🏈 some oddities/comments about the game...

[jdpas29]

I enjoyed the game the other night for the most part, but i was surprised about a few things...

1. The decision to run primarily up the middle against Auburn was surprising. Drake pretty much disappeared after the first quarter or whatever which was kind of surprising. I expected our staff to use him to get around the side of the field and stretch Auburn which generally worked when we did it. He looked great when he did get some carries. Was he injured?

2. How does AJ have a stellar year and come out against Auburn and have trouble on short passes? I love AJ and he is the greatest QB to play at Alabama in my lifetime IMO. I don't want to take anything away from that, but he generally seemed like he didn't have his mojo for this game. many of the throws were not especially difficult and he was just off. I guess we can chalk that up to having a bad night. I know that many will take this the wrong way, but in a hypothetical magical world, Blake Sims comes in for a series or two and likely sparks this team with his scrambling ability... and mind you i'm not a huge Blake sims for QB guy. we just needed something to get guys testosterone flowing and it never happened.

3. I thought that overall the defense did a pretty good job of limiting Auburn's offense. they gave up some big plays, but 21 points is pretty good and about what i expected. Kudos to the defense for playing with a lot of heart and not giving up.

4. Did the special teams coach make the team aware that there was a possibility and a good likelihood of a return on the last field goal? The team looked like they had no idea that it was possible. #49 and the guy next to him were literally trotting toward the sideline as if they expected someone else to make the tackle. This play solidified in my mind the fact that Auburn was deserving of the win. We were outcoached on this play totally. I don't think our team was ready for a return AT ALL.

Auburn played a B+ game and Alabama was in the C range overall (most negative aspects were on the offense and the last special teams play).

a classic Iron Bowl it was. i wish it had ended differently, but that's how these things often are. This one still didn't hurt me as bad as 2010.

there is a changing of the guard occurring in the SEC. unfortunately, with a new QB, we are going to be on the way down a bit and will likely have to shift our offensive game plan a good bit next year. Hopefully, we'll be better at run blocking. I look forward to a fun bowl game against a worthy opponent and a fun 2014 season with lots of new stuff to watch.

RTR.

 

[RollTideRandy]

The thing I found most interesting was that prognosticators have said all year that our #2 CB spot was going to bite us at some point, then it was Cyrus Jones biting on the run fake that resulted in the TD to tie the game. You have to wonder if Sylve is healthy, how would that play have unfolded? Additionally, Saban indicated the issue with Eddie Jackson (our best athlete at the #2 CB spot) has been focus and motivation. I gotta think it wouldn’t be hard to stay focused in a game like this so I also wonder where he would have been on that play.


As far as next season, I expect our new QB to mature quickly. What I think will happen is that Sims will start game one, with Del Rio coming in for the third series and playing about half of the second half. His reps will increase through the Florida Atlantis and Southern Miss games and he will be the starter against Florida. If he leads the Tide to a victory of the Gators, I think that will be the confidence boost he needs to lead this team to a successful season.

 

[TerryP]

I enjoyed the game the other night for the most part, but i was surprised about a few things...

1. The decision to run primarily up the middle against Auburn was surprising. Drake pretty much disappeared after the first quarter or whatever which was kind of surprising. I expected our staff to use him to get around the side of the field and stretch Auburn which generally worked when we did it. He looked great when he did get some carries. Was he injured?

End of the second quarter he went to the dressing room with a trainer and then came back out to the field in the third. I don't know why.

2. How does AJ have a stellar year and come out against Auburn and have trouble on short passes? I love AJ and he is the greatest QB to play at Alabama in my lifetime IMO. I don't want to take anything away from that, but he generally seemed like he didn't have his mojo for this game. many of the throws were not especially difficult and he was just off. I guess we can chalk that up to having a bad night. I know that many will take this the wrong way, but in a hypothetical magical world, Blake Sims comes in for a series or two and likely sparks this team with his scrambling ability... and mind you i'm not a huge Blake sims for QB guy. we just needed something to get guys testosterone flowing and it never happened.

This is just my supposition. I'm wondering if he had the same control he's use to having for two different reasons. One, the rehab on the shoulder and two, the pain medication received before the game. Add adrenaline to those?

4. Did the special teams coach make the team aware that there was a possibility and a good likelihood of a return on the last field goal? The team looked like they had no idea that it was possible. #49 and the guy next to him were literally trotting toward the sideline as if they expected someone else to make the tackle. This play solidified in my mind the fact that Auburn was deserving of the win. We were outcoached on this play totally. I don't think our team was ready for a return AT ALL.


RTR.

While Williams has the title, that's a staff that's the "special teams coach."

That said, there's no way in hell they didn't see Auburn send a guy deep.

Out-coached on this play? What were they supposed to do? Call a time-out and switch goal line personnel to have more speed on the field?

 

[riz]

Man, I haven't had so many questions after a game in I couldn't tell you when. My neck hurt Saturday night from shaking my head.

 

[jdpas29]

if you watch the replay the players didn't make much of an attempt to spread out like you would to defend against the return. literally, 49 was trotting as if there was no big deal. they had almost 60 yards of returning to get ready to make a tackle, and the guy was hardly touched. i can't believe for a second that the this groupd of players was somehow unable to physically make it to the areas needed to make a tackle or at least slow the guy down. very few of the players seemed to be aware of what was occurring. unless i hear something to the contrary i will still believe that the players on the field were not prepared by the coaching staff for the return.

