📡 Grading Alabama football's victory over Texas A&M in Bryant-Denny 2020 debut - Tidesports

[Bama News]

Grading Alabama football's victory over Texas A&M in Bryant-Denny 2020 debut

Assigning grades to Alabama's performance against the Aggies, one that featured dominant second and third quarters.

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Alabama improved to 2-0 with its 52-24 victory over Texas A&M, one that saw both teams amass more than 450 yards of offense.

Here’s how Alabama’s performance in the win over Texas A&M graded out:

Offense: A-
Running for 3.9 yards per carry was a disappointing showing, especially for Najee Harris and his 12 carries for 43 yards. But quarterback Mac Jones and the pass-catching corps was clearly UA’s chosen group, producing 435 yards and four touchdowns.

Defense: B-
It had good and bad moments in a performance that both exposed its potential and its weaknesses. Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond attempted 44 passes without being sacked once.

Special Teams: B
Placekicker Will Reichard was perfect in his opportunities and return man Jaylen Waddle created 11 yards with his one attempt. Punter Sam Johnson had one good punt of 40 yards and bad one of 26 yards.

Coaching: B+
Jones consistently had open receivers to throw to, and UA only got to running more than it threw by running out the clock with its final three plays. UA’s defense had an up-and-down performance, but did only commit one penalty.

Final grade: B+
Alabama’s start was not dominant, and neither was its finish, but it’s middle can only be described as dominant.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Score 50+ and thats not dominate?

anyone watch that game and feel worried ?
( not me and I worry all the time)

it was dominating!!!!! Solid A

 

[Justneedme81]

1. TAMU sold out to stop runs. That's why we couldn't run.
2. Baramore was out of the game.
3. "Coaching: B+
Jones consistently had open receivers to throw to, and UA only got to running more than it threw by running out the clock with its final three plays. UA’s defense had an up-and-down performance, but did only commit one penalty. "

Should be more of B- Offense had several penalties. Sark tried to force Screen passing game early in the game. We had several players missing assignments especially secondary.

 

[rick4bama]

What game was he watching?

 

[TerryP]

2. Baramore was out of the game.

I don't have the number of snaps, yet, but he played yesterday.

 

[mando]

Baramore was in the game I think mostly on passing downs. First game so will take some time but he we was not as disruptive as he showed a few times last year. We really need someone on D to step up with the pass rush. If you throw 44 times there should be more than one sack. Need to see how many pressures we got. I do know but anytime they got Mond moving the outcome was usually an incompletion. He was very inaccurate when they got pressure. Same can be said about Jones, I saw a stat this morning that he was only 1-4 when pressured. Surprised me he was only pressured 4 times. We all know when pressured most QB's stats go down. 4 samples is hard to get a read but hope he will be better than 25%.

50+ still surprising me so far this year by not picking on the special teams especially the punter. Hard for me to give the special teams a B if for no other reason than the 26 yard punt smh.

 

[ColAngus]

Sark gets an A. His play-calling this season has been spot on.

 

[Destiny's Child]

Sark gets an A. His play-calling this season has been spot on.

long pass on 3rd and 1 on a drive we needed at the time was a dumb call

 

[ColAngus]

long pass on 3rd and 1 on a drive we needed at the time was a dumb call

So what grade would you give Sark after marking him down for one bad (according to you) play call?

 

[Destiny's Child]

I am concerned with Daniel Wright and his impact on our defense. He is a senior and doesn’t know his assignments.. can’t tackle. I saw Hellams get some playing time and I would be happy if Branch got some time back there. If we are going to miss some assignments We have more upside with the young guys.

everything else besides for his missed assignments and tackles has been pretty good. Our punter cant kick it more than 40 but he hits it 9 miles high.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

I don't have the number of snaps, yet, but he played yesterday.

He is by far the most disruptive DL we have. #31 is the the dude with the highest ceiling of the front 7. A&M made 3rd and 11, 12 too many times. I understand why #9 Battle plays defense. He has zero ball skills. He can't even deflect the ball with his hands. The Moore kid has football savvy. #3 is a threat to both Bama and the opposition.


Colonel Meyers: What's your assessment of this punting situation?

Gunny Highway: It's a cluster fuck.

 

[mando]

#9 Battle plays defense. He has zero ball skills.

He was the guy who defended the pass to #84 around the goal line. At the end of the play got enough of his hand on the ball to dislodge it. Incomplete pass. He has some skill or he would not be at Bama and starting.

