🏈 what needs to be worked on the most this bye week?

[tidentrue]

O-line communication maybe? Was at a party so in depth watching was a problem

 

[ElephantStomp]

There's a lot that needs to be worked on. O-line, d-line, secondary, just about everything

 

[beasl004]

I thnk mainly the oline. They got handled the whole night.

Deandrew White needs to practice running routes too.

 

[Kirk Van de Graaff]

Special Teams looked good, the rest of the team needs attention. O-Line looked below average, Looked to me that AJ and the WR were not in sync at all, RB did not do that good at pass blocking. Defense would of got burned on some pass plays if VT didn't have such sucky receivers. All and all a sub par game and they still won by 25.

 

[PhillyGirl]

All and all a sub par game and they still won by 25.

This is a really good way at looking at it!! Suddenly I don't feel as pessimistic

If they can fix the fundamentals and improve the offense, they should be solid. They've got a long 2 weeks ahead of em.

 

[JoshB]

Offensive line was terrible, dont know any other way to say. Just bad, really bad. They were getting blown off the ball and couldnt protect AJ. Then the backs were missing blocks too. Yeldon missed a block that resulted in a sack and then Henry did that same that resulted in AJ throwing an incomplete that drew a intentional grounding flag. It was frustratingly bad to see our backs getting hit in the backfield and AJ running for his life so much too. AJ didnt look sharp either tho. Christion Jones was electric tho.

 

[BAMA JAMMA]

Offensive line was terrible, dont know any other way to say. Just bad, really bad. They were getting blown off the ball and couldnt protect AJ. Then the backs were missing blocks too. Yeldon missed a block that resulted in a sack and then Henry did that same that resulted in AJ throwing an incomplete that drew a intentional grounding flag. It was frustratingly bad to see our backs getting hit in the backfield and AJ running for his life so much too. AJ didnt look sharp either tho. Christion Jones was electric tho.

Pretty much summed it up for me.

 

[bamaraider]

Brandon Ivory needs to be more consistent up front. Same with Davlin Tomlison. But overall, the defense looked crazy good. Especially with Fulton in coverage.

Offensive line definitely needs working on. They were getting pushed up front easily at times, and surprisingly, Cyrus Kounahfdksdajskfhas was the guy letting it happen. Austin Shepherd also.

Honestly, they just looked flat. AJ was off. Cooper probably had some balls he wished he had back. Yeldon looked fine to me, blocking was just bad. Thing that needs working on the most if Doug Nussmeir's play calling.

 

[BAMA JAMMA]

I usually don't care for Scab articles but this one is pretty fair. http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/i...ening_statement_was.html#incart_river_default

 

[FlaBama]

When the talking heads were on the field talking it up in pre-game I was watching the receivers running routes behind them and if that was AJ tossing to them he was WAY off before the game ever started. Perhaps there was more to the toe than was let on. Thank God for explosive talent. If the aim was to win and not show A&M must it was a success. I expect we'll see an entirely different team in two weeks... at least I hope so. A W is a W. ROLL TIDE! - - - - PS: Great to 'see' you again lvdtyd. I've missed your wisdom.

 

[bamatommy]

O-line communication maybe? Was at a party so in depth watching was a problem

Here's a quote from al.com:

the answer for the O-line is in the Yellow Pages, under "gynecologists."....Just know girls masquerading as offensive linemen when I see them. This bunch looked like they were channeling Chris Capps. Or Richard Simmons.

 

[planomateo]

One thing that stuck out to me last night, Henry looked taller than McCarron.

 

[bamafan4ever]

Replacing 60% of your offensive line and you didn't expect issues? I think some of us really got spoiled by last year's line but that was last years line. The other two starters were also adapting to Mario Cristobal's coaching technique. I really think this unit will get better as we move forward and yes, they could be worse.

They always say teams improve more from week one to the next game and I think that's what we will see. The talent is there. The experience is lacking but especially in game one. These guys will be better as the year goes on, no doubt.

