LOL, and I caution that we would have stomped LSU if we would have had a passing qb. I think the two balanced each other out.
a look ahead
- Thread starter bamaslammer
- Start date
JPW: 31 attempts 15 completions (48%) 1 INT
Jarrett Lee: 34 attempts 13 completions (38%) 4 INT
JPW didn't have the greatest game, but he played significantly better than Jarrett Lee. They did not balance each other out.
The point is if LSU would have had a qb the four int's would likely not have happened. On the same note if we would have had a qb that was a better passer we could have torched the LSU pass defense like everyone else in the world was doing at that time.
It's going to be tougher next year, no doubt about it.
Offensively, the line is probably going to hurt us. Unless we can really find some young guys who can play at a very high level from day one, we're going to have a big drop-off up front, and I'm just not confident we can do that. That will cause the running game to decline a good bit, and we will probably go back to the bottom of the conference again in sacks allowed.
The defense will have to carry us next year, particularly early in the season, no doubt about it. We will be a truly elite defense against the run with Cody back healthy, but the pass defense is still going to be a concern. Unless someone really steps up as a rusher, we still won't have a good pass rush, and the highly-touted guys with a ton of talent in the defensive backfield -- Barron, Lawrence, Green, Scott, Kirkpatrick, etc. -- will still be very young.
Defensively, we are probably going to sink or swim largely based on how good of a passing attack our opponents have. I figure we can shut down dang near any rushing attack as long as we are healthy, but honestly, unless things change, a really good passing attack will have a pretty good amount of success against us.
Fortunately, though, I don't really see that many good passers on the schedule next year. Tyrod Taylor of Virginia Tech is a poor passer, and he makes his living as a runner. South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, MSU, and Auburn should all have poor quarterback play as well. Ryan Mallett of Arkansas could be a dang good passer that will give us trouble, but thankfully they really have below-average talent at receiver, and their defense should struggle big-time yet again. LSU may give us some trouble because Jefferson should at least be a pretty decent passer, and Ole Miss will cause problems. Thankfully though with Ole Miss, Oher will be gone and they lose a couple of top receivers, so that will offset Snead a bit, and honestly they are still a run-heavy team at the end of the day. Furthermore, FIU, North Texas, and UTC won't give us any trouble.
Again, I think a good passing attack will probably be able to give us trouble unless we can really start rushing the passer better or playing better in the defensive backfield, but thankfully there looks to be only a couple of truly good passing attacks on the schedule. All of the other teams out there are really going to have to run the ball at us, and honestly as long as we stay healthy, there's just not a team in the conference that can do that with any consistent success.
I tell you, the fact that we should have the easiest schedule we've had since 2004 could really be our saving grace next year.
Offensively, the line is probably going to hurt us. Unless we can really find some young guys who can play at a very high level from day one, we're going to have a big drop-off up front, and I'm just not confident we can do that. That will cause the running game to decline a good bit, and we will probably go back to the bottom of the conference again in sacks allowed.
The defense will have to carry us next year, particularly early in the season, no doubt about it. We will be a truly elite defense against the run with Cody back healthy, but the pass defense is still going to be a concern. Unless someone really steps up as a rusher, we still won't have a good pass rush, and the highly-touted guys with a ton of talent in the defensive backfield -- Barron, Lawrence, Green, Scott, Kirkpatrick, etc. -- will still be very young.
Defensively, we are probably going to sink or swim largely based on how good of a passing attack our opponents have. I figure we can shut down dang near any rushing attack as long as we are healthy, but honestly, unless things change, a really good passing attack will have a pretty good amount of success against us.
Fortunately, though, I don't really see that many good passers on the schedule next year. Tyrod Taylor of Virginia Tech is a poor passer, and he makes his living as a runner. South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, MSU, and Auburn should all have poor quarterback play as well. Ryan Mallett of Arkansas could be a dang good passer that will give us trouble, but thankfully they really have below-average talent at receiver, and their defense should struggle big-time yet again. LSU may give us some trouble because Jefferson should at least be a pretty decent passer, and Ole Miss will cause problems. Thankfully though with Ole Miss, Oher will be gone and they lose a couple of top receivers, so that will offset Snead a bit, and honestly they are still a run-heavy team at the end of the day. Furthermore, FIU, North Texas, and UTC won't give us any trouble.
