Bama/Texas matchups

[swoop10]

I'd prefer to use Texas vs. The SEC history, which isn't much recently.
I know this. Arkansas BACKED OUT of playing us this year. I also know that we beat Saban last time we played him. I also know that despite how long he had to prepare, Saban still got beat by Utah last year.

Otherwise we can probably go down the line A beat B who beat C who beat D so therefore A is better than D... we know this isn't the case.

History will not tell the story. Stats will not tell the story. The story will be told when we play and thats it. We'll go back and forth until then... which is fun. I just don't want to hear about this CONFERENCE ......... Unless we played a big enough sample size against the SEC, you can't make a judgment call on which conference is better. We WISH we could play SEC teams every year. It just doesn't work out that way.

I understand that you only want to look at the evidence that supports your point but you have to look at the whole picture. Yes, we had a long time to prepare for Utah and we didn't look good. Do you think you will be fortunate enough to see that same team, because I don't.

I understand that history and stats won't tell the story but you were asking the question as to whether or not SEC defenses were as good as advertised or if they were just good because of bad offenses. Since the Big 12 offenses are supposed to be good, comparing what the SEC defenses did against them is relevant. I'm not saying anything about whether or not you should play SEC teams but comparing the SEC defenses against Big 12 offenses. And by the same question you asked, how can you say your offenses are so good when the defenses you play against are so bad? Just something to chew on._green:

 

[BAMA504]

For what it is worth here is my take on all of this:

History and how a team plays against another just plain and simple means nothing in the grand scheme of things all you can do is look at tendancies and strengths/weaknesses to try and expose. I know it is how I view game film all the time.

Here is what I saw on Saturday:
Texas was exposed by Nebraska in that their OL is not great at picking up pressure and a good front 4 will cause alot of trouble.
Texas has no run game and has not all year.
Texas is dangerous but only as dangerous as you let McCoy be, if you give him any time back there he is dead on.

Alabama: Well the past 3-4 games have shown that CNS is not afraid to put the game in G Mac's hands and in doing so our offense has started to get a spark and really starting to make teams respect the pass which is why we run pretty good.
Alabama: Charlie Strong used every defense in the book with some pretty good players on that side of the ball and still we dictated the game. Threw when we wanted and ran when we wanted.
Alabama: Is still not covering kicks/punts enough to make me comfortable. If the punter does not tackle James that was a TD. KO coverage has improved it appears with the new scheme so I do like that.

Overall: Texas is a passing team with no running game except their QB and while he is good if he gets laid out what option does texas have after McCoy?? On defense texas front 4 are pretty dang good and while our OL is not to shabby they will have to play another SECCG performance to dictate the game again.

Alabama counters with a solid running game and a QB who is playing lights out lately since we seem to be opening it up a bit and not just running on 1st and 2nd down and passing on 3rd. We seem to be willing to pass first if we want and run if we want. Thats a dangerous combination no matter who the defense is. On defense well what can you say?? This is probably the best defense we have had if not it is close to the 92 defense and REAL REAL close. No weak spots to be found and very sound in the tackling department. ( what is really scary is if Donte was in there.... WOW.. )

My only question is do we run the nickel or dime since Nebraska was in a 6-7 DB set all game would we rather stay in the nickel which I believe we will with one LB spying on McCoy and the occasional hand off.....????
I think since Texas has no run game the outcome of the NC will fall squarely on their OL. If CNS knows they cannot run and let me say usually we have to go into games stopping the run first and then make them pass but with texas everyone KNOWS it is all about the passing game. So our DL pin their ears back and pass rush every play which is exactly what Nebraska did. Can the Texas OL hold the rush long enough for McCoy to make good decisions will be the factor in this game bar none~!~

 

[russtang]

When you have 4 weeks to prepare for a game such as this, both teams will put in a few wrinkles that they haven't done before.

Which team anticipates and/or adjusts to these new wrinkles the best, could be critical.
Ex. Say UT knows that their run game is not too good and that Bama will be focused on rushing the passer, so instead of just changing up the short passes, they run different screens which they don't usually do or haven't done all year.

