🏈 POST GAME/VENT THREAD: Bama 33 — West Virginia 23

[TerryP]

Moving off of the "live thread" option so this thread will serve for post-game discussions...

I'll go into more detail on my thoughts later. But, I'll say this.

It's not as bad as you may think.

 

[sean]

RMFT!!!!!

it wasn't pretty, but i'll take it.

 

[jlabit]

TerryP, got to strongly disagree with you. I have a major, major concern with our secondary. If Sylve is the best we have, then we are in some serious trouble. West Virginia might have one heck of a team, but I saw TA&M Thursday night, and they will pick us apart if our secondary doesn't make major improvements.

 

[ElephantStomp]

A win is a win. Our defense has got to get better or like I said in the other thread we will win the Heisman for the aTm QB. If Sylve is our best option for that corner spot then we are in trouble. I think Sims did really well other than a couple of horrendous throws to wide open guys. Our two RBs are going to cause chest pains for several DCs and HCs.

But, we better hope we can score plenty of points because our defense can't stop anybody

 

[TerryP]

TerryP, got to strongly disagree with you. I have a major, major concern with our secondary. If Sylve is the best we have, then we are in some serious trouble. West Virginia might have one heck of a team, but I saw TA&M Thursday night, and they will pick us apart if our secondary doesn't make major improvements.

It wasn't a good showing. But, I think there are a few things we've got to consider before proclaiming we're in serious trouble.

For one, there seems to be some misconception that the WVU record was an indication of of how good they were on offense last season.

If there was a suspicion that Holgerson wasn't a good play caller I hope that's dispelled.

If there was a thought they weren't loaded at running back—with a guy in Shell we pursued very hard in recruiting—I hope that is dispelled.

We were caught out of position, a lot, tonight. How much of that is directly related to who we had in the middle? I've insisted we have depth issues at the interior linebacking corps. It's not only bodies, but it's talent in pass protection.

Opening with a team like WVU, an offense like they run, will serve dividends as the season progresses.

This game went about like I thought it would. We wouldn't cover. We'd run very well. We'd see some horrible decisions by our QB. And, WVU would put points on the board.

IMO, it's far too little data to make any judgments and far too early to take one game as an indication on how any unit will play.

 

[BamaFisher]

I said it before and I'll say it again...I think it's going to be a long season.

 

[Hardkore]

While I'll take it for a win, the defense was rather sloppy. I'll agree with @ElephantStomp ,the secondary has some work to do as well.

 

[TerryP]

BTW @jlabit

There's nothing about the UofSC v A&M game that makes me start making comparisons with the Bama defense and that of the Gamecocks. The comparisons begin, and end, with the defensive line. Their linebacking corps is pretty good, but unable to display any of that talent because of their defensive line.

 

[ElephantStomp]

I agree Terry it is early in the season, but our lack of CB coverage is concerning whether it's the first game or the last

Although we did a good job at times with pressure on the QB which I didn't think we would that much

 

[ElephantStomp]

BTW @jlabit

There's nothing about the UofSC v A&M game that makes me start making comparisons with the Bama defense and that of the Gamecocks. The comparisons begin, and end, with the defensive line. Their linebacking corps is pretty good, but unable to display any of that talent because of their defensive line.

Our secondary play was about par with USC's against aTm. If we don't fix that we are going to get ate up

 

[BamaJay73]

Really disappointed by our D. Glad we have a couple of easy games before UF. Don't know what to think about Sims.

 

[TheChief]

So Coker could not do what Sims did tonight? Then Bama and all its fans got sold a bill of goods.

I rephrase the comment: Does anyone expect me to believe that Coker could not have done what Sims did tonight? Honestly. One pass completion on routes longer than 15 yards? Really?

Furthermore, Tony Brown is not better than Sylve? Really?

We better enjoy this win. If this team does not improve, this is going to be a long, long season. If this team improves a little, this is going to be a long season.

 

['65 Cobra]

The whole team looked like a team that had alot of new players in key positions - which we are. The got more fire in their bellies as they got more comfortable. I don't think our whole secondary was horrible, but they hit on several big plays mostly on Sylve. Do they move up Brown? When does Eddie come back?

Sorry, but I don't think Blake Sims is the guy that can take us the whole way. Some of his throws were real bad and some decision-making was real bad. Granted, he also had a few drops. If Coker doesn't come along fast, this could be a problem for us in October.

Overall, I also think we were seeing a distinct lack of leadership on both sides of the ball - alot of talent, but missing real leaders to get the other players in place and motivated.

