Excuse me....but did our defense just help win that game?

[NBF_Bama_Cavalry]

I've been worried about this game since last Saturday. Even after seeing Georgia look unimpressive last week. I was really concerned that Mallett would torch the defense without pressure - and he did just that in the 1st half. I'm proud of the way our defense matured in the 2nd half. The 2nd half convinces me even more - I'd rather have McElroy than Mallett ANY day. Cool, calm, and businesslike.

I feel really good about the rest of the season.

I think this is the 1st time I've ever posted immediately after a game.

 

[rjtide]

i gotta admit.....i was really down on our D. but i am here to say that i am a changed man.......our D may bend but they certainly dont break. and, and, they play for a full 60 mins and refuse to give up when down. certainly well coached and the guys play hard, including the D-backs. we got heart!!!! roll damn tide!!

 

[JBama_in_PCOLA]

You know I picked the score would be 42-17. I'm glad it was close so our defense would know how to play with it tight. They limited the high scoring offense to 3 points in the 2nd high. THEY GREW UP BIG TIME. Still no 100 yard rusher and as a team they had 64 years. I think Dareus will be fine. They are about to get nasty. But no rest for the weary. Florida comes to town next week...

 

[92tide]

i gotta admit.....i was really down on our D. but i am here to say that i am a changed man.......our D may bend but they certainly dont break. and, and, they play for a full 60 mins and refuse to give up when down. certainly well coached and the guys play hard, including the D-backs. we got heart!!!! roll damn tide!!

think about the d for the next two years. we are young :biggrin2:

 

[GMacFan]

Seems like most people were predicting the Hogs to score around 20 points. They did. Defense did their job.

The offense on the other hand . . . whew, what an ugly first half! To me that was the difference in this game. Our ineffectiveness on offense (in playcalling and execution, combined with some 'spotty' officiating) in the first half made this game MUCH, MUCH closer than it should have been.

I'm already ready to put this one behind us and get on to Florida!

IMO our execution wasn't the problem. It was officiating and poor play calling. MI and TR up the middle should always be the bread and butter of this offense. We passed it way too much today. And GMac was having a lot of success, but when he threw those two picks we were reminded why we like to rely on the run more.

But IMO the biggest reason our offense wasn't successful in the first half was because they were on the sidelines. In other words the biggest factor in our poor offensive performance was our poor defensive performance. We still had poor playing and bad officiating in the second half. The difference? We actually had the ball.

 

[bravesjt]

This is only the 2nd time in the last year and a half (Auburn) that we have been punched in the mouth from the get go (the other close games last yr, we let the other team back in the game). To see the young defense take that punch, and somehow find the strength to get back up with 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter was special to see.

And I agree with everyone who is having to apoligize to Dre for things I said about him in the 1st half... he and the rest of the DB's def showed up, even if they were a couple hours late!! Roll Tide!

 

[Crimson Speed]

IMO the biggest reason our offense wasn't successful in the first half was because they were on the sidelines. In other words the biggest factor in our poor offensive performance was our poor defensive performance. We still had poor playing and bad officiating in the second half. The difference? We actually had the ball.

Yep, our defense struggled in the first half, but our offense also failed to make clutch plays. So, it goes both ways. Thankfully, we started waking up in the second half.

Our best call of the game, IMO, was going for a first down with the 4th and inches with less than a minute left in the game. This Mallet guy is a fine athlete and thankfully, we kept it out of his hands with that critical call.

 

[Squirrely]

I think I actually watch our Defense grow a foot taller in that 2nd half.......

They did some growing up that game, and was proud of that 2nd half without question, good job D

:BigA: ROLL TIDE :BigA:

 

[BamaFlum]

Them boys grew up in that game!

 

[BamaJama17]

Robert Lester and Dre came up big!!! Marcell just needs to be 100% for next week!!!

 

[markenk]

Here to eat crow. I love 'em!!!!!!!!!

Save some of that crow for me too. I was really concerned with our defense but they proved me wrong in the second half! :BigA:

 

[CrimsonSEC]

Absolutely our defense stepped it up!

(I had to do a self-imposed ban until the game was over...whew!!!!):tongue:

Same here. :smile:

 

[UA_Fan87]

In all honesty that defense in the second half was very reminiscent of last years defense. They grew up in this game and I think they gelled a LOT.

 

[Blue Iron]

Dre came up big with the INT but he's not a very good cover corner yet.

 

[time_4_the_TIDE]

In all honesty that defense in the second half was very reminiscent of last years defense. They grew up in this game and I think they gelled a LOT.

We are missing Rolo's exp, but this secondary is young and learning on the job and starting to find it's feet a little I think and ****I'd like to point out one of my biggest observations thus far....have you noticed that no one wants to throw to Milliner's side, our TRUE BLUE FRESHMAN CB**** IMHO, I think by the end of this season and next and next will be some the best secondary units ever fielded. They still are making mistakes but it's coming together quickly and hard won lessons learned in battles like today mean more than words can describe. ROLL TIDE!!!

 

[bamanut_aj]

this is the best passing offense we'll see all year. Now we gotta get better at run defense.

 

[bamanut_aj]

Save some of that crow for me too. I was really concerned with our defense but they proved me wrong in the second half! :BigA:

plenty for everyone!

 

[BEATtutorsee]

Our defense grew up in that game. They were burned badly in the first half and then took over in the second.

Agreed. They took it to another level in the second half.

 

[tidefanman]

Our defense grew up in that game. They were burned badly in the first half and then took over in the second.

I'll agree with this. Man, I was madder than a hornet the first half.

 

[TheRealPokeChop]

This is only the 2nd time in the last year and a half (Auburn) that we have been punched in the mouth from the get go (the other close games last yr, we let the other team back in the game). To see the young defense take that punch, and somehow find the strength to get back up with 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter was special to see.

And I agree with everyone who is having to apoligize to Dre for things I said about him in the 1st half... he and the rest of the DB's def showed up, even if they were a couple hours late!! Roll Tide!

Actually we had to come from behind to beat LSU last year, and the year before I believe. We also trailed VT at the half last year.