Or say we run a reverse out of a certain formation that we haven't run a reverse on all year.

The potential for one these 'new' plays to be 'big' plays may be higher. One 'big' play could be the difference between win or lose.

I feel confident that we will win this game. I do think it will be closer than the SECCG. Maybe 6-8 points.
UT has the deep threat that will keep the score much closer than UF did.

 

[jps1983]

We WISH we could play SEC teams every year.

Be careful what you wish for.

 

[Van]

How can one texas fan ask for stats proving what we are telling him, then another texas fan chimes in when we supply those stats, just to tell us they don't mean anything??? Is this a Laurel and Hardy routine that I missed the intro on???

BTW,
If Texas played our schedule this year... they would be 8-4 (if lucky). By no means am I saying that we cannot lose, and Texas cannot win, but this game should be a blow out

 

[Van]

Florida and LSU (although Les has poor clock management as well). The other two teams would be toss ups. Obviously I am no expert, and I might just be an SEC homer, and I know that is one of the things the rest of the country hates most about us. However, Texas playing teams week in week out that have a legitimate chance to beat them would have been fun to watch. If you watch any SEC football at all, you know that any given saturday just about any team can beat any other team. That is why it is so remarkable that there were 2 unbeatens in the conference this year (that does not happen very often). Again just my opinion, but I don't think Alabama would have had too much of an issue with your schedule. I might even wager that a couple other SEC teams might have gone undefeated in the Big 12 this year

 

[NYBamaFan]

I'm curious...everyone has a right to their opinion...but if Texas had played Bama's schedule this year, what four teams do you think that they would have lost to? Maybe they would have lost to UF...I think UF has a fine team and would be a threat to defeat anyone, anytime...but outside of UF, who would have beaten Texas?

SEC has two really good teams at the top. Obviously Bama and UF. They have a pretty good team in LSU. Outside of those teams, I wouldn't lose a minute of sleep planning for us to play the others.

I tend to agree, but USCe would have given you a run for your money because of their defensive line. Their defensive line is better than Nebraska's (across the board), and Geathers might not be Suh, but he is close. My best guess - Texas would be the 3rd or 4th best team in the SEC this year...

 

[bayoutider]

I'm curious...everyone has a right to their opinion...but if Texas had played Bama's schedule this year, what four teams do you think that they would have lost to? Maybe they would have lost to UF...I think UF has a fine team and would be a threat to defeat anyone, anytime...but outside of UF, who would have beaten Texas?

SEC has two really good teams at the top. Obviously Bama and UF. They have a pretty good team in LSU. Outside of those teams, I wouldn't lose a minute of sleep planning for us to play the others.

Arkansas they really do hate you guys

 

[bamacon]

Not much time, but to those UT fans who want to take solace in AL's loss to Utah last year just keep in mind that the animal that will come out of the tunnel in the Rose Bowl is an entirely different animal. The pass rush of this defense is so profoundly better it is not even funny. We are much more sound in defensive assignments. The corners are much better at coverage, and the entire unit is far more physical. Use that game as a gauge for this team if you want but just keep in mind that you are making a huge mistake. Oh, and the offense is much more effective as well. Just a thought.

 

[GulfCoastTider]

I'm curious...everyone has a right to their opinion...but if Texas had played Bama's schedule this year, what four teams do you think that they would have lost to? Maybe they would have lost to UF...I think UF has a fine team and would be a threat to defeat anyone, anytime...but outside of UF, who would have beaten Texas?

SEC has two really good teams at the top. Obviously Bama and UF. They have a pretty good team in LSU. Outside of those teams, I wouldn't lose a minute of sleep planning for us to play the others.

Both Kentucky and Ole Miss play a very physical style of football, with punishing defensive fronts and pressure from the edges. Thank God we don't have Hardy to deal with anymore.

Late in the season, Tennessee gelled into one of the best teams in the conference. Their QB finally matured into a real threat to go deep. Monte Kiffin's defensive scheme held Florida to 230 yards and kept Bama out of the end zone.

