My take on the Texas matchup after viewing their film~!~(SMACK WARNING!)

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If you are comparing Alabama with Nebraska then at least statistically based on TFLs, Sacks and QBH, Crick, Turner and Allen are as or more disruptive in passing situations than Dareus, Anders, Deaderick and Washington.

Numbers are deceiving. Losing Hightower really hurt our pass rush and it took a little time for some guys to step up. I would take Bama's DL over Nebraska's DL 11 times out of 10. Try to find Saban's press conference when a reporter asked him about how our sack #s went down.
 
I know we've talked Cody up quite a bit, but I wonder how much time he'll see in the game. Aren't we expecting to be in Nickel or Dime most of the game and isn't Cody out in those formations? If Texas relies solely on the passing game, will Cody see much action?

I agree that Texas will have a very good defense, but I still think Florida should have been the best we would face. I mean they returned their entire 2 deep roster on defense. Losing Dunlap hurt, but still had returned 21 of 22 on Defense.

I also think McCoy will be the best QB we have faced all year, we've faced other good ones, but McCoy's combination of accuracy and running ability make him the best in my opinion. The issue will be can his OL give him time to make good throws or open a running lane for him. As I've said repeatedly in other threads, we do not have to get McCoy to the ground (although it would be nice) to affect his play. We don't have a single player that is currently as dominant as Suh. But if I had to choose between Suh and Nebraska's other 6 or keep or front 7, I'd keep our front 7. Now if I could just plug Suh into our front 7 I'd jump on that in a heartbeat.
 
Numbers are deceiving. Losing Hightower really hurt our pass rush and it took a little time for some guys to step up. I would take Bama's DL over Nebraska's DL 11 times out of 10. Try to find Saban's press conference when a reporter asked him about how our sack #s went down.

I get homerism, but Nebraska's defensive line is the best in the country by any real measure you may care to use. If Hightower isn't playing, and I've read he isn't, then he shouldn't be in the discussion anyway.

For the record I would put Bama's line at 5th best in the country at best behind Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma and TCU. How's that for being a homer?
 
Regardless of whether, in your opinion, Bama's D-Line is the best or the worst in the country what matters is their effectiveness against Texas' O-Line and I will choose our D-Line in that matchup EVERY TIME.
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I get homerism, but Nebraska's defensive line is the best in the country by any real measure you may care to use. If Hightower isn't playing, and I've read he isn't, then he shouldn't be in the discussion anyway.

For the record I would put Bama's line at 5th best in the country at best behind Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma and TCU. How's that for being a homer?


surely you were just trying to be funny right? I can see the argument for nebraska but Oklahoma? TCU? lets see how the Texas D line does against bama's run and please come back and tell us how you feel then.
 
I get homerism, but Nebraska's defensive line is the best in the country by any real measure you may care to use. If Hightower isn't playing, and I've read he isn't, then he shouldn't be in the discussion anyway.

For the record I would put Bama's line at 5th best in the country at best behind Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma and TