| GAME THREAD Kent State vs Alabama
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Kent State vs. Alabama: Game Preview, Prediction and Players to Watch
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — When it comes to moving on from last week’s roller-coaster 48-43 victory, University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban was more than happy with the way his team came back from an early 21-point deficit at Ole Miss, but also frustrated about his team's overall performance when going over the game film.
“The devil is kind of in the details,” he said. “We could have really lost the game based on mental mistakes, mental errors, lack of execution at times that led to really bad plays for our team. Our focus needs to be on getting these things corrected but having the ability to focus on sort of each and every play.”
Saban had plenty of examples to choose from, including the missed assignment that led to freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts getting drilled, resulting in a fumble return for a touchdown, the busted coverage in the secondary for another easy score and the team struggling to finish during the final minutes.
“All these things catch up with you if you don't fix them, correct them, focus on every play and get things executed properly. Leads to lots of problems,” Saban said.
For the most part Alabama players were given an extra day off to recover as Monday was primarily used for film study, but the Crimson Tide benefit from having Kent State and Kentucky next up on the schedule.
These two weeks will give the team a chance to work on its attention to detail and the things that could go a long way in determining how well Alabama fares during the subsequent two months of the season.
Date: Saturday, Sept. 14
Time: 11 a.m. CT
Place: Bryant-Denny Stadium
TV: SEC Network
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network, WHLO 640 AM, Sirius 106, XM 190.
Spread: Alabama is a 43-point favorite, according to Odds Shark
BEGIN SLIDESHOW »
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — When it comes to moving on from last week’s roller-coaster 48-43 victory, University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban was more than happy with the way his team came back from an early 21-point deficit at Ole Miss, but also frustrated about his team's overall performance when going over the game film.
“The devil is kind of in the details,” he said. “We could have really lost the game based on mental mistakes, mental errors, lack of execution at times that led to really bad plays for our team. Our focus needs to be on getting these things corrected but having the ability to focus on sort of each and every play.”
Saban had plenty of examples to choose from, including the missed assignment that led to freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts getting drilled, resulting in a fumble return for a touchdown, the busted coverage in the secondary for another easy score and the team struggling to finish during the final minutes.
“All these things catch up with you if you don't fix them, correct them, focus on every play and get things executed properly. Leads to lots of problems,” Saban said.
For the most part Alabama players were given an extra day off to recover as Monday was primarily used for film study, but the Crimson Tide benefit from having Kent State and Kentucky next up on the schedule.
These two weeks will give the team a chance to work on its attention to detail and the things that could go a long way in determining how well Alabama fares during the subsequent two months of the season.
Date: Saturday, Sept. 14
Time: 11 a.m. CT
Place: Bryant-Denny Stadium
TV: SEC Network
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network, WHLO 640 AM, Sirius 106, XM 190.
Spread: Alabama is a 43-point favorite, according to Odds Shark
BEGIN SLIDESHOW »
Alabama17Tide
Member
Alabama vs. Kent State
By Lee Richards
September 23, 2016
After outlasting Ole Miss on the road last Saturday, No. 1 Alabama (3-0, 1-0 SEC) returns home to host Kent State (1-2). Kickoff inside Bryant-Denny Stadium is set for shortly after 11 a.m. Here are five storylines for the game.
All-freshman backfield for Golden Flashes
Shaun Dion Hamilton and the UA defense figure to make things difficult for Kent State.
At quarterback, the Golden Flashes will go with Mylik Mitchell, a left-handed redshirt freshman who’s completed 59.7 percent of his attempts for 353 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. All five of his touchdown tosses have come in the past two games. Mitchell is also a running threat, with a team-high 44 carries for 113 yards.
True freshman running back Justin Rankin has shown some flashes during his short time on campus. He leads the team with 178 yards and a touchdown. He also has six receptions for 47 yards. Rankin will be backed up by sophomore Myles Washington.
Among the pass catchers, the player to watch is junior Nick Holley. The running back-turned-slot receiver leads the team with 12 catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns. He’s also carried the ball 11 times. The other two starting wideouts are senior Ernest Calhoun and sophomore Johnny Woods. Woods, from Smiths Station, is the only player on the roster from the state of Alabama. Senior tight end Brice Frackler has two touchdown grabs.
Kent State’s two best offensive linemen are on the left side, senior tackle Reno Reda and senior guard Wayne Scott. They’ve combined for 61 starts. The other three starters up front will be sophomore center Stefano Millin, sophomore right guard Connor Shinsky and junior right tackle Brock Macaulay. The group averages 6-4¾ and 290 pounds per man. Kent State quarterbacks have already been sacked 12 times.
Talented trio leads Kent State defense
Defensively, Kent State surrenders 320 yards and 26.3 points per game. The top player along the defensive line is senior end Terence Waugh, a preseason All-MAC selection. After registering nine sacks a season ago, Waugh is off to a strong start in 2016. He already has 26 tackles, five sacks and a forced fumble. He’s notched a sack in each game this season. The other three starters up front will be sophomore end Theo Eboigbe, junior defensive tackle Jon Cunningham and senior nose tackle Chris Fairchild.
