🏈 Looking forward: Ole Miss vs BAMA

[TerryP]

Pre-game discussions.
Where the Tide needs to improve.
What are your concerns?
Latest odds/lines.

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

To paraphrase John Brown, it is time to discuss that which may be uncomfortable for some to discuss

Let me say from the beginning that I want Alabama to tear OM's ass out of the frame and move on

Looking at OM it is a given they have played 2 inferior teams and they have obviously feasted on weak defenses. They've scored 70+ points in both games. Let's divide that 70 per game to 35 if they were playing a decent defense. Now let's take away another 5 and call it 30

Can OM score 30 on this Bama defense? I am not sure they can Kelly does throw the ball well and they have good receivers but they still don't have that good power runner that they've lacked. Will Tunsil play? That may be the biggest question for their offense coming in

If they can score 30, can the Bama offense score 31 on the OM defense?
Can Howard sustain the level of play he has shown so far? A dynamic Howard could be the most valuable weapon behind DH and KD

Does OM line Nkimdeche up over Dom Jackson all day and if so can Dom slow him down? That may be my biggest worry/fear.

Overshadowing all is can we get consistent QB play from Coker or Bateman? If Bama can't at least threaten downfield I don't see this one going well

As always these are just my opinions and I am looking for some good discussion.

 

[We All Bleed Crimson]

This game does concern me as well. Cupcakes or not, the rebel offense is hitting on all cylinders at the moment. Mostly, IF we don't get to Kelly consistently, our D will be in for a long day. And our offense, which seems to sputter on occasion, needs to be ON in this game. Special teams, namely, field goal kicking, really needs to show up this week, I have a feeling that every point will be important. Finally, play calling. While I don't have too much to complain about so far this season, I'd like to see us take advantage of what is working vs ole miss. If ground and pound is working, let that be what we take advantage of, if airing it out works then do it. Point is, we can't afford to have a bad game and we can't afford to attempt to make someone a star if it isn't working. Let's see how it unfolds, I think everyone will be focused this week - without much need to be reminded.

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

@We All Bleed Crimson Good point on the focus. I do believe the focus will be there right from the beginning. Something that may not have been the case against MTSU.

I don't know that Bama can blitz Kelly with DBs etc because he gets the ball out quickly and has a variety of weapons to hot read to. I think it will be up to the front to get pressure and coverage will need to be tight

 

[wiregrass_bamaguy]

This game scares me. The depressing thing is that we are going to need Coker and/or Griffith to win a game for us and right now, I just dont have faith in either of them to carry that weight. Our OL, specifically RT is also going to have to step up their pass blocking.

 

[Bamabww]

I know it's comparing apples to oranges but the last time ole miss played a team with a real pulse, they got beat 42 to 3 (I think that was the score). So I'm believing we'll be up to the challenge and I'd like to hang 70 on them, as i know all of you would.

I think we'll pound the line with our RB's or use sure passes to move the ball. We've already played 4 RB's and 3 QB's. Somewhere in that mix we'll find a combo that will work against ole miss.

 

[UAgrad93]

I felt like we were sleep walking to some extent. I also think Tyrone Nix did a great job of confusing our QBs with lesser talent yet we still had 532 yards total offense.
Would anyone be on here preaching doom and gloom if the score had been 50-3? I don't think so. That is more than likely the score if AG connects on the 2 FGs and we run the DAMN ball inside the 10 instead of trying to let Bateman try and thread a needle to Cam Sims. I haven't seen Ole Piss play to know if these TD passes are quick throws or long downfield throws. MTSU got the ball out quick in the attempt to limit our pass rush and any blitz. On downfield throws, 20+ yards, we were hitting him. I think this will be the case this Sat. Ole Piss doesn't have a run game so they are going to have to sling it to beat us.

