🏈 The reality of evaluating A Saban era season

[Tidestalker]

Let's be real... The talent disparity is so enormous vs 75% of the opponents that it would take an absolute collapse to lose to 3/4 of the schedule. Saban has set the standard so high that there are only a handful of games where this team is truly tested... And whether or not they can perform at the highest level is magnified in those situations. He has really spoiled us Alabama fans.

This year it is/was FSU/LSU/Auburn. Most frustrating part about this loss was that many of these same issues were identified in the Clemson loss to end last season... But reared their head again today.

The unfortunate thing is Bama could have lost either of those games... And possibly even an SECCG to Georgia and still got in. Not saying it can't happen (obviously a long shot), but this was not the game to lose.

How long can he keep this up? Amazingly high standards and expectations he's set for his team and the fan base. Has to be exhausting. TBH I don't see the outward fire that we used to see... He rarely shows much emotion anymore. When winning becomes a relief instead of a celebration, that's a helluva a grind.

I give him until Hurts leaves... Whether that's next year or the year after. Hopefully after another championship. Thoughts?

(PS - I'm very guilty of basically judging the coaches & players performance on the handful of games they could actually lose. Seeing Hurts carve up Arkansas or Moses dominate Mercer isn't what we all remember from a season... It's just not. Comes down to those few games when it's all on the line. JMO)

 

[TheChief]

Yesterday's game is the kind that coaches in their final year have.

 

[sean]

Yesterday's game is the kind that coaches in their final year have.

so you're saying Coach Saban is leaving?

if so, do you have any sources with more information.

if not, why even make the statement.

 

[TheChief]

Just an inclination. I hope I'm wrong, and I probably am. No sources.

Seems as though he's been out of character lately, joking around so much at the presser - about the holes in jeans. He didn't even really get mad on the sidelines, not that I saw anyway (I could have easily missed it since I was watching the basketball game too and had lots of people over to watch the game). He got so emotional it seemed with this senior class on Senior Day.

Everything was out of focus yesterday, and to me the team hasn't played the same since around the LSU game.

I hope he's got several more years in him, but I can see how it would be difficult to continue working so many hours and maybe not getting the performance needed to win - from coaches and players.

Have we seen a mental performance from Bama in the last eight or nine years like we saw yesterday?

 

[50+yeartidefan]

To much...reading to much ...in blank spaces....
Bama had a bad game in a tough place to win if u have a bad game....
We played the same type game UGA played vs AU...
Stupid penalties..dropped pass..let them control tempo.....
Bad game....bad breaks..good AU play

 

[#80]

I think he is just mellowing some with age. He loves coaching what else would he do I see him coaching 5 more years. But the OP is correct we are spoiled big time.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

I think he is just mellowing some with age. He loves coaching what else would he do I see him coaching 5 more years. But the OP is correct we are spoiled big time.

5-10. FOr nick
He is driven......ego driven
Cant be talked about sitting on a dock fishing for bluegill

 

['65 Cobra]

Saban has definitely mellowed and we have definitely been spoiled. This all starts at the LOS. Both our lines have not been dominant as in the past the last two years. This also coincides with coaching changes. I feel like we have the horses for a power running game but we're not using them right. That sweep play where Bo got tripped up and missed the first down should have been run by Damien being an outside sweep. Also, if we have a hot runner, let him run. On defense, we haven't truly replaced Allen, Tomlinson, Anderson, Foster, and Williams - or we haven't properly developed their replacements.

Jalen has many talents and has saved our butts many times with his legs. However, he is not a great passer and has ever more glaring weaknesses there - poor field vision, locking on to Ridley, inexplicable sacks, poor passes, etc. I wonder if he has reached his ceiling in this regard.

Lastly, Auburn is stout on the D-Line and their LB'ing crew. We should have been able to handle their O-Line better especially with the injuries and position shake-ups. Our D-Line has been sub-par all year.

Still, as others have stated, 3-4 plays really could have easily changed the outcome of that game. Auburn is all about emotion and momentum and we had numerous self-inflicted wounds (and there were some really bad calls) to go with some suspect play-calling on our side to help them keep that momentum. We were up by 4 about half-way through the third and choked on defense. Ah well.