🏈 Saturday's Pass Production

[TheChief]

96 yards ... So what do we do?

Was FSU's defense THAT GOOD?

Was the Alabama line THAT BAD?

Has Jalen not improved at all since last season?

I firmly believe we have the best wide receiving corps in the nation. Yesterday, it looked like we had Ridley and no one else.

All that being said, we might have played the second best team in the country. Maybe we don't need to even pass to win a national championship.

 

[rick4bama]

I kept reading how good that "D" of F$U was. So I think Bama did pretty good against that great "D" But that me.

 

[TheChief]

@uagrad93 What do you think?

 

[TUSKtimes]

96 yards ... So what do we do?

Was FSU's defense THAT GOOD?

Was the Alabama line THAT BAD?

Has Jalen not improved at all since last season?

I firmly believe we have the best wide receiving corps in the nation. Yesterday, it looked like we had Ridley and no one else.

All that being said, we might have played the second best team in the country. Maybe we don't need to even pass to win a national championship.

I'm just glad to have won the game 24-7 against the best team Jimbo has had since Winston left. We were favored by 7 points going in and we were much better than that. 3rd-year QB AJ McCarron in the "game of the century" looked confused and tentative and we didn't win with what I still think was the best defense in the coach Saban era. Let's play some football and see what this team can do.

 

[TerryP]

Was FSU's defense THAT GOOD?

They returned nine on defense. If you take Phil Steele's rankings you're looking at position groups that rank in the top 10 in the nation--some top five.

BUT, when you put two or three more players in the box than you have blockers...games tend to go this way every time.

Personally, I'm pleased with what I saw yesterday. It's a good place for a team to be after game one.

I firmly believe we have the best wide receiving corps in the nation.

Wow. I firmly believe Bama does not. In fact, not even the best in the SEC.

 

[Che Boludo]

24-7 knowing that UA left a lot more points on the field is a good start.

D/STs placed the O in great position repeatedly.

FsU has a really good team, but no reason UA shouldn't have capitalized with more points.

And, for the love of God, can we find a consistent PK or just stop kicking.

 

[ComeOnSon]

I didn't see anything that turned my head from Hurts. Just didn't. Good ball to Ridley on the TD and Ruggs probably should've had the one in the end zone but he made off and on good throws last year. Still no consistency. Bigger annoyance to me was the play calling. Some real head scratchers in there. But, I agree that we need to see how things continue to progress before jumping off the bridge and I'm happy with 1-0.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Best overall D we will face all year.

Christmas is the best DLman we will face all year as well. That dude gave our backfield fits all night.

If you noticed, Jalen is making his reads a lot quicker. Many times he didnt have time to make more than 2 reads before a DL/LB was in his face. But quite a few times he would scan to his 3rd read before taking off. If I'm not mistaken, his 22+ yd run last night was a scramble. It should also be noted that the one good pass he had to Ridley over the top, the OL did its job giving him time to see the play develop. Unfortunately, that was just about the only time they gave him adequate time.

His field vision is a HUGE improvement from last year.

 

[TheChief]

They returned nine on defense. If you take Phil Steele's rankings you're looking at position groups that rank in the top 10 in the nation--some top five.

BUT, when you put two or three more players in the box than you have blockers...games tend to go this way every time.

Personally, I'm pleased with what I saw yesterday. It's a good place for a team to be after game one.



Wow. I firmly believe Bama does not. In fact, not even the best in the SEC.

What makes you think that? I mean, someone has to throw it to them, but what gives you pause? Routes? Speed? Catching the ball?

Who has the best receivers?

 

[UAgrad93]

@uagrad93 What do you think?

F$U was loaded on D and will be the best we will see all year. Like @TerryP said, they were sending at least 5&6 everytime, making the passing game a nightmare! I think that there is a possibility of a change in the first 5. It wasn't the prettiest but it was a W against a Top 5 team. Now, with that said, F$U may faulter with Francois out for any extended period of time.

 

[TerryP]

What makes you think that? I mean, someone has to throw it to them, but what gives you pause? Routes? Speed? Catching the ball?

Who has the best receivers?

For one, if we're taking the QB and WR combo's like you've added here, Ole Miss.

Bama has one receiver. That will hopefully change as the season progresses but right now? One.