 

[Bama Guy]

I think we are going to have to run on OM. We have completed many "easy" throws in the first two games, but most throws down the field are going to be trouble against quality opponents. MTS was able to run on us, and that was a surprise and a concern. However, I think the DL will stop the OM run game. Can we defend the pass? I think so, but OM will get their points. I think it is time for old fashioned, smash mouth, control the time of possession football. It may be decided by special teams and that worries me. I have supported AG, but it is probably time to try a different kicker.

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

I don't think Kelly is the second coming of Archie Manning by any means but with limited evidence it does appear OM has upgraded at QB

Last year with a lesser QB and and some luck they were pretty successful.

I am more worried about Bama offensively though. I do think a heAlthy KD is a huge challenge for OM

 

[stomp]

We're worried about Ole Miss. Is this what it's come to?

 

[riz]

One major thing we have going for us in this game is Hugh Freeze.

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

Their starting corner Shepard is out for the first half because he got flagged for targeting against Fresno

 

[jdpas29]

Their starting corner Shepard is out for the first half because he got flagged for targeting against Fresno

this could be helpful.

The one consistent thing i have noticed the last couple of years with Ole Miss is the defensive play... particularly the secondary.... they fly to the ball and they hit really hard. I'm really fearing the corner/safety blitz with these guys as Coker has limited pocket awareness.

i just have a hard time imagining this game going well. I guess if they just can't run the ball at all and the young QB they have catches a case of the "OMG i'm playing the Crimson Tide", maybe it could be a blowout in our favor. but i see a very close game with things like the kicking game and field position playing a critical role. right now i think Ole Miss wins mostly due to our errors.

 

[TheChief]

Will Tunsil get to play or will they finally admit he's a pro?

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

Will Tunsil get to play or will they finally admit he's a pro?

i will be amazed if they don't trot him out there.

 

[im4uainva]

We're worried about Ole Miss. Is this what it's come to?

Yes, I'm worried about them. I was worried about them last year. In my 43 years as a fan, I've seen Bama lose to a number of teams I wasn't worried about. So, now, I worry about all of them. I bet Arkansas wasn't worried about Toledo.
In other words...Yes, I'm worried about Ole Miss.

Roll Tide!

 

[BigCrimson]

It's quite simple to me. If we cannot run the ball against Ole Miss we lose, period. I simply have zero confidence that either Bateman or Coker can put this team on their backs and pass us to a win. Not from what I've seen so far. I've watched both Ole Miss' first two games. I have not clue how good or bad they are. The two teams were so severely over matched I don't see how even the Ole Miss coaches could do an honest evaluation of their team.

But I don't think this game is about Ole Miss. I think the win or loss is about Alabama and maximizing our talent. We have to be able to run the ball.

The kicking game? LOL! We just better hope it doesn't come down to it.

 

[DT55FOREVER]

I pray I'm wrong but I believe Bama will have a lot of issues stopping Ole Miss. The problems on defense are related to the scheme. They will never be able to handle the up tempo teams with the scheme they use. They need speed at the line of scrimmage to get pressure in the backfield. Our starting defensive line consists of essentially 3 defensive tackles. Stopping the run works fine, but they don't have the speed necessary to pressure the quarterback. In order to combat this, Saban and Kirby have asked them to lose some weight but it's not enough. We need 5 with speed at the line applying pressure. The coaches settle for getting their pressure from blitz packages and sometimes moving the Jack to the end, but when facing an up tempo offense, you need it consistently at the line of scrimmage. Yes, it tends to put your corners on an island but it may be what they have to do. If Bama uses the same scheme they've had, Ole Miss will kill them with 5 yard slants and 10 yard crossing patterns. I've never understood why our corners play off and have an outside shade. Our corners always seem to give away the inside. I guess they want to make sure they don't get pinned inside and allow the outside run, but it kills them on the inside routes.

Secondly, Ole Miss will pack the box and force Bama to not only pass but pass it deeper down field. You will see 8 in the box and the corners tight on the receivers. Our offensive line pass blocking has been terrible. The only lineman to play worth a crap is Kelly. Ole Miss' defensive speed will kill this offensive line. I'd like to say just run the ball, but they will have so many in the box, that passing will be essential. I really pray I'm wrong and I know this is negative, but there are some real issues on this team.

