Our receivers and OLine have been affected by QB play this year without a doubt. This is especially true against better competition.
Alabama - Clemson CFP Semifinal Game Discussion
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Our receivers and OLine have been affected by QB play this year without a doubt. This is especially true against better competition.
That's probably been the most disappointing thing about our defense this year - next to the injuries, of course.
Despite the offensive struggles we saw later in the season, our offense currently ranks in the Top 10 in the nation in OFEI - the value (points) your offense generates per meaningful drive, e.g., not end-of-half, garbage time, etc., adjusted for both starting field position and opponent.
This offense is much better than many want to admit and hasn't come close to realizing its potential, generally due to a few obvious issues in certain games with play-calling and untimely penalties.
Had we spent a little less time earlier in the season preparing Tua to be the backup, we might have seen a little more progress in the play-calling aspect, which entails both Daboll and Hurts learning to work together better. Of course, had we not done that and Jalen gotten hurt, it would have derailed our season. With the extra practice time to both prepare for our opponent(s) and scout ourselves, I think we might see a significant improvement in the flow of our play-calling in the post-season.
I don't know how meaningful stats like this are this year because Alabama played a much weaker schedule than is normally the case in the SEC west. Add to that we have what I believe to be the most talented backup QB in the nation and every time we sent him out there to close a blowout he started tossing TD passes like they were candy at a Christmas parade.
It tells you what a team is capable of when they are clicking. But no set of stats can be used in a vacuum, and we all know that.
Alabama and Clemson only had two common opponents - FSU and Auburn. The Auburn game was an anomaly for Alabama and the Clemson game was an anomaly for Auburn (they had not started to click yet), so hat one is out.
The FSU game is indicative of your true potential. So let's examine that game for Alabama and Clemson. Take a look at how well Clemson played against them without their QB and how well Alabama played against them when they had their QB and believed that they were playing for a national championship. Go back and watch the games and then tell me that you are not impressed by Alabama's offense and defense.
I know that transitive properties don't work in college football, but you can learn a lot by watching these games.
You're right, we probably shouldn't even show up. Clemson played an NFL team every week and Bama played West Popcorn State Community College and its satellites.
We've got the defense to shut down Clemson's offense. The players and talent are there. It will be whether or not our DC can out think and out maneuver their OC. You can have the best dang players on the field but if the coach has them out of position before the play ever begins. Great players become very average real quick. More than just the players have to bring their A game. The coaches do to.
Pruitt also has to figure out how Auburn had so much success picking up his blitzes. Something was happening there. If it happens again vs Clemson, well, it won't help Alabama's chances.
I think we have the D with healthy LBs playing well. Play of Bama LBs and DL will decide game IMO.
From what I've seen Bryant isn't the best of passers. What he does do well (in the passing game) we have to take away. Do that and they instantly become one dimensional.
I see it the other way - take away the running game, including Bryant, and make Bryant beat you in the air. They are a running team this year, not a passing team. Make them play left handed.
Through the 11/25 games, FEI puts our strength of schedule at 50th and Clemson's at 28th. Clemson's schedule was more difficult, yes, but not that much more difficult.
For reference, our FEI strength of schedule was more difficult than Power 5 teams such as:
Oregon
USC
North Carolina
MiamiPenn State
Wisconsin
As for Tua's contribution... Of our offense's 59 touchdowns, Tua was personally responsible for 10 of them - 8 passing and 2 rushing. Had we not desperately needed to develop a backup QB, Jalen's numbers would have been better but the majority of our TDs would still have been rushing.
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Exactly. There are not too many teams that would want to play LSWho right now.
015
*2016
2017
Career
Passing
Year School Conf Class Pos G Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A AY/A TD Int Rate
*2015 Clemson ACC FR QB 7 7 9 77.8 27 3.0 -2.0 0 1 80.8
*2016 Clemson ACC SO QB 4 6 9 66.7 48 5.3 7.6 1 0 148.1
2017 Clemson ACC JR QB 13 244 362 67.4 2678 7.4 7.4 13
These are his stats...yards are fine but td to int ratio is not great. It's his running game where he does his damage but I agree, our secondary matches up nicely (gotta lock up renfro) but we need to bottle up his rushing attack.
*2016
2017
Career
Passing
Year School Conf Class Pos G Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A AY/A TD Int Rate
*2015 Clemson ACC FR QB 7 7 9 77.8 27 3.0 -2.0 0 1 80.8
*2016 Clemson ACC SO QB 4 6 9 66.7 48 5.3 7.6 1 0 148.1
2017 Clemson ACC JR QB 13 244 362 67.4 2678 7.4 7.4 13
These are his stats...yards are fine but td to int ratio is not great. It's his running game where he does his damage but I agree, our secondary matches up nicely (gotta lock up renfro) but we need to bottle up his rushing attack.
I think he meant Bama DL > OL, same for Clemson.
Yes, Bama needs to run the ball, but they will have a tough time if they can't establish the threat of a passing game. IMO, Bama's OL is underrated but it will not be able to manhandle Clemson's DL. i.e., if the box is loaded, Bama will not be able to run the ball. Bama has got to establish a passing game, Jalen must be patient in the pocket and get the ball out quickly.
To help the passing game the OL and Jalen need to recognize blitzers, adjust the protections and Jalen needs to hit hot receivers when he recognizes them.
Currently, he has little pocket presence, and of course it will be more difficult in the face of a rush like he will see against Clemson. To this point in his career he has not done these things well. Hopefully, he'll improve and the coaches will help with some tactical tweaks.
Pruitt's blitzing has been very effective in covering up pass rushing deficiencies this year, but in the AU game it looked like some of Kirby's blitzes, with seemingly every one of them being picked up. Maybe someone can tell us what happened.
Pruitt's blitzing has been very effective in covering up pass rushing deficiencies this year, but in the AU game it looked like some of Kirby's blitzes, with seemingly every one of them being picked up. Maybe someone can tell us what happened.
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