🏈 Thoughts on the scrimmage from yesterday...

[TerryP]

• Maze jumped over and posted the stats from yesterday's practice here. I know, I know, I mention it every scrimmage. I don't pay a lot of attn. to the stats when they are released because we never can tell what the situation was, what play was called, etc. that resulted in such numbers. As example...
  
• JPW had decent numbers in the scrimmage. I'm sure, as you looked at his numbers, the 2 INT's jumped out at you. However, like I mentioned in the other talking point, you never can tell what was going on at the time. Saban eluded to the point that one of those INT's came at the end of a "red-ball" drill (two minute offense) in a jump ball situation.
  
• Speaking of "red ball" situations, you have to be encouraged (at least I am) to see Maze mentioned as having a big play in a drill situation. It goes to show some of our younger guys are picking up where we need the help.
  
• We talked about differences in our new offensive coordinator and how that will effect our offense. One thing that stuck out to me was the involvement of our RB's in our passing game. 9 receptions for 110 yards. Movin' the chains fella's!!! (and ladies, sorry. :wink: )
  
• Did you notice what, or perhaps whom, was missing from the stats? Where's Upchurch? Doghouse still, or simply passed by when Ingram arrived on campus? Then again, no tackles by the DL?
  
  Can't take much away from scrimmage stats, can we?
  
• I find it encouraging to hear Saban talk about our DB corps and hear Javy mentioned in the same breath as Jackson and Johnson.
  
• Over the summer, the self described realist have said expecting frosh to contribute was ludicrous. That's said, despite the head coach stating 8-10 will see time on the field. I see more like 12, but I'll defer to the staff on the decision. :lol:
  
• Those mentioned by Saban (freshman) who he's singled out don't differ a lot from the names we've been talking about here all summer. Hightower, Barron and Cody.
  
• Goal Line Stand II? Got to love Saban talking about the defensive line holding the offense 4 straight downs from the 1 yard line because of the push Cody was getting in the backfield.
  
• If we played Clemson today our OL would be (L to R) Smith, Johnson, Caldwell, M. Davis, D. Davis.
  
• If we played Clemson today our backup QB would be Greg McElroy.
  
• If we played Clemson today the leader of our WR corps would be Mike McCoy. I suspect Alexander to fill the other WR role and with the summer camp performance of Maze he seems to be getting the nod at our slot position.
  
• Seeing Charlie Higgenbotham leading the defense in tackles one can only become a little more rested in how our LB's are going to perform. Is he the unknown quantity of our '08 defense?
  
• The same can be said for seeing Eryk Anders with 4 tackles and two more for loss of yards and seeing Ali's name in their with 5 tackles along with breaking up a pass.
  
• Now, we don't know if those guys just mentioned were going against the 1's or 2's, but you have to feel a little more at peace about the possibility we are going to get more pressure in the backfield than last year.
  
  See what having a good nose tackle can do for a defense in the 3-4?
  
• The hustle, enthusiasm and contact was good in this scrimmage. Good Lord, a win vs Clemson and the SEC better take note. One coach mentioned the attitude the guys have right now and said the same thing a few weeks ago.
  
• A sign of a freshman learning to play at this level is Julio making a couple of big plays including a TD but missing on a few more opportunities. Maturation at this level takes time.
  
• P.J. averaging 42 yards a punt. Hmmm? I can almost see it now...people complaining about our punter out kicking our coverage. :lol: :lol:
  

Perhaps more after finishing the coffee...

 

[TerryP]

I haven't added it up, but just looking at it JP's numbers put his efficiency rating at 145+.

 

[Guest]

• Maze jumped over and posted the stats from yesterday's practice here. I know, I know, I mention it every scrimmage. I don't pay a lot of attn. to the stats when they are released because we never can tell what the situation was, what play was called, etc. that resulted in such numbers. As example...
  
• JPW had decent numbers in the scrimmage. I'm sure, as you looked at his numbers, the 2 INT's jumped out at you. However, like I mentioned in the other talking point, you never can tell what was going on at the time. Saban eluded to the point that one of those INT's came at the end of a "red-ball" drill (two minute offense) in a jump ball situation.
  
