🏈 Michigan State vs Alabama

[TerryP]

How'd that work out for the last group that threatened a group of Spartans with that?

Wait a minute. Wasn't there a different scholly limit then? 300?

 

[TerryP]

Our defense has to get pressure on Cook or he will stand back there and pick us apart. The defensive front of MSU is solid but I think by the time the 4th quarter rolls around, we will have a huge advantage and be able to pound the ball.

On offense, we have to ground and pound to set up the pass, not vice versa. The thing I do not want see is a lot of jet sweeps and sideway throws.

I wouldnt watch the game if I were you.

I realize, like you do, @12gage is being sarcastic here, but he's got a point.

You'll see those sweeps and short passes in the flats because it stretches the defense horizontally. It's been our MO for awhile.

In our bigger games, how often have you seen the Tide use the pass to get that eighth and ninth man out of the box? Often. Consistently. While people talk about how the Tide rode Henry in the last two games what they don't mention is the game starts with passing to set up the run.

The team is in the playoff's, again, and it's left me curious as to why some want to get away from the horse the team rode in on? The offense is about as balanced as an offense can be this season; 75 yards or so separating total yards from passing game and running game.

 

[TerryP]

How often is Vegas right on thing like injures, bits and pieces that mean something but aren't widely reported?

You guys may want to go back and read the snippet from that post ...

As a quick update, several reported Cook was in a sling yesterday in their workouts. Personally, I've seen "100% healthy" too often to completely dismiss this.

 

[rick4bama]

@rick4bama I'm just guessing here but I think you missed a joke.

@TerryP here something for you! You will need it this week, because of the rest of the bowl week. Thanks @12gage for this post too. You too can have a toast too with us.

 

[alabama mike]

IMO, with Henry in the backfield and getting the number of carries he has gotten in the last two games, that is they way to go and meant by ground and pound. On a personal level, I have never been a fan of the sideways pass, no matter who the OC happens to be.

 

[TerryP]

IMO, with Henry in the backfield and getting the number of carries he has gotten in the last two games, that is they way to go and meant by ground and pound. On a personal level, I have never been a fan of the sideways pass, no matter who the OC happens to be.

That's the thing, Mike. In both of those games the pass was used to set up the run.

As far as those "sideways passes:"

Watch the opposing linebackers on any game this year. You'll see them remain at home with the first couple of plays and then slowly but surely they are getting out of their lanes: due completely to the jet sweeps and those passes.

Henry is praised because he gets that two yards, then four, then three, then two, then 30 on a carry ... largely due to getting the back-end out of position.

 

[Max]

Found this on another forum

Rushing Defense:
Alabama has held their opponents to 41% of their normal rushing total.
Mich St has held their opponents to 61% of their normal rushing total.
Alabama wins this matchup.

Passing Defense:
Alabama has held their opponents to 77% of their normal passing total.
Mich St has held their opponents to 99% of their normal passing total.
Alabama wins this matchup. A little shocking isn't it? We are noticeably better in pass defense than MSU is.

Scoring Defense:
Alabama has held their opponents to 46% of their normal scoring.
Mich St has held their opponents to 66% of their normal scoring.
Alabama wins this matchup.

Rushing Offense:
Alabama has gained 1.48 times more yards rushing than their opponents normally gave up.
Mich St has gained 1.05 times more yards rushing than their opponents normally gave up.
Alabama wins this matchup. Considering our "weakness" at QB, and our opponent's tendency to stack the box to try and stop our run game, this is a rather eye-opening stat.

Passing Offense:
Alabama has gained 1.06 times more yards passing than their opponents normally gave up.
Mich St has gained 1.04 times more yards passing than their opponents normally gave up.
Alabama wins this matchup. Almost dead even, but our "suspect QB" actually led us to a slightly better number than the "x factor" QB from MSU.

Scoring Offense:
Alabama has scored 1.62 times more points than their opponents normally allowed.
Mich St has scored 1.26 times more points than their opponents normally allowed.
Alabama wins this matchup.

"But, but, but Mich St played more ranked teams!" is what a lot of Mich State fans are hanging their hat on. And, here at the end of the season, that is a true stat. But, look deeper at the stats.

Mich St played 5 teams with 8 or more wins.
Alabama played 9 teams with 8 or more wins.
Alabama played a tougher overall schedule.

Michigan State played 4 conference teams with losing records.
Alabama played ZERO conference teams with losing records.
Alabama played a tougher conference schedule. I don't think this stat can be over stated. The SEC West was 12-2 against the SEC East. The only two East teams to win games against the West? Georgia and Florida. Alabama beat BOTH of those teams.

Michigan State played only 1 of the top 3 teams from the Big-10 West.
Alabama played all 3 of the top teams from the SEC East. And played Wisconsin from the Big-10 West. And beat them badly.
Alabama played the best from their conference.

