🏈 In the spirit of keeping the thread title simple: "Here's a few thoughts going into Saturday"

[TerryP]

• ESPN hasn't started hyping it as of this minute. It's 6:00 AM Sunday. I wonder when it'll start on a national scale.
• As they begin to hype the game—they, as in the major networks including Internet sites like SI.com—I wonder what'll be their monicker for this game. Remember with LSU it was the "Game of the Century?"
• I hope there isn't a lot of talk about last year when people start looking at this game. I know there will be so here's a thought or two on that.
  • I realize and understand the impact this team dealt with coming off of a big victory against LSU.
  • I hope people also realize A&M was on the back end of a tough schedule last season—impact here as well.
• Turnovers. For the sake of {insert apropos cause}, no turnovers.
• I hope there's little talk about drama queens this week.
• Ironically, Bell was our 2nd leading receiver last season.
• Last year just under 74% of the yardage we gain came from our passing game. A&M hasn't stopped the run this season.
• The 14th ranked team in total offense in the conference going against the team with the 13th ranked unit in total defense in the conference. Oh my!
• 14th ranked total offense versus 1st ranked total offense.
• Yes, it's the flip side when you look at A&M's defensive rankings vs Bama's.
• I suspect I'm more optimistic about this weekend than most here.
• Lane Kiffin joke.
• Mack Brown joke.
• For me, this game has an Arkansas feel to it—think years when you knew Petrino had a good offense. IF we can have an impact on the quarterback and make the team one dimensional...decisive win.
• If you haven't seen them, you'll begin to see more Saban and Texas suggestions. And here I am thinking about Al Golden to TX.
• I have to believe we'll be talking about Vinnie this time next week. I suspect, strongly, in glowing terms.
• Eryk Anders broke Texas football.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

All good things to consider, Terry. Last year, we were not prepared for their initial short passing attack and we didn't make effective adjustments until after it was 14-0. We didn't sufficiently slow them to prevent the third TD. We've got be be on it from the first snap. The number may not support it yet, but they have a good RB, and he's dangerous as a receiver as well.

RTR,

Tim

 

[TerryP]

All good things to consider, Terry. Last year, we were not prepared for their initial short passing attack and we didn't make effective adjustments until after it was 14-0. We didn't sufficiently slow them to prevent the third TD. We've got be be on it from the first snap. The number may not support it yet, but they have a good RB, and he's dangerous as a receiver as well.

RTR,

Tim

How many times have you thought and said something similar to that going into the fourth week of the season: IE: Arkansas?

I've been trying to put a definition on how I feel going into this game and it's boiled down to two games: both Arkansas, '10 and '11.

 

[Kirk Van de Graaff]

I think TJ has a great game here, Clinton-Dix will also shine, the offensive line will start to get it together by the second quarter, and by the end of the third this one will be over. I would guess Manziel will be running a lot. Doesn't bode well if he gets hit constantly. Believe me I am as optimistic as you Terry. I dont think A&M has the defense to hold us. Lane Kiffin will be a coordinator somewhere in the near future. Mack will announce his retirement before years end, or get booted. Saban to Texas rumors, as you said, will be ridiculously rampant.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

How many times have you thought and said something similar to that going into the fourth week of the season: IE: Arkansas?

I've been trying to put a definition on how I feel going into this game and it's boiled down to two games: both Arkansas, '10 and '11.

I've read it and said it out of caution, but not from a "this is what got us in a hole last year when we lost" perspective. I hope they're as impotent against us as Arkansas vintage 2010 and 2011, but let's just beat them.

RTR,

Tim

 

[ElephantStomp]

I think the offense as a whole has a great game. Last year we weren't ready for Manziel's abilities, but I suspect he's going to be rendered to running for his life and we hit him. I think we win by 17.

Kiffin will remain coach at USC, I don't see them firing him anytime soon.

Mack is retiring at the end of the season and the Saban to Texas rumors are going to crazy, but not because of ESPN or any of the sports Internet sites, but by message board folks.

 

[bamafan4ever]

Saban to Texas rumors will be fueled by a lot of wishful thinking by other fans of SEC teams and maybe Texas fans (but especially Aubrun fans).

The Lane Kiffin Sewage Treatment Plant in Nashville remains one of the country's finest waste treatment facilities.

The Georgia/South Carolina if nothing was entertaining....as Clowney for Heisman screams lower to mere whispers.

Auburn handled Arkie St. better than I expected.

Tennessee travels to Oregon next week and I actually wish them luck.

Texas A&M DOES have an Arkansas-feel to them coming into this game. I also think Casey Dick couldn't help what his last name was but Johnny Football has earned his last name, Casey's last name that is.

 

[bamaledge]

I saw one commercial last night during the Michigan game and it's moniker was "revenge". I told my wife that its not about revenge or redemption, it's just about winning. I'm not worried so much about the defensive line or the special teams. What I am concerned with is the gelling of the O-line and the secondary. I think containment of JM like we did so many other dual threat QB's is the key. Great points Terry and I will ponder on those and more this week. I just hope we come out and play like the number 1 team in the country.

 

[bamaraider]

Lane Kiffin destroying the USC program.

Washington State upsets USC at USC.

Auburn folks claim they are "back" after seeing Wazzu beat USC.

A&M offense makes headline news, Manziel talk nonstop.

No talk about how terrible A&M's defense has been against teams like Sam Houston State and Rice.

All talk about Alabama struggles on offensive line and no talk about Alabama's strong defense.

10erC getting hyped up, their fans start believing. Oregon beats them by 50, they go back to hiding.