• Speaking of "red ball" situations, you have to be encouraged (at least I am) to see Maze mentioned as having a big play in a drill situation. It goes to show some of our younger guys are picking up where we need the help.
  
• We talked about differences in our new offensive coordinator and how that will effect our offense. One thing that stuck out to me was the involvement of our RB's in our passing game. 9 receptions for 110 yards. Movin' the chains fella's!!! (and ladies, sorry. :wink: )
  
• Did you notice what, or perhaps whom, was missing from the stats? Where's Upchurch? Doghouse still, or simply passed by when Ingram arrived on campus? Then again, no tackles by the DL?
  
  Can't take much away from scrimmage stats, can we?
  
• I find it encouraging to hear Saban talk about our DB corps and hear Javy mentioned in the same breath as Jackson and Johnson.
  
• Over the summer, the self described realist have said expecting frosh to contribute was ludicrous. That's said, despite the head coach stating 8-10 will see time on the field. I see more like 12, but I'll defer to the staff on the decision. :lol:
  
• Those mentioned by Saban (freshman) who he's singled out don't differ a lot from the names we've been talking about here all summer. Hightower, Barron and Cody.
  
• Goal Line Stand II? Got to love Saban talking about the defensive line holding the offense 4 straight downs from the 1 yard line because of the push Cody was getting in the backfield.
  
• If we played Clemson today our OL would be (L to R) Smith, Johnson, Caldwell, M. Davis, D. Davis.
  
• If we played Clemson today our backup QB would be Greg McElroy.
  
• If we played Clemson today the leader of our WR corps would be Mike McCoy. I suspect Alexander to fill the other WR role and with the summer camp performance of Maze he seems to be getting the nod at our slot position.
  
• Seeing Charlie Higgenbotham leading the defense in tackles one can only become a little more rested in how our LB's are going to perform. Is he the unknown quantity of our '08 defense?
  
• The same can be said for seeing Eryk Anders with 4 tackles and two more for loss of yards and seeing Ali's name in their with 5 tackles along with breaking up a pass.
  
• Now, we don't know if those guys just mentioned were going against the 1's or 2's, but you have to feel a little more at peace about the possibility we are going to get more pressure in the backfield than last year.
  
  See what having a good nose tackle can do for a defense in the 3-4?
  
• The hustle, enthusiasm and contact was good in this scrimmage. Good Lord, a win vs Clemson and the SEC better take note. One coach mentioned the attitude the guys have right now and said the same thing a few weeks ago.
  
• A sign of a freshman learning to play at this level is Julio making a couple of big plays including a TD but missing on a few more opportunities. Maturation at this level takes time.
  
• P.J. averaging 42 yards a punt. Hmmm? I can almost see it now...people complaining about our punter out kicking our coverage. :lol: :lol:
  

Perhaps more after finishing the coffee...

Well it seems some will never be happy and no team will ever play a perfect game

Glad to see Higgys name up there. Hope he comes along and gets playing time he is a hitter and seemed to have a nose for the ball.

 

[TerryP]

Agreed on Hig...I wonder if he's going to be one of the guys we see in consistently on run support downs. At least, that is my gut instinct right now.

 

[Guest]

Agreed on Hig...I wonder if he's going to be one of the guys we see in consistently on run support downs. At least, that is my gut instinct right now.

Felt that way after watching A-Day this year and last year. Wish I could watch the team practice on a regular basis so I would have a better idea. Hope he is a sleeper and produces. We need all the depth at LB we can get.

He disagree on making everyone happy and perfect games? LOL
Never saw a perfect game EXCEPT, MAYBE the Sugar Bowl in '92..and Miami scored so it wasn't prefect The win was all that mattered.

Thanks for the update TP. We just getting back from Orlando...I am sooooo tired.

 

[shipley00]

Then again, no tackles by the DL?

With as many question marks at LB, I don't think it's a bad thing that the LBs are having to make most of the tackles? Probably not by design (having the DL focus on engaging all the blockers, forcing LBs to make the tackles) but wouldn't be a bad thought at this point.

