🏈 Opinion

[bamafan_tide]

After watching the game against the hokies I was wondering what your outlook on the team is after just one game. ( I know its just one game but I am wanting opinions.)

 

[BAMA JAMMA]

You could see GMAC was starting to get more comfortable as the game progresses. I was getting a little worried in the late 1st quarter and into the beginning of the 2nd quarter but then we started to find our rhythm.

Most analysts expected the Tide to wear down VT after the half and that's just about what we saw. Hell of a game. One of the best games of the weekend IMO and I'm trying not to judge that from a biased persepctive.

One thing is for certain is our D looks more stout than last years!!!!! Look out SEC!

1st game of the season so there's naturally going to be some things slow to get going. 1st starting game for GMAC. VT's D is no slouch.

One thing that pissed me off tonight was the damn penalties. I thought my wife was going to go into eary labor lol.

It was nice to see TR get a few carries in the end.

I thought we did as expected given the circumstances and all. In the end I think this game will prove to be a good benchmark as the season progresses. VT came in for a hard fought game. We had our share of mistakes to learn from. GMAC showed poise. He has nice touch when he isn't running for his life. I think once he settled down and got some of the 1st game gitters out of the way he started to focus more. Can't throw to JJ all game because that's what D's expect from us.

RTR

 

[The_King]

I really liked the way McElroy progressed through the game and I really liked the way Upchurch "sparked" our running game (minus the fumble). McElroy has a few games coming up to get more and more comfortable in the offense so I think we are going to be really great the next few weeks.

I think we used the "wildcat" a little too much, but if Saban wants to do it, I can't complain. We played a great game on defense and that makes me really happy!!!!

 

[4th-and-1]

Gmac!!

he was 2-12 at one point, but ended up 15-30.. so after he settled down he went 13-16.. not too shabby

 

[Crimson13Tide]

I'm just going to address the problems I saw, I think the good things about tonight's game speak for themselves.

The OL has got to work on protecting GMac better. They'll gel as the season goes along, but their DEs were speed rushing past both OTs most of the game & they were getting pressure up the middle as well. GMac handled this very, very well considering it was his first start.

The 3 Legged Wildcat ain't gonna cut it against above-average Ds much less very good Ds like Va. Tech's, Tenuhsay's, LSU's, and Florida's. If you're going to run....well, any offense you have to have 11 capable players on the field, not 10.

One coaching mistake I saw (Outside of the above mention 3LW), & I may be mistaken. But was it not 3rd down when Tiffin missed the FG? Was there not 6 seconds left on the clock? Did 'Bama not have 1 TO left? If so, have GMac take the snap & fall to the left putting the ball in the middle of the field. Kicking FGs on the hash-mark that close is difficult even for the best of kickers.
If I was mistaken about it being 3rd down, then take a delay of game penalty & give Tiffin a little better angle & I'm sure he's 4/4 and the final is 37-24.

Ro made a HUGE mistake! How he didn't get ejected is beyond me. Hopefully he'll be punished for it during Monday's practice & will have forgotten about it by Tuesday's.

I'm not going to dwell on the KR for a TD as some form of ST breakdown was expected against Beamer Ball.


Nothing really major, but Marquis & Barron need to step it up!


That's pretty much it. Alabama wore down & won against a very, very good team with a below-average offense. If one of Tech's backup QBs can emerge & guide their offense better, then hopefully Va Tech can go undefeated through the rest of their schedule & HELP our SOS instead of hurt it like Clemson did last year.


One...game...at...a....time!
Roll Tide Roll!!! :a:

 

[BamaHeat]

I think that was as tough of a defensive front as we will see most of the season. I think the O-line will get better game-by-game.

I wasn't impressed by the wildcat. They used it too much and it was too obvious what play was being called.

Need more crossing routes in the passing game. I was relieved when they started passing to the TE/Backs. It opened things up a lot.

McElroy was a little panicky and took off running a little soon but he got better as the game progressed.

Our defense was awesome! Pass defense was great. Penetration was almost as good.

Special teams needs some work/tweaking.

Upchurch is a beast! He looked huge. When the O-line gets settled, we will have a team much like last year.

VaTech was very lucky to have scored as much as they did. Take away that KO return and few of those penalties and you're looking at them finishing with only 10 points.

 

[LBS]

There's reason for optimism.

McElroy completed 81% of of his passes after he settled in...and when do you see him repeating a 2 for 12 stretch again?

I'm glad to see the Wild Cat if for no other reasons than it is yet another thing to make a Defense prepare for, our Defense will get a weekly chance to practice against it, and it shows that McElwain and our players are smart enough to not be a one-trick-pony. (I wonder what this will do to recruiting?)

I'm glad to see Upchurch play solidly...as a back up to Ingram.

For the life of me I can't figure out why we don't throw jump balls to Julio when we are in the Red Zone. Honestly, with a 6'4 receiver who can jump out of the Dome, who will beat him to the ball?

If anyone sees my socks, please return them...because they were blown off by McClain and his moment of channeling my crazy ex-girlfrind.

Tiffin, Fitzgerald, and Selman should get an extra slice of pie for their performance.

VT's Defense is really good. They had the lead, Julio with zero catches, and McElroy with 2 for 12 passing at one point. We can root for them now, right?

