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

[jlabit]

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.

Realizing there is considerable difference between us and USCe, my concern with our pass defense is a valid concern after watching Kenny Hill pick USCe apart. Fortunately, WVU dropped a lot of good passes today. I did not see TAMU doing much of that Thursday night. That fear is compounded because of the lack of a strong pass rush today. Except for one occasion that I can remember, Trickett had pretty good protection. We are all cheering for the same team. I am just disappointed that our vulnerabilities from last year, except for the kicking game, still seem to be there. In any event, RTR.

 

[mhardiman]

I only good thing I seen from today is that we're at least a top 25 team. Still no answer for the HUNH.

 

[bamafan4ever]

Let me be the 1st to ask it this season, "did we lose"? We didn't play an 8 loss team tonight. I will be willing to bet that WVU doesn't lose 8 this season.

With that said, we need improvements and we were attacked at our biggest weakness, HUNH defense. A defense that was missing 33 in the interior. That didn't help. As a whole, I thought our OL played well, especially if Brown can stay onsides. Cooper looked good and we had two rushers over 100 yards. The kickers are going to be two of the best we have had in a long time if they continue to progress. The defense just needs some more work. Schedule sets up nicely.

 

[BamaFisher]

And in roll the sunshine pumpers...I saw enough today to be gravely concerned. If WVU had caught a couple of dropped passes that hit receivers in the hands or chest - we'd be having a different conversation.

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

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.

Yes he had a few bad throws. So has every other QB. Man, totally unrealistic perceptions. And he made several throws on the move. I don't know what game you watched. Ridiculous.

 

[jocephus8179]

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.

I agree that we can't make comparisons between Bama's and S. Carolina's defense, but you can compare aTm's and WV's offense, and by what i saw between those two games, im worried as hell. I know it's a lomg way off, but i will even be worried about Auburn if we don't greatly improve big time on defense. WV exposed us today as far as how we defend HUNH.

 

[mhardiman]

I have little complaints about the offense; yes Sims had a couple bad throws, but having that scrambling saved us on a couple possessions. I would have liked to have seen what Coker can do, but at the same time I didn't see any reason to remove Sims from the game. 100% of my disappointment tonight is all on the defensive side, and how we still have no answer in slowing down the HUNH.

 

[Bamabww]

If WVU had caught a couple of dropped passes that hit receivers in the hands or chest - we'd be having a different conversation.

Or if our receivers had caught a couple they dropped we'd probably had a blowout. It works both ways you know.

I was pleased with our OL and offense in general. Blake Sims did almost everything asked of him. He didn't cost us the game but made some plays when he had to. He made some mistakes but it's the first real football game he's actually been in charge of since high school. He did better than I expected I'll admit.

Why we didn't keep running the ball in the late 3rd and the entire 4th quarter I don't know. We were wearing them down or so it seemed to me.

Our defense made mistakes but most of them were done at full speed. The coaches can work on and tune that in a little better now since they've seen them in full speed. CNS said in the postgame interview that WVU showed them several formations offensively that we hadn't seen before.

Our secondary was suspect pre season and that proved itself to be accurate thru most of the game. There's some work to be done there no doubt.

We may have the best kicking game we've had in several years.

I seen the nucleus of a good team that can be tweaked in some areas that in 3 or 4 weeks will be ready to become a great team. Roll Tide.

 

[jdpas29]

Only 2 things surprised me.

Blake sims played way better than I thought and he looked pretty comfortable in his role.

Our new punter is badass.

 

[bamatommy]

I didn't see much of the game on tv because I was visiting with family, but I saw some of it on tv, and heard some on the radio. I don't want to read too much into the first game, especially since we have a lot of new starters on both sides of the ball. But Bama's defense----and kick return coverage----are significant concerns to me.

 

[PhillyGirl]

OK so I missed most of the 3rd, and all of the 4th. But until that point, we were only up by 3 I think and things were looking kinda .. hot mess-y. Glad to see we pulled away with the win. I had a feeling it would be a closer game than most people were giving it credit for. But we have a few games to dress rehearse for Florida. Let's not jump off bridges. We have time to make adjustments and fix things and improve. We HAVE to.

 

[Hardkore]

Only 2 things surprised me.

Blake sims played way better than I thought and he looked pretty comfortable in his role.

Our new punter is badass.

I was seriously impressed with him. I am glad he is at Bama.

 

[PhillyGirl]

I was seriously impressed with him. I am glad he is at Bama.

HK I love your new sig picture

 

[Hardkore]

HK I love your new sig picture

Thanks!

