📡 Post A&M Saban encouraged reporters to write about the things Alabama was doing wrong.

[TerryP]

A few authors took him to heart and here's two examples of "things that are wrong with Bama."

 

[Michael Casagrande | mcasagrande@al.com]

All the things No. 1 Alabama's doing wrong​

Nick Saban wanted to focus on the things Alabama wasn't doing right.

Nick Saban kinda smiled before walking off the podium Saturday evening. He'd just delivered a bonus thought after a round of questions following Alabama's 45-23 win over Texas A&M.

Saban just wanted a little help.

His Alabama team was 4-0, almost unanimously voted No. 1 in the two major polls and had set a few offensive records.

After all, it's this group in the interview room that feeds the sunshine train. They (we) produce poison that could kill a rat.

"If our players spent all the time reading the paper and listening to what you all say about them," Saban said at his Thursday radio show, "we'd never have a chance."

That's bad. So, he requested a little negativity from the assembled media.

Never being one to miss a rare opportunity to look on the cloudy side of things, I obliged.

Here's what's wrong with Alabama's undefeated, mostly unchallenged, No. 1 football team that's a 49-point favorite to beat Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday.

Penalties

You can't break the rules. Alabama is No. 107 (of 130 FBS teams) in terms of penalty yardage. It averages 72 yards a game after getting flagged nine times for 82 yards Saturday against Texas A&M. That included two illegal blocks on punt returns, a few holding calls on the offensive line and a delay of game to open a possession.

In four games, Alabama penalties directly led to nine first downs for opponents -- two against the Aggies and both on scoring drives. A touchdown came off the board in the opener because of an illegal block on a punt return on a night the Tide was flagged 10 times for 111 yards.

Punting

JK Scott is missed. Alabama's punted 15 times so far for an average of 35.9 yards. That is 120th best in the 130-team FBS. There was a 13-yard shank in the equation Saturday against Texas A&M.

The positive for true freshman punter Skyler DeLong? Alabama is one of eight teams who have not allowed a single punt return this season. Six were fair catches and four of the 15 were downed inside the 20.

Lack of forced fumbles

The seven interceptions are good, but Alabama's forced just one fumble. That's tied for 112th in the country.

Saban over the last few years has spoken about the extra attention they've placed on stripping the ball from opposing ball carriers and had been working. Alabama was No. 10 in forced fumbles in 2015 and No. 5 in 2016. Things slipped to 83rd last year and now it's almost last. Xavier McKinney knocked the one fumble loose last week at Ole Miss while Phidarian Mathis recovered it. The Tide scored six plays later to go up 21-7.

Ball security

Speaking of fumbles, Alabama lost three in the first three games. The Texas A&M win was the first without losing one. Still, the three giveaways there rank 75th. Two of the three lost fumbles came inside the red zone.

The rat poison here is none of those three lost possessions led to points from the opponents. In fact, Alabama has a 52-0 edge in points off turnovers, but don't pay attention to that.

Tua Tagovailoa's thrown 22 incomplete passes

And 46 of the completions didn't score touchdowns.

That's not perfect.

Just kidding.

I think.

Big plays

The Alabama defense has allowed 18 plays of 20-plus yards. That checks in at 78th nationally.

Of those, 13 came on passes and five on runs. The 54-yard rush by Texas A&M's Kellen Mond was 11 yards longer than any run by an Alabama player this season. The 75-yard Ole Miss touchdown on the first play two weeks ago was 13 yards longer than any passing play Alabama's defense allowed in 15 games in 2016.

Last year's defense didn't allow a pass of longer than 46 yards until Georgia hit an 80-yarder to Mecole Hardman in the championship game. Overall, the 2017 Alabama defense was 31st in 20-yard plays given up.

Running the ball

Saban noted Texas A&M dedicated an extra man to the box in an effort that limited the Tide to 109 rushing yards on 28 attempts.

That was the fewest Alabama gained on the ground since getting just 66 yards on 32 attempts in 2014 at Arkansas in a game the Tide won 14-13.

Kicking?

It was an issue a few weeks ago, but Joseph Bulovas has looked strong since taking over the job. He's 19-for-19 with extra points and 4-for-5 on field goals. That includes a 47-yarder against Texas A&M.

