🏈 Reflections on the 2013 season

[Rolltide24]

I wonder if other fan base forums post 'Bama meltdown rants and raves like we post for other teams after a big loss. I know we've had our share of fans meltdown the past 2 games... Or is it like Americans getting Chinese letters/characters tattoos. I've never seen a Chinese or Japanese person with English words tattoo'd on them.

 

[XXL TideFan]

Now we have a lot of players that know how bad it hurts to lose the way they did, to walk away from the table with hunger gnawing a hole in your gut .

 

[sean]

winning can breed complacency.

but losing can breed champions.

 

[bamafan4ever]

Not a whole lot to add that hasn't already been said but I'll give my .02, not that anyone cares what "bamafan4ever" thinks...LOL.

1) I cannot help but to think that Coach Saban will adapt to the HUNH offense from a defensive standpoint. Defensive coaches at one time had to learn to defend the Wing T, the Wishbone, the Pistol, the Wildcat, etc. and this offense is no different. How to do it? I don't have the football mind or resources that Nick Saban has but if he needs someone to teach the teacher, he will certainly do that. It's his M.O.

2) The 2013 version of the Crimson Tide never felt like a dominant team from the time Virginia Tech squared off against us. The team that showed up to play LSU was not the same team that faced Colorado St. When you look that diametrically different within the span of a few games, you may have some consistency issues to say the least. Chemistry on each team is so different and this team looked cohesive but only at times. (Maybe we should try the Cardinals for preseason speeches.)

3) We were saddled with rumors before the Texas A&M game and again before the end of the season with Texas rumors. We had players playing banged up at center, wide out, OL, DL and not to mention costly suspensions. Yet we were still 11-2. A lot of attrition this year but that only makes our younger guys more experienced moving forward. We missed that last year because quite frankly, the starters stayed out of trouble and didn't get hurt with the exception of Fowler and Black. Our attrition this year may serve as a blessing in disguise.

4) This loss really hasn't bothered me nearly as bad as what happened on the Plains. As a fan, that loss sticks in my crawl and I am not as emotionally invested as some guy who has spilled blood, sweat and tears for years for this program. I can't but help to think that some hangover from that loss still exists because these players are human. Just another reason for me to hate Aubrun even more than ever. Roll Seminoles!

PS....afterthought....Saban has said that he prepares for the season by working backwards through the schedule all the way to the opener. He will be studying defending AU first and WVU last. Plenty of HUNH type stuff to study. The more teams that run this style, the better prepared we will become and WE DO have the talent. It's NOT a personnel issue.

 

['65 Cobra]

Not a whole lot to add that hasn't already been said but I'll give my .02, not that anyone cares what "bamafan4ever" thinks...LOL.

1) I cannot help but to think that Coach Saban will adapt to the HUNH offense from a defensive standpoint. Defensive coaches at one time had to learn to defend the Wing T, the Wishbone, the Pistol, the Wildcat, etc. and this offense is no different. How to do it? I don't have the football mind or resources that Nick Saban has but if he needs someone to teach the teacher, he will certainly do that. It's his M.O.

2) The 2013 version of the Crimson Tide never felt like a dominant team from the time Virginia Tech squared off against us. The team that showed up to play LSU was not the same team that faced Colorado St. When you look that diametrically different within the span of a few games, you may have some consistency issues to say the least. Chemistry on each team is so different and this team looked cohesive but only at times. (Maybe we should try the Cardinals for preseason speeches.)

3) We were saddled with rumors before the Texas A&M game and again before the end of the season with Texas rumors. We had players playing banged up at center, wide out, OL, DL and not to mention costly suspensions. Yet we were still 11-2. A lot of attrition this year but that only makes our younger guys more experienced moving forward. We missed that last year because quite frankly, the starters stayed out of trouble and didn't get hurt with the exception of Fowler and Black. Our attrition this year may serve as a blessing in disguise.

4) This loss really hasn't bothered me nearly as bad as what happened on the Plains. As a fan, that loss sticks in my crawl and I am not as emotionally invested as some guy who has spilled blood, sweat and tears for years for this program. I can't but help to think that some hangover from that loss still exists because these players are human. Just another reason for me to hate Aubrun even more than ever. Roll Seminoles!

PS....afterthought....Saban has said that he prepares for the season by working backwards through the schedule all the way to the opener. He will be studying defending AU first and WVU last. Plenty of HUNH type stuff to study. The more teams that run this style, the better prepared we will become and WE DO have the talent. It's NOT a personnel issue.

I agree with this. There seemed to be a lack of "fire" all season long. And though some disagree, I really think the O-Line has digressed under Cristobal. I know we lost some guys to the NFL, but the technique has suffered. They looked incohesive and lost all too often. Cyrus definitely regressed. Last thing for me - lack of strong leadership on both sides of the ball.

 

[ElephantStomp]

I think what hurts us against up tempo teams is our defense is big, 260 pound linebackers, etc makes it really hard on the guys and they become wore out.

 

[TerryP]

Now we have a lot of players that know how bad it hurts to lose the way they did, to walk away from the table with hunger gnawing a hole in your gut .

winning can breed complacency.

but losing can breed champions.

Two points I agree with wholeheartedly.

I think what hurts us against up tempo teams is our defense is big, 260 pound linebackers, etc makes it really hard on the guys and they become wore out.

A point a disagree with wholeheartedly. How do you explain how teams who had 6', 220lb linebackers who were winded with the up-tempo style of play?

 

[jdpas29]

Agreed. We probably shouldnt be ranked higher than 12-15 starting the year. I dont have reason to believe that we will beat any high scoring up tempo offense next year, but how many will there be?

We will likely score fewer ppg with a new qb.

If the defense does get it together somehow against the hurry up, and the running game is again dominant, i could see another 10+ win season... especially with manziel gone and isnt lsu starting new qb as well?

 

[TerryP]

Agreed. We probably shouldnt be ranked higher than 12-15 starting the year. I dont have reason to believe that we will beat any high scoring up tempo offense next year, but how many will there be?

We will likely score fewer ppg with a new qb.

If the defense does get it together somehow against the hurry up, and the running game is again dominant, i could see another 10+ win season... especially with manziel gone and isnt lsu starting new qb as well?

Those two schools are the only ones in the western division (opponents) that are losing QB's. Prescott (State) will be a Jr., Wallace (Ole Miss) a Sr., and Marshall (AU) will be a Sr.

UT is trying to implement a fast paced offense with Worley who'll be a Sr. I can't recall the name of the WVU QB but do recall he's a frosh. I'm not sure what Kurt Roper plans to do with the Florida offense.