🏈 Saturday's game; Who progresses? Who regresses?

[Elderfalsedemigod]

Old coaches cliche/saying is that "Teams/individuals show the most progress or improvement between the first game and the second"

With that in mind who do you look for to improve the most?

Unfortunately sometimes somebody regresses, so who if anybody do you see regressing?


I honestly hope to see JK Scott and A Griffith both improve relative to their performances last week.

I also hope to see Coker get a bit more comfortable and maybe more fluid in his PA sequences and (it goes without saying) his long ball throws.

I really hope nobody regresses but I am anxious to see of OJ Howard stays on the radar or if he shifts back to the "barely visible" TE.

 

[BigCrimson]

Bring out the cross and the nails for me if you want, but I've given up on Griffith. I think at this point he is what he is and that's an erratic kicker. I think Scott will be fine.

I hope Coker progresses but have a gut feeling he will regress and throw a pick or two. I still think we win in a blowout but have this sneaky suspicion the QB battle will not be solidified Sat.

 

[NickelDoubleDog]

Coker, or some QB, has to show he can drop back on passing downs, read coverage, and throw the ball more than 4 yards downfield. That, and making FGs, appear to be the key to the team winning the SEC vs dropping 4 games against such a brutal schedule.

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

Bring out the cross and the nails for me if you want, but I've given up on Griffith

I shan't cast the first stone at you because while I see and hear CNS expressing confidence in AG I don't have any myself. I am somewhat baffled by Coach's statements about AG following his performance Saturday night.

 

[BigCrimson]

I shan't cast the first stone at you because while I see and hear CNS expressing confidence in AG I don't have any myself. I am somewhat baffled by Coach's statements about AG following his performance Saturday night.

His career fg % is 54.2 %. That is not good at all.

Football | NCAA | Player Stats - Adam Griffith - Alabama Crimson Tide - washingtonpost.com

 

[TerryP]

Dollars to donuts we're going to see a lot of people criticizing the secondary without taking into account the offense that MTSU fields.

 

[Killer Instinct]

I'll tell you what I expect Saturday and many of you won't want to hear it and will call me a negative Nelly or worse. We will play an ugly game Saturday, give up way more yardage and points than we should and will win but probably not cover the line. MTSU has a good offensive scheme and will move the ball between the 20's with far more success than we would like. We'll probably give up a busted play or two and they will find the end zone. This scheme against a young secondary is a recipe for an ugly, mistake-filled performance. Don't get me wrong, the talent gap is too wide to fear an outright upset. But it will be one of those games where we walk away shaking our heads, grumbling about how playing Sunbelt opponents that run HUNH offenses benefits nobody but them. I expect a relative shootout as MTSU has no prayer of stopping the King Henry-led freight train bearing down on them, but if we turn the ball over a couple of times, this game could get a little uncomfortable at times. To avoid this fate, the defense must step up. That means LB's and secondary playing solid, tight coverage and making plays on the ball and not after the catch. It means the DL better step up and apply pressure on the QB and get some negative plays on them. The offense needs to just do what they do and take care of the ball. Get everybody some work, score early and often, and put the Blue Raiders away before halftime so they don't start getting any ideas of hanging with the Tide. My prediction: Bama 45 MTSU 20

Speaking of kicking, does anyone know how Saban's special teams were at Mich. State and LSU? I don't remember and I'm too lazy to look it up. I was just wondering if he took the same lackadaisical approach to them then as he seems to now. I know Booby Williams has followed him from both places (much to our chagrin). I hope JK Scott made some phone calls to his punting guru and got his stuff straightened out. The thought of facing our schedule without that ace in the hole of being able to flip the field from anywhere is a bit unnerving. I hope Coker has settled down with his first game under his belt and is ready to put up some good numbers this week. And lastly, I hope Saban doesn't follow his usual MO and leave the starters in too long. No sense getting those guys banged up or even injured any more than we have to. With the numerous high profile injuries around the country in week 1, let's not tempt fate.

 

[TerryP]

I know Booby Williams has followed him from both places (much to our chagrin)

Bobby Williams does not coach specialists. He coaches special teams.

The special teams are coached by all the coaches even though Williams holds the title. It's been that way since day one with Saban when Ron Middleton was the special teams coach.

