🏈 Saturday's Pass Production

[TUSKtimes]

Seems silly to try to measure Jalen's effectiveness as our signal caller unless you are willing to acknowledge what his athletism and composure and smarts bring to every game we play. Some have their own vision, I suspect most get it.

 

[bamaledge]

Spoiled and unrealistic. Some of y'all remember, back in the Shula years. Why can't you just be happy with a win? Every one of the boys need to work on something. If Jalen was Jesus, some would still bitch. Besides it is freaking Wednesday, let's talk about the next game and how we're gonna beat the crap out of Fresno St.

 

[Tidestalker]

Spoiled and unrealistic. Some of y'all remember, back in the Shula years. Why can't you just be happy with a win? Every one of the boys need to work on something. If Jalen was Jesus, some would still bitch. Besides it is freaking Wednesday, let's talk about the next game and how we're gonna beat the crap out of Fresno St.

How is it unrealistic to wonder why a team can't throw for 100 yards and get more than 1 receiver a catch when the whole offense is filled with 4 & 5 stars?

 

[BamaFan334]

How is it unrealistic to wonder why a team can't throw for 100 yards and get more than 1 receiver a catch when the whole offense is filled with 4 & 5 stars?

Maybe it's the same reason you have 1,000 yard back, and two others averaging over 6 yards a carry, yet you stop giving it to them in the Championship game. That because our running game sucks? Get a new frame of mind man, and quit crying over one instance that you've clearly been provided information against. Here is another prospective and words from our own Coach on the matter if that will get you to quit complaining about the stat line...

How Nick Saban rated Jalen Hurts' progress as passer

"Hopefully just get him to trust and believe in doing the things that he needs to do to technically execute the plays," Saban said. "Although I thought his overall performance for the first game was very good. I thought some of the issues in the passing game were not quarterback-related totally. We had some protection issues that were mental errors, not necessarily physical errors, that created some negative plays. When I talk about overall execution, that's one of the areas that I would be speaking of."

If you’re like me, you likely overreacted during the game and feared that all the progress we had hoped for this offseason came undone as Hurts took off for one scramble after the other, rather than looking like the next coming of Tom Brady.

For the record, I went back the next day after calming down and rewatched every snap a few times to try and get a feel for what happened.

The biggest issue was not that the O-line was whiffing blocks (though Lester Cotton did have a couple of drive-killers), nor that Jalen was running too early too often. It was that FSU outschemed our protection and got rushers with a free, unmolested path straight at Hurts, who masterfully avoided nearly every one. And in the first half, every time that happened, Coach Daboll had called a deep developing play where all the receivers were still facing downfield when Hurts was forced to tuck and run due to pressure.

However, that kept happening, and by the end of the 3rd quarter, Hurts was feeling phantom pressure. Daboll had adjusted to have some shorter routes available, but Hurts did not, and, to my untrained eyes, ran three times when he could have completed an easy-ish pass.

So, 3/26 drop backs were negative decisions in my mind. And not really any bad throws the whole game. All in all I’d consider that much more success than it felt like. Add in the fact that Henry Ruggs dropped a touchdown that might have been Hurts’ best throw of his career, Ridley couldn’t quite get his feet down on the sideline fade that was perfectly thrown, and the scramble drill throw to Jeudy on the right sideline got wiped out due to a questionable penalty, and all of a sudden his stat line looks a WHOLE lot better.

 

[Tidestalker]

Maybe it's the same reason you have 1,000 yard back, and two others averaging over 6 yards a carry, yet you stop giving it to them in the Championship game. That because our running game sucks? Get a new frame of mind man, and quit crying over one instance that you've clearly been provided information against. Here is another prospective and words from our own Coach on the matter if that will get you to quit complaining about the stat line...

"Get a new frame of mind, quit crying". Sensitiiiiiiiiive

96 yards sucks. Anyone who says otherwise has their head in the sand. Who's saying he can't improve or it won't get better....? But any objective evaluation in the world would say 1 receiver with a reception and 96 yards is bummy. Pointing that out isn't crying it's living in reality...

Play calling did suck. OL wasn't very good either... But if you think FSU's run stoppage wasn't related to Jalen's inability to connect on some deep & intermediate routes (or receivers not named Ridley), you weren't watching Saturday night. Pointing out that will have to change to beat a team like Clemson in the final 4 isn't crying, once again it's reality.

 

[BamaFan334]

"Get a new frame of mind, quit crying". Sensitiiiiiiiiive Not sensitive, it just gets old hearing about complaining from people that can't take in the big picture and the circumstances. First game dude, give it a rest is all.