When your head coach makes the comment that they didn't prepare against an emply backfield and that caused them problems--that's a joke. Even if they were preparing for Ole Miss and didn't take MTSU seriously, how do you not prepare for an emply backfield? Are you telling me that Ole Miss won't use an emply backfield? Of course they will.

Lastly, I can't tell you how many times I have heard opposing coaches and players say after a game when asked about Alabama's defense that "they didn't do anything we weren't prepared for. They've done the same thing for 7-8 years." When you hear that over and over, that's a problem. We heard during the entire off-season how the defense needed to change to adjust to the HUNH offenses. Having guys lose weight is not the answer.

I hope I'm eating crow come late Saturday night.

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

I think the win or loss is about Alabama and maximizing our talent

I would tend to agree with this. Other than maybe QB I think Bama is the more talented team. If all that talent comes together, defense 3rd quarter against Wisky, and offense repeat the Wisky game basically, then I think the good guys win by 10+ against OM.

The inconsistency is what worries me though obviously

 

[BigCrimson]

I pray I'm wrong but I believe Bama will have a lot of issues stopping Ole Miss. The problems on defense are related to the scheme. They will never be able to handle the up tempo teams with the scheme they use. They need speed at the line of scrimmage to get pressure in the backfield. Our starting defensive line consists of essentially 3 defensive tackles. Stopping the run works fine, but they don't have the speed necessary to pressure the quarterback. In order to combat this, Saban and Kirby have asked them to lose some weight but it's not enough. We need 5 with speed at the line applying pressure. The coaches settle for getting their pressure from blitz packages and sometimes moving the Jack to the end, but when facing an up tempo offense, you need it consistently at the line of scrimmage. Yes, it tends to put your corners on an island but it may be what they have to do. If Bama uses the same scheme they've had, Ole Miss will kill them with 5 yard slants and 10 yard crossing patterns. I've never understood why our corners play off and have an outside shade. Our corners always seem to give away the inside. I guess they want to make sure they don't get pinned inside and allow the outside run, but it kills them on the inside routes.

Secondly, Ole Miss will pack the box and force Bama to not only pass but pass it deeper down field. You will see 8 in the box and the corners tight on the receivers. Our offensive line pass blocking has been terrible. The only lineman to play worth a crap is Kelly. Ole Miss' defensive speed will kill this offensive line. I'd like to say just run the ball, but they will have so many in the box, that passing will be essential. I really pray I'm wrong and I know this is negative, but there are some real issues on this team.

When your head coach makes the comment that they didn't prepare against an emply backfield and that caused them problems--that's a joke. Even if they were preparing for Ole Miss and didn't take MTSU seriously, how do you not prepare for an emply backfield? Are you telling me that Ole Miss won't use an emply backfield? Of course they will.

Lastly, I can't tell you how many times I have heard opposing coaches and players say after a game when asked about Alabama's defense that "they didn't do anything we weren't prepared for. They've done the same thing for 7-8 years." When you hear that over and over, that's a problem. We heard during the entire off-season how the defense needed to change to adjust to the HUNH offenses. Having guys lose weight is not the answer.

I hope I'm eating crow come late Saturday night.

Yeah, I think scheme is the problem. Different players, same problems. It comes a point when you've had this many players run through the defense and yet continue having the same problems it has to start pointing to scheme. These Spread/HUNH offenses eat Saban's defense up in the middle of the field. WR's run basically wide open down the seams and in the middle. My guess is Ole Miss will employ a lot of the same concepts MTSU did Saturday, just with a lot better talent.

As far as on the offensive side of the ball. I foresee Ole Miss' quick fast defense to give our OL problems all day. Expect them loading up in the box and forcing Coker to beat us. I doubt DHenry or Drake have huge games Saturday in the running department. We're going to have to pass the ball to beat Ole Miss.