury.

I'm not saying he's a fumbler, but this one was critical. I'm more saying that I don't think he's a physical runner. When you have a RB rotation, there's value in the guy rotating in having a different style, and maybe a slightly different body type. I don't know that he's different-enough from Gibbs to be as effective of a change up, because he's not really a change up.

 

[JoshB]

@JoshB is doubling down. Heck we may win by 50 .

I'm teetering on whether I wanna say 20+ with or without Bryce actually.

 

[PurlJam]

Can we dwell on that for a minute?

How many years and counting?

 

[JoshB]

Tennessee is going to throw the ball deep on the perimeter a ton. Can the DBs pick up all the vertical threats with all the switch releases UT uses?

Can the DBs defend the long balls and not get burnt?

Can the DBs defend the long balls and not get a bunch of PI calls, extending drives and putting Tennessee in position to score when they could've gotten off the field?

No.

 

[BamaFan334]

Gibbs has really upped his game since the first few.

McClellan - not as high on him as early on. I think he has great pure running skills, but I don't think he's physical. And that fumble last week was a killer. Killed another chance to score and go up 3 scores (IIRC), in which case the game becomes a win without any drama.

Roydell is running pretty well.

I know he won't play because of the others in front of him and pass pro concerns, but Jamarrion Miller is a better pure runner than the guys in front of him besides Gibbs (Miller is more physical between those two).

Jase is a slippery back. He's a bulky guy, but seems to be tough to tackle one on one for most defenders. I just don't think he's really had the blocking to do what he can do. Gibbs is just special, and I hate we did not get him right out of high school (between us and Tech). Both never seem to take big blows and remind me a lot of TJ Yeldon, always falling forward too.

 

[NickelDoubleDog]

Jase is a slippery back. He's a bulky guy, but seems to be tough to tackle one on one for most defenders. I just don't think he's really had the blocking to do what he can do. Gibbs is just special, and I hate we did not get him right out of high school (between us and Tech). Both never seem to take big blows and remind me a lot of TJ Yeldon, always falling forward too.

TJ Yeldon flashed in game 1 as a true freshman. McClellan is in Year 3 and is not close to TJ Yeldon. I just haven't seen McClellan make many people miss or break many tackles this year. He does have surprising top end speed though, as evidenced by that 80 yard TD vs. Texas. If there is a crease he has really good speed.

Gibbs is proving to be an elite back. I just wish the change up back had more of a different style. Roydell is close to it with his physicality - Miller is probably the closest to what would be the ideal complement to Gibbs. I hope McClellan proves me wrong and goes off vs. Tennessee. It will be needed.

 

[BamaFan334]

TJ Yeldon flashed in game 1 as a true freshman. McClellan is in Year 3 and is not close to TJ Yeldon. I just haven't seen McClellan make many people miss or break many tackles this year. He does have surprising top end speed though, as evidenced by that 80 yard TD vs. Texas. If there is a crease he has really good speed.

Gibbs is proving to be an elite back. I just wish the change up back had more of a different style. Roydell is close to it with his physicality - Miller is probably the closest to what would be the ideal complement to Gibbs. I hope McClellan proves me wrong and goes off vs. Tennessee. It will be needed.

Without McClellan we lose to Florida last year.

 

[Secondand26]

Without McClellan we lose to Florida last year.

Well, don't start spouting facts!