 

[jacques]

Not to sound like Saban, but there seemed to be no real intensity or energy from the team. Thought the defense looked pretty good, but to echo what others have said, o-line just looked anemic and got manhandled as a result. I kept thinking to myself, glad we're not playing Clemson!

 

[bamaraider]

Not to sound like Saban, but there seemed to be no real intensity or energy from the team. Thought the defense looked pretty good, but to echo what others have said, o-line just looked anemic and got manhandled as a result. I kept thinking to myself, glad we're not playing Clemson!

I thought the same thing too. Amari did not look like he was in the game mentally, and not to bash AJ or anything, but he looked frustrated out there and it was affecting him mentally. They'll be more fired up for A&M. I just hope this isn't a type of problem though that will continue against other opponents not named A&M or LSU.

 

[lvdtyd]

Not making excuses for the O line because it for sure needs some work, but let's look at some facts. Va Tech returned 10 starters from a defense that ranked 18th last year. They were fast, and clearly stacking the box to force AJ to pass. We have 3 new starters. I was disappointed in C. Kouandijio who should be the leader on that defense having two penalties in the first half. Let's also remember games last year Western Carolina where AJ was sacked.
This needs work and I believe it will get there, however, you can look for defenses to continue to apply this when they saw how effective it was for Va Tech. These guys play against an even more dominant defense in practice so surely they can make adjustments. Finally, when you have a 25 point lead, you are not going to show everything you've got against an ACC team in the season opener.

 

[FlaBama]

I think what was different about Saturday's game was not how we played against Va Tech, but how we played in a season's opener. We've seen a couple of games a year each season where the team didn't seem to perform up to their normal standards, but for the last few seasons they have seemed like world-beaters in game 1 (Clemson and Michigan to name a couple). I also suspect that although Saban would deny it, there has probably been a degree of work already on techniques to use against A&M that may not have translated well to Va Tech, and I'm sure we didn't turn more than two pages in the offensive playbook in the opener. Excuses aside, the offense still needs to crank it up a lot to beat A&M and I suspect they will be more machine-like in two weeks.

 

[alabama mike]

I realize the OL is taking a lot of hits this week so far about their performance last Sat. against VT. Many of you who played football or have coached know the OL is the last thing that comes togethers as a unit in football. VT is a very good defensive football team that will give people fits all season long. I think I read in one of the earlier posts that they returned 9 or 10 starters...thats huge. We lost 3, very impressive OL from last years sqaud.

The area that I was most unhappy with was the play of our LT, Cyrus Kouandjio. IMO, it appeared that he was just not getting to his blocks quick enough or sustaining the block once he got there. This is from a preseason All American and potential first OL taken in next springs draft. This IS NOT slam, if he was having trouble, dont you think the others would as well?

The second area that somewhat concerned me was AJ look ing at Cooper so much. We must use our TE and other receivers more if we are going to be able to run the ball and get the ball to Cooper. For years, the most overlooked receiver in football has been the TE.

Overall, I think the Tide will be fine since they will have time to work on issues this week in practice. It is impossible to duplicate live, game situations in practice so the off week should be helpful to work out some of the things that need corrected after seein git on game film.

 

[JoshB]

lol Here comes the tight end talk lol

In defense of AJ on that front he did throw an absolutely beautiful deep ball to OJ Howard and Howard just flat out dropped it. Fowler couldnt shake defenders when he was running routes, but I didn't see a single target to Vogler which is unfortunate.

 

[bamaraider]

lol Here comes the tight end talk lol

In defense of AJ on that front he did throw an absolutely beautiful deep ball to OJ Howard and Howard just flat out dropped it. Fowler couldnt shake defenders when he was running routes, but I didn't see a single target to Vogler which is unfortunate.

Volger got open a bit, just not for a big yardage or anything, and could not get separation a lot. He is a hell of a down field blocker though. On the catch Amari made that he busted for a long gain, Volger immediately caught up and started getting the safeties down field. I think he'll emerge as the season wears on. Love to see Howard out there though, even if he didn't make a catch, he just looks like a football player.