We didn't play them this year, but Georgia's defensive collapse is the only thing that kept them out of a New Year's day bowl.

Texas would have its hands full with any one of these four.

The reason why the SEC Champ is the odds-on favorite to win it all is because that Champ survived a brutal, eight-game gauntlet of the best coached, most athletic teams in the country, and then beat the best of the other half of the league in the conference title game.

 

[GMacFan]

I'm curious...everyone has a right to their opinion...but if Texas had played Bama's schedule this year, what four teams do you think that they would have lost to? Maybe they would have lost to UF...I think UF has a fine team and would be a threat to defeat anyone, anytime...but outside of UF, who would have beaten Texas?

SEC has two really good teams at the top. Obviously Bama and UF. They have a pretty good team in LSU. Outside of those teams, I wouldn't lose a minute of sleep planning for us to play the others.

Texas Tech was thinking the same thing entering last year's bowl season. The games are just played differently. Ball control football. A good SEC team keeps your offense off the field. Colt is killer given many opportunities, but in the SEC those opportunities are much more limited. Its hard to make it without a run game in the SEC (although Arkansas is doing a pretty great job lately). When we give up points in the SEC, its a big deal. I'm not saying you wouldn't be one of the best teams or even the best besides Florida and Bama, but playing these games every week will have its toll on you I promise. And I also promise you this. By the end of the NC game, your defense will be exhausted and if we happened to be behind (which we probably won't be, but admittedly stranger things have happened) we won't have trouble scoring in the fourth. But we'll probably be content to run the clock out by that time.

 

[P0vv3R]

What I don't agree with is the continual attributing of the greatness that is the SEC (sarcasm intended) based on Ole Miss beating Tech while deminishing the Utah win over Bama. I know you've probably considered the fact that Tech had no more interest in playing in the Cotton Bowl than Bama did in playing Utah? Look, Tech was 11-1 going into the Cotton Bowl. Co-champions in the south division with the same record as UT and OU. They thought they should be playing in a BCS bowl instead of Texas. Just realize that they were in the exact position as Bama was in their bowl game.

I've been telling myself this all year, so I hope you are 100% right on this point...

 

[mittman]

I'm curious...everyone has a right to their opinion...but if Texas had played Bama's schedule this year, what four teams do you think that they would have lost to? Maybe they would have lost to UF...I think UF has a fine team and would be a threat to defeat anyone, anytime...but outside of UF, who would have beaten Texas?

SEC has two really good teams at the top. Obviously Bama and UF. They have a pretty good team in LSU. Outside of those teams, I wouldn't lose a minute of sleep planning for us to play the others.

Impossible to know for sure. But here goes. I believe Texas is vulnerable to a team with a strong running game, and a good enough defense to get a few stops. Based on this I think Texas will have a tough time with:

Virgina Tech (Williams)
Arkansas (Smith)
Ole Miss (McCluster)
LSU (Scott given they caught them before the injury) Les Miles would probably panic along the way and lose this one though
Mississippi State (Dixon)
Tennessee (Hardesty)
Florida conceeded by poster

Even Auburn (Tate) could take the wind of of thier sails if their defense could make a few stops.

Texas is good enough that they probably would not drop 4, but I doubt they go through unscathed.

 

[mittman]

First off, I don't disagree with what most of you are saying. A lot of the way the game will go depends entirely on Texas' o-line play. Show up like we did against NU and we're dead meat. Play like they have the rest of the year...which was only reasonable, at best, but still functional...I think we'll make a game of it.

What I don't agree with is the continual attributing of the greatness that is the SEC (sarcasm intended) based on Ole Miss beating Tech while deminishing the Utah win over Bama. I know you've probably considered the fact that Tech had no more interest in playing in the Cotton Bowl than Bama did in playing Utah? Look, Tech was 11-1 going into the Cotton Bowl. Co-champions in the south division with the same record as UT and OU. They thought they should be playing in a BCS bowl instead of Texas. Just realize that they were in the exact position as Bama was in their bowl game.

