Question: "Alabama can't run the ball" - Have we ever had that issue before?

[DzynKingRTR]

Another issue we had this year is there was no threat of the deep ball. Of the handful of times I saw of throw it deep, Ty was off target. I think it's harder to run when you don't have that homerun ball in your back pocket that the defense has to keep people back to defend.

I cannot understand the lack of benching of QBs by this staff. First Milroe and now Simpson. There are rumors that Ty is/was injured. Well why was he playing? Is the 2nd and 3rd string QB so bad that they cannot over take a QB that cannot throw? It is infuriating.

 

[arthurdawg]

I just worry that we're going to spend the next three years sinking further and further into mediocrity, all while "there's hope" hangs in the air, and ultimately wind up with a repeat of the 2000 3-8 record.

I think we need see improvements made in the program and taking place by this point next year, or we start planning our strategy to replace him. And I'm of CKD at the present. There are clear cut things that are readily addressable in the program. And this may not mean we have a better overall record either given the vagaries of the portal and current game.

 

[ReturnToGlory]

I'm going to be supportive of CKD and watch the next couple of seasons play out. I think that is when a change could happen if it needs too. Until then, I'll just enjoy the ride and not get all that upset.

 

[CoolBreeze]

Yeah but in his defense this is an NAIA guy.

If you look over even young guys like Dan Lanning, you see him at a major program in 2011. You see Cignetti at a major program in the 80s! DeBoer didn't step foot on an FBS program until 2014 and a power conference program until 2019 and even then it was Indiana (where key parts of his staff, even Penix came from).

So, he spent a big chunk of his career and even playing days about as far removed from power conference football as you can get. He's a smart coach, smart enough to improve offenses everywhere but Alabama, and that's where he's run into a wall. I would add that he basically went his entire career up until his time at Alabama not dealing with any 5 stars and then he suddenly had more than any other teams.

I don't see that as that bad a problem though, now that we're in year three. Yes, he wasn't the best fit to make use of Saban's talent, and that was my concern all along. But, we're kind of past that now, that's done and in the rear view mirror. Now we're just to the point of can be adjust to the SEC? I believe he can, he just has to want to. If he gets outside of that NAIA/Indiana bubble and brings in some outside help I think the issue shouldn't be that hard to address. He just needs to install a legitimate, SEC caliber running game.

That is a great post!

 

[BamaInCummingGA]

Before I say what I'm going to say this is not a Fire CKD post because if you fire him right now you cut off your nose in spit of your face.
We have got to get stronger/meaner and a lot more physical and be able to run the ball.
CKD has an opportunity here to make some good (albeit tough) decisions and right the ship.
I firmly believe the Oline coach needs to be sent packing. You CANNOT be rotating guys around in different positions along the oline and get any kind of consistency.
We HAVE to commit to running the ball.'
Ryan Grubb: I'm on the fence here but slipping to the send him packing side. Grubb (over the entirety of the season) has NO situational awareness and tries to outsmart/out think himself and stall the offense.
Back to the running game question: I think that we had a couple of different issues here. #1 the staff just simply did not commit/stay committed to running the ball. #2 The OC simply had no idea how to adjust his running game to the talent on the field and put our Oline and running backs in a better position to have more success.
In the next couple of months we're gonna see what CKD and staff are made of and if they are just too stubborn/prideful to do what it takes to right this ship.

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

Just think! If we could’ve averaged about 50-75 yards per game, we may have made it to Championship game instead of the quarterfinals!

 

[Bama_N_Va]

Milroe probably helped that stat in 2024. We honestly missed the speed at QB this year.

Are you saying we need Milroe back???

 

[day-day]

Watch cigs expression when he says Alabama has a great coach. Coaches know coaches, telling. Hint, it's a dismissive smirk.

I didn't see the tell or smirk; but then, I'm not a coach.

 

[spidermayin]

Are you saying we need Milroe back???

No, but we need someone with more speed and pocket awareness. But, i get that you're not going to get someone who checks all the boxes.

 

[mlh]

I think the fact that our RBs line up 8-9 yards deep has something to do with it. And when every running play is basically a draw play where the RB doesn't even start running until the QB hands him the ball, further exacerbates the issue. The DL has already fought through the blocks of the OL by the time the RB gets to the LOS.

 

[arthurdawg]

I think the fact that our RBs line up 8-9 yards deep has something to do with it. And when every running play is basically a draw play where the RB doesn't even start running until the QB hands him the ball, further exacerbates the issue. The DL has already fought through the blocks of the OL by the time the RB gets to the LOS.