Candidly, none of this is a huge surprise and I think there is still time for this team to gel.

Lastly, the HUNH thing still concerns me. It's not a simple matter of execution and assignment discipline. I think it's going to take something more scheme related than that to consistently beat it. We got TAMU, Ole Miss, and the Barn still to go. They'll eat us up if we are still playing like this when we play them.

 

[bama alum]

It wasn't a good showing. But, I think there are a few things we've got to consider before proclaiming we're in serious trouble.

For one, there seems to be some misconception that the WVU record was an indication of of how good they were on offense last season.

If there was a suspicion that Holgerson wasn't a good play caller I hope that's dispelled.

If there was a thought they weren't loaded at running back—with a guy in Shell we pursued very hard in recruiting—I hope that is dispelled.

We were caught out of position, a lot, tonight. How much of that is directly related to who we had in the middle? I've insisted we have depth issues at the interior linebacking corps. It's not only bodies, but it's talent in pass protection.

Opening with a team like WVU, an offense like they run, will serve dividends as the season progresses.

This game went about like I thought it would. We wouldn't cover. We'd run very well. We'd see some horrible decisions by our QB. And, WVU would put points on the board.

IMO, it's far too little data to make any judgments and far too early to take one game as an indication on how any unit will play.

I agree with you about a lot of this. I didn't think WVU would put up that many points though. Good to see that WVU is this good. This will turn out to be a good win for us later as far as strength of schedule is concerned.

 

[bama alum]

Bama also held WVU to 58 rushing yards.

 

[TheChief]

I especially like how Bama got OJ Howard involved in the offense, using his height advantage in catching passes. We heard recently in the press about how Kiffin planned to get Drake the ball out of the backfield and in different formations to utilize his speed. I'm glad that worked out.

 

[psychojoe]

Cyrus Jones had a good game and D held them to two FG in second half. The defensive half time adjustments seemed to slow them down a good bit. Trickett is one of the better passers we will see.

Allowing the KO return hurt u', but that can be fixed.

Having not seen Coker in the real heat of battle, it is impossible to tell how he will perform. tmade two poor throws to open receivers, and one ill judged one, the pick. As someone mentioned, he had a couple of dropped balls, by Christion Jones of all people. The first drop would have been an easy touchdown. All in all, he had a pretty good first game. He does give you something that I am not sure Coker can, the athleticism in the pocket to extend plays.

Do I wish we had played better? Of course, but we played better on offense than we did a year ago against Virginia Tech. The defense was tested, and we do need to shore up a corner, but I am noy worried about the next HUNH team we play, not their offense anyway.

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

Why don't you guys just jump off a bridge about Simms. GEEZ . He made some mistakes, it was his first start. He also made some clutch plays too that some of our previous QB's would've been toast. Clutch. I guess for some of you that is irrelevant.

Oh, he would've had a 40+ yard bomb hadn't a WR dropped it but that his fault, right?

The defense is still the issue. This is how the OU game should've played out provided the turnover ratio difference but the defense is still getting gashed with the HUNH. I just saw much of the same.

'65 Cobra nailed it too on leadership. Both sides of the ball just don't have it or it hasn't risen to the top yet.

 

[ElephantStomp]

Why don't you guys just jump off a bridge about Simms. GEEZ . He made some mistakes, it was his first start. He also made some clutch plays too that some of our previous QB's would've been toast. Clutch. I guess for some of you that is irrelevant.

Oh, he would've had a 40+ yard bomb hadn't a WR dropped it but that his fault, right?

The defense is still the issue. This is how the OU game should've played out provided the turnover ratio difference but the defense is still getting gashed with the HUNH. I just saw much of the same.

'65 Cobra nailed it too on leadership. Both sides of the ball just don't have it or it hasn't risen to the top yet.

First start or not at least two of his throws were awful!! And both passes were to wife open WRs. He cannot throw an accurate ball while on the move. I'm not on the "a dropped by is his fault too" crowd that you're pointing to, whoever they are, I've not seen them yet.

 

[TheChief]

Crimson, I don't see how any college quarterback couldn't have done what Sims did. If Coker wasn't as good as Sims, then he's not much of a quarterback. Maybe he's not. As far as the forty yard bomb... Are you talking about the one that hung up in the air like a punt? I remember that. Christian should have caught it.

Everyone's favorite player is the second string quarterback. That's probably my problem. I guess we'll see.

Howard and Drake didn't have much of an impact with the ball. Vogler didn't either.