Question: Is Mcelwain losin it?

[Dallas4Bama]

I am all for stretching the field and would like to see more 20 yard plus pass plays, but on the play tonight where GMac was hit and fumbled he had about 2 seconds before someone laid the first hand on him. How far can a receiver run in 2 seconds if someone jams him at the line or he has to go around the db? Can receivers somehow run further down the field in 2 seconds when AJ is on the field?
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[Ole Man Dan]

We do get it...our O isnt dominating the line of scrimmage,thats the problem. We are unable to do anything if Bama isnt dominating the LOS. None,absolutely no imagination on offense.

*****
I think the Offensive Line is not playing up to our expectations, and that's a major issue.
Our Defense is also suspect because they are being handled by smaller,faster guys. We are missing tackles and out of position and allowing the other teams long gains. (Position Coaches did a better job last year)

My biggest gripe is our lack of a pass rush.
(No QB executes well when he's running for his life.)
With all of that being said; let me say that LSU played a good game and we didn't... We were 'Flat'.
I think the week off helped heal some of our injuries, but it also disrupted some momentum we had going after the Tennessee game.

Obervation: It looks like we will see 'The stacked box' the rest of the season

 

[blackwell33]

Bama got beat up front on the line today. period. The run game was shut down and GMac didn't have time to get rid of it or go through his reads.

I also saw (in my opinion) a lack of passion and sense of urgency. I saw no "attack mode" from that team today.

I saw it some where else on here at tidefans that we're playing an "nfl" junior team.. some seniors that have been there and done that. Julio has been plagued with injuries and Ingram has had a knee surgery. Maybe they're just trying to get through the season?

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

Bama got beat up front on the line today. period. The run game was shut down and GMac didn't have time to get rid of it or go through his reads.

I also saw (in my opinion) a lack of passion and sense of urgency. I saw no "attack mode" from that team today.

I saw it some where else on here at tidefans that we're playing an "nfl" junior team.. some seniors that have been there and done that. Julio has been plagued with injuries and Ingram has had a knee surgery. Maybe they're just trying to get through the season?

Julio and Mark Ingram played their guts out today.

 

[Silverback]

It was a good game against a good team...we lost...it happens.

 

[blackwell33]

Julio and Mark Ingram played their guts out today.

Maybe they did.. but it takes all 11 to win. I hated to seeing GMac getting rushed, planted and unable to be the great game manager that he is.

We just gave up too much on the line, on both sides.. whatever the kink is with anyone, I hope it can be worked out. Miss St will be no cake walk next week.

 

[Bama323]

#1 - Almost every SEC team we've played has had 2 weeks to prepare for our offense. When the offensive scheme is as simple as ours, having that extra week is huge.

#2 - We need to diversify some more, implement a more sophisticated passing game, and come up with some new wrinkles. It may be that we have to wait until the off season to make changes, but we're going to have to mix it up and put in some more schemes to keep opposing defenses off balance. We need to figure out a way to improve our passing game so that our recievers can get some separation.
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[bamaman65]

#1 - Almost every SEC team we've played has had 2 weeks to prepare for our offense. When the offensive scheme is as simple as ours, having that extra week is huge.

#2 - We need to diversify some more, implement a more sophisticated passing game, and come up with some new wrinkles. It may be that we have to wait until the off season to make changes, but we're going to have to mix it up and put in some more schemes to keep opposing defenses off balance. We need to figure out a way to improve our passing game so that our recievers can get some separation.
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It doesn't take two weeks to decide to stop the run up the middle. Its off limits to run the corners or run any trick plays.

 

[RJ YellowHammer]

Yep.

He is engineering an offense that requires the least amount of tinkering to stop - impressive for its effectiveness in that aim, really.

Yeah. Florida figured it out easily in last year's SECCG.

CJM has made us multiple in our offensive sets and difficult to prepare for at the college level. At times, he may get too smart for himself, but perhaps we aren't as dominate at the LOS as we were in '08 and '09.

 

[BamaGoose]

I feel like we have a great coaching staff, and sometimes the ball bounces the other way. I know that I could not call it any better. And I am sure that there are less than a handful of people that could do any better than Mcelwain. Just My Opinion.

Anyone could call the run dive off the guard that McElwain run like Mike Shula yesterday. I question the play calling because it is like whatever worked last year he automatically thinks will not work this season. Iknow the O-Line is not as good but you can still exploit the talents of the offense.

Why call a 5 step drop, much less a 3 step drop when you could just as well put him in the shotgun to avoid the slow feet of Gmac trying to get setup to make a pass?

 

[BamaGoose]

#1 - Almost every SEC team we've played has had 2 weeks to prepare for our offense. When the offensive scheme is as simple as ours, having that extra week is huge.

#2 - We need to diversify some more, implement a more sophisticated passing game, and come up with some new wrinkles. It may be that we have to wait until the off season to make changes, but we're going to have to mix it up and put in some more schemes to keep opposing defenses off balance. We need to figure out a way to improve our passing game so that our recievers can get some separation.
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The same could be said for LSU for yesterday's game.

 

[RJ YellowHammer]

Anyone could call the run dive off the guard that McElwain run like Mike Shula yesterday day. I question the play calling because it is like whatever worked last year he automatically thinks will not work this season. Iknow the O-Line is not as good but you can still exploit the talents of the offense.

Why call a 5 step drop, much less a 3 step drop when you could just as well put him in the shotgun to avoid the slow feet of Gmac trying to get setup to make a pass?

CJM did adjust in the 2nd half yesterday. We ran more slants and drag routes to combat the pass rush generated by LSU with no blitz. But a great example of "just getting beat" is the play where GMAC fumbled. It's difficult to coach around getting beat like a drum in two spots at the LOS. The only thing we could've done more of is run draw plays, but the clock was working against in the 4th quarter.

 

[Airborne Tider]

I see all this complaining about the offense but no one can seem to agree what the problem is. Half the people are saying we try to force the pass too much and the other half are saying we don't pass enough. I know everyone wants to look for answers but maybe it's possible that we played a team that has as much talent as we do and we got beat in a hard fought game. Yeah our offense has some weaknesses that need to be addressed but let's not get into a frenzy about it. Field position and execution killed us yesterday to go along with Jordan Jefferson finally deciding to play football in the second half. It was a tough loss but we'll be fine. Roll Tide.
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[RJ YellowHammer]

^^^Roll Tide^^^

 

[wileybb22]

Not completely. I am concerned we are trying to 'out think' the defense more than we are just doing what we do best.

Also, we've got to take some shots deep. That could be GMac more than

McElwain though. I'm looking forward to McCarron in that regard.

If GM had the arm strength to throw down field we would. AJ's going to help us with that.

 

[jps1983]

CJM did adjust in the 2nd half yesterday. We ran more slants and drag routes to combat the pass rush generated by LSU with no blitz. But a great example of "just getting beat" is the play where GMAC fumbled. It's difficult to coach around getting beat like a drum in two spots at the LOS. The only thing we could've done more of is run draw plays, but the clock was working against in the 4th quarter.

This.^^^ Our playcalling can only do so much when our OL was consistently getting whipped by Nevis. When our interior OL get dominated like that, it's tough for the ground game or deep passing game to do anything.

 

[peteswell4]

Yes. If a play is called to a certain gap and the RB doesn't run it to that gap before bouncing it somewhere else, he doesn't play for a Nick Saban coached FB team. Ask Lacey or the 1st string RB at LSU that was SECCG MVP turned 3rd stringer...

Some of the same is true for our pass rush woes. The 3 down linemen MUST stay in their rush lanes. It's ESSENTIAL in Coach Saban's scheme. Aside from the big DE from LSU that went to Dallas, much of the QB pressure in his scheme has always come from blitzes/sending LBs/overloading one side.

The chemistry of the team is off for sure. All in all the OL's had worse games than this one through this season. There's plenty of diversity in the O scheme. Would I like to see a bit more misdirection, absolutely. Other teams aren't slowing down one bit because we're fairly predictable according to formation/down & distance. That being the case it leaves Bama with one option, whip the other team at the point of attack and impose your will. This team doesn't seem to be able to do that, & frankly it's a tall order in this league, however the formula resulted in 14-0 last year!

To answer the OP, no Mc hasn't lost his touch. Other teams simply know what's coming & this offense has lost some identity this year for whatever reason. Chiefly it's been the OL not imposing it's will upon the opposition, but that's just my opinion.

Schlante & Roll Tide,
Phillip

I understand your points, but if it is obvious that the OL doesn't or can't impose their will this season, then you make adjustments. I don't know what they should be, but our Offense is very predictable. It is obvious when we are going to throw, obvious when we are going to pass. We showed up today and thought we could win by trotting more talent out on the field. I think we abandoned the run too much. Why throw on first down at the beginning of the fourth quarter up by one, WHEN you have the reigning Heisman trophy RB. He was coming off a series where he had some nice runs.

 

[RJ YellowHammer]

It is obvious when we are going to throw, obvious when we are going to pass.

It was obvious to me yestersday, but was caused by playing on the road. MI would walk up to the LOS when the blocking scheme was being adjusted, but he only did it on running plays. You don't have that problem at home.

I think we abandoned the run too much.

Tough to run the ball when you're down 10 in the 4th quarter. That's exactly the position I thought LSU would be in. *sigh* DT_sad:

 

[BamaMoon]

I see all this complaining about the offense but no one can seem to agree what the problem is. Half the people are saying we try to force the pass too much and the other half are saying we don't pass enough. I know everyone wants to look for answers but maybe it's possible that we played a team that has as much talent as we do and we got beat in a hard fought game. Yeah our offense has some weaknesses that need to be addressed but let's not get into a frenzy about it. Field position and execution killed us yesterday to go along with Jordan Jefferson finally deciding to play football in the second half. It was a tough loss but we'll be fine. Roll Tide.
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Solid post!

 

[kyallie]

No.