All the things No. 1 Alabama's doing wrong

 

[BAMANEWSBOT]

The Monday After: No. 1 Alabama is actually trash, and the Tide apparently need to know it
​

A look at the weekend that was in college football while fulfilling a Nick Saban request

No. 1 Alabama beat Texas A&M 45-23 on Saturday to improve to 4-0 on the season. The defending national champions have averaged 53.75 points per game so far this season while outscoring the two SEC opponents they faced 107-30 in two games. When the new AP Top 25 was released Sunday, Alabama remained on top, garnering 60 of the 61 first-place votes. Clearly, the AP voters did not listen to Alabama coach Nick Saban following the Crimson Tide's win over the Aggies.

Saban had a simple plea for the media.

"We've got a good team, but our team needs to do a lot of things to improve," said the six-time national championship-winning coach. "If what our team has accomplished to this point makes them in any way not take into account the kind of teams that we have to play in the future, and they underestimate what we need to do to improve so that we can become a better team, and don't just take things for granted [that's a problem]. That we're going to show up because we've got an Alabama uniform on, and win the game, it's not going to happen that way. And it's going to be everybody's choice in the organization.

"So I would appreciate it, if you would, you know, sort of look at some of the things we didn't do well and write about that, so maybe I can show it to the players and say, 'Look here, man: Here's something you can do better.'"

Well, all right, Nick. If it makes you happy.

Alabama sucks. That's right, I said it. Sure, it may be 4-0, but who has it even played to this point? It's beaten up on Louisville, Arkansas State, Ole Miss and Texas A&M. Those four teams have combined for 10 wins over such stalwarts as Southeastern Missouri, Tulsa, UNLV, Northwestern State, Louisiana-Monroe, Texas Tech, Southern Illinois, Kent State, Indiana State and Western Kentucky. I mean, Virginia beat Louisville, too, but I don't see anybody rushing to rank the Cavaliers because of it.

I'm supposed to accept my fate and give in to the inevitable heat death of the college football universe that is Alabama just because it scored 62 points against a team that allowed 41 points to Southern Illinois? I don't think so.

Oh, and what if I told you that Alabama might have beaten Texas A&M by 22 points, but it didn't even cover the spread? If this team is so good, then why didn't it win the game by as many points as it was supposed to? Isn't exceeding expectations what champions are supposed to do?

What a trash effort by Alabama. I mean, have you even looked at the box score?

• Tua Tagovailoa threw eight incompletions, including one on a third down. Trash.
• Alabama only rushed for 109 yards as a team on Saturday. Trash.
• Isaiah Buggs had three sacks, so he did his part, but only four other Alabama defensive players managed to get at least half a sack in the game. Buggs is too good to be surrounded by the rest of this ... trash.
• Alabama had to punt six times in the game, and when it did, Skyler DeLong averaged only 36 yards per punt. Trash.

Those are just some of the awful performances. And guess what? Alabama's incompetence isn't limited to the Texas A&M game!

What if I told you that, not including possessions at the end of halves, the Alabama offense only scored a touchdown on 26 of its 51 offensive possessions this season? That's just a 51 percent success rate! Do you know what kind of grade I'd get on a test if I only answered 51 percent of the questions correctly? That's right, I'd get an "F." Well, unless I were in a class where Alabama was ranked the No. 1 student and the teacher graded on an Alabama curve. Then 51 percent gets you an "A," apparently!

It isn't just the offense that's slacking, either. On the season, Alabama has managed only four touchdowns on defense or special teams and didn't get one of either against Texas A&M. Maybe if the defense did its part to score, Alabama would be ranked first in the nation in points per game instead of third behind Penn State and Ohio State.

I mean, if Alabama can't score as many points per game as Big Ten teams do, and the Big Ten sucks, what does that say about Alabama?

And speaking of the defense, did you know Alabama is allowing 12.75 points per game? That's tied for fourth in the country. The Alabama defense isn't even the best in its state, as Auburn is allowing 12.5 points per game. The teams that have allowed the least points per game are West Virginia and Utah.

That's right, a Big 12 team and a Pac-12 team have a better defense than almighty Alabama.

If this is how Alabama is going to play all season, it might actually lose a game. Could you even imagine? What kind of team would do that?

A team that sucks, that's who.

