🏈 Post Iron Bowl Thoughts

[musso]

• Second consecutive season watching our offense decline in the latter half of the season. It's like we run out of offensive potency.
• Can't help but question Hurts' progress. Yes, 3 different OCs in two seasons, but I see so many young QBs putting up great numbers across the country.
• How many times does he escape the pocket prematurely only to run towards the outside pressure? And how many times does he lock onto his first read (usually Ridley)?
• Given all the blowouts this season, I voiced concerns that he wasn't getting enough passing reps in games to work on his downfield reads. I was especially stunned when he benched against Mercer after only attempting 7 passes with our toughest defensive opponents ahead.
  
• Never before have I watched a game where it seemed as if at least one of our defensive players struggled to get up after every defensive snap. Not to mention all the players we had with conspicuous bandages and wraps. Saban wasn't lying when he said recently that he's never been a part of such an injury filled season like this one.
• Given how easily we ran the ball after our first offensive possession of the 2nd half, what happened with our RBs afterwards? Also, it seems like every time Hurts threw a swing pass to a RB it got positive yardage. Why did we abandon that? And what about the quick slants?
  
• Given how banged up our D was at this point of the season, we can't blame them. Our offense has to be able to score more than 2 TDs.
• All the mental breakdowns were a first under Saban. Must have been a sign of the physical vulnerabilities of our team. When you know you're handicap, you lose mental focus.
  
• For as dominant as Saban has been at Bama ... an ironic fact occurred to me yesterday ... there has been only one conference rival which has enjoyed increased success since his arrival: Auburn. Won it in '10, should have won it in '13, will have a chance this year. Prior to Saban's arrival, I'm curious if there has ever been another 10-year period in which Auburn has reached a national title game three times.

 

[EasyTider]

There's several other threads for this but at this point IDGAF.

 

[rick4bama]

Again Bama came up on the short end!

 

[MunchyOs]

I read this whenever I need a good laugh!

Football - Saban vs. Shula

 

[94 Grad]

• Given how easily we ran the ball after our first offensive possession of the 2nd half, what happened with our RBs afterwards? Also, it seems like every time Hurts threw a swing pass to a RB it got positive yardage. Why did we abandon that? And what about the quick slants

Looking at the possession chart shows the story of why we did what we did. I don't really have any issues with the play calling. It makes plenty of sense looking at it away from the motion of the game and the false sense that we "went away" from the run in the 2nd half. We didn't... the down/distance dictated our play call more than anything else.

As a note, the 4th possession started with the clock at 12:41 in the 4th quarter down by 2 scores... still plenty of time to run the ball, but you're not going to be able to focus on a ground/pound game. The 5th possession was at the point where it was going to be all air down by 2 scores and 5 minutes left. So really the 2nd and 3rd possession are the ones to look at most... out of 10 play calls, we had 4 runs and 6 passes. Two of those passes were to the RB and more of a running play than a down field pass. Of the remain 4 passes 2 were on 3rd and 5 or more. The remaining 2 passes were on 1st down one in a PI call and one Incomplete.

2nd possesion
1 down run for 5 yards
2 down run for zero yards
3 down (5) pass complete to Bo for 4 yards - Basically was a run play
Punt

3rd possession

1st down penalty false start
1st down penalty Auburn PI
1st down Run for 6 yards
2nd down Run for 5 yards
1st down pass incomplete
2nd down pass complete Josh Jacobs 6 yards - Basically was a run play
3rd down penalty delay of game
3rd down (9) pass incomplete

4th Possesion
1st down Hurts run 1 yards
2nd down pass complete 7 yards
3rd down Hurts run 10 yards
1st down Harris run 2 yards
2nd down pass incomplete
3rd down (7) Hurts run for 16 yards
1st down Harris run 6 yards
2nd down pass incomplete
3rd down (4) Bad Snap
4th (9) Down Penalty substitution auburn
4th (4) pass complete for 3 yards

5th possession- clock now at 5:45 and down by 2 scores. You're not going to pound the run at this point.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

There should be enough questions about the 2017 season Process piled up on Nick's desk that he can't see over them at this point. No short peoples jokes allowed.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

There should be enough questions about the 2017 season Process piled up on Nick's desk that he can't see over them at this point. No short peoples jokes allowed.

So...f'ing what....i dont get it....just don't....
How about BEARs 11 season at Bama....1968....so he should be canned for a ...6-5 season or whatever it was...lost to Missouri or somebody....in bowl...
2017 wasnt our best...but damn good...regardless of the AU game....and JH is damn good...
Neither perfect but damn good....
Sit back..relax..enjoy the dominance over the SEC...

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

So...f'ing what....i dont get it....just don't....
How about BEARs 11 season at Bama....1968....so he should be canned for a ...6-5 season or whatever it was...lost to Missouri or somebody....in bowl...
2017 wasnt our best...but damn good...regardless of the AU game....and JH is damn good...
Neither perfect but damn good....
Sit back..relax..enjoy the dominance over the SEC...

