🏈 ***Way too early Bama/Chokelahoma pregame Thread***

[ChemE]

Isiah Buggs should be 100%

 

[ChemE]

Okla Defense against a weaker strength of schedule.
total d-108th
pass yds allowed-128th
3rd down d-115th
redzone d-126th
1st down d-128th

They have to defend us too and our offense will be rested and healed like in September.

 

[BamaMD]

Having everyone healthy will be a welcomed sight.

 

[94 Grad]

The best defense is keeping their offense on the sidelines. Run, run, run. Ball control and time of possession should suck the life out of the sooners defense early and often. It's also the best thing for Tua coming off an ankle injury.

In all honesty, I be surprised to see Tua start game 1. I am expecting Hurts as the starter with Tua coming in only if needed/situationally. Game 2 I expect Tua time...

I also think Hurts May be a tough defend for Oky too... running QBs require technically sound rush pressure... I don’t think Oky can do that. Tua won’t be running well at that point (my guess) and will be a stationary target. Hurts, not so much and can be deadly if in open field.

This is just my guess and opinion. No way to know until we get closer... and even then I doubt Saban gives any real definite updates

.

 

[bamaledge]

Like you, I doubt this CNS will give any, completely true, updates on any player. I think if the dr.s give the ok Tua will probably start, but what do I know.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

The best defense is keeping their offense on the sidelines. Run, run, run. Ball control and time of possession should suck the life out of the sooners defense early and often. It's also the best thing for Tua coming off an ankle injury.

In all honesty, I be surprised to see Tua start game 1. I am expecting Hurts as the starter with Tua coming in only if needed/situationally. Game 2 I expect Tua time...

I also think Hurts May be a tough defend for Oky too... running QBs require technically sound rush pressure... I don’t think Oky can do that. Tua won’t be running well at that point (my guess) and will be a stationary target. Hurts, not so much and can be deadly if in open field.

This is just my guess and opinion. No way to know until we get closer... and even then I doubt Saban gives any real definite updates

.

No way unless he isn’t healthy..... NS always says...you dont lose ur job because of injury....this is Tuas team...not JH...
But i would fully expect JH playing time

 

[utstnx]

Was it just me or was Najee really struggling in this game? If we are going to rely so heavily on the run game against Oklahoma we need to get some quality yards from all our running backs.

 

[bamaledge]

Was it just me or was Najee really struggling in this game? If we are going to rely so heavily on the run game against Oklahoma we need to get some quality yards from all our running backs.

Najee runs, line blocks. No blocking no running, very far.

 

[jdpas29]

Alabama never dedicated to the run game against UGA so it is hard to say how effective it could have been. UGA was doing a pretty good job defending BAma's run but when your top 2 running backs dont get 10 carries individually or even 20 put together, you never know.

I thought from the outset that, with an injured QB who was struggling a bit, running on 1st, 2nd down and being more play action 3rd down type of approach would have made more sense. WE were behind on 2nd down and distance the majority of downs from my recollection. throw first works great when your QB is on. Tua hasn't been "ON" since his knee injury weeks ago.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

Watching Murray in the Big 12 CC, I don't think I've ever seen a QB that fast and shifty. He was squeaking up the sideline and you think you've contained him and he gets 8-12 yards. I'm not sure we have a LB who can spy him, it'll be a group effort.

 

[jdpas29]

I think his passing is shaky when pressured. i watched them earlier in the season. He gets away with a lot of jump balls due to the level of their defensive competition. He will not likely get away with those throws against BAma.

His running ability could be more of an issue though. I agree.

 

[BamaFan334]

The best defense is keeping their offense on the sidelines. Run, run, run. Ball control and time of possession should suck the life out of the sooners defense early and often. It's also the best thing for Tua coming off an ankle injury.

In all honesty, I be surprised to see Tua start game 1. I am expecting Hurts as the starter with Tua coming in only if needed/situationally. Game 2 I expect Tua time...

I also think Hurts May be a tough defend for Oky too... running QBs require technically sound rush pressure... I don’t think Oky can do that. Tua won’t be running well at that point (my guess) and will be a stationary target. Hurts, not so much and can be deadly if in open field.

This is just my guess and opinion. No way to know until we get closer... and even then I doubt Saban gives any real definite updates

.

I was telling my wife last night that I don't think we could have unfortunately asked for a better situation, because it forces a team with no defense to practice for two guys with two different skill sets. Hate a player got hurt, especially one with the skill of Tua. Do we think he will still not be ready to go in almost four weeks? Or are you saying we can beat them with Hurts and give Tua that extra week and a half to rest?

