TerryP
Staff
This is a morning musing that could probably go on until the afternoon. I won't try to be short, or sweet, but offer some observations on a few different fronts about Alabama's win last night over the Green Wave.
- There was a key word mentioned in that introduction. Win.
To be honest, seeing the fans reactions over the last 12 hours aren't shocking to me. Some of those reactions I understand. Some of those reactions are knee-jerk reactions, at best. Some asinine.
Those voicing disappointment fall into that "understandable" category. Those voicing anger? Not so much...
- Reactions from last night aren't unexpected and that has nothing to do with the game or what happened during it. It was pretty evident that sections of the fan base were going to quickly become frantic, anxious might be a better word, when they started calling for changes in play calling in preparation for week two.
- It took UCLA a change in their coaching position to learn and hopefully after 2000, 2001 and 2008 Alabama fans won't be as obtuse. Coach Bob Toledo is a fantastic coach.
I see the terms "dink and dunk" used this morning to refer to his offensive approach. They are used in almost a derogatory manner. Seemingly what is lost in today's age of college football is just because an offense doesn't "wow" those observing it doesn't mean it isn't successful. Which, by the way, should be the measure all offenses are judged.
- The same nod goes, deservedly, to new Defensive Coordinator for Tulane, O'Neill Gilbert. Gilbert took over the DC job just before spring and changed 7 different players positions between spring and fall camp. Despite that, he put the right players in the right positions to make the right plays against Alabama.
- Speaking of defense, there are good and bad points to take away from the game last night. Lost in the mighty "anxiety shuffle" this morning is the fact our defense did its job and deserves a large portion of the credit for last nights win.
- Much like Tulane's Gilbert deserves accolades for his game plan last night, Coach Steele, Thompson and Smart deserve the same. The second half adjustments made to take away the openings that Tulane's offense had exploited in the first half demonstrates their ability to observe, adapt and overcome.
- There are still many areas of improvement that need to be made on the defensive side of the ball. McClain, one of our most experienced starters, was caught out of position continually in the first half when the Green Wave slid their running backs and half-backs out of the backfield into the flat.
- It was something we knew going into Saban's tenure here at Alabama, but something demonstrated in dramatic fashion last night, that the linebacking corps is the key to our defensive production. Rolondo ended up grading out ok considering his team leading 15 tackes, 9 of which were solo-tackes and two of those 15 for a loss of yards.
- Brandon Fanney continues to show improvement manning the JACK linebacker position. Last night, he was involved in 8 tackles with two of in Tulane's backfield. His improvement bodes well for Alabama as we enter the SEC schedule in two weeks. With strong play out of the JACK position the defense as a whole will be better.
- Other linebackers with great efforts last night include Don't'a Hightower with 10 tackles, Rashad Johnson with 9, Cory Reamer with 7, and Kareem Jackson and Terrance Cody each having 5 tackles.
- There is good and bad to be taken away from observations of our special teams units in kick coverage. Out punt coverage teams haven't lost a beat from their play in '07 but the kick coverage remains a work in progress.
- Special teams were the difference in this game. Javy put his name in the record books last night by breaking a record held for over six decades with 141 yards in punt returns. Javy had 212 all-purpose yards for the game.
After a jarring hit Javy left the game with a head injury. Early speculation is he has a mild concussion but it will be Monday before we know the extent of the injury and how long he'll be out of action, if he is at all.
His injury was the result of a blown assignement. This time falling on a true freshman when Julio Jones missed his blocking assignment.
- The missed blocking assignment isn't the only area Julio is struggling with. As reported during the summer, Julio is still having problems getting off of blocks when he is being jammed on the line. Along with that difficulty Saban has commented that he hasn't been playing at his full speed in games this fall.
One can only hope to attribute that to "growing pains" that all freshman deal with when they enter SEC play.
- In the last two games we've had two situations where Julio has ran a post route and JPW's throw fell incomplete. It's easy to assign blame on JP for the over-thrown ball but it bears noting that his pass was in the same place both times and Julio was in the same position on the field both times. I have to question if the route that Julio is running is as crisp as it should be considering he's on the outside of the route versus the way that play is drawn up.
That's a subject for debate, no doubt.
- Blame for WR play can't just be placed at the feet of Julio. Mike McCoy also had problems getting off of the line of scrimmage when he was jammed as well.
Using very layman's terms, our starting wide receiver corps are playing weak right now.
- The same can be said for our running back rotation. Out of the 4 sacks our offense gave up in the first half of last nights game, 3 of those came as a result of mistakes from our backfield. In two situations our running backs failed to pick up the blitz and another John Parker didn't throw the ball away when given the opportunity.
- The reasons for the lack of production in our running game last night is no different than the reasons we had trouble running the ball last year. The lack of continuity and rhythm is very easily understood when one takes into account that only two of our five starting offensive lineman were in their primary positions last night.
- On the other hand, our reserves getting game reps is only going to help when we start preparations for the 2009 season.
- PJ Fitzgerald bears receiving accolades last night for his performance. Even though he had two punts that were kicked into the end-zone resulting in touch-backs, he averaged 40 yards per punt last night.
- On a few personal notes...
I never thought I'd see the day wishing for the defense to get rest when we were up by two touchdowns in the first half.
I can't begin to voice my displeasure with CTSN, specifically Chris Stewart, when our own play by play announcers can not pronounce the names of our players correctly.
It's one thing when a color analyst or a national play-by-play guy make a mistake, but one of our own?
Inexcusable.
When Barnhart and company pronouce Julio, Jewlio, that is one thing. When Stewart pronounce Marquis' name, "Markwii," instead of the way it is supposed to be pronounced, "Markeese," it is a serious blight on his ability to replace Eli when time for that move comes.
While some of our fans seem to have a problem with the concept of cheering a team on, those same fans certainly don't have a problem booing or pointing out mistakes during the game vociferously.
There comes a moment in any fans life when they need to find out whether they are a fan or they aren't. One week, it's all rosy with a impressive win against Clemson. The next, there is a resounding question if they believe in Saban's mantra of "Be a Champion in everything you do."
- Marlon Davis status (reported hamstring injury) is something we won't know until Monday as well.
Lee Tiffin, after getting knocked for a loop much like Javy, has been said to also have a head injury. We'll need him back for next week and especially SEC play if Cory Smith's results last night are any indication of his progression on this level.
- Jerrell Harris and Courtney Upshaw both saw action as true freshman for the first time in their career likely burning any possibility of a red-shirt for either player.
- Last, but most certainly not least...
Alabama is in the process of building a program. This morning, ask yourself this question.
"Did I forget that?"