Again, I think a good passing attack will probably be able to give us trouble unless we can really start rushing the passer better or playing better in the defensive backfield, but thankfully there looks to be only a couple of truly good passing attacks on the schedule. All of the other teams out there are really going to have to run the ball at us, and honestly as long as we stay healthy, there's just not a team in the conference that can do that with any consistent success.
I tell you, the fact that we should have the easiest schedule we've had since 2004 could really be our saving grace next year.
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You are so right Buzzard.
John Parker's wife, whoever he marries, will never need to worry.
Once he picks a favorite, he ain't never goin nowhere else.
We've got numerous good receivers, and hopefully, we're about to have a Quarterback who can read a defense and find the open one.
I think Mcelroy will prove to be the guy.
I'll make some people mad here but I think the best thing about this entire season is that JPW has graduated. He simply never could hit a wide open receiver. And he was dyslexic when it came to reading a defense.
It was D.J. Hall last year and Julio this year.
He threw to one guy 80% of the time. He found a safe zone and he stayed in it. That hurt our football team.
We had so many weapons like B.J. Scott, McCoy, Stover, Maze, and others that were basically given one chance a game. If the one attempt didn't work...they were forgotten.
That's like giving Coffee the ball and if he doesn't run a TD you don't hand off to him again.
I'll stop here.
I picked us to go 8-4.
We did better than expected and I'm happy
I have to say that this is an excellent thread with many good evalutions on where we're currently at, and what we need to do to get to where we all want to go. We may not all agree on the process, but I'm certain that we all agree that the goal is to win a championship!
A few things l'd like to throw out for you guys to chew on:
I'm tired of people trying to diminish what this team accomplished by saying this was a off year in the SEC. Alabama went 12-0 with one of the youngest teams in America, and with very little quality depth behind the starters. Some of you can relax next year, because we won't be the only team in the SEC having issues, or weaknesses. Saban, and staff did a masterful job squeezing the performance out of this team that they did, and covering its weaknesses. Alabama reeled off 12 wins a row! Stop, and think about that for a second. Not even the mighty, and very talented Florida Gators could do that! There were some outstanding individual performances this season, and the team played its guts out for 13 games, and we got a much needed attitude adjustment against Utah. Regardless of what happened in the Sugar Bowl I'm very proud of what this team accomplished!
Since we're questioning the coaches some I'd like to hear some of your thoughts on Coach Pendry's slide a replacement over policy on the OL. Jess pointed this out in his post game evaluation. He believes that we would have been better off to left Johnson at guard, and slid the RT over to LT. Then let a warm body off the bench replace the RT preferably someone who is suited to play tackle. This seems very logical to me. I think we would be better served to let tackles play tackle, and guards play guard when feasible. What do you guys think?
Another thing defensively I don't think we match up against the spread offense that well. The defense did a much better job against Florida, but we still struggled to stop the Gators, and Utah. Clearly the intensity level was missing against Utah, but both teams exposed our secondary. This years defense did a very good job against traditional offenses for the most part, and was built to stop the run. What we need to figure out is a way to stop good spread offense teams. Saban needs to create a package to run against spread teams. The bottom line is that I think we need more speed! In the secondary, and at defensive end. Anders did a very good job this year providing some pass rush, and we need a couple more pass situation players like him. When we go to our 4 man front in pass situations we need speed on the field! I noticed that during his post game comments that Saban said some things would probably change systematically. I look forward to seeing what these changes will be.
Any thoughts?