Michigan State had 3 double digit wins over conference opponents that had a combined record of 59-50 .
Alabama had 7 double digit wins over conference opponents that had a combined record of 73-35.
Alabama has played tougher opponents and beat them worse. The more I think about this stat, the more impressed I am with Bama and the less impressed I am with MSU. The know how to win close games. That is what they hang their hat on. But I have a hard time believing they have played the level of competition we have all season. The numbers say they haven't come close.

Football games are won and lost at the Line Of Scrimmage. We dominate at the LOS.

Alabama only gives up 2.24 Yards per carry rushing.
Mich St gives up 3.38 Yards per carry rushing.
Alabama wins this vital LOS matchup.

Alabama gains 4.94 Yards per carry.
Mich State gains 3.97 Yards per carry.
Alabama win this second vital LOS matchup.

The numbers don't lie. Yes, Michigan State can pull the upset. They are a good football team. But they will have to bring their A+ game, and probably have Alabama make a mistake or two in order for MSU to win.

 

[alabama mike]

For MSU to win, Cook has to be outstanding, have time to pass and not give up big plays on defense. I am also wondering how Cook will hold up if we get pressure on him and put him on the ground a few times with some hard shots.I really enjoyed the comparisons @12gage! Can MSU win? Sure, but I think we are a much better team.

 

[Bamabww]

@12gage, really enjoyed those comparison stats. Thanks

 

[im4uainva]

For MSU to win, Cook has to be outstanding, have time to pass and not give up big plays on defense. I am also wondering how Cook will hold up if we get pressure on him and put him on the ground a few times with some hard shots.I really enjoyed the comparisons @12gage! Can MSU win? Sure, but I think we are a much better team.

Yeah, I thought Bama was the better team against tOSU last year. I still think that. But the job was not finished. Bama got complacent and let them back in the game and then could not reconnect with the intensity they started the game with. If Bama keeps their head in this game, I'm confident that Bama will come out on top. C'mon Bama...ROLL TIDE!

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Found this interesting:

@AndrewJBone: RT @ralphDrussoAP: On Alabama's visit to the Children's Medical Center in Dallas, Nick Saban matched a $10,000 donation made by Cotton Bowl sponsor Goodyear.

Good to know the company spends billions burning fossil fuels for the manufacturing of their products, millions on a bowl sponsorship, and paltry chump change to fund medical research for children. Knowing that one man can match what an entire multi-billion dollar corporation donates for that cause indicates where their priorities are.

Sent from my ASUS ZenFone 2E using Tapatalk

 

[It Takes Eleven]

Found this interesting:



Good to know the company spends billions burning fossil fuels for the manufacturing of their products, millions on a bowl sponsorship, and paltry chump change to fund medical research for children. Knowing that one man can match what an entire multi-billion dollar corporation donates for that cause indicates where their priorities are.

Sent from my ASUS ZenFone 2E using Tapatalk

This is a strawman argument. Goodyear is not a 501(c)(3) established to cure childhood cancer. Their priorities are to provide a return for millions of shareholders who can give to their charities of choice, just like Saban does. They also provide jobs to 67,000 employees, who can also give to the charities of their choice. And, for the record, their emissions are down 11 percent since 2010.

https://corporate.goodyear.com/documents/responsibility/2014_CR_Summary_Report_FINAL.pdf

RTR,

Tim

 

[pasadena pachyderm]

This is a strawman argument. Goodyear is not a 501(c)(3) established to cure childhood cancer. Their priorities are to provide a return for millions of shareholders who can give to their charities of choice, just like Saban does. They also provide jobs to 67,000 employees, who can also give to the charities of their choice. And, for the record, their emissions are down 11 percent since 2010.

https://corporate.goodyear.com/documents/responsibility/2014_CR_Summary_Report_FINAL.pdf

RTR,

Tim

Now thats drinkin the corporate koolaid

 

[It Takes Eleven]

Now thats drinkin the corporate koolaid

Where's the inaccuracy here? I don't want my investment vehicle to choose where my charity goes. Make me money, and I'll be generous with whom I choose.

 

[bamaledge]

This is a strawman argument. Goodyear is not a 501(c)(3) established to cure childhood cancer. Their priorities are to provide a return for millions of shareholders who can give to their charities of choice, just like Saban does. They also provide jobs to 67,000 employees, who can also give to the charities of their choice. And, for the record, their emissions are down 11 percent since 2010.

https://corporate.goodyear.com/documents/responsibility/2014_CR_Summary_Report_FINAL.pdf

RTR,

Tim

I concur 100%. While they can donate more, they owe allegiance to their shareholders and I doubt that the Children's medical center was anything but gracious for the donations.

 

[TerryP]

I don't want my investment vehicle to choose where my charity goes

:clap:

 

[Max]

 

[EasyTider]

What have I just witnessed??!! Thankfully, Thursday's game won't be settled in a karaoke bar.

 

[Bammerboy321]

What have I just witnessed??!! Thankfully, Thursday's game won't be settled in a karaoke bar.

 

[planomateo]