 

[TerryP]

A couple of added thoughts...

• After 4 practices in 3 days, one being this scrimmage, these guys are tired. But, so is everyone else in the SEC. Anyway, team gets the day off today but I'd bet ya the staff will study film the good majority of the day.
  
• We are still coming out of our Ace formation (two TE's) a lot of the time. We did go to 3 TE's on the field a few times with one of our TE's dropping into the H position.
  
• I've seen mention of Hanks wearing the black jersey most of the summer camp but did get a kick out of Saban making the comment about him still getting hit. "After the guy runs past you for 10 days they say I'm just going to hit him." He was back in white yesterday.
  
• Again, not taking anything out of the stats the staff CHOSE to release seeing Colin's name in there makes me think the staff MAY still hold out a degree of hope in his appeal.
  
• Has it dawned on anyone how fortunate we are to be relatively injury free? A lot of reports out there about players on other teams being lost for the season if not a few games.
  
• We might, MIGHT, be able to talk about a depth chart in a few days. :lol:
  

 

[Guest]

He mention DEPTH CHART.....

EVERYONE STOP, DROP AND ROLL!!!

 

[milliondollarfan19]

A couple of added thoughts...

• Has it dawned on anyone how fortunate we are to be relatively injury free? A lot of reports out there about players on other teams being lost for the season if not a few games.
  

Terry i hope you knocked on wood like Saban did when you were writing that...

 

[imported_porkchop]

We talked about differences in our new offensive coordinator and how that will effect our offense. One thing that stuck out to me was the involvement of our RB's in our passing game. 9 receptions for 110 yards. Movin' the chains fella's!!! (and ladies, sorry. )

The numbers put up by our backs caught my eye as well. I didn't see the scrimmage and would like to see how they're being utilized when we play Clemson. I think it's good to pass to the backs because you get them on backers but, at the same time, I hope JPW doesn't fall into the trap of getting complacent and simply looking to dump if off. As long as we maintain that balance of attacking vertically and dumping it off short, I think we've got a lot of potential on offense this year.

 

[NTT]

I noticed Grant got fewer carries than Coffee and even Ingram. Could it be because he was in with JPW and there are more questions about the WR's that he wasn't getting as many touches as Coffee and Ingram because they may have been working with the second team. Either way I like seeing Ingram in there.

 

[imatigerfan]

Seems like a pretty good scrimmage over all. Sounds like JP did pretty well. I wouldn't worry to much about the INTs considering one is a jump ball, and he hasn't been throwing a lot in game like situations for a while now. If that is all he threw, then it will get better as the season goes on.

The one thing that I would have been worried about is the goal line stand. I know it is great that Mt. Cody stopped them four times, but on the reverse side it means the O-line couldn't get a 1 yd push, which is not good. If JPW is going to have a great season, he is going to need some help from the running game.

 

[bamafan4ever]

Seems like a pretty good scrimmage over all. Sounds like JP did pretty well. I wouldn't worry to much about the INTs considering one is a jump ball, and he hasn't been throwing a lot in game like situations for a while now. If that is all he threw, then it will get better as the season goes on.

The one thing that I would have been worried about is the goal line stand. I know it is great that Mt. Cody stopped them four times, but on the reverse side it means the O-line couldn't get a 1 yd push, which is not good. If JPW is going to have a great season, he is going to need some help from the running game.

You just wait until you see our new and improved "jumbo package"! :lol:

 

[TerryP]

Seems like a pretty good scrimmage over all. Sounds like JP did pretty well. I wouldn't worry to much about the INTs considering one is a jump ball, and he hasn't been throwing a lot in game like situations for a while now. If that is all he threw, then it will get better as the season goes on.

The one thing that I would have been worried about is the goal line stand. I know it is great that Mt. Cody stopped them four times, but on the reverse side it means the O-line couldn't get a 1 yd push, which is not good. If JPW is going to have a great season, he is going to need some help from the running game.

I understand how you can read that and come to that conclusion. The purpose of that series was to test and see how the D did on a run up the gut, and they stopped the play.