A few things l'd like to throw out for you guys to chew on:
I'm tired of people trying to diminish what this team accomplished by saying this was a off year in the SEC. Alabama went 12-0 with one of the youngest teams in America, and with very little quality depth behind the starters. Some of you can relax next year, because we won't be the only team in the SEC having issues, or weaknesses. Saban, and staff did a masterful job squeezing the performance out of this team that they did, and covering its weaknesses. Alabama reeled off 12 wins a row! Stop, and think about that for a second. Not even the mighty, and very talented Florida Gators could do that! There were some outstanding individual performances this season, and the team played its guts out for 13 games, and we got a much needed attitude adjustment against Utah. Regardless of what happened in the Sugar Bowl I'm very proud of what this team accomplished!
Since we're questioning the coaches some I'd like to hear some of your thoughts on Coach Pendry's slide a replacement over policy on the OL. Jess pointed this out in his post game evaluation. He believes that we would have been better off to left Johnson at guard, and slid the RT over to LT. Then let a warm body off the bench replace the RT preferably someone who is suited to play tackle. This seems very logical to me. I think we would be better served to let tackles play tackle, and guards play guard when feasible. What do you guys think?
Another thing defensively I don't think we match up against the spread offense that well. The defense did a much better job against Florida, but we still struggled to stop the Gators, and Utah. Clearly the intensity level was missing against Utah, but both teams exposed our secondary. This years defense did a very good job against traditional offenses for the most part, and was built to stop the run. What we need to figure out is a way to stop good spread offense teams. Saban needs to create a package to run against spread teams. The bottom line is that I think we need more speed! In the secondary, and at defensive end. Anders did a very good job this year providing some pass rush, and we need a couple more pass situation players like him. When we go to our 4 man front in pass situations we need speed on the field! I noticed that during his post game comments that Saban said some things would probably change systematically. I look forward to seeing what these changes will be.
Any thoughts?
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Noting that the SEC schedule was weaker than usual is not an effort to diminish the accomplishments of this team (at least, not by me). It is to point out the difficulty of accomplishing it again. Going undefeated in the SEC, even with the best team in the country, is very difficult. Bama fans should not take this season as representative of how we should be expected to perform next season.
Going 12-0 this season was truly remarkable. Doing so next year would be even more so...
No doubt about it! I've read where some people have said it trying to diminish what this team has accomplished. I don't expect it to happen again next season, but I didn't expect it to happen in 08 either.
On the Oline,,,,, Pendry did the right thing. Actually, the only thing he could do. Johnson was the only one on the roster who had a prayer against their top rusher. Next year he moves back inside and DD moves back to top back-up as three of the top seven O-linemen are not on campus. We need to start the "Pendry for '09 top assistant of the year" thread now and hope for the best.
I was thrilled with this year and I am excited about next year. Why?
1. We have the best head coach we have had at least going back to Stallings and maybe Bryant. He knows how to recruit (as Coach Bryant used to say "you got to have chickens to make chicken salad"). He has instilled discipline in the team (see the Andre Smith situation as Exhibit A). And, he has demanded excellence in every aspect of the program and it is paying off.
2. We were a very young team this year and played as close to our talent level as any Alabama team I have ever seen. We still have some weaknesses, but we filled several of those weaknesses this year with young players (for example, Julio and Hightower) and will again next year (my guesses are that DJ, Massie and Dre are just three of several new players I expect to contribute next year).
3. We have a pretty favorable schedule next year considering our road games, although I recognize VT will be a very difficult opening game. Otherwise, I expect Ole Sis to be our toughest game because of Snead and playing Nutt at Oxford. The rest of the schedule is manageable.
4. It looks to me like we are being successful in recruiting to fill some of our weaknesses. For example, I think that DJ and Massie wil help immensely with our OL problems next year either as starters or by providing depth. Also, I think Nico will provide a speedier option at LB than what we currently have. Let's hope we pick up Cox and/or Stinson to help with the pass rush. I also am optimistic that between Lawrence, Green, Dre, Woodson, etc. that we will have better options at defensive back than some think, particularly with Coach Saban working with them.