 

[94 Grad]

The best defense is keeping their offense on the sidelines. Run, run, run. Ball control and time of possession should suck the life out of the sooners defense early and often. It's also the best thing for Tua coming off an ankle injury.

In all honesty, I be surprised to see Tua start game 1. I am expecting Hurts as the starter with Tua coming in only if needed/situationally. Game 2 I expect Tua time...

I also think Hurts May be a tough defend for Oky too... running QBs require technically sound rush pressure... I don’t think Oky can do that. Tua won’t be running well at that point (my guess) and will be a stationary target. Hurts, not so much and can be deadly if in open field.

This is just my guess and opinion. No way to know until we get closer... and even then I doubt Saban gives any real definite updates

.

No way unless he isn’t healthy..... NS always says...you dont lose ur job because of injury....this is Tuas team...not JH...
But i would fully expect JH playing time

The issue will be Tua's mobility... Remember what Jalen looked like vs Citadal? That is the same recovery time Tua will have before game 1. Oky's defense can handle a stationary QB target with their rush better than they will be able to deal with a QB like Hurts that will kill a team that can't "crush" the pocket. Oky's Defense tends to get pressure going outside, around the rushing lanes... opening up a lot of QB run opportunities for someone like Hurts.

Now, I'm not saying that is the plan... I'm just saying it will depend a lot on how Tua recovers and what his mobility is like and it wouldn't surprise me to see Hurts take the majority of snaps in game 1. I am also betting we won't know who is the main QB until the game is on going either 'cause I doubt Saban will say anything.

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

Run blocking again went in the toilet when D Brown went out. I really did not like the play calling when Tua was in the game. It seemed to improve somewhat when Hurts went in. I really hope the dropped balls by the WRs and TE were a 1 game anomaly. Take away the drops and the goal line interception and the first half is very different IMO

 

[94 Grad]

Run blocking again went in the toilet when D Brown went out. I really did not like the play calling when Tua was in the game. It seemed to improve somewhat when Hurts went in. I really hope the dropped balls by the WRs and TE were a 1 game anomaly. Take away the drops and the goal line interception and the first half is very different IMO

I was very frustrated during the game with the play calling... but after watching it back with a "level" head the play calling was just fine. Even Tua's decisions to pass the ball deeper was the correct decision. The issue became Tua's accuracy... he was late on most of his throws. Not sure if that was due to the pressure of the moment or the injury to the ankle... but he made the correct reads with a poor pass more often than not during the game. Maybe the play caller needed to take that into consideration... but a lot of that was more Tua taking the deeper "correct" read and throwing it poorly than it was not having shorter routes in the mix from the play caller... JMO.

 

[#80]

Maybe with a month off Brown can recover from Turf Toe. Run the ball down their throat and keep OK offense on the sideline. Army did it.

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

but after watching it back with a "level" head the play calling was just fine.

That is an advantage you have over me. I haven't rewatched the game. You very well may be correct

 

[gc90]

I like that ND is playing Clemson .. their defense is more physical than Okl and will rough up Clemson

The only thing I am worried about is some Bama player getting ejected for head hit since we will be constantly covering Okl receivers.

 

[TUSKtimes]

I was telling my wife last night that I don't think we could have unfortunately asked for a better situation, because it forces a team with no defense to practice for two guys with two different skill sets. Hate a player got hurt, especially one with the skill of Tua. Do we think he will still not be ready to go in almost four weeks? Or are you saying we can beat them with Hurts and give Tua that extra week and a half to rest?

Coach Saban said he would be practicing in 2 weeks. I would think if he had complications in the game or got reinjured, it's Jalen for sure. Either way, I do expect they get a heavy dose of our running game.

 

[94 Grad]

I was telling my wife last night that I don't think we could have unfortunately asked for a better situation, because it forces a team with no defense to practice for two guys with two different skill sets. Hate a player got hurt, especially one with the skill of Tua. Do we think he will still not be ready to go in almost four weeks? Or are you saying we can beat them with Hurts and give Tua that extra week and a half to rest?

Coach Saban said he would be practicing in 2 weeks. I would think if he had complications in the game or got reinjured, it's Jalen for sure. Either way, I do expect they get a heavy dose of our running game.

So did Jalen... he started practice two weeks after, but he didn't look very mobile during the citadal game on the few snaps he played. That's the same time frame Tua has to be back for game 1. Just saying....