 

[russb8903]

I think the interior will be vastly improved with DePriest back in there, so I'm not too worried about that stuff they had in the middle. Bradley Sylve being so completely and repeatedly embarrassed is concerning. I was glad that we didn't hear Cy. Jones name much except when he made a couple good plays. They didn't seem to have much success on his side at all. Really impressed with the kickers, Griffith might could have had another 10 yards on that 47 yarder... ;( haha.

I think Sims did an alright job. He did everything that was asked of him, which may be all that is needed. But if it weren't for so many YAC, he would have had 100 yrds passing at best. That attempt that Christion Jones dropped at the 5 really wasn't good. A DB who wasn't lost likely would have intercepted it. Other than that, there were essentially no legitimate downfield attempts. Gonna be tough sledding for TJ and Henry if we can't even pretend to throw it down field.

I desperately wanted to see Coker, but I agree with not putting him in. Sims and the rest of the O had a momentum that might have been broken. It was tenuous at times, but at least there and is the sort of thing that is hard to get back. Also, I was a little disappointed to see Coker looking pouty much of the game. That isn't the way for him to get in the game.

All in all, it looked better than last years opener. Though it didn't seem that way, we didn't give up much on the ground. If another corner can step up, or Sylve gets his act together, we may be in business.

 

[ElephantStomp]

Yes he had a few bad throws. So has every other QB. Man, totally unrealistic perceptions. And he made several throws on the move. I don't know what game you watched. Ridiculous.

I watched the realistic game. The one where even the commentators said he was having a hard time with throws on the run. I didn't say he completely sucked ass at it, but to say he didn't struggle with throws on the run is looking at a game through crimson goggles. I suppose he got all his yards in the air and not after the catch too?

 

[silvermetalflake]

Let's not jump off bridges. We have time to make adjustments and fix things and improve. We HAVE to.

LOL. That's exactly what we said this time last year, and continued saying all season and then the Sugar Bowl happened. Unless things take a drastic about shift (....and I'm talking act of God stuff here), we'll be lucky to have 9 wins. The #2 is missing a 1, and not in the beginning.

I do think Simms, under the microscope of pressure, did very well and better than I expected. And thank God for the Coop.

 

[russb8903]

Unless things take a drastic about shift (....and I'm talking act of God stuff here), we'll be lucky to have 9 wins.

http://i.imgur.com/QbUjD.gif

 

[TerryP]

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

This is the third time we've seen a kickoff returned for a touchdown in week one. In both of those games we had guys get out of their lanes and "BAM!." In both of those games we had fans looking for the nearest cliff. It's not that bad of a case this season, based on what I've seen so far. One thing about those two games: those mistakes were corrected.

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.

Did not versus can not. We've seen him do it before. He's been having success in practice.

It appears to be a "slow down just a second" issue; if that makes sense.

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.

OJ still didn't have an impact blocking. I'm still of the opinion if you have a tight end that can't block, one that can receive and run, he's not going to have an impact.

Got me laughing a bit here, Chief. "Everyone's favorite player is the second string quarterback..." —or the third string running back, depending on the person.

 

[TerryP]

Realizing there is considerable difference between us and USCe, my concern with our pass defense is a valid concern after watching Kenny Hill pick USCe apart. Fortunately, WVU dropped a lot of good passes today. I did not see TAMU doing much of that Thursday night. That fear is compounded because of the lack of a strong pass rush today. Except for one occasion that I can remember, Trickett had pretty good protection. We are all cheering for the same team. I am just disappointed that our vulnerabilities from last year, except for the kicking game, still seem to be there. In any event, RTR.

I saw a difference in the first half versus the second.

Based on watching the game on TV it's hard to say if the vulnerabilities are the same. The result—getting beaten on the outside by a big, fast receiver—was the same. I have my suspicions guys like Sylve were splitting their concentrations. IE: Bradley was worried about the ILB protection of the seam and thought his speed could make up the difference on his routes.

Being caught out of position like they were? Correctable. How much is that related to a new guy calling the pass defense?

Let me be the 1st to ask it this season, "did we lose"? We didn't play an 8 loss team tonight. I will be willing to bet that WVU doesn't lose 8 this season.

With that said, we need improvements and we were attacked at our biggest weakness, HUNH defense. A defense that was missing 33 in the interior. That didn't help. As a whole, I thought our OL played well, especially if Brown can stay onsides. Cooper looked good and we had two rushers over 100 yards. The kickers are going to be two of the best we have had in a long time if they continue to progress. The defense just needs some more work. Schedule sets up nicely.

I can't help but think one is directly related to the other.

@It Takes Eleven has touched on this a few times during the off-season, as have I. ILB is an issue.