The Monday After: No. 1 Alabama is actually trash, and the Tide apparently need to know it

 

[JoshB]

I literally laughed out loud when I heard Saban say that. I've had many coaches ask me not to be negative, never one that asked TO be negative lol

 

[mando]

I love Coach Saban. Non bama fans have always mocked me when I am unhappy after a bama win. To me they simply do not understand. This started for me during the Bear years.

Saban is the master at this part of the coaching game and is always looking for ways to insure the team keeps working to improve. He knows doing otherwise will eventually cost them when the competition improves.

Just glad I have gotten to watch two of the greatest coaches to ever coach the game.

 

[bamachine]

I love Coach Saban. Non bama fans have always mocked me when I am unhappy after a bama win. To me they simply do not understand. This started for me during the Bear years.

Saban is the master at this part of the coaching game and is always looking for ways to insure the team keeps working to improve. He knows doing otherwise will eventually cost them when the competition improves.

Just glad I have gotten to watch two of the greatest coaches to ever coach the game.

Yeah, it is amazing Bama ,has had the two greatest and also the worst coach ever. No, I do not mean Dubose, although I am sure he has a spot in the Worst Hall of Fame. I mean, JB "Ears" Whitworth, the GOAT Worst Coach, just based on what they did/didn't do on the field, predators need not apply.

 

[mando]

I mean, JB "Ears" Whitworth, the GOAT Worst Coach, just based on what they did/didn't do on the field, predators need not apply.

I was born in 1964 so fortunately by the time I was aware of football bama was past Whitworths days.

I have always expected bama to out work, be more disciplined and more physical than anyone else. Basically control the game by controlling the line of scrimmage. That is what Bears teams did.

I think not controlling the "game" is what is bugging Coach Saban the most. Also a lot of penalties that against most teams does not effect the outcome of the game but it does form habits that will get you beat against the better teams on the schedule.

 

[bamachine]

I mean, JB "Ears" Whitworth, the GOAT Worst Coach, just based on what they did/didn't do on the field, predators need not apply.

I was born in 1964 so fortunately by the time I was aware of football bama was past Whitworths days.

I have always expected bama to out work, be more disciplined and more physical than anyone else. Basically control the game by controlling the line of scrimmage. That is what Bears teams did.

I think not controlling the "game" is what is bugging Coach Saban the most. Also a lot of penalties that against most teams does not effect the outcome of the game but it does form habits that will get you beat against the better teams on the schedule.

Yeah, '71 here. I just have read enough about Ears to realize, he should never have walked a sideline.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

I mean, JB "Ears" Whitworth, the GOAT Worst Coach, just based on what they did/didn't do on the field, predators need not apply.

I was born in 1964 so fortunately by the time I was aware of football bama was past Whitworths days.

I have always expected bama to out work, be more disciplined and more physical than anyone else. Basically control the game by controlling the line of scrimmage. That is what Bears teams did.

I think not controlling the "game" is what is bugging Coach Saban the most. Also a lot of penalties that against most teams does not effect the outcome of the game but it does form habits that will get you beat against the better teams on the schedule.

“I honestly believe that if you are willing to out-condition the opponent, have confidence in your ability, be more aggressive than your opponent and have a genuine desire for team victory, you will become the national champions. If you have all the above, you will acquire confidence and poise, and you will have those intangibles that win the close ones.”.......Coach Bryant

 

[TUSKtimes]

I love Coach Saban. Non bama fans have always mocked me when I am unhappy after a bama win. To me they simply do not understand. This started for me during the Bear years.

Saban is the master at this part of the coaching game and is always looking for ways to insure the team keeps working to improve. He knows doing otherwise will eventually cost them when the competition improves.

Just glad I have gotten to watch two of the greatest coaches to ever coach the game.

Two great coaches that when they speak of defense, it's almost a religious experience. When Saban is through, can anyone duplicate what we have witnessed on the defensive side of the ball? Overall, it's been a masterpiece. I believe coach Bryant would have taken a lot of pride in what we are seeing from a pure talent and schematic standpoint.

 

[bcracker]

I love Coach Saban. Non bama fans have always mocked me when I am unhappy after a bama win. To me they simply do not understand. This started for me during the Bear years.

Saban is the master at this part of the coaching game and is always looking for ways to insure the team keeps working to improve. He knows doing otherwise will eventually cost them when the competition improves.

