🏈 Pre-Game Thread: Bama vs Mississippi State

[TerryP]

I wouldn't call you an idiot because you are most always accurate in your assessments

Aw, shucks.

 

[alabama mike]

IMO, we may struggle early coming off the emotional game with LSU last Sat. I do think Bama will win and cover the spread. If we establish the running game early, we will be able to throw at will.

 

[BAMANEWSBOT]

Lined up across from each other, Cyrus Jones versus De'Runnya Wilson looks like a miss match.

Alabama's 5-foot-10 cornerback is a touch smaller than Mississippi State's 6-5 receiver. They faced off a year ago in Bryant-Denny Stadium as Wilson caught eight passes for 91 yards. Jones, though, won the 25-20 game over then-No. 1 Mississippi State.

Jones left with a certain respect for the smaller corner.

"I thought he was the best corner I ever played against in the SEC, like (Kenya Dennis) for Missouri," Wilson said Tuesday. "Cyrus Jones is a little corner but he's strong, fast, quick. I mean, I give credit to him because I had to work even harder preparing to go against him. It's going to be a great match."

Wilson enters the 2:30 p.m. Saturday rematch in Starkville as the No. 4 receiver in the SEC. The Birmingham product gets 69.6 yards a game. Jones was named All-SEC first team before the season and regularly faces the best receiver on the other side.

So it'll be Jones vs. Wilson again. The receiver didn't necessarily realize Jones was as physical before last year's game.

"It surprised me a little," he said. "I played against him my freshman year too. You just have to play big and fast. That's my advantage over a lot of cornerbacks in the SEC."

So how do you take advantage?

"Running a slant route," Wilson said. "I don't think I need that much separation outside of my route from him, but a little separation will help catching the ball. Coach always tells me to extend my hands but sometimes coming off my break, the ball will be on me so fast, I'm tall and have long arms, I can't extend. So boxing them out can help. Playing fast and just being a threat out there on the field for the offense."

Continue reading...

 

[TerryP]

I've thought about this a few times ...

 

[Bamabww]

 

[AFF]

Peter Griffin and his buddies can ring all the cow bell they want. I don't think it'll make a difference.


Stingray getting a lot of media love.

Latest:

"BAMA BY DEGREE, STARKVILLE BY HEART" SOUNDS LIKE AN INCURABLE MEDICAL CONDITION


keep in mind, brought to you by the same people who post this:

Nick Saban to the Colts speculation continues to grow

 

[252BAMA]

Damn, that's big ten scheduling right there. MSU D hasn't stopped any body really. The barn even got 9 points.

MO rushed for 215 yards. Even with that outburst, MO is averaging but 113 YPG.

 

[252BAMA]

 

[Bamaholic#1]

45 snaps? Damn, our D is probably already in Starkville on the LOS looking for Dak.

 

[252BAMA]

45 snaps? Damn, our D is probably already in Starkville on the LOS looking for Dak.

Bama's D and Dak are going to spend a lot of time on the sidelines watching Bama's O run up and down the field.

Also, the rabbit package that will play a lot against MSU barely got their uniforms dirty against LSU.

 

[TerryP]

Also, the rabbit package that will play a lot against MSU barely got their uniforms dirty against LSU.

I'm seeing this a little different; not much, but a little.

I certainly see some of the rabbit guys getting more snaps this weekend, but I'm leaning towards the idea the Tide plays "big" along the line; especially in the middle.

 

[bama alum]

This can't even get an A for effort... Another Fail State

 

[bamaledge]

How do we match up with msu? My eye test tells me we are the better team, but we do tend to have a let down after beating the whos. So, some of you analytical people tell us how we match up, please.

 

[UAgrad93]

@bamaledge, just my 2 cents here. Offensively, FailState is throwing it all over the yard more this year. 296 through the air and 147 on the ground. Prescott leads their team in rushing with 86 attempts and 400+ yards. Next highest attempts is 48. Fred Ross 51 catches and D. Wilson 37 catches are the two favorite targets. Wilson has a team high 8 TD catches. Defensively, their stats say they are stout. Their schedule tells me they haven't played anyone really worth a shit! Southern Miss, LSwho, Northwestern State, @Barn, @A&M, Troy, La Tech, UK, @Mizzou doesn't make anyone think tough road. R. Brown and B. Brown lead their team in tackles from the LB position. They give up 167 on the ground and 200 through the air. Don't forget. THEY LOST 14 of 22 STARTERS FROM LAST YEAR!!

 

[Redwave]

All SEC games make me nervous. MSU has been a decent team all year, though not great. But they have just the type of QB that we seem to struggle with at times. I believe Alabama is better, and should win this game by 10. But a team with a QB who can both run and pass well will always make me nervous. Plus, we stole their thunder last year, and they may be looking to return the favor this week.

 

[Bammerboy321]

Terry already said it, but Dak's ability to evade the pocket and threat to run is not the same as say a Nick Marshall. evWe match up much better against a QB who likes to run north-south, than a QB who can get east-west much better.

Dak will try these small quick passes early, but eventually, he's going to start taking some shots down field. The defense will have play safe and cover the middle of the field. Good thing is that I really like our d-line up front vs their offensive line. Alabama is one of the best teams in the nation in batting balls down at the LOS and ranks 9th in the nation in sacks.

Something no one is talking about: State gives up on average around 200 yards per game against the pass. You gotta think Kiffin will start motioning Ridley around to create mismatches and allow Coker to throw it downfield. I think Alabama will actually start taking some shots early, then start giving Henry the ball.

 

[Bammerboy321]

All SEC games make me nervous. MSU has been a decent team all year, though not great. But they have just the type of QB that we seem to struggle with at times. I believe Alabama is better, and should win this game by 10. But a team with a QB who can both run and pass well will always make me nervous. Plus, we stole their thunder last year, and they may be looking to return the favor this week.

I don't think Dak is the type of QB we struggle with. Alabama tends to have trouble with QB's who are more elusive and have a quick first step and can attack the edge more. Also throw into account that most QB's we've faced like that have had a dominating receiver to lob it up to. Difference this year is Alabama's secondary is way more disciplined.

 

[TiderNAL]

So I just found out today this is where all us exiled WoollyAl'ers have landed once again. Roll Tide homos.

 

[ElephantStomp]

We win going away.

Dak running isn't in the same league as Fournette and we stopped him. We will key on Dak running which will eliminate that, so he'll have to throw it all over and if our corners just even pretend to turn their heads State won't have success.

I don't buy into the let down from the LSU game thought. I think the team has the mentality of LSU was the first rung of the ladder to get to their goals.

 

[Rolltide24]

Main thing that concerns me in this game is Dak's ability to run for 1st downs. We did a solid job with him last year, best I can remember. Maybe except for that late drive. But Cardale gave us fits like Ole Piss' QB. I think we'll put up enough points to win. We seem to struggle more times than not with State. Don't often blow them out of late.

I already hear those darn cowbells ringing in my head. Ugh! I was there when they beat us in 2007. Not a fun drive home. And not all because of the loss....