James Alexander, a junior, leads the way at middle linebacker. He has 10 tackles and a sack. The starting outside linebacker is senior Nick Cuthbert, but UA will also see plenty of senior Elcee Refuge at the position. Refuge checks in at only 5-9, but he's a stout 230 pounds. He has seven tackles, an interception and two fumble recoveries.
The secondary of the Golden Flashes features junior Demetrius Monday, one of the best cornerbacks in the MAC, and senior Nate Holley, a flat-out tackling machine and one of the premier safeties in the country. Monday comes in with nine tackles. He picked off six passes last season. Holley is well on his way to being a three-time All-MAC selection. He has an eye-popping 47 tackles. Look for him to make at least 15 stops in the game.
The other three starting defensive backs will be sophomore cornerback Darryl Marshall, sophomore strong safety Juantez McRae and senior nickel back Najee Murray. McRae has 15 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception. Murray has been a playmaker through the first three games. He has two tackles for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery.
Opportunity knocks at WR
Gehrig Dieter is one of the receivers who’ll be asked to step up while ArDarius Stewart is out.
With ArDarius Stewart (knee) sidelined for at least a game or two, the Tide staff will look to its other wide receivers to step up and make plays. Until Stewart returns, opposing defenses will surely roll coverages towards Calvin Ridley. The door is open for three players in particular -- Gehrig Dieter, Cam Sims and true freshman Trevon Diggs -- to rise to the occasion and capitalize on their opportunity.
Dieter has been Alabama’s primary slot receiver this season. He has five receptions for 148 yards and a touchdown. He appears to have a good rapport with Jalen Hurts.
Sims has battled injuries during his time in Tuscaloosa, but the coaching staff has praised his efforts in recent weeks. He brings outstanding size (6-5, 203) to the position.
Diggs has been one of the team’s top newcomers. He’s a genuine three-way talent, but due to the injuries to Stewart and Robert Foster (knee/likely out a few weeks), Diggs will likely see a good bit of playing time on offense against Kent State. Diggs has caught one pass for 14 yards.
Turnovers to touchdowns
Through the first three games, Alabama’s defense has been outstanding at taking the ball away. The Tide has already turned two interceptions and two fumbles into touchdowns. The defense is only one touchdown away from tying the most (five in 2008) defensive TDs in a season during the Saban era.
Whether or not UA produces another defensive touchdown on Saturday remains to be seen. But Kent State is likely to give the Tide defense a chance to do so. The quarterbacks for the Golden Flashes have thrown three interceptions, and Kent State ball-carriers have lost three of seven fumbles.
Coach Kiffin’s offense has been slow out of the gate this season.
Pick up the pace
In 45 minutes of first quarter action this season, the Tide offense has accounted for 250 yards on 62 plays. That averages out to 4.0 yards per play, compared to the 7.3 yards per play UA is averaging during the other nine quarters thus far.
Other Tide first quarter notables include two made two field goals, two missed field goals, one turnover and zero offensive touchdowns.
Coach Saban said that one goal for this game was to get off to a strong start. Kent State has only yielded one first quarter touchdown so far, but Alabama should reach the end zone early and often in this one.
By Lee Richards
September 23, 2016
After outlasting Ole Miss on the road last Saturday, No. 1 Alabama (3-0, 1-0 SEC) returns home to host Kent State (1-2). Kickoff inside Bryant-Denny Stadium is set for shortly after 11 a.m. Here are five storylines for the game.
All-freshman backfield for Golden Flashes
Shaun Dion Hamilton and the UA defense figure to make things difficult for Kent State.
At quarterback, the Golden Flashes will go with Mylik Mitchell, a left-handed redshirt freshman who’s completed 59.7 percent of his attempts for 353 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. All five of his touchdown tosses have come in the past two games. Mitchell is also a running threat, with a team-high 44 carries for 113 yards.
True freshman running back Justin Rankin has shown some flashes during his short time on campus. He leads the team with 178 yards and a touchdown. He also has six receptions for 47 yards. Rankin will be backed up by sophomore Myles Washington.
Among the pass catchers, the player to watch is junior Nick Holley. The running back-turned-slot receiver leads the team with 12 catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns. He’s also carried the ball 11 times. The other two starting wideouts are senior Ernest Calhoun and sophomore Johnny Woods. Woods, from Smiths Station, is the only player on the roster from the state of Alabama. Senior tight end Brice Frackler has two touchdown grabs.
Kent State’s two best offensive linemen are on the left side, senior tackle Reno Reda and senior guard Wayne Scott. They’ve combined for 61 starts. The other three starters up front will be sophomore center Stefano Millin, sophomore right guard Connor Shinsky and junior right tackle Brock Macaulay. The group averages 6-4¾ and 290 pounds per man. Kent State quarterbacks have already been sacked 12 times.
Talented trio leads Kent State defense
Defensively, Kent State surrenders 320 yards and 26.3 points per game. The top player along the defensive line is senior end Terence Waugh, a preseason All-MAC selection. After registering nine sacks a season ago, Waugh is off to a strong start in 2016. He already has 26 tackles, five sacks and a forced fumble. He’s notched a sack in each game this season. The other three starters up front will be sophomore end Theo Eboigbe, junior defensive tackle Jon Cunningham and senior nose tackle Chris Fairchild.