Just glad I have gotten to watch two of the greatest coaches to ever coach the game.

Two great coaches that when they speak of defense, it's almost a religious experience. When Saban is through, can anyone duplicate what we have witnessed on the defensive side of the ball? Overall, it's been a masterpiece. I believe coach Bryant would have taken a lot of pride in what we are seeing from a pure talent and schematic standpoint.

Another question that comes to mind—and disturbingly so, I might add—is will watching Alabama football be the same after he’s gone?

 

[mando]

Another question that comes to mind—and disturbingly so, I might add—is will watching Alabama football be the same after he’s gone?

Hopefully our attempt at replacing Saban will be much better than replacing the Bear. Watching Bama I am sure will not be the same but hopefully we will not fall off the cliff like we did after Bear.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Another question that comes to mind—and disturbingly so, I might add—is will watching Alabama football be the same after he’s gone?

Don't see how that could be, really. Even if we are fortunate enough to keep the tradition going on a national level with the next coach in, it seems impossible to duplicate what coach Saban schemed for us on the defensive side and his attention to detail in the overall program. Not many perfect storms.

 

[saturdaysarebetter]

That is funny to read.

• Tua Tagovailoa threw eight incompletions, including one on a third down. Trash.
  
  LOL!

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

Another question that comes to mind—and disturbingly so, I might add—is will watching Alabama football be the same after he’s gone?

Hopefully our attempt at replacing Saban will be much better than replacing the Bear. Watching Bama I am sure will not be the same but hopefully we will not fall off the cliff like we did after Bear.

JMO Coach Stallings should have got the call when Coach Bryant retired. WHY? because players were still into discipline and could be lead by strong mentor. Ray Perkins wasn't a real bad hire but he fuqed over the U of A by leaving as soon as he did.

Bill Curry...............thanks Joab....for fun lets see a show of hands that would have hired Bill over Bobby Bowden...anybody? Bueller

I was in Montgomery during the Bill where is my sunglasses daysand I played racquetball most everyday at Mike Kolen's facility (Montgomery athletic club...great place) and Mike became friends. When Bill was hired he made the statement that we (Bama) made a great hire. As far as an Auburn fans view I guess we did.

 

[TerryP]

JMO Coach Stallings should have got the call when Coach Bryant retired. WHY?

He did but wouldn't discuss the job since the Cowboys season was still in full swing with the playoffs on the horizon. Perkins, on the other hand, didn't have a problem leaving NY and they still had a couple of games left on their schedule.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

JMO Coach Stallings should have got the call when Coach Bryant retired. WHY?

He did but wouldn't discuss the job since the Cowboys season was still in full swing with the playoffs on the horizon. Perkins, on the other hand, didn't have a problem leaving NY and they still had a couple of games left on their schedule.

I have to admit I wanted Howard Snellenberger to get the gig in 90. I believe Howard would have really been successful in TitleTown. I would have paid for his haircut if that was the only reason the BOT didn't hire him....can you feel me.

 

[TerryP]

JMO Coach Stallings should have got the call when Coach Bryant retired. WHY?

He did but wouldn't discuss the job since the Cowboys season was still in full swing with the playoffs on the horizon. Perkins, on the other hand, didn't have a problem leaving NY and they still had a couple of games left on their schedule.

I have to admit I wanted Howard Snellenberger to get the gig in 90. I believe Howard would have really been successful in TitleTown. I would have paid for his haircut if that was the only reason the BOT didn't hire him....can you feel me.

He was getting pretty deep in the bottle during his Louisville days and that issue didn't really show up until OU hired him in the mid 90's. Great coach, but how well could he have handled the UA job and his other vices? We'll never know but there's reason to doubt it would have been successful.

 

[TUSKtimes]

For my money, Perkin's wasn't the big miss after coach Bryant. Now, if Dye was still on the Bama staff I think those feelings might have changed for me. But I also didn't think that Perkin's was going to be a long-term solution at the time and Tampa Bay probably did us a big favor at about the right time.

The big, big miss was obviously Bowden. Another Alabama boy, great, great, recruiter and whatever he accomplished at FSU, I feel, would have been duplicated in Tuscaloosa. You just can't miss a guy like that with his pedigree and somehow we did, and badly.