96 yards sucks. Anyone who says otherwise has their head in the sand. Who's saying he can't improve or it won't get better....? But any objective evaluation in the world would say 1 receiver with a reception and 96 yards is bummy. Pointing that out isn't crying it's living in reality... 96 yards does suck, until you start piecing the puzzle together. It's not as black and white as you're attempting to make it. Take into consideration the drops, penalties, defensive scheme, blocking, and it all makes sense. And read this very forum to read folks talking about Hurts not progressing and reaching his ceiling, I didn't just pull that out of the air. You're not pointing it out, you're criticizing his decisions to run and not progressing and throwing for 300 yards and three touchdowns like so many others.

Play calling did suck. OL wasn't very good either... But if you think FSU's run stoppage wasn't related to Jalen's inability to connect on some deep & intermediate routes (or receivers not named Ridley), you weren't watching Saturday night. Pointing out that will have to change to beat a team like Clemson in the final 4 isn't crying, once again it's reality.

Yeah, change as a team, not one single player. The passes he did get a chance to throw were right on the money. Go watch the tape and maybe it'll be a little more clear for you. I think a lot of my frustration stems from even last year when so many people gave him shit about every little thing, and that's not considering he was an eighteen year old true freshman and the first one to ever start a game for Saban. The guy almost had 1,000 yards rushing, took us to the National Championship, and was in Heisman contention. It just gets old with people being negative and having shit to whine about all-the-time. Hurts had a decent game and took what he was given. We're 1-0, played the toughest team we'll see this season, and now it's time to move on and work on creating more opportunities.

 

[Tidestalker]

Yeah, change as a team, not one single player. The passes he did get a chance to throw were right on the money. Go watch the tape and maybe it'll be a little more clear for you. I think a lot of my frustration stems from even last year when so many people gave him **** about every little thing, and that's not considering he was an eighteen year old true freshman and the first one to ever start a game for Saban. The guy almost had 1,000 yards rushing, took us to the National Championship, and was in Heisman contention. It just gets old with people being negative and having **** to whine about all-the-time. Hurts had a decent game and took what he was given. We're 1-0, played the toughest team we'll see this season, and now it's time to move on and work on creating more opportunities.

This thread was about lack of pass production... Feel free to take your own advice and move on if talking about it gets old.

 

[TerryP]

Seems to me opposing defenses will let us know when he doesn't "suck at passing". I didn't see anything from FSU's defensive game plan that showed they thought they could be beat through the air...
The LSU game last year is the blueprint for how quality defenses are going to scheme when they play us. Until we have an effective passing game, that will not change.

No they didnt and they got burned on a 50+ bomb and another one that would have been a 60+ bomb if not for defensive holding... just imagine if the OL didn't **** the bed...

More than a few times, they had players coming off the edge untouched that weren't accounted for.

Crashing the ends.

That's the same thing LSU did last season, it's the same thing Clemson did last season, and it's what Florida State was doing Saturday. Bird, if you recall, I pointed to Clemson crashing the ends (like LSU) before the title game last year.

I haven't watched the game again. I can tell you that FSU had the offensive line outnumbered in the box time and time again. Seven against five...last thing you'll find me doing is complaining about the line struggling.

 

[JoshB]

Crashing the ends.

That's the same thing LSU did last season, it's the same thing Clemson did last season, and it's what Florida State was doing Saturday. Bird, if you recall, I pointed to Clemson crashing the ends (like LSU) before the title game last year.

I haven't watched the game again. I can tell you that FSU had the offensive line outnumbered in the box time and time again. Seven against five...last thing you'll find me doing is complaining about the line struggling.

I remember... and its been successful in at least slowing down the passing game. So, at some point when do we start calling plays that can combat this or at least use an extra back or tight end to give Jalen some time? You would think a quick slant or two, maybe a screen pass behind that pressure a few times would do the trick.

 

[TerryP]

I remember... and its been successful in at least slowing down the passing game. So, at some point when do we start calling plays that can combat this or at least use an extra back or tight end to give Jalen some time? You would think a quick slant or two, maybe a screen pass behind that pressure a few times would do the trick.

I wondered the same Saturday--still am today.

I hope it's because the game plan was to keep everything close to the vest; much like we'd see against a Fresno State type team in week one. As example, I know putting the receivers in motion and running plays like the jet sweep are still very much a part of the playbook. I didn't see much of anything to get movement out of their linebackers.

