Is Shula the offenses' problem?

[Ldlane]

I've judged this offense in situations where the personnel that has been a burden for the team (this season the offensive line) has not led to the demise of certain plays (sacks, pressures, tackles behind the line, etc).

Other than the games against Tennessee and LSU (maybe the two best defensive lines in the country?) the offensive line has given the offense a GREAT chance to succeed.

But what are we doing when the offense gives Brodie time? That is what I've been critical of the past three seasons. This all sounds way too technical and picky, but it IS the nuances of this offense that are dragging it down. I don't know if you've noticed or not, but how many times this season has Alabama had an EASY play, where the result of the play working was how it WAS DRAWN UP, instead of how perfect the play is executed?

That is how I judge an offense. How many easy plays are there, where the the offense aggressively puts the defense out of position by confusion or just a well-designed play.

Simply put, Alabama runs VERY few passing routes that are high percentage. For the most part the ONLY high percentage passes are flairs out to the running backs in the flat, as opposed to bunching a group of three recievers and sending to deep while one curls underneath for a 7 yard pick up. Easy 7 yards. That was just a random example, but it is a microcasm of what I'm talking about.

How many missed deep balls has Brodie thrown this year? Putting us in 2nd or 3rd and long instead of a 8-9 yard out-route to the sideline, setting up 2nd or 3rd and 1.

There is little diversity in our gameplan from week-to-week on offense...the offense that we ran this week? Well, it's the same offense with the same plays that we've run for the previous 31 games under CMS. Now, some may say they like this approach...but you can't say that giving the defense LESS to prepare for is a good thing.

I would say that it is better to do a few things "well" than a trying to do many things "not so well." The problem is that we were doing these things "well" during the first part of the season (In which we averaged 29.6 per game, up until after the UF game) however, we are not doing those things well now.

 

[Bryant Disciple]

I think Shula would benefit from having a hotshot OC calling the plays.

That said, we're 9-1 and Rader's not going anywhere. So this OC thought is just a pipe dream.

I also agree that the root problem with this offense is the O-line, complemented by a litany of dropped passes, and the worst punt return game in the SEC.

Our pitiful punt returns are giving our offense poor field position, which further stacks the deck against them.

 

[SaintDeuce]

I would say that it is better to do a few things "well" than a trying to do many things "not so well." The problem is that we were doing these things "well" during the first part of the season (In which we averaged 29.6 per game, up until after the UF game) however, we are not doing those things well now.

The only thing we're doing dif. now than we were early in the season is hitting deep balls. We are still running the football effectively, with 102 darby yards today...it's just that such a LARGE part of whether we score or not is predicated on hitting the deep ball. And Brodie has simply missed reciever after reciever down the field as of late.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

One last comment. Shula's play calling was working early in the season against weaker opponents. It even worked against USC and FL. How many points might Shula's offense score with a solid O-Line and a few receivers that can hold onto the ball?

Now, I still don't like pass first offenses, but you are just being unfair. Give Shula a chance with some talent (throughout the offensive unit) before you decide...

Here's the difference. When we play a team that has a comparable defense to ours then the offensive playcalling becomes more important.

LSU (which is a comparable defense) matched up with our defense, yet LSU's offense made enough adjustments to their playcalling that they had success. They went away from what they were doing bad and went to what they were doing well. Where as our offense went completely away from what was working and kept trying to do things that we weren't having success with.......bad playcalling.

You would have to be deaf, dumb and blind to see that this offense is not optimizing the playbook. Miami runs the same base offense, the pro set that varies into the I Formation and yet uses all areas of the field with their playcalling.

In their running game they run inside and out, where as our staff insist on stubbornly running it up the gut. Miami attempts to run off the edges, where as we'll do it once or twice but quickly divert back to up the gut. Miami uses intermediate routs over the middle (10-15 yds) AND deeps routes. We basically ignore the intermediate routes and continue to attempt low percentage deep passes on same down and distances.....predictable.

Times have changed. Expecting to score only 17 pts per game and win championships is really asking A LOT of your defense. Your not going to always have dominating defenses to cover up for the an inept offense. This offensive philosophy has a lot of "tinkering" to do if it wants to be competitive year in and year out against teams that have just as good as defenses as we do.

 

[SaintDeuce]

I think Shula would benefit from having a hotshot OC calling the plays.