5. Finally, I love JPW's heart, courage, and passion for the team, but there were plenty of times this year when we just didn't make a play when we had the opportunity (the overthrow to Stover in the SB being a perfect example). We will miss his leadership and steady play, but I am not sure that the drop-off in this position will be as great as some think, particularly with the type of offense that we will run.
So, let's hope we rack up on NSD, look forward to spring training, and next year! ROLL TIDE!
1. We have the best head coach we have had at least going back to Stallings and maybe Bryant. He knows how to recruit (as Coach Bryant used to say "you got to have chickens to make chicken salad"). He has instilled discipline in the team (see the Andre Smith situation as Exhibit A). And, he has demanded excellence in every aspect of the program and it is paying off.
2. We were a very young team this year and played as close to our talent level as any Alabama team I have ever seen. We still have some weaknesses, but we filled several of those weaknesses this year with young players (for example, Julio and Hightower) and will again next year (my guesses are that DJ, Massie and Dre are just three of several new players I expect to contribute next year).
3. We have a pretty favorable schedule next year considering our road games, although I recognize VT will be a very difficult opening game. Otherwise, I expect Ole Sis to be our toughest game because of Snead and playing Nutt at Oxford. The rest of the schedule is manageable.
4. It looks to me like we are being successful in recruiting to fill some of our weaknesses. For example, I think that DJ and Massie wil help immensely with our OL problems next year either as starters or by providing depth. Also, I think Nico will provide a speedier option at LB than what we currently have. Let's hope we pick up Cox and/or Stinson to help with the pass rush. I also am optimistic that between Lawrence, Green, Dre, Woodson, etc. that we will have better options at defensive back than some think, particularly with Coach Saban working with them.
5. Finally, I love JPW's heart, courage, and passion for the team, but there were plenty of times this year when we just didn't make a play when we had the opportunity (the overthrow to Stover in the SB being a perfect example). We will miss his leadership and steady play, but I am not sure that the drop-off in this position will be as great as some think, particularly with the type of offense that we will run.
So, let's hope we rack up on NSD, look forward to spring training, and next year! ROLL TIDE!
Having played OL in high school I can say that I am very much against the idea of shuffling the line when someone gets injured. You might get better skill on the field but you destroy the continuity of the line. Line blocking is a bit like basketball, you really need to be able to predict what your team mates are going to do, where they will be etc. We have tried this thing twice and the results were an ABSOLUTE DISASTER. So SURELY at this point Saban will take that plan, burn it, then have the ashes fed ex'd to Auburn for burial on their campus. I expect us to go heavy on youth next year on the line. I'm also hoping the overall depth will improve such that we can plug a hole next time a lineman gets hurt.
As for the DB's. That is Saban's baby, he's going to get it fixed or die trying. He was working with a bunch of guys who were short on experience and talent this year. Rashad was great all year but frankly I think Kareem Jackson regressed a bit. We are going to have a number of seniors in the backfield next year, but I'm really hoping to see young players like Mark Barron, Alonzo Lawrence, Robert Lester, Chris Jackson, and Robby Green make a serious step forward this spring. Dre Kirkpatrick could even make an impact if he signed with us. The more talent you keep throwing on top of that pile the better.
I agree. I understand using your best players to block the best they have to offer, but I think maybe they should have atleast thought about moving the RT over to fill Smith's vacancy.
Saban said in his post game comments that Alabama didn't match up against Utah's 4-5 wide receiver sets very well, and that systematically we're going to have to do some things different in the future. I'm curious as to what changes he will make. Maybe try to get 6 db's on the field against spread teams in passing situations? That will take some new talent stepping up as you mention.
You're right about one thing...I don't think anyone hated Alabama losing than Nick Saban. He was going nuts on the sideline! He'll find an answer to our problems.
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I agree with all of your comments. Also, I am very confident that we will see a huge step forward in QB play next season.
It is important that a QB spread around the wealth in the passing game. Receivers that run routes repeatedly and get open, but never see the ball is very disheartening. It becomes very difficult to stay at the top of his game if he knows the ball is never coming his way. This will change next year. I believe our receiving corps will be just fine with a precision passer.