James Alexander, a junior, leads the way at middle linebacker. He has 10 tackles and a sack. The starting outside linebacker is senior Nick Cuthbert, but UA will also see plenty of senior Elcee Refuge at the position. Refuge checks in at only 5-9, but he's a stout 230 pounds. He has seven tackles, an interception and two fumble recoveries.
The secondary of the Golden Flashes features junior Demetrius Monday, one of the best cornerbacks in the MAC, and senior Nate Holley, a flat-out tackling machine and one of the premier safeties in the country. Monday comes in with nine tackles. He picked off six passes last season. Holley is well on his way to being a three-time All-MAC selection. He has an eye-popping 47 tackles. Look for him to make at least 15 stops in the game.
The other three starting defensive backs will be sophomore cornerback Darryl Marshall, sophomore strong safety Juantez McRae and senior nickel back Najee Murray. McRae has 15 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception. Murray has been a playmaker through the first three games. He has two tackles for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery.
Opportunity knocks at WR
Gehrig Dieter is one of the receivers who’ll be asked to step up while ArDarius Stewart is out.
With ArDarius Stewart (knee) sidelined for at least a game or two, the Tide staff will look to its other wide receivers to step up and make plays. Until Stewart returns, opposing defenses will surely roll coverages towards Calvin Ridley. The door is open for three players in particular -- Gehrig Dieter, Cam Sims and true freshman Trevon Diggs -- to rise to the occasion and capitalize on their opportunity.
Dieter has been Alabama’s primary slot receiver this season. He has five receptions for 148 yards and a touchdown. He appears to have a good rapport with Jalen Hurts.
Sims has battled injuries during his time in Tuscaloosa, but the coaching staff has praised his efforts in recent weeks. He brings outstanding size (6-5, 203) to the position.
Diggs has been one of the team’s top newcomers. He’s a genuine three-way talent, but due to the injuries to Stewart and Robert Foster (knee/likely out a few weeks), Diggs will likely see a good bit of playing time on offense against Kent State. Diggs has caught one pass for 14 yards.
Turnovers to touchdowns
Through the first three games, Alabama’s defense has been outstanding at taking the ball away. The Tide has already turned two interceptions and two fumbles into touchdowns. The defense is only one touchdown away from tying the most (five in 2008) defensive TDs in a season during the Saban era.
Whether or not UA produces another defensive touchdown on Saturday remains to be seen. But Kent State is likely to give the Tide defense a chance to do so. The quarterbacks for the Golden Flashes have thrown three interceptions, and Kent State ball-carriers have lost three of seven fumbles.
Coach Kiffin’s offense has been slow out of the gate this season.
Pick up the pace
In 45 minutes of first quarter action this season, the Tide offense has accounted for 250 yards on 62 plays. That averages out to 4.0 yards per play, compared to the 7.3 yards per play UA is averaging during the other nine quarters thus far.
Other Tide first quarter notables include two made two field goals, two missed field goals, one turnover and zero offensive touchdowns.
Coach Saban said that one goal for this game was to get off to a strong start. Kent State has only yielded one first quarter touchdown so far, but Alabama should reach the end zone early and often in this one.
Bama is averaging 46 points a game. But the truth is Kiffin has been morphing into all kinds of sets and schemes to start ballgames. At this point, it's less about execution and a whole lot more about offensive identity. After three games we haven't started one game like the other.
Max
Member
Saban says the opposite.
Apparently, Kiffin is not getting the memo. My point is that unless we come to some sort of conclusion on our identity, execution will be harder to come by.
BamaFan334
Member
To rectify from another thread, Deiter has three catches in twelve looks. And did he change his number?
T&B
Member
I've had it with ESPN. I pay $130 a month for cable (dish). I have ESPN, ESPNU, ESPN2, etc., etc., but cant watch the game tomorrow because for some reason the SEC network is not included ?
Two questions:
1. Does anyone know how I can watch the game online tomorrow ?
2. Am I the only one tired of being hustled by the cable mafia ?
Two questions:
1. Does anyone know how I can watch the game online tomorrow ?
2. Am I the only one tired of being hustled by the cable mafia ?
Well Bama first!! radio or tunein.com
F$U vs USF on ABC at Noon
East Carolina vs Virginian Tech on ACC Network at 12:30
Duke vs NDumb on NBC at 3:30
UF vs UT on CBS at 3:30
Penn. St. vs Mich. 3:30 on ABC at 3:30
OK. St. vs Baylor o Fox at 7:30
Stanford vs UCLA on ABC at 8:00
all time is EST too.
F$U vs USF on ABC at Noon
East Carolina vs Virginian Tech on ACC Network at 12:30
Duke vs NDumb on NBC at 3:30
UF vs UT on CBS at 3:30
Penn. St. vs Mich. 3:30 on ABC at 3:30
OK. St. vs Baylor o Fox at 7:30
Stanford vs UCLA on ABC at 8:00
all time is EST too.
RollllTide!
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