Secondand26
Member
….This^
And for everyone (ESPN, etc...) praising LSU - 2 questions:
1. Who has a better defense, Alabama or Texas?
2. If Texas can amass 500 plus yards on LSU, what can Tua & Co. do?
Let's not overreact....
| FTBL Winning it all in '19: The offensive line and running backs seem a little off. What should we expect?
- Thread starter bamaledge
- Start date
….This^
And for everyone (ESPN, etc...) praising LSU - 2 questions:
1. Who has a better defense, Alabama or Texas?
2. If Texas can amass 500 plus yards on LSU, what can Tua & Co. do?
Let's not overreact....
TerryP
Staff
Here's a call.
As preface, I"ve mentioned Jobe off the edge in a Javy type role; Blitzing. I'll continue.
The interception was due to the corner blitz, right? During the game thread you and I were talking about the shuffling we were seeing in position with what, three guys? A side note to that is we were seeing guys like McKinney in a blitzing alignment. Diggs as well. There's a handful of them that blitzing role. We've seen a little, and it's about to be a feature.
TerryP
Staff
I need to listen to that post game presser. How did he phrase it? It was an issue with him? ~ Saban? I saw reference to that but haven't watched anything post game of note.
footballer
Member
My favorite “Sarcastic Saban “. 
JoseyWalesTheOutlaw
Member
Nick Saban provides updates on Trevon Diggs, Antonio Alfano
Freshman defensive lineman Antonio Alfano was neither on the field nor on the sideline for Alabama’s home opener against New Mexico State at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
247sports.com
I get that speculation is what we do on here but I mean asking "do we get in" literally two weeks into the season is just crazy to me. There is so much football to play right now that nobody could legitimately answer that question.
As far as the o-line goes, improvement will HAVE to be made or that line will cost Alabama a game (at least) and maybe more if it gets Tua hurt. I dont know if its just these players are massively overrated, the o-line coach hasn't done much developing to speak of or a combination.
As far as the o-line goes, improvement will HAVE to be made or that line will cost Alabama a game (at least) and maybe more if it gets Tua hurt. I dont know if its just these players are massively overrated, the o-line coach hasn't done much developing to speak of or a combination.
I've heard more than one person make these comments about Najee Harris and Brian Robinson, yet Robinson is the one averaging three yards per carry and Najee is averaging over five. Robinson will never be more than a short yardage back IMO. Keilan Robinson is the guy I'm looking forward to seeing more of.
bamatommy
Member
Agreed! He has BURST SPEED!
I thought Najee was running very tentative early on, and Robinson was displaying Trent-like field vision much of the time.
Tidestalker
Member
Ding Ding Ding! I was pleasantly surprised at how big he looks... The speed could be game changing.
In regards to Najee/Brian Robinson. I just look at it this way - Najee is just different than anyone we've ever had. He's never going to look smooth putting his head down and running through traffic. But at the same time we've never had a dude that can just explode and beat damn near anyone around the corner when something isn't there. I, probably like most, prefer the put your head down and get inside yards or push the pile method... But he is pretty damn effective bouncing it outside. So that's what he does...
With Robinson... I don't know. I expected more but shit it's only been 2 games. Terry would remind me I wasn't too high on D. Harris early on either, he turned out pretty good. Robinson hasn't shown elite power or elusiveness yet... And in the past we've been spoiled to see that early on with our studs. But he will get better fast with more carries... And as you've all mentioned, the blocking hasn't been what it will be - HOPEFULLY.
I certainly think KR has that 3rd back, game changer type potential. Don't know if he's Josh Jacobs good but I would love to see that type of role that JJ played early in his career. Hopefully he stay's more healthy than Josh... Time will tell. RTR
Come on @OldPlayer , we’re just discussing what we see right now and if the Oline can improve and gel before major SEC competition. No one needs to “chillax” because no one is panicking, just discussing. Or can any questions be asked without someone (you)accusing the board of panicking? Bless your heart.
TerryP
Staff
Perception vs reality here? By that I mean those attempts that failed stick out in your mind.
Based on cfbstats, there have been 8 attempts rushing (3rd, 1-3 to go) and 7 have resulted in first down. On the other hand 4 attempts to convert the 1st passing with only one resulting in a 1st down.