A very good point. And Jam is one of those guys who needs a few steps to get up to speed. With someone filling the gaps and steaming into the backfield he is not the guy.

 

[TideMan09]

Yeahhhhh during the Shula Era & that wasn't the coaches fault like it is with our current coaching staff..

 

[SkullDuckery]

We got Nix and I think he’ll help our receivers be better. We need an oline coach with a different mindset. We get that….we can win it all.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

We got Nix and I think he’ll help our receivers be better. We need an oline coach with a different mindset. We get that….we can win it all.

We definitely need a new OL coach but something has to change at S&C too.

Folks around here smarter than me about OL play have said that our guys weren’t in the right shape to execute what it seems like the OL was being asked to do in the running game or passing game.

But I also think a different approach at S&C would help other units too.

Our WRs as a unit need to up their physicality and get off CB jams and Hand fighting.

As a team we just don’t seem as tough or in shape.

 

[SkullDuckery]

We definitely need a new OL coach but something has to change at S&C too.

Folks around here smarter than me about OL play have said that our guys weren’t in the right shape to execute what it seems like the OL was being asked to do in the running game or passing game.

But I also think a different approach at S&C would help other units too.

Our WRs as a unit need to up their physicality and get off CB jams and Hand fighting.

As a team we just don’t seem as tough or in shape.

I agree…we need that mentality back but I also think that comes from the type of players you bring in. We really haven’t had a “dog” like that since 2020 when our Landon Dickerson graduated.

 

[Cruloc]

We definitely need a new OL coach but something has to change at S&C too.

Folks around here smarter than me about OL play have said that our guys weren’t in the right shape to execute what it seems like the OL was being asked to do in the running game or passing game.

But I also think a different approach at S&C would help other units too.

Our WRs as a unit need to up their physicality and get off CB jams and Hand fighting.

As a team we just don’t seem as tough or in shape.

There is no mental edge in the program now.

This staff uses emotions to motivate, that's why we have high highs and super low lows. They talk about disrespect and using that to drive their play. That's a recipe for disaster.

And then....once Ty fumbled....the defense QUIT. They don't fear this staff.

DeBoer isn't going to get in anyone's face and demand excellence. He could turn things around, get another OL coach, look sharper next year......but we'll all be waiting for that game where things unravel.

S&C changes won't yield dividends soon enough for DeBoer to survive at Alabama.

The only way he turns this around is a complete overhaul of his philosophy, which I doubt happens.

 

[mlh]

There is no mental edge in the program now.

This staff uses emotions to motivate, that's why we have high highs and super low lows. They talk about disrespect and using that to drive their play. That's a recipe for disaster.

And then....once Ty fumbled....the defense QUIT. They don't fear this staff.

DeBoer isn't going to get in anyone's face and demand excellence. He could turn things around, get another OL coach, look sharper next year......but we'll all be waiting for that game where things unravel.

S&C changes won't yield dividends soon enough for DeBoer to survive at Alabama.

The only way he turns this around is a complete overhaul of his philosophy, which I doubt happens.

It looked like we traded uniforms. Indiana played the way I expect Bama to play and Bama played the way I expect Indiana to play.

To harken back to Saban's great pregame speech - They made our arses quit.

Is Cignetti the new Saban?

 

[tusks_n_raider]

It looked like we traded uniforms. Indiana played the way I expect Bama to play and Bama played the way I expect Indiana to play.

To harken back to Saban's great pregame speech - They made our arses quit.

Is Cignetti the new Saban?

Possibly.

We’ll know in the next few years if he keeps them on top in the B1G and a Perennial CFBP Contender.

It’s not often you see a guy take over a 3-9 program and have them knocking on the door of a NC in Year 2.

 

[BamaFanInTally]

DeBoer's style and culture will not win here. He is going to have to morph himself and his style.

He's got no real, physical running game...never has.

He doesn't demand enough from his staff and players.

I just don't think he has an attention to detail that is needed for big time college football. You don't get blown out 6 times in 2 years and lose multiple games when you're favored by double digits....if you've got a high attention to detail.

He allows the team....and probably pushes it along himself.....to feel "disrespected" and try to feed off emotion too much. His team highs are too high and his team lows are too low.

I agreee with everything you said, but I don’t see CKD morphing into a coach that demands physicality and running the ball. We all see how Nick Saban adapted his offenses as the game changed. But Saban is a defensive coach at heart. CKD is an offensive coach, and I am doubtful he has it in him to field a team that imposes its will on the other team through tough physical play with a strong balanced attack. I hope I’m wrong.

 

[22Musso22]

Ahhhhhhhhhh...This is Alabama Football: