Passing game really needs to develop for a BCSNC run in 09.

[Bamabuzzard]

I was watching some of the SEC CG again for kicks and giggles. As I was watching, it really stuck out to me that if we would have been better in our passing game we very well could have not only over come the Arenas special teams mistake and the Hightower personal foul but we very well could have blown Florida out of that game.

It was amazing how inconsistent we were (not only in the SEC CG but all season) in our passing game and still went 12-0 through the SEC. But it caught up with us in the SEC CG.

I know Coach McElwain's off season goal HAS TO BE to develop not only our qb to be a good passer but our entire offensive unit to be better at the passing game.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I think it's a case of our receivers not being quite as good as their billing as recruits. That, and several of them were nicked up pretty good along the way. Alexander and McCoy, in particular. And, JPW's strength never was slinging the ball all over the place. CJM hasn't really had time to make a lot of impact there yet, but you certainly can see his impact in other areas - play calling in particular...

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I think another off season under McElwain and our passing game and qb's will be much more comfortable and prepared to pass the ball. What he did with JPW in ONE off season was amazing.

 

[RollTide007]

I thought the passing game was pretty good this year. We mixed it up pretty well, for the most part. There were times where I thought the play calling could have been a little better. It sometimes got a little predictable. It was clear, though, that Coach McElwain was going with the strength of this team, which is the running game. Just like Oklahoma got to the NC game with its passing game, we can get to the NC game with our running game.

 

[rgw]

Our passing game is simplistic, but it didn't matter most of the season because our run game was simply too much for most teams and they could never get us into situations where they could exploit our passing game. Florida was the first team to get us behind down and distance in a critical moment, and that won them the game.

I don't expect much to change in our routes and route combinations over the next year. Execution by receivers not named Julio Jones would do more for our passing game than an infusion of a bunch of Texas Tech passing concepts. Even with a simple route tree, we have all the moves a receiver needs to beat any kind of coverage. It's a matter of recognizing coverages and executing technique.

 

[Sierra65]

I think another off season under McElwain and our passing game and qb's will be much more comfortable and prepared to pass the ball. What he did with JPW in ONE off season was amazing.

It appears that CJM won't give the qb more that he is capable of handling.
My guess is the passing game for 2009 will depend on the qb's talents and abilities

 

[bamar]

yes, to compete at the next level, we will need to have a passing game that is consistent. as others have said, we really lacked cohesion in the receiving corp this year. injuries, and only one big time receiver in julio. we had to depend on the tight end for possesion plays, and everything else named julio. will not work against the big time programs, as we have seen this bowl season. need at least two excellent receivers for short, and deep patterns. most of all we will need a qb that can make the throws sideline, middle, and deep. jpw was our game manager, which is football talk for lacking passing skills. we need a infusion of receivers with julio, hanks, and maze.

 

[Squirrely]

I think once we get more play-makers on offense. Bama passing game will be right where it needs to be to take heat off the running game......

Watching USC last night. It's like seeing Bama offense in the future. A stable of good running backs, tall receivers, good line, QB who can throw a deep ball, pro-style offense, and a great defense to go along with it all.........

We are heading in the right direction without question in my eyes..........


:BigA: ROLL TIDE :BigA:

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I thought the passing game was pretty good this year. We mixed it up pretty well, for the most part. There were times where I thought the play calling could have been a little better. It sometimes got a little predictable. It was clear, though, that Coach McElwain was going with the strength of this team, which is the running game. Just like Oklahoma got to the NC game with its passing game, we can get to the NC game with our running game.

For me it was average at best and it wasn't JUST at qb. Too many breakdowns in pass blocking, wr's seemingly getting stoned off their routes at the LOS, ala the Kentucky and Ole Miss game. Looking very uncomfortable at times when put in passing situations.

Like one poster said. I see USC's offense and how they are just as comfortable with passing as they are with running and see where our offense is headed under Saban.

 

[rgw]

Well, how does USC do it: they have NFL WRs and NFL QBs executing the passing game and they can run the ball whenever they want. God bless Wilson, but if he plays a down in the pros it will be in Canada or the Arena League. You look at our receiving corp, Jones is the only one you could say looks the part of an NFL receiver. Maze and Hanks have shown potential as a college slot guy, but they don't appear to be NFL guys either. Alexander was coming along but got injured. If we miss out on Randle, Alexander's development will be a key for next year.

I don't see anything that USC did last night that isn't in our playbook too. It's a matter of skill at our skill positions and execution of the plays by the quarterback. We have the potential of being just as dynamic with our offense as USC within the confines of the offense we already use. USC is a run-first team by nature, but they have the skill position guys to make you pay for loading up on the run. We aren't quite there yet at QB or receiver...but I have a sneaking suspicion that it's coming soon.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I was at the SECCG and thought the same thing. Our passing game was one dimensional, and that dimension was Julio Jones. If we couldn't get it to him, the pass wasn't working. His performance in that game is way under appreciated. And that's why we need RR to come on and commit! Both of them would get more receptions than if they were on different teams. No one could cover them both.

It puts us in a situation no different than what we saw the other night with LSU vs Ga Tech. If anyone was wondering why teams went away from the triple option, wish bone etc. they were reminded the other night in the Peach Bowl. Those types offenses are fine as long as everything is going your way and the game ALWAYS stays relatively close. But when things don't go as planned and you need to do something different (like pass the ball) you're basically dead in the water.

That is basically where our offense is until we get more balanced, and by balanced I mean "dribble just as good with your left hand as you do your right". Balanced doesn't mean throwing attempts are relatively equal to rushing attempts. Balance meaning we can legitimately stomp your butt by passing just as good as we can running it. AMEN!!!

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I don't see anything that USC did last night that isn't in our playbook too.

I saw one thing used over and over that had just as well not be in our playbook, and that's the screen to the RB and TEs. I hope we don't forget it today, because we're going to need it without Andre'...

 

[rgw]

"Dribble as good with your left as your right." Is a good analogy. The point isn't that we have the intention of completely masking intentions by mixing the run or pass. Eventually, if a guy is breaking you down to the left all night in b-ball...a big is going to show to that side and force you to go right. The guards that can do it play in the NBA, the ones who can't are probably playing for Alabama (j/k).

 

[RollTide007]

I do think that our pass protection from the O-Line has to be better for us to have any chance of advancing the passing game. I don't understand how we have a stellar run blocking O-Line but just an average passing O-Line...which leads me to a question...why, on passing downs, do lines allow the defense to come across the LOS easily? It seems if they took the same approach as they did on running downs, the QB would have more time, not to mention, it would disguise what kind of play you were running.

 

[rgw]

I saw one thing used over and over that had just as well not be in our playbook, and that's the screen to the RB and TEs. I hope we don't forget it today, because we're going to need it without Andre'...

We used it a lot early in the season, but got away from it. Perhaps because Roy was a pass receiving back and we don't get favorable screen matchups with Coffee and Ingram in the game. I agree though about tonight. A slip screen to the offensive left early in the game should be in the cards. They are going to test us, we should oblige them with a nice burn for their aggressiveness.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I do think that our pass protection from the O-Line has to be better for us to have any chance of advancing the passing game. I don't understand how we have a stellar run blocking O-Line but just an average passing O-Line...which leads me to a question...why, on passing downs, do lines allow the defense to come across the LOS easily? It seems if they took the same approach as they did on running downs, the QB would have more time, not to mention, it would disguise what kind of play you were running.

I don't know how much NFL football you watch but Mark Schlerith (sp) who is a former OL of the Denver Broncos that now is on the NFL Live panel. I've heard him, Meril Hodge, John Madden and actually ole Lee Corso say (this season as well) that many times good run blocking teams aren't very good pass blocking teams and vice versa. Because it is very hard to "change gears" from one to the other during games. The two blocking styles have two different approaches both mentally and physically. So the teams that do both very well usually are the ones that win championships. If the pros have a hard time doing it I'm sure it is even that much harder for amateur athletes.

But Alabama is much like USC. We can get the athletes that are capable of doing both.

 

[rolltidescott]

JPW is a good game manager, but I don'tthink he is particularly adept at going through his progression for the receivers. We'll see if our net QB does a better job. If so, our passing game will likely improve.

 

[GulfCoastTider]

Interesting thread! This could go on for a while.

A few observations:

1. I don't think our passing game was a problem in 08. In fact, I think the improvement in that part of the offense was a big factor in being 12-0. That said, an improvement in 09 will make Bama even more formidable.

2. I don't think our lack of a passing game was the difference in the SECCG. I believe Tim Tebow's play made the difference. Without him, Florida does not win that game and we are playing Oklahoma for the title.

3. I agree that improved play from the receivers should be the focus. If we get the same level of competence and game management from next year's QB and have two JJ-type receivers on the field, the improvement will be dramastic.

 

[tusctider]

JPW is a good game manager, but I don'tthink he is particularly adept at going through his progression for the receivers. We'll see if our net QB does a better job. If so, our passing game will likely improve.

. GMc will do fine. My friends tell me that the play calling will be about the same. GMc is the smartest guy on the team, but his arm is not as strong as JP's and he's not as durable. If there is one thing I can say about JP is that he's tough. It's hard to say how GMc will be when everything he has thrown are to the outside and there are no reads. We really need a another wideout to take the double team off of Julio. RTR!!

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Interesting thread! This could go on for a while.

A few observations:

1. I don't think our passing game was a problem in 08. In fact, I think the improvement in that part of the offense was a big factor in being 12-0. That said, an improvement in 09 will make Bama even more formidable.

2. I don't think our lack of a passing game was the difference in the SECCG. I believe Tim Tebow's play made the difference. Without him, Florida does not win that game and we are playing Oklahoma for the title.

3. I agree that improved play from the receivers should be the focus. If we get the same level of competence and game management from next year's QB and have two JJ-type receivers on the field, the improvement will be dramastic.

I think it made it that much harder for us to overcome mistakes that lead to UF scores. If we would have been better in the passing game the late fourth quarter deficit would have not have been that big of deal. However, seeing that we couldn't pass no where near as good as we could run it was like boxer with one arm tied behind his back. Once you figured the one punch out you won the fight. It's much harder to defend a "boxer" that can knock you out with both his right and left.