That said, we're 9-1 and Rader's not going anywhere. So this OC thought is just a pipe dream.

I also agree that the root problem with this offense is the O-line, complemented by a litany of dropped passes, and the worst punt return game in the SEC.

Our pitiful punt returns are giving our offense poor field position, which further stacks the deck against them.

True on all accounts

 

[Bryant Disciple]

LSU's offense made enough adjustments to their playcalling that they had success. They went away from what they were doing bad and went to what they were doing well. Where as our offense went completely away from what was working and kept trying to do things that we weren't having success with.......bad playcalling.

I don't understand the playcalling either. We came out and established the run in the first half. I was expecting us to pound it at LSU the 2nd half, but we didn't even try. Darby only had 21 attempts--I thought he'd get 30 in this one.

 

[Ldlane]

The only thing we're doing dif. now than we were early in the season is hitting deep balls. We are still running the football effectively, with 102 darby yards today...it's just that such a LARGE part of whether we score or not is predicated on hitting the deep ball. And Brodie has simply missed reciever after reciever down the field as of late.

Which has nothing to do with "play calling" by CMS or Rader. We do run slants, screens, and tonight we even went to the shotgun to compensate for our inability to pass block. Those are "adjustments" that needed to be made. I don't know if you understand how people learn and how the brain transfers and compensates for "new" information. Being a teacher and coach however, I do. Over the past three years I have seen an offense being built by the coaching staff on previous learning.

I still say that our offense is a "work in progress."

 

[SaintDeuce]

In their running game they run inside and out, where as our staff insist on stubbornly running it up the gut. Miami attempts to run off the edges, where as we'll do it once or twice but quickly divert back to up the gut. Miami uses intermediate routs over the middle (10-15 yds) AND deeps routes. We basically ignore the intermediate routes and continue to attempt low percentage deep passes on same down and distances.....predictable.

You just summed up our offense in a paragraph!! That is NEVER a good thing...think of how easy it is to prepare for this offense!!

 

[Ldlane]

You just summed up our offense in a paragraph!! That is NEVER a good thing...think of how easy it is to prepare for this offense!!

We run it up the gut because our ends are young and still learning.

 

[SaintDeuce]

Which has nothing to do with "play calling" by CMS or Rader. We do run slants, screens, and tonight we even went to the shotgun to compensate for our inability to pass block. Those are "adjustments" that needed to be made. I don't know if you understand how people learn and how the brain transfers and compensates for "new" information. Being a teacher and coach however, I do. Over the past three years I have seen an offense being built by the coaching staff on previous learning.

I have broken down Alabama's offense the previous three seasons. Yes, I am a college football nerd/junky and I kid you not...I do these things.

I mean...I am not joking...it has not changed.

It simply has. not. changed.

From day one vs. South Florida to NOW vs. LSU...can you tell me what the biggest difference is in our offense?

Well, you can't. Because there is none. I mean, I could DEFINITELY be making this up, as A LOT of people are not even caring at all enough to see if there actually IS a difference. I mean...it's scary...there is not a difference in this offense.

 

[SaintDeuce]

We run it up the gut because our ends are young and still learning.

It's what we've done from day one when Shaud Williams, Wesley Britt, Justin Smiley, etc etc were in charge of the running game.

Counter, pulling guard UP THE GUT.

It's the same running play we've been running for 3 years...it has nothing to do with current personnel.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

We run it up the gut because our ends are young and still learning.

That should have nothing to do with it. The I Formation has the fullback for the "kick out block" for the end. We ran with great success tonight off the edges with the guard pulling and the TE or WR seal blocking.

We simply are predictably conservative and that is not good and forces our successes to come from JUST talent superiority alone and in the SEC that ain't going to happen very often.

 

[Ldlane]

I don't understand how we are "conservative". Running the ball 30 times a game with no balance is conservative.


I heard none of these complaints while we were winning.

Good Night and Roll Tide.

 

[drjohn432]

Shula is great

He has done a great job. We are better each year he has been here. We are in every game, are not turning the ball over, and have few penalties. He makes some mistakes, but he is out there on the stage doing it with grace under pressure. The players make mistakes, he takes the blame. Great calls, he credits the players. Sounds like someone else that coached at Bama in the 60's and 70's, and he lost a few games along the way. We'll be better next week, and next year.

RTR and beat Auburn.