 

[BamaFisher]

IMHO - everything I saw last night was "fixable". Special teams, penalties, a couple of missed assignments -- easily taken care of in practice with better time to get the fundamentals down in the next couple of games. There were a couple of "hit out of bounds" calls and I know Carpenter got at least 2 holding calls on the line of scrimmage -- that's pitty-pat stuff that'll work it's way out. McClain's blow-up might actually wind up with a positive spin -- I guarantee after Saban finishes with him this week, we won't have to worry about the defensive boys doing anything similiar.
Give me "fixable" anyday -- the fundamentals are sound and I think it's going to be a stellar rest of the season.

 

[BAMA JAMMA]

If anyone sees my socks, please return them...because they were blown off by McClain and his moment of channeling my crazy ex-girlfrind.

I agree with pretty much everything you said in your post but I couldn't help but :lol::lol: at this part.

I agree with that as well. My wife is 33 weeks pregnant. When McClain got the penalties I was about the throw the birthing bag in the car and get ready to go to the ER for an emergency delivery lol.

 

[SnakeFan]

The one thing that took me off guard was how powerful Roy Upchurch ran. Yep know about the fumble but we'll work on that. Mark Ingram also took it to them in the 4th.

Any word on his knee? Maybe I missed it.

 

[shipley00]

Need more crossing routes in the passing game. I was relieved when they started passing to the TE/Backs. It opened things up a lot.

The middle of the field (8 to 12 yards pas los) was open 1/2 the night! If you want to slow down the lbs blitzing and the safety cheating back all night, throw to the d$mn middle. Finally towards the end of the game, they hit the tight end twice in the middle and surprise, he was wide open. Grrrrrrr.

 

[BAMA JAMMA]

Mark said his knee was fine but I'm not sure how much that was for TV or not. After watching the replay I would of thought it was his ankle getting twisted up but I guess his knee got twisted as well. Hopefully he'll be back next weekend!

+1 on Roy. Damn he looked stout as an ox. I mean he was good last year but I laughed every time he decided to run thru people rather than around people. He wanted to take it to them and pop 'em in the mouth. LOVED IT!!

Roy Upchurch->:fight:<-VT's D

 

[BamaCore]

+1 on Roy. Damn he looked stout as an ox. I mean he was good last year but I laughed every time he decided to run thru people rather than around people. He wanted to take it to them and pop 'em in the mouth. LOVED IT!!

Roy Upchurch->:fight:<-VT's D

Oh man, you could tell he wanted to hit somebody! I loved it!

 

[kc]

It was a young team learning how to play together in a big game environment.
The first half I was a bit concerned. Offense looked tense and played that way. I started to see the O assert itself right before halftime. Took them a drive or so at the start of 3rd to find it again. I will say the offensive mindset was different the second half and it was obvious on the Oline. The adjustments at half were awesome.
This team is the start of something special at Alabama if we can get passed the MENTAL MISTAKES.
Hightower is a MONSTER at LB. Speed, size and instinct. MD(57) might be the missing link on the D line. He adds something special to the mix. D was excellent over all except for Barron being out of position a few times that resulted in a few big plays for VT. That will only be overcome with film and play time. He is a special player as well.

This team did not ever roll over and die. When they could have and would have under other coaching staffs. I am glad they got tested early on and they kept on playing. That says a lot to me.

 

[BamaCore]

It was a young team learning how to play together in a big game environment.
The first half I was a bit concerned. Offense looked tense and played that way. I started to see the O assert itself right before halftime. Took them a drive or so at the start of 3rd to find it again. I will say the offensive mindset was different the second half and it was obvious on the oline. The adjustments at half were awesome.
This team is the start of something special at Alabama if we can get passed the MENTAL MISTAKES.
Hightower is a MONSTER at LB. Speed, size and instinct. MD(57) might be the missing link on the D line. He adds something special to the mix. D was excellent over all except for Barron being out of position a few time that resulted in a few big plays for VT. That will only be overcome with film and play time. He is special player as well.

This team did not ever roll over and die. When they could have and would have under other coaching staffs. I am glad they got tested early on and they kept on playing. That says a lot to me.

Great analysis! I agree 100%. We're a young offensive team, there was bound to be some growing pains. I'm just impressed with this team's ability to "tear off the rear view mirror" as Coach McElwain would say.

 

[Kirk Van de Graaff]

Negatives
Marquis Johnson had a couple of blown assignments, the wheel rout being one of them, a few mental mistakes here and there. Too many penalties. Oline jumped a few times early. Couldn't get in the end zone during the first half as much as I would of liked. If they did, this game wouldn't of been close. Special teams didnt cover very well on opposing teams kickoff returns, that needs to be addressed. Vlachos needs to get the long snap up a bit.

Positives

Oline was solid as the game went on. Ingram is a beast. GMac, was solid in the second half. Has nice touch on the long ball. Peek has great hands. Jones is a beast. Hanks caught some key catches. Maze is a burner. Kareem Jackson was like glue on his defending. Upchurch ran over people. The whole team looks to be in great shape. Deaderick is amazing, I mean he didnt even look like he was bothered by his injuries. Dareus is going to be a stud. Fitz punted well. Tiffin was solid.

All in all they came out and wore VT down. Nice win. Happy as I can be with this team.