A few weeks ago I was told the staff felt the two teams measured up to each other. The also felt their advantage in the game came down to a few areas where Bama had the advantage coaching. To a degree I believe that was the case though I'm still of the opinion FSU mentally fell apart. (I'm still snickering a bit at the commentator mentioning Jimbo being all "winks and smiles" with the players early on. Think about that for a bit...)

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

I was into the cold beers for sure during the game but my recollection is FSU had one extra man outside of Womack time and time again and our H-back on the left side. Even with Bo setup to the right of Jalen Bama was unable to get a productive pass to Bo in the flats. I can't believe the staff didn't run the old Utah pass to our H-back (coming from the left) or have him come across behind the LOS for a dump off pass in the flats. The OC did little to make FSU pay for their LSU scheme. Hell they could have moved Bo out to the right another 3-4 yards and made that safety commit to the rush or have to cover Bo. Leaving him in the normal spot beside Jalen is stupid because the angle is better for the DB to rush or cover with a leap.

 

[JoshB]

I wondered the same Saturday--still am today.

I hope it's because the game plan was to keep everything close to the vest; much like we'd see against a Fresno State type team in week one. As example, I know putting the receivers in motion and running plays like the jet sweep are still very much a part of the playbook. I didn't see much of anything to get movement out of their linebackers.

A few weeks ago I was told the staff felt the two teams measured up to each other. The also felt their advantage in the game came down to a few areas where Bama had the advantage coaching. To a degree I believe that was the case though I'm still of the opinion FSU mentally fell apart. (I'm still snickering a bit at the commentator mentioning Jimbo being all "winks and smiles" with the players early on. Think about that for a bit...)

Yeah but throwing a simple slant or screen behind pressure is still holding things to the vest, its just bad coaching to not react to what the defense is doing and make those changes. Simple things like that, that me or you can point out, should not be happening. Or Jalen IS going to get hurt and it has nothing to do with him running, hes going to get hit by a free pass rusher one too many times.

 

[TerryP]

@Birdman37 If anything, there's some solace to be found in the fact very few teams have the personnel to do what FSU was able to do with their front seven.

 

[TerryP]

Now that I think about it, there was a slant called in the second half. So, there's at least one.

I want to say it was to Foster. I do remember it was following one of the INT's (Mack's, maybe?) and it was third down...pressure ended up resulting in Jalen scrambling.

 

[JoshB]

@Birdman37 If anything, there's some solace to be found in the fact very few teams have the personnel to do what FSU was able to do with their front seven.

Problem is LSU definitely does, so there is one more team and if you are going to win a championship that likely means Florida (which has the personnel on defense but nothing on offense) and probably two more teams that will have that personnel. There's plenty of time to work that stuff out but I really would have hoped and thought that it would have been worked out before the season got here. Maybe it boils down to giving Jalen more freedom to audible? IDK

 

[ColAngus]

Auburn probably does as well.

I don't have the football knowledge to understand the adjustments needed, but it seems we discuss the same things every season. Bad play calling, keeping the offense close to the vest, not opening the playbook, etc.

But as a poster said above, when you have 4 and 5 star athletes all over the field it's not unreasonable to expect more than 100 of passing. I suppose the thing to remember is the FSU defense also has 4 and 5 star players all over the field.

It's frustrating though.

 

[kbama15]

Some of the plays called. I thought Kiffen was still there! I was like really?????

 

[TerryP]

Problem is LSU definitely does,

...and a scheme that'll fit that type of attack. Hell, it was Aranda that saw it last season (or at least the first DC to take advantage of it.)

BTW, Florida State's DC Charles Kelly ... you recognize the name when you first heard it? It didn't dawn on me who he was (or where he went to school) until I saw him on TV Saturday night.

 

[JoshB]

...and a scheme that'll fit that type of attack. Hell, it was Aranda that saw it last season (or at least the first DC to take advantage of it.)

BTW, Florida State's DC Charles Kelly ... you recognize the name when you first heard it? It didn't dawn on me who he was (or where he went to school) until I saw him on TV Saturday night.

I didnt think anything of it until they showed him on TV.

 

[colbyjacks]

Has nothing to do with pass protection, but did anybody notice when we are trying to pull Womack, how he never makes it to the hole? He was either getting held up by the right guard or just wasn't quick enough to get there. I saw that a few times.

Oh, and if Ridley wouldn't have taken an 11 yard loss on that swing pass, Hurts would have eclipsed 100 yards. Hehehe That is just stirring the pot though.