Great point. We can't base it on just two games, and really all the past is irrelevant. Motivation is probably not going to be an issue in this game as it was in those. I doubt that either of our teams come of flat in this one.

Both teams came into this season a play or two away from championships, and a resolve to rectify it. Both have rectified it. Now we find out who gets the big prize. :biggrin2:

 

[Saban14]

All of this "Team A beat Team B while Team C struggled/lost last year to Team D so Team A>Team C" stuff is ridiculous. Come on guys, give it up already (I'm speaking to Bama and Texas fans). We are 2 undefeated teams in 2 tough conferences. We have all had our struggles this year, but we both prevailed.

I like Bama in the matchup because we have an excellent running attack and the best defense in the country; however, Texas is not a push-over. They have a Heisman canidate QB and a very strong defense as well. The coaching staffs are somewhat equal (I obviously think CNS is superior) and there will not be a home-field advantage. The game will come down to who is better prepared and who wants to win more. Mindset is everything.

ROLL TIDE ROLL! :BigA:

 

[NYBamaFan]

All of this "Team A beat Team B while Team C struggled/lost last year to Team D so Team A>Team C" stuff is ridiculous. Come on guys, give it up already (I'm speaking to Bama and Texas fans). We are 2 undefeated teams in 2 tough conferences. We have all had our struggles this year, but we both prevailed.

I like Bama in the matchup because we have an excellent running attack and the best defense in the country; however, Texas is not a push-over. They have a Heisman canidate QB and a very strong defense as well. The coaching staffs are somewhat equal (I obviously think CNS is superior) and there will not be a home-field advantage. The game will come down to who is better prepared and who wants to win more. Mindset is everything.

ROLL TIDE ROLL! :BigA:

My friend, this thread is the type of thing that makes internet forums popular...

 

[mittman]

All of this "Team A beat Team B while Team C struggled/lost last year to Team D so Team A>Team C" stuff is ridiculous. Come on guys, give it up already (I'm speaking to Bama and Texas fans). We are 2 undefeated teams in 2 tough conferences. We have all had our struggles this year, but we both prevailed.

I like Bama in the matchup because we have an excellent running attack and the best defense in the country; however, Texas is not a push-over. They have a Heisman canidate QB and a very strong defense as well. The coaching staffs are somewhat equal (I obviously think CNS is superior) and there will not be a home-field advantage. The game will come down to who is better prepared and who wants to win more. Mindset is everything.

ROLL TIDE ROLL! :BigA:

+ 1

 

[BamaBuc]

please correct it

DT_popc1:

 

[longhrnfan]

How can one texas fan ask for stats proving what we are telling him, then another texas fan chimes in when we supply those stats, just to tell us they don't mean anything??? Is this a Laurel and Hardy routine that I missed the intro on???

BTW,
If Texas played our schedule this year... they would be 8-4 (if lucky). By no means am I saying that we cannot lose, and Texas cannot win, but this game should be a blow out

wow. just wow. you are in for a rude awakening, and I will definitely be back to tell you I told you so.

 

[swoop10]

First off, I don't disagree with what most of you are saying. A lot of the way the game will go depends entirely on Texas' o-line play. Show up like we did against NU and we're dead meat. Play like they have the rest of the year...which was only reasonable, at best, but still functional...I think we'll make a game of it.

What I don't agree with is the continual attributing of the greatness that is the SEC (sarcasm intended) based on Ole Miss beating Tech while deminishing the Utah win over Bama. I know you've probably considered the fact that Tech had no more interest in playing in the Cotton Bowl than Bama did in playing Utah? Look, Tech was 11-1 going into the Cotton Bowl. Co-champions in the south division with the same record as UT and OU. They thought they should be playing in a BCS bowl instead of Texas. Just realize that they were in the exact position as Bama was in their bowl game.

You make some good points but I can't agree that they were the exact place Bama was because we were one game away from the NCS game, actually one quarter away. So TT was nowhere near where we were.