Tried my best :confused-smiley-013

 

[TheChief]

Lane Kiffin destroying the USC program.

Washington State upsets USC at USC.

Auburn folks claim they are "back" after seeing Wazzu beat USC.

A&M offense makes headline news, Manziel talk nonstop.

No talk about how terrible A&M's defense has been against teams like Sam Houston State and Rice.

All talk about Alabama struggles on offensive line and no talk about Alabama's strong defense.

10erC getting hyped up, their fans start believing. Oregon beats them by 50, they go back to hiding.

Tried my best :confused-smiley-013

Look's like it's Lane's turn to dance with Karma. When the former Vols head man fantasized about coaching USC, I doubt any of those dreams included everyone in the Rose Bowl chanting in unison, "FIRE KIFFIN, FIRE KIFFIN, FIRE KIFFIN..."

 

[bamafan9201]

• As they begin to hype the game—they, as in the major networks including Internet sites like SI.com—I wonder what'll be their monicker for this game. Remember with LSU it was the "Game of the Century?"
• I hope there isn't a lot of talk about last year when people start looking at this game. I know there will be so here's a thought or two on that.
  • I realize and understand the impact this team dealt with coming off of a big victory against LSU.
  • I hope people also realize A&M was on the back end of a tough schedule last season.

I can't look at that gruesome Auburn and Miss St schedule from last year as anything that was tough. Alabama had much tougher stretch through those 2 previous games.

 

[TerryP]

• As they begin to hype the game—they, as in the major networks including Internet sites like SI.com—I wonder what'll be their monicker for this game. Remember with LSU it was the "Game of the Century?"
• I hope there isn't a lot of talk about last year when people start looking at this game. I know there will be so here's a thought or two on that.
  • I realize and understand the impact this team dealt with coming off of a big victory against LSU.
  • I hope people also realize A&M was on the back end of a tough schedule last season.

I can't look at that gruesome Auburn and Miss St schedule from last year as anything that was tough. Alabama had much tougher stretch through those 2 previous games.

If you look back at the 2102 A&M schedule you'll see we were their tenth game of the season—that's playing us after nine games in a row without an off week.

Tough schedule even if you want to downplay those two road games with AU and MSU.

 

[planomateo]

Yup, their bye week got nuked with the storm early in the season when they were supposed to play in the Poulan Weedeater Bowl against La Tech. Not that I'm trying to defend them, by any means, but playing all their games without a bye their first year in the SEC, get some kudos.

 

[TheChief]

After the hype about the LSU game though, Bama was bound to have a bit of an emotional letdown the following week with the Aggies. I'm trying to defend the first half of that game. Not saying the Tide couldn't have done something to prevent the letdown, but that was a huge win the week before.

 

[planomateo]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TAMU&amp;src=hash">#TAMU</a> S Floyd Raven suffers a collarbone injury last night; left game; status unknown...</p>&mdash; Jeff Tarpley (@TarpRivals) <a href="https://twitter.com/TarpRivals/statuses/376741863429910528">September 8, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This could be a big hit for them, he can cover alot of ground and is pretty good against the run. Believe their secondary was believed to be one of the stronger parts of their defense.

 

[CrimsonVette]

I also saw that commercial for the game at the end of the meatchicken/noter lame game, it looks like ESPN is going with the "revenge" tagline. The also had granny and May talking about it on college football final. Holtz said what we all have heard since the VA Tech game. "Bama has problems on offense". May was much more confident that we beat a&m.

My thoughts about the game. We must have positive yardage on first down, 3 to 4 if a running play, 4 or more on a a pass play. We have to avoid third and long as much as possible. We need clock eating drives that end in points keeping that disrespectful punk on the sidelines. On D we need to do the same things we did in the second half of last years game, keep johnny goofball from escaping and running loose. I fully believe CNS and his staff will have a great game plan to beat the pants off a&m, our guys just have to execute that plan. This is nothing all of you don't already know it's just my thought going into the game.

Mack Brown, done if any other embarrassments this season. Kiffin, a joke from the word go.

 

[bamascw]

There is so much to consider when looking ahead to Saturday. I have never been to A&M but their stadium is a very noisy and tough place to play (I hear). I don't think any player on our team needs to be motivated to play as well as they can. The obvious would be

1) The "O" line must play better
2) The running game must be solid (see #1)
3) Survive the emotion of the first few minutes of the first and third quarter
4) Defense need to "stay at home", any of us that played in high school remember that phrase well
5) No stupid mental mistakes..ie smack talking that could draw unsportsman like conduct penalties. I am sure Jonny Leprechaun will be running that mouth and air signing autographs.

 

[bamaraider]

South Carolina-Vanderbilt could be an interesting game.

 

[Bamabww]

Terry, good thoughts.

Here's a few of mine:

Our running game comes alive this game.

Our defense will shove the football up Johnny's a-hole.

One of our defensive players will probably be ejected for a hit on JF.

 

[bamafan9201]

If you look back at the 2102 A&M schedule you'll see we were their tenth game of the season—that's playing us after nine games in a row without an off week.

Tough schedule even if you want to downplay those two road games with AU and MSU.

That's looking collectively at a season, different way to look at things and even still then you compare Alabama's opening game vs Michigan and things of that nature. Though I understand that they had to take their bye in the first week of the season it happens to someone generally every year. Just the luck of the draw, I felt their games leading up to the one against us were much less emotional and tough than ours leading up to them. Which is what I generally measure things by. The 1-2 games before. I like the rest of the observations, I have a feeling a lot of our game plan against VT was simplified because we wanted to make things easier for the O-line. That also left them wondering who to block on what play, and left our offensive plays looking vanilla.