I don't have the answer, but something needs to be done to improve the DL pass rush. Good QBs can't have time in the pocket to pick us apart. This was a problem several times this season. Maybe a scheme change will solve this, but improvement is needed if we expect to beat great passing teams.
Read your post. Their QB had alot of time. I was at the SB and JP got hammered every time he threw the ball. And I mean every time, we don't have the answers but will find them. I'm glad you all don't think he can coach because by your standard Saban would of started GMc. Well he didn't so that should show you something. We will have a drop off. How far I don't know but remember when Saban said " for us to have a good season JP has to stay healthy." AJ and Trent might as well pack their bags for somewhere else because as soon as they lose a yard you'll throw them to the dogs.
Not having the threat of the deep ball as a weapon took away a threat that other defenses didn't have to worry about. Which made it easier to prepare for Bama's offense.
Brodie Croyle would have thrived on this years team and with our current coaching staff. I think coach Saban would have played Star Jackson this season over McElroy if we hadn't had a senior QB already on the team.
How could coach Saban and coach McElwain have started a true freshman over an incumbing senior starter no matter which one was the most talented? The smart move was to red-shirt Star Jackson and develop him and still possibly have him for 4 years to come.
With Wilson being a senior he was the best chance at early immediate success in the first few games and when he performed well there was no need to waste a year on Star.
Better QB play is in our immediate future I believe. Not to knock on JPW, but we could use a big threat from the QB position whether it be through his passing or as a running threat. JPW was average at both running and passing.
Having a threat at QB is another worry for opposing defenses to have to deal with. I would have loved to have had Pat White on this years team. Or Tim Tebow. How about Sam Bradford? Mathew Stafford? Colt McCoy?
You would have thought Shula would have recruited better QB's when he was coach. I know he was after Tebow but come on! That was a snow balls chance in... He did have Brodie but Brodie was a Fran recruit and frankly Brodie wasn't going anywhere but Bama regardless who was coach at the time.
JPW is a Shula recruit as well as McElroy. We need a Saban recruit at OB next year regardless of the growing pains it may cause. McElroy just seems like a career back up to me in the same mold as JPW.
JPW would have made a great back up QB. A QB that can come in and keep the status quo in a blowout or a QB who could come in and not lose a game for the team. In other words a QB to manage the game. Sounds like JPW doesn't it?
I could be wrong about McElroy but I have a feeling if McElroy winds up being another JPW next season coach Saban will have whiffed and whiffed bad on his QB recruits the past 2 years. And that ain't good for the future and is uncharacteristic when it comes to Coach Saban recruiting.
Brodie Croyle would have thrived on this years team and with our current coaching staff. I think coach Saban would have played Star Jackson this season over McElroy if we hadn't had a senior QB already on the team.
How could coach Saban and coach McElwain have started a true freshman over an incumbing senior starter no matter which one was the most talented? The smart move was to red-shirt Star Jackson and develop him and still possibly have him for 4 years to come.
With Wilson being a senior he was the best chance at early immediate success in the first few games and when he performed well there was no need to waste a year on Star.
Better QB play is in our immediate future I believe. Not to knock on JPW, but we could use a big threat from the QB position whether it be through his passing or as a running threat. JPW was average at both running and passing.
Having a threat at QB is another worry for opposing defenses to have to deal with. I would have loved to have had Pat White on this years team. Or Tim Tebow. How about Sam Bradford? Mathew Stafford? Colt McCoy?
You would have thought Shula would have recruited better QB's when he was coach. I know he was after Tebow but come on! That was a snow balls chance in... He did have Brodie but Brodie was a Fran recruit and frankly Brodie wasn't going anywhere but Bama regardless who was coach at the time.
JPW is a Shula recruit as well as McElroy. We need a Saban recruit at OB next year regardless of the growing pains it may cause. McElroy just seems like a career back up to me in the same mold as JPW.
JPW would have made a great back up QB. A QB that can come in and keep the status quo in a blowout or a QB who could come in and not lose a game for the team. In other words a QB to manage the game. Sounds like JPW doesn't it?