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

We will play an ugly game Saturday, give up way more yardage and points than we should and will win but probably not cover the line. MTSU has a good offensive scheme and will move the ball between the 20's with far more success than we would like. We'll probably give up a busted play or two and they will find the end zone. This scheme against a young secondary is a recipe for an ugly, mistake-filled performance. Don't get me wrong, the talent gap is too wide to fear an outright upset. But it will be one of those games where we walk away shaking our heads, grumbling about how playing Sunbelt opponents that run HUNH offenses benefits nobody but them

About how I see it playing out. I don't think you will see a lot of downfield vertical from MTSU but 5, 7 ,12 yards with multiple receivers and backs. Middle of the field will be crucial. Please no injuries

 

[Mr. Pink]

At this point, I don't know if there's much hope for the FG game. I do think JK will be just fine though (he may not even punt this game).

As for the QBs, I expect Coker to be about the same- solid but not "wow" and that may be partially attributed to a very toned down playbook this weekend. Bateman however, I think makes some mistakes as he may get a little anxious and try to impress the staff. I could see him throwing into coverage or just making bad reads as he tries to do "too much".

I don't think it effects him down the road, but just for this game, which may be pretty sloppy all around given the sandwich bread on the other sides.

 

[PCRammer]

About how I see it playing out. I don't think you will see a lot of downfield vertical from MTSU but 5, 7 ,12 yards with multiple receivers and backs. Middle of the field will be crucial. Please no injuries

I see Reuben Foster accidentally murdering 1-2 WR's if this happens too much.

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

Bateman however, I think makes some mistakes as he may get a little anxious and try to impress the staff. I could see him throwing into coverage or just making bad reads as he tries to do "too much".

That is a very real possibility. Sometimes a QB "competition" like this pushes one guy into a "try hard" role and they get the opposite of the desired result

 

[Bamabww]

I expect the OL to reduce their penalties and the DB's will look for the ball a little better / quicker.

I'm gonna try what @Elderfalsedemigod did last week when we were hoping for better secondary play after a half time adjustment but direct it toward AG. Fingers crossed, promises made to all known deities etc.

That was pretty good @Elderfalsedemigod and apparently worked.

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

I'm gonna try what @Elderfalsedemigod did last week when we were hoping for better secondary play after a half time adjustment but direct it toward AG. Fingers crossed, promises made to all known deities etc

Specific to helping AG they may require a large animal sacrifice

 

[EdfromT'town]

Absolutely no way MTSU scores 20 on the Tide Killer Instinct. I look for the tide to cover the spread easily. We could run the ball all day, but I suspect our QB's to be competing and show what they got. Looking forward to a great scrimmage.

 

[Tidestalker]

Dakota Ball better take a step forward...

 

[UAgrad93]

@Tidestalker, what was wrong with Dakota Ball? I just watched the first half and I didn't see him get beat once. As a matter of fact! I watched him bury a couple of guys.

 

[UAgrad93]

Ty Flournoy-Smith needs to step up! He has as much ability as OJ, but seems to block worse!

 

[Tidestalker]

@Tidestalker, what was wrong with Dakota Ball? I just watched the first half and I didn't see him get beat once. As a matter of fact! I watched him bury a couple of guys.

2 penalties in minimal action

 

[Bammerboy321]

Progresses:

Coker: I see Coker finally solidifying himself as the starting QB with another solid performance. I think he'll hit on a few deep balls and the coaching staff will sit him and ready him for Ole Miss.

Ridley: He'll show off his skill case with the ability to snag the ball right out of the air and catch some deep balls. Might find himself in the starting role later down the season.

Humphrey: After having some PI's (one questionable) and giving up some catches, I believe Humphrey will get an interception in this game and not get targeted much. He showed that he can play physically on the line and jam the receiver, just couldn't turn his head in time. Experience will only make him better and I believe he caught some of that on tape.

Harris: With Alabama more than likely up by a comfortable margin in the 2nd half, I think we'll see much more of Harris and I think this is good for a young RB. He had some impressive runs...then not so impressive. Much of that wasn't his fault because of the piss poor play of the 2nd team o-line, but rewatching the game, he did miss some holes and had a tough time breaking away some arm tackles. I think this game he'll show case his ability and start getting some YAC as he gains confidence.

As for regresses, I really can't tell. I'll just throw out Shaun Hamilton I guess because I believe this is his second time getting significant PT and he's going up against a HUNH offense.