 

[rick4bama]

HEY!! he did toss to someone else, he just didn't catch it.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Bama was trying to do an awful lot with their receiver package. We saw a lot of Ruggs and Jeudy in the second half and a little Devonta Smith as well. Just didn't have a lot of time to get much figured out in the air. Which brings me to the one area that nothing changed throughout the evening, the starting 5 offensive linemen. Womack and Cotton gave us the biggest rushing plays for the night on the right side but Womack cannot handle the speed on the edge, cannot. For all the freshmen that played a prominent role in this game, it was really weird to not see Wills and Leatherwood in the game.

 

[TheChief]

For one, if we're taking the QB and WR combo's like you've added here, Ole Miss.

Bama has one receiver. That will hopefully change as the season progresses but right now? One.

Well noted. Not expected, but I get your point. I guess I expected too much from the hyped players too soon.

I think that might be the strongest criticism I've heard, from you, about a position group.

 

[TerryP]

I think that might be the strongest criticism I've heard, from you, about a position group.

Think about that for a minute.

How often has Robert Foster's name come up since he's been in Tuscaloosa? The season he was hurt, as soon as it was over there was a narrative that started "he was the leading receiver before he was hurt." I've cautioned against that since it started--no evidence.

When we started talking about the receiving corps this year the concern I voiced was someone who'd block downfield as well as Stewart. Ridley was a known--the only known.

That said, it's one game against one hell of a defensive backfield. Seeing JH go through his progressions was a great sign. The fact CR was the only receiver with a reception? Perhaps, the younger guys just couldn't get open due to the experienced talent they were facing.

 

[252BAMA]

Bama is grossly underutilizing the play action pass. I may have missed one but by my count Bama used the play but three times. The ball was faked to the RB many times but then run by the QB.

The results of the three play action play passes?
1st and 10 at ALA 47
(11:28 - 2nd) Calvin Ridley 53 Yd pass from Jalen Hurts (Andy Pappanastos Kick)

3rd and 3 at ALA 26
(8:50 - 3rd) Jalen Hurts pass complete to Damien Harris for 11 yds to the Alab 37 for a 1ST down

1st and 10 at ALA 37
(8:25 - 3rd) Hurts, Jalen pass incomplete to Ridley, Calvin, PENALTY FLORIDAST pass interference (Marshall, Trey) 15 yards to the FLORIDAST48, NO PLAY, 1ST DOWN ALABAMA.


The most glaring underutilization?
3rd and 4 at FSU 15
(6:31 - 4th) Jalen Hurts pass incomplete

On this play, Ruggs had the DB beat by a yard. Play action and he would have had him beat by 5 yards! Bama had run the ball the 4 previous plays. Had Bama shown run, FSU would have thought Bama was going to settle for the FG if they didn't run for the 1st down.

 

[ComeOnSon]

My uneducated attempt to read between the lines of Saban's presser leads me to believe he was...aggravated, with Hurts' performance Saturday night. Just my interpretation. But, as stated above I still don't have faith in his ability to consistently execute in the passing game. I know the defense was really good and the o-line was at times really bad but after looking back he blew several chances and I don't think he read a blitz all night. I like the guy and I really hope the light comes on. Soon.

 

['65 Cobra]

My uneducated attempt to read between the lines of Saban's presser leads me to believe he was...aggravated, with Hurts' performance Saturday night. Just my interpretation. But, as stated above I still don't have faith in his ability to consistently execute in the passing game. I know the defense was really good and the o-line was at times really bad but after looking back he blew several chances and I don't think he read a blitz all night. I like the guy and I really hope the light comes on. Soon.

Interesting take. I was more of the impression that he was aggravated with the playcalling to a degree. I also had the impression that he thought Jalen played quite well. Who knows for sure?

 

[ComeOnSon]

Interesting take. I was more of the impression that he was aggravated with the playcalling to a degree. I also had the impression that he thought Jalen played quite well. Who knows for sure?

I picked up some agitation on the play calling as well. Made mention that he and other coaches had to do a better job with getting him prepared. Not that it matters but I was aggravated by some of the play calling myself.

 

['65 Cobra]

I picked up some agitation on the play calling as well. Made mention that he and other coaches had to do a better job with getting him prepared. Not that it matters but I was aggravated by some of the play calling myself.

I was, too; the lack of play action, not using the TE, no under center, lack of roll outs and other misdirection to slow down the FSU D-Line which was in our faces all night. I get that they wanted to be conservative, but it's still frustrating.