How about Coach Bryant and Bama's failure to win a bowl game from 1967 thru 1974 (one tie in vs OU in 1970).

You're going to need the best defensive team in the nation to win a NC with Hurts at QB.

 

[TUSKtimes]

How about Coach Bryant and Bama's failure to win a bowl game from 1967 thru 1974 (one tie in vs OU in 1970).

You're going to need the best defensive team in the nation to win a NC with Hurts at QB.

Nothing stays the same. Tua won't sit and watch and learn next season even if we win the natty now. He will have served his apprenticeship in the system and next year it's full steam ahead. I don't see that changing too much for Hurts and his ability, but I can see the hot hand finishing the games. And the guy that termed the phrase if you have 2 QBs you have none, was discussing equally average to poor QBs at best. That will not be the case in T-Town.

 

[JoshB]

How about Coach Bryant and Bama's failure to win a bowl game from 1967 thru 1974 (one tie in vs OU in 1970).

You're going to need the best defensive team in the nation to win a NC with Hurts at QB.

With fans like you, who needs rivals?

 

[valadforbama]

Poor little Josey Wales The Outlaw. Sitting in his mommas basement alone playing on his xbox. Coach Josey calls the play from the sideline. Quarterback Josey takes snap from center and fakes the handoff halfback Josey, and makes 30 yard throw to wide receiver
Josey who drops the ball. People that can do. People that can't complain about everything that they know nothing about. You sir obviously do not know anything about the game of football. I will take the last 10 years and the 4 national championships, the sec championships along with all the wins. Even though we have an occasional lose I remember the 10 years before coach Saban, and I will never complain.

 

[TerryP]

Poor little Josey Wales The Outlaw. Sitting in his mommas basement alone playing on his xbox. Coach Josey calls the play from the sideline. Quarterback Josey takes snap from center and fakes the handoff halfback Josey, and makes 30 yard throw to wide receiver
Josey who drops the ball. People that can do. People that can't complain about everything that they know nothing about. You sir obviously do not know anything about the game of football. I will take the last 10 years and the 4 national championships, the sec championships along with all the wins. Even though we have an occasional lose I remember the 10 years before coach Saban, and I will never complain.

1st post and all ... damn.

 

[rick4bama]

1st post and all ... damn.

Read it yesterday and was thinking the same thing!

 

[bama alum]

Poor little Josey Wales The Outlaw. Sitting in his mommas basement alone playing on his xbox. Coach Josey calls the play from the sideline. Quarterback Josey takes snap from center and fakes the handoff halfback Josey, and makes 30 yard throw to wide receiver
Josey who drops the ball. People that can do. People that can't complain about everything that they know nothing about. You sir obviously do not know anything about the game of football. I will take the last 10 years and the 4 national championships, the sec championships along with all the wins. Even though we have an occasional lose I remember the 10 years before coach Saban, and I will never complain.

 

[EasyTider]

I'm dropping this in a couple different threads because damnitt man, BS!

 

[TUSKtimes]

I'm dropping this in a couple different threads because damnitt man, BS!

Ranks right there with every team in the SEC getting a bye week before the Bama game.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

With fans like you, who needs rivals?

Sport I was an Alabama fan when you were shetting in your diaper. To solve a problem then you have to admit you have such a problem. I really like Jalen Hurts but he is not going to get any better as a passer. This is a mental thing and he will face the problem ever snap that is a pass.

My 1st game was 1959 Bama vs Memphis State.

 

[JoshB]

Sport I was an Alabama fan when you were shetting in your diaper. To solve a problem then you have to admit you have such a problem. I really like Jalen Hurts but he is not going to get any better as a passer. This is a mental thing and he will face the problem ever snap that is a pass.

My 1st game was 1959 Bama vs Memphis State.

So, because you're old that doesn't make you a shitty "fan?" We can't even call the "Jalen is just not getting any better" comment a shitty opinion, because it's factually untrue. No worry though, I'm sure anytime Greg McElroy, AJ McCarron, Blake Sims, Coker, etc. ever had bad games you were screaming for their backups too and claiming THEY were the problem with the team. You probably wanted Joe Kelley to replace Kenny Stabler whenever he had a bad game, too.

 

[Max]

Second consecutive season watching our offense decline in the latter half of the season. It's like we run out of offensive potency.

I stopped reading right here. Bama schedule has always gotten tougher the latter half of the season.

 

[musso]

I stopped reading right here. Bama schedule has always gotten tougher the latter half of the season.

And yet our offense hasn't always stagnated 3/4 into the season. And by "offense," I'm particularly referring to our passing, in terms of execution, reads, decision-making, and vertical threats.