🏈 Nick Saban explains thinking behind offensive play calls that frustrates some fans

[UAgrad93]

Like I said, I'm old...I kinda like the idea of not being a finesse offense. Could the speed possibly be countered with scheme. I know it's not a sexy offense anymore, but the Double wing sure did stress defenses back in the day. Not saying it would work, I'm just using that as an example. Any opinions?

Speed and size eat up those offenses now! Best bet is to wear them down and get into their depth or lack of depth. All of these smoke and mirror option offenses like the Barn and others, thrive on the lack of eye discipline and over aggressiveness of a speedy defense. It also helps to have a QB like a Mariota or Newton.

 

[94 Grad]

Double wing? Wow! That is old. LOL

I think many, myself included, do get frustrated because we do see the jet sweep and the quick passes to the side and complain loudly when they do not work well. I have to keep telling myself that every play is designed to score if all 11 players carry out their assignment. I do not see any team scoring every play, not just Bama.

I would disagree with this... in the Saban style offense, every play is designed to keep you ahead of the sticks. I truly think that he is happy with a 3 to 4 yard carry... so if a Jet sweep can get 3 or 4 yards, its a win. Sometimes against stout Dlines like au has, 3 to 4 yards up the gut early in the game is hard to come by...

Let's also remember, we have a lot of talent at WR and they need their touches too (if you want to be able to continue to recruit at that position). Giving those touches to them in the Jet is a very safe way to "complete" a pass and give them a touch. It may not be sexy, but this year I have seen a marked improvement in the execution of the Jet Sweep and have been happy with it for the most part.

 

[bradenob]

Exactly.

If we run right into the teeth of their 8-9 man front, they're only running 11-15 yards downhill, at most.

Make them defend 52 yards wide, and they wear out a lot quicker.

I said this during the Ole Piss game, and then Saban said exactly what the article is saying in his post game presser.

Folks still don't get it.

SLO, I DO get it, and while I like running the ball, I said last week that I was FINE with CLK's play calling in the Auburn game.

What I DO want to know, and have to say, is WHY can't Lane start first and 10 with a run when the offense hasn't done well (the 2nd quarter tonite, the start of the third quarter tonite) ??? Saban has mentioned before, and stated again tonite in the post game presser, that when the ground game is doing well, it takes the pressure off Jalen, and he relaxes. And he made that point implying, as we would think intuitively, that THAT'S A GOOD THING!!!

Tyler Watts spoke tonite about how much better it is for the QB when the offense finds its rhythm. So WHY NOT run the ball in those situations???? Is CLK trying to see how well Jalen responds, with tougher opponents coming up? Because a lot of us fans would have liked a larger lead before CLK tries to 'develop' his QB on the field. I KNOW Jalen needs to be able to convert a 3rd and 10 with a downfield pass, but can't we let him get past his own 25, and give him some momentum, before we start FORCING the passing game????? No running back touched the ball for 'Bama in the ENTIRE first quarter!!!!!!

So yeah, some passes, jet sweeps, bubble screens, are fine, let's have some dives and runs up the middle as well, right????