Now, if you think we'll get into a situation in a game and try once, twice to run it up the gut and don't gain yardage you can bet your house it wouldn't be called twice.

The point of that comment was to emphasize the push from the NT position, not the OL.

Read whatever in it you may if it makes you feel better. :wink:

 

[Guest]

Seems like a pretty good scrimmage over all. Sounds like JP did pretty well. I wouldn't worry to much about the INTs considering one is a jump ball, and he hasn't been throwing a lot in game like situations for a while now. If that is all he threw, then it will get better as the season goes on.

The one thing that I would have been worried about is the goal line stand. I know it is great that Mt. Cody stopped them four times, but on the reverse side it means the O-line couldn't get a 1 yd push, which is not good. If JPW is going to have a great season, he is going to need some help from the running game.

You just wait until you see our new and improved "jumbo package"! :lol:

I got yer jumbo package.....jeez I hated that formation.

 

[imatigerfan]

I understand how you can read that and come to that conclusion. The purpose of that series was to test and see how the D did on a run up the gut, and they stopped the play.

Now, if you think we'll get into a situation in a game and try once, twice to run it up the gut and don't gain yardage you can bet your house it wouldn't be called twice.

The point of that comment was to emphasize the push from the NT position, not the OL.

Read whatever in it you may if it makes you feel better.

I did not mean it as a big negative to the offense. That is just the thing about a scrimmage. If your offense is incredible, that means that the defense wasn't great.

I was simply pointing out that it is not good that an OL can't get a 1 yd push. I know that means the DL did a fantastic job holding them. There are just two sides to both stories.

 

[imported_Porter]

It is time for me to admit that I've been wrong about Cody. I now think, like Terry has said, he will be playing more than just situational downs. I didn't think he could do it at that weight, but he is obviously an exception to the rule.

I hope Drew Davis also proves me wrong. So far, he has. The good news is, it is early and he still has time to improve before the whistles start blowing.

Apparently, Chris Jackson is quietly having a great camp, and if the season started today would be in the mix to start. Our WR corps are just plain sick.

Speaking of sick, the DL has gone from a worry a year ago to a major strength of this defense. We have some good position battles going all along the line, and the 3 deep is going to be stout. They are going to be a tough bunch to run against with certain groupings. The depth there also give Saban more flexibility than he's had in the past with alignments and such.

 

[imatigerfan]

I personally think Cody will turn into one of the biggest impact players of this class.

It does help to make a stronger d-line when you only have three instead of four.

 

[mongo4bama]

Good info all

This season is certainly worth looking forward too just a preview of whats to come for us.

 

[TerryP]

I did not mean it as a big negative to the offense. That is just the thing about a scrimmage. If your offense is incredible, that means that the defense wasn't great.

I have to disagree with you there, and let me give you an example of that in terms of Auburn.

At one point Trotter ran the ball yesterday 3 straight time and gained right at 40 yards. Does that mean your defensive line is weak? No, by no means at all. When rushing 3 in that situation (simulating 3rd and long) and a QB gets those yards it isn't a glowing report on the QB nor a negative report on the DL. It's a situation where the staff puts players in positions and evaluates how each reacts in each situation.

Todd ran well yesterday, and we all know he's no track star.

Of course, you have to take both situations into account that Mike Blanc started at DT and most of the older guys didn't play.

Bottom line, unless you KNOW what the situation was at the time you can't draw a negative or a positive opinion from simple stats alone.

I was simply pointing out that it is not good that an OL can't get a 1 yd push. I know that means the DL did a fantastic job holding them. There are just two sides to both stories.

I didn't ask if Caldwell was going up against Cody. Even if he wasn't, and it was Vlachos or Cardwell, for anyone to get a push on Cody is going to be a athletic feat.

You may not understand it now because you haven't followed these guys as closely as I have. I wouldn't have expected that from you. But, mark my words, even if it was our first string guys trying to move Cody in a short yardage situation and they couldn't it is by NO MEANS a knock on them. Cody is just that big and that strong.