 

[bradenob]

I am concerned with Daniel Wright and his impact on our defense. He is a senior and doesn’t know his assignments.. can’t tackle. I saw Hellams get some playing time and I would be happy if Branch got some time back there. If we are going to miss some assignments We have more upside with the young guys.

everything else besides for his missed assignments and tackles has been pretty good. Our punter cant kick it more than 40 but he hits it 9 miles high.

As far as Sark, he still thinks too much of the WR screens - they haven't worked very well.... other than that I think he called a very good overall game.

Regarding D. Wright, he may not know his assignments (we certainly had some blown coverages) but he seems to be in the right place at the right time. He just doesn't hit hard or wrap a ball carrier up when he DOES arrive. Hopefully that will improve? He is fast and I have to think he wouldn't be out there if Hellams could give him a good run for the money.

 

[Tidestalker]

As far as Sark, he still thinks too much of the WR screens - they haven't worked very well.... other than that I think he called a very good overall game.

Regarding D. Wright, he may not know his assignments (we certainly had some blown coverages) but he seems to be in the right place at the right time. He just doesn't hit hard or wrap a ball carrier up when he DOES arrive. Hopefully that will improve? He is fast and I have to think he wouldn't be out there if Hellams could give him a good run for the money.

To the amateur eye, it looked like Hellams got picked on when he subbed for Wright in the 4th quarter. Aside from the 1 play, it appeared that getting that particular position involved was a good way to scheme against our D. That pick 6 was huge though... Huge momentum shift

 

[TerryP]

He is by far the most disruptive DL we have. #31 is the the dude with the highest ceiling of the front 7. A&M made 3rd and 11, 12 too many times. I understand why #9 Battle plays defense. He has zero ball skills. He can't even deflect the ball with his hands. The Moore kid has football savvy. #3 is a threat to both Bama and the opposition.

Mathis, Young, and arguably Eboigbe had better games that Barmore. We'll see how well he comes along but word is he's growing. It's a good thing.
Your critiques remind me of how you were saying the same things about frosh last season. And yet, here we are two days after seeing Harris have the best game since he's been in Tuscaloosa.

I am concerned with Daniel Wright and his impact on our defense. He is a senior and doesn’t know his assignments..

Daniel is a redshirt Junior. He was a special teams guy his freshman year. His sophomore year crashed due to a season ending injury. When he returned in '19 he only played in seven games. There were only two games where he saw action with the ones (NMSt and UArk) and those games were limited snaps. Overall, he had 90 snaps in 2019: he had 73 against Missouri. We are literally talking about a guy who figuratively is starting his second season working with the defensive backs on a full time basis.

To me, it seems everyone is upset about the touchdown and that's skewed perceptions.

 

[Destiny's Child]

Mathis, Young, and arguably Eboigbe had better games that Barmore. We'll see how well he comes along but word is he's growing. It's a good thing.
Your critiques remind me of how you were saying the same things about frosh last season. And yet, here we are two days after seeing Harris have the best game since he's been in Tuscaloosa.

Daniel is a redshirt Junior. He was a special teams guy his freshman year. His sophomore year crashed due to a season ending injury. When he returned in '19 he only played in seven games. There were only two games where he saw action with the ones (NMSt and UArk) and those games were limited snaps. Overall, he had 90 snaps in 2019: he had 73 against Missouri. We are literally talking about a guy who figuratively is starting his second season working with the defensive backs on a full time basis.

To me, it seems everyone is upset about the touchdown and that's skewed perceptions.

I knew he was in his 4th year and I have seen him on special teams laying some licks over the years. I am also aware that against Mizzou he not only lead us in tackles but also in missed tackles.
No venom towards the kid but he seems to get flustered when the lights are on. He missed multiple assignments, blew coverages even on passes they didn't complete and the tackles he is missing is because he refuses to lift his head and bring his arms with him. These are things he should have been taught his entire football life.

I am just saying Hellams and Branch were both borderline starters during camp lets give them a shot and if we are going to take lumps anyway use a young guy who can at least tackle.

IMHO.. some of the reasons he seems to be by the ball a lot is because other teams are targeting him as the weakest link. Wjich puts him by the ball a lot.

 

[TerryP]

IMHO.. some of the reasons he seems to be by the ball a lot is because other teams are targeting him as the weakest link. Wjich puts him by the ball a lot.