 

[TheChief]

CB's have been a concern all season. Who is our defensive backs coach?

 

[TerryP]

if you watch the replay the players didn't make much of an attempt to spread out like you would to defend against the return. literally, 49 was trotting as if there was no big deal. they had almost 60 yards of returning to get ready to make a tackle, and the guy was hardly touched. i can't believe for a second that the this groupd of players was somehow unable to physically make it to the areas needed to make a tackle or at least slow the guy down. very few of the players seemed to be aware of what was occurring. unless i hear something to the contrary i will still believe that the players on the field were not prepared by the coaching staff for the return.

Ah, I get what you're saying.

 

[TerryP]

CB's have been a concern all season. Who is our defensive backs coach?

Ehehehe...

On that note, that group is about to be highlighted as one of the nations best again. The recruiting cycle is coming around in our favor.

How many guys had starts this year? Geez...gotta look at those numbers now.

 

[UAgrad93]

I've played with a partial tear in my rotator cuff on my throwing shoulder and let me tell you all. The rehab is a bitch and when the adrenaline hits you during a game, you forget about the pain but it is similar to a basketball player going into a big gym for the first time. Their depth perception is off on their shot. When you are dealing with a shoulder injury, you put more or less zip on the ball than needed and it either dies on you or sails on you.

 

[jdpas29]

i was aware that he had some trouble with his shoulder, but i didn't realize how bad it was. this explains a lot.

thanks

 

[UAgrad93]

I suffered a partial tear during the 3rd game of my senior year. BAMA was among the schools recruiting me, but they were one of the few that stayed with me after the injury. Coach Jimmy Fuller told me to rehab it and come on as an invited walk on and if things progressed with the shoulder, better things would come.

 

[JoshB]

Ehehehe...

On that note, that group is about to be highlighted as one of the nations best again. The recruiting cycle is coming around in our favor.

How many guys had starts this year? Geez...gotta look at those numbers now.

Belue, Jones, Maurice Smith, Sylve, and Eddie Jackson have started at corner. Jarrick and Landon at star/money, Vinnie, Landon, and HaHa at safety.

 

[TerryP]

Belue, Jones, Maurice Smith, Sylve, and Eddie Jackson have started at corner. Jarrick and Landon at star/money, Vinnie, Landon, and HaHa at safety.

Think about that secondary and then consider the returning QB's in the SECW next season. The talent is in the East and only one on our schedule; UT.

 

[JoshB]

Think about that secondary and then consider the returning QB's in the SECW next season. The talent is in the East and only one on our schedule; UT.

I think Eddie Jackson, Sylve, and Smith can be really good. Jones still worries me, I understand hes coming from receiver over to corner but he struggles so badly against scrambling quarterbacks. He constantly gets caught looking into the backfield, Im assuming to see if the QB is scrambling, and it bites him in the ass. Toss in Marlon Humphrey hopefully and Bessent, lots of young talent back there. Safety is gonna be interesting, does HaHa make the jump? My best guess would be yes, but man if he came back next year. Landon and Vinnie are a really hard hitting couple and would probably be the best run stopping duo in the country, but I dont think either can play the middle of the field like HaHa. Landon may get there tho.

 

[Ump]

I've played with a partial tear in my rotator cuff on my throwing shoulder and let me tell you all. The rehab is a bitch and when the adrenaline hits you during a game, you forget about the pain but it is similar to a basketball player going into a big gym for the first time. Their depth perception is off on their shot. When you are dealing with a shoulder injury, you put more or less zip on the ball than needed and it either dies on you or sails on you.

Same for baseball if your a pitcher grad and the rehab is ... well I'll say no fun at all.

 

[PhillyGirl]

if you watch the replay the players didn't make much of an attempt to spread out like you would to defend against the return. literally, 49 was trotting as if there was no big deal. they had almost 60 yards of returning to get ready to make a tackle, and the guy was hardly touched. i can't believe for a second that the this groupd of players was somehow unable to physically make it to the areas needed to make a tackle or at least slow the guy down. very few of the players seemed to be aware of what was occurring. unless i hear something to the contrary i will still believe that the players on the field were not prepared by the coaching staff for the return.

Agreed!!! How did they let that happen .. ?

 

[Bamabww]

I'm still wondering why run off tackle on 3rd and short and 4th and short instead of the little flare out pass to one of our RB's. I don't think that has ever been defended successfully. I know the obvious answer is "they thought they could make 2 yards."

 

[UAgrad93]

I was a pitcher in HS too. Dr. gave me a choice, rehab or surgery. I asked about surgery and would I be ready for baseball. His reply was, you can forget baseball. I ended up turning down a few juco baseball offers to pursue the football dream.

 

[Ump]

Mine was a partial and surgery wasn't an option course that was in the stone age. Rehab was still a b****.

 

[PhillyGirl]

I had a partial tear in my right shoulder that pretty much ruined my swimming career. I was a junior Olympian and a state champ but surgery and rehab were too expensive .. It's a bitch. One little injury can cause so much pain and screw up so much ..