If we look at last year we see the same success rate trying to pass on 3rd and short. It's not good. However, looking at last year versus this year the difference in success rate with running? Huge difference. .875 vs .651.
It was pointed out the team needed to have better success rushing in 3rd and shorts...they are.
HOWEVER, it's two games in ...
Stalker pins it here.
So far they are using Najee and Brian as the power backs, Keilan as the speed back. It's the same change of pace backs we're used to seeing.
You're right Josh. We're all trying in interprete what we're seeing these first two weeks. From what I'm seeing it's still a two headed punch with power and speed but more of a reliance on power guys than the mixture we've seen in the past.
@Elderfalsedemigod mentioned within the last few days that Bama was running right into the teeth of what Duke was bringing. I thought that observations was spot on. They were stopping the power back attack, to a degree, but it was called again and again eventually taking its toll. It's looking like that's the game plan: hit them with the two power backs until late. (A lot of that depends on how well Keilan progresses. I recall talking about his speed months ago.)
OldPlayer
Member
Many of the posts have a panic or "sky is falling" tone. I guarantee things will improve.
I think straight line speed, Brian Robinson is probably the fastest of the bunch. could be wrong... He has good vision. Numbers from the last game are a bit askew given the TFL where they were eating his lunch when he was handed the ball. not much he could do about those plays. Harris is the best overall at this point with combination of power and cutting/balance. Brian Robinson is a good 2nd. The other 2 are interchangeable.
Line blocking is hit or miss. AT times it looks good, other times terrible. I hope this is just the lack of playing time together.
Line blocking is hit or miss. AT times it looks good, other times terrible. I hope this is just the lack of playing time together.
BamaFan334
Member
So I honestly had to think about this for a day or so to let the emotion from the weekend get over.
In short, yes, I think we are in. The talent and coaching we have will get us in. Even if we lose one, the entire country knows we aren't likely to lose two. Statistics show this and our track record of avenging losses shows this.
The reason I wanted to think about this over the course of a couple of days was because I had the same questions you did on Saturday. Here we were looking like crap on the ground against New Mexico State while LSU looked like they could win it all against a Top 10 Texas. Now I still think LSU is a very solid team, and will be a Top 6 or 8 team all year long, but it felt like they could stake claim to #2 after that win. It's easy to get caught up in the media blitz, the atmosphere, build up, and theatrics involved in a game like LSU-Texas. First Top 10 matchup in like fifteen years or whatever they said. Texas coming off the Sugar Bowl win against Georgia, and the "Texas is Back" message everywhere. Plus this was the best game of the day television wise, prime time too. Yes, LSU's performance and win made me feel bad initially, because all we have had were two crap ass games against inferior opponents and here they already are staking claim to a killer victory in front of the entire country. No matter how well they (Duke, New Mexico State) were coached, EVERYONE knew there was 0% chance of losing. If science would allow for 100% facts, that would have been percentage chance instead of 99.9%. With that being said, Saturday I was in kind of a somber mood, because I did not feel this team has shown anything regarding a Championship caliber team, after I saw what LSU and Clemson did on national television, on top of our running game struggles for a second straight game.
After taking a breather I understood our team is still full of blue chip athletes that likely start at any other school in the country. Our offensive line has three five star guys and two other high four star players that have proven they can play. They will get it together I think once Coach sets the damn line and lets them focus on one position. The running backs have the ability, we've seen it. Our passing game is the strongest focus of the team and not even Clemson has looked as solid as we have. I have said many times that Ross and Higgins have made Lawrence look a thousand times better than he is actually performing, and Saturday was much of the same. With all of this being said, i think our boys will step up to the challenge and flex our muscle when it comes time. Alabama football has been absolutely boring to watch the last three or four years due to the ass whoopings we put on teams and lack of competition outside of Georgia and Clemson. We smoked Oklahoma and for whatever reason called off the dogs. We better dig deep and focus on putting out the same product each and every week so we aren't caught off guard and drilled like we were against Clemson. I want to see more consistency everywhere, but I still think we have the team to beat regardless of our lackluster look the first two weeks.
TerryP
Staff
It's close between the two...'bout like Ruggs and Jeudy in the 40. It's my opinion Keilan has a better burst. Keilan didn't participate in the running drills with Nike's SPARQ so I'm not sure what his 40 time is today.
If I heard that once, I heard it 20 times over the off-season. He's 2019's Josh.