On the same note, any offensive coach worth his salt is going to attack behind the front seven, mid field. (I'd be interested to see Mond's passing chart.) MM had a great game, the others were caught up in some of the misdirection plays (EG: wheel routes again.)

They are still dealing with communication issues between the safeties and what Moses has been calling: we saw that again this past weekend. That's a correctable, teachable situation that is found year in and year out when a team is playing their second game.

Here's my thing and let me use LSU as an example. We all know how good Stingley is as a defensive back. We saw what the receiving crew from Bama did to their secondary last season. What we didn't see is "Stingley sucks ballz." We saw many lauding the skill from Bama's receiving corps.

I see comments—and I'm not referring to your critique here, it was solid (though I think you're expecting too much to date)—and a lot are along the lines of "this player has no talent."

On the other hand, I look at Ainias Smith and Jalen Wydermyer—talented guys that'll be playing on Sunday's—and realize they are both more experienced and have more talent than the starting secondary for the Tide. My reaction isn't as described earlier but a nod to "that's a ball player." The same goes with Mond. While he's been inconsistent throughout his career, the guy has talent.

It's not about acknowledging another's ability and performance as much as it is slamming this weeks chosen target (by fans, not opposition, though both apply.)

It's like I mentioned in another thread. Two guys, both fans, can watch the same game and have different impressions. It's my opinion context is forgotten, or often ignored.

On another note here. What do you think was the primarily concern among fans before the game started? I'll put names to it; Mond and Spiller's running ability. Both were shut down. Spiller had less than 25 yards, Mond less than 20.

Where was Fisher supposed to go?

(As much as I don't believe Jimbo is a good head coach I do believe he's a good play caller and offensive mind. In my view, nothing wrong with giving what's due versus what's seen in the rear view mirror.)

What might we see this weekend? Some shuffling in the secondary. But, is that new? No, it's seen every season. Bama had seven different starters in the secondary last season; eight in 2018.

I guess it all boils down to how I look at things...a golfers mentality, if you will. "The course beat me there; it's beaten a lot of people there. But, I can improve on that." It doesn't make me a hacker.

 

[NickelDoubleDog]

This was one of the poorest schemed games on defense I can remember from Alabama in a while. It became even more evident when watching Georgia that night. The schemes that used to be prevalent in Tuscaloosa are gone - seeing a variety of matchup zone, presnap movement disguising rushers, free blitzers getting unimpeded pressure to the QB, 6-7 guys on D with their eyes on the QB shutting down passing lanes....those schemes are now living in Athens, GA.

So far this year, the offensive efficiency doesn't mesh with the defensive scheme. The offense is scoring lots of points, but teams are making them throw. They do that really well, and score fast. The D isn't elite in shutting down the run, and is subpar at 3rd down defense. Teams covert 3rd and long and absurdly high%. As a result, the D is on the field all the time and it makes the team vulnerable if the offense is off at all in the passing game.

Georgia coming to town in 2 weeks looks like a daunting task.

 

[18Champs]

This was one of the poorest schemed games on defense I can remember from Alabama in a while. It became even more evident when watching Georgia that night. The schemes that used to be prevalent in Tuscaloosa are gone - seeing a variety of matchup zone, presnap movement disguising rushers, free blitzers getting unimpeded pressure to the QB, 6-7 guys on D with their eyes on the QB shutting down passing lanes....those schemes are now living in Athens, GA

And the rings are in Tuscaloosa.

The scheme was to shut down the run. They did.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

This was one of the poorest schemed games on defense I can remember from Alabama in a while. It became even more evident when watching Georgia that night. The schemes that used to be prevalent in Tuscaloosa are gone - seeing a variety of matchup zone, presnap movement disguising rushers, free blitzers getting unimpeded pressure to the QB, 6-7 guys on D with their eyes on the QB shutting down passing lanes....those schemes are now living in Athens, GA.

So far this year, the offensive efficiency doesn't mesh with the defensive scheme. The offense is scoring lots of points, but teams are making them throw. They do that really well, and score fast. The D isn't elite in shutting down the run, and is subpar at 3rd down defense. Teams covert 3rd and long and absurdly high%. As a result, the D is on the field all the time and it makes the team vulnerable if the offense is off at all in the passing game.

Georgia coming to town in 2 weeks looks like a daunting task.

well. Just don't look any further than DC
Over his head.