I could be wrong about McElroy but I have a feeling if McElroy winds up being another JPW next season coach Saban will have whiffed and whiffed bad on his QB recruits the past 2 years. And that ain't good for the future and is uncharacteristic when it comes to Coach Saban recruiting.
Two more thoughts this morning, technically as of today if the season started Drew Davis is the left tackle.
If we start 09 with Drew Davis at left tackle all I can say is "hello shreveport". When the Utah DE was hitting wilson 1 second after the snap in some cases you have to wonder how it didn't take longer than that to run around someone as big as he is. Obviously this means someone NOT on the team or someone who was not a big factor this year needs to step up in a huge way. this may sound like I'm a Davis hater, in fact I am a davis fan, I love it when a low level recruit steps up and plays hard and makes a difference, but he is not talented enough to play left tackle in the SEC or out west apparently.
On the subject of QB, The one thing Wilson had ZERO, and I mean ABSOLUTELY ZERO of was pocket presence. In my experience this is not something that comes from the eye ball test. We had a guy from Hamilton once, Gary Hollingsworth, he looked like a string bean with a helmet on. but this guy could feel the pass rush, he seemed to have a third eye, he would always just shimmy one direction or the other and the pass rusher would often just run right by, meanwhile he would always keep his eye down field, he also had a darn good deep ball, I don't know if either GMac or Star has that but I'm praying they do, because my guess is we will still be ok at running the ball next year, a little pocket moxy could go a long way.
If we start 09 with Drew Davis at left tackle all I can say is "hello shreveport". When the Utah DE was hitting wilson 1 second after the snap in some cases you have to wonder how it didn't take longer than that to run around someone as big as he is. Obviously this means someone NOT on the team or someone who was not a big factor this year needs to step up in a huge way. this may sound like I'm a Davis hater, in fact I am a davis fan, I love it when a low level recruit steps up and plays hard and makes a difference, but he is not talented enough to play left tackle in the SEC or out west apparently.
On the subject of QB, The one thing Wilson had ZERO, and I mean ABSOLUTELY ZERO of was pocket presence. In my experience this is not something that comes from the eye ball test. We had a guy from Hamilton once, Gary Hollingsworth, he looked like a string bean with a helmet on. but this guy could feel the pass rush, he seemed to have a third eye, he would always just shimmy one direction or the other and the pass rusher would often just run right by, meanwhile he would always keep his eye down field, he also had a darn good deep ball, I don't know if either GMac or Star has that but I'm praying they do, because my guess is we will still be ok at running the ball next year, a little pocket moxy could go a long way.
I'm not saying anybody should be thrown to the dogs. What I am saying is that some QBs have the ability to scan the field for open receivers, while others can't. Locking in on one receiver and not "looking off" a receiver makes it very easy for opposing defenses on passing downs. While JPW was our best choice this past season and he performed very well as a field general, his passing game was not his strong suit. No surprises here, we knew this before the season started. I'm not bashing him, just revealing and objective opinion. After all, JPW led us to 12 victories; something to be proud of.
Since this thread focuses on looking ahead, and we will be entering next season without a QB that has any significant playing experience, the criteria for filling the slot will weigh heavily on the ability to "find open receivers" and get the ball to them. A great passer can still hand off the ball to a running back and provide field leadership.
Reviewing the past season and evaluating performance is critical to improving year over year. Given the great coaching staff we have, I believe we will see them focus on higher expectations in the passing game for next season.
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The deep ball was one thing Wilson was never particularly good at. But if you saw the Ole Miss game late, then you saw Greg McElroy, the likely starter next year, throw a perfect pass to Maze (I think). Hopefully this is something McElroy has over Wilson, because it was pretty obvious JPW missed quite a few deep passes over the course of the year.
I think you mean Auburn. GMacs arm is not as strong as JPW's. It's just not. I do believe he can go through his progressions more effectively, but if anybody sees an increased role in the passing game it will be, the TE's and the slot receivers...whoever they may be.
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