🏈 Post game discussion - @ Arkansas Vent thread

[bamafan4ever]

Like I was discussing with a couple of friends earlier, we can damn sure punt the ball. There's my glass half full post of the night.

 

[rick4bama]

Aaron Suttles @AaronSuttles
How good was Alabama's front seven? 18 Arkansas runs went for 2 yards or less. 10 for no gain or negative yards.

 

[AFF]

Well, there is at least some good news.

• We won.
• Our defense looked pretty good overall - especially our defensive line.
• Our punter is outstanding. Did I read that stat correctly? He punted 8 times and 7 of those were placed inside the 20. Avg of 44 with a long of 58. We HAVE a punter.

The not-so-good is that our offensive line play seems to be in free fall.

• How did we go from setting an offensive record against Florida two weeks ago to what we saw last night?
• What needs to be done to get back on track?
• Is it just a coincidence that this downward offensive spiral started when Ryan Kelly got hurt against Ole Miss?
• Is there a lack of chemistry between Bozeman and the rest of the O line?
• Is this a leadership issue as AJ suggested?
• Is it a coaching issue? Saban? Kiffin?

 

[psychojoe]

I think there are some games like this, where you aren't playing your best. When that happens, you must find a way to win. Kudos to the guys for doing that.

Thank goodness for J K Scott, and for the defense.

 

[silvermetalflake]

Agree with psychojoe.

And in any case... it is what it is and football is football. Some games you have to take 'yer lumps, and some seasons you're not going to hoist the BCS or even be considered. But it's all good and it could be worse.... we could be Arkansas. ROLL TIDE!!!

And really..... just be thankful you guys have such amazing College football system/league.... teams, financial support system, and atmosphere and attitude generated by your fans and communities that make it a world class sport. Up here in Canada, few care about collegiate football at the University level. It's like watching a high school game with a popcorn you bought at 7-11. So again... ROLL TIDE! I'm doing my bit!!!

 

[bamaledge]

It really doesn't matter who called what, Sims didn't produce.

 

['65 Cobra]

I'll agree on some of the positives:
- the D really showed up in the second half
- Ragland keeps getting better and better
- The secondary didn't get smoked quite so many times and seems to be SLOWLY improving
- we FINALLY got some pressure on an opposing QB.

The negatives are unsettling:
- The O-Line is not in ANY way dominating and it hasn't very much this year - even with Kelley at center.
- Their is apparently no distinct on-field leader still on either side of the ball.
- Blake is STILL making some real bonehead plays out there - both with his feet and throwing the ball.
- The team as a whole STILL appears to just be in a fog for most of these games - no fire, no "attitude." Other teams are really taking it to us.
- Blake is WAY too fixated on Amari. Yes, he is our best receiver, but other teams are just doubling (or even tripling) him. That means somebody else is open! Find the open guy!
- The running game was horrible last night.
- The team still appears to have no real identity and very poor leadership.
- Our staff is apparently gameplanning to avoid mistakes and trying not to lose. With the athletes we have, I believe that holds us back. Let them play especially on D. On offense, I'm sorry but I don't see Blake getting any better at this point and where he is at is not good enough to win a championship. At some point, we're going to have to let Coker take his shot - maybe before it's too late.

 

[jocephus8179]

It really doesn't matter who called what, Sims didn't produce.

AJ called it and everyone criticized him for it. If this isn't proof that handcuffs are being used, then i don't know what is.

 

[jocephus8179]

AJ called it and everyone criticized him for it. If this isn't proof that handcuffs are being used, then i don't know what is.

I thought the twitter post would be in the quote. But when you have an OC who wants to use a RB and the head coach over rules him and says QB sneak, then what AJ says must be pretty close to correct. Even while watching the game on that 4th and 1, i was hoping the would have Fowler involved. My dad said "watch them try a QB sneak and not get it." The defense KNEW it was coming. We have been way too conservative the past couple weeks. We telegraph everything we do on offense before we even break the huddle.

And our DBs. Hell, if Arkansas would have quit trying to run and just thrown the ball, i belive we they would have won.

 

[UAgrad93]

I'll say this about the 4th and short call. Saban was right! Taking the ball off of the LOS back to a RB 6yds deep can be a recipe for disaster. Now Blake showing off his vertical was as boneheaded as I have seen on a sneak!

 

[jdpas29]

All year there has been apparent confusion between the line and the qb. It seemed better against fla and then digressed against ole SIS. The army game highlighted that dysfunction. They can't seem to get the play communicated properly. The confusion may be leading to the line blocking the wrong way on running plays.

On passing plays our guys are just getting beat. The right tackle was having a tough time yesterday.

Until communication improves, I don't think they can look much better on offense.

Fwiw the new center appeared to play a pretty good game for a newb. I will watch the replay if I can stomach it to reassess..

 

[psychojoe]

Just for perspective. look back at 2009. The offense was struggling. They were playing a Tennessee team coached by someone we are all familiar with now. The offense never got in the end zone, and had a key turnover in the fourth quarter. Tennessee was clearly the lesser tam, on paper and by the record, but if we had not blocked two field goals in the second half, we may well have not won the BCS in 2009.

The backup QB that year was the one who made the critical public comments. The starter was the analyst who disagreed with him.

 

[UAgrad93]

I recall that 09 game against Ole Miss and we were fairly stagnant as well as the USCe game. Alot of young guys playing prominent roles then and now hit a midseason lull. Hopefully, we correct our mistakes, learn from them, and turn up the intensity a notch.

 

[BAMA JAMMA]

It really doesn't matter who called what, Sims didn't produce.

I was mainly posting that in context to what AJ mentioned last week regarding Saban having cuffs on the OC's in the past...

But yes I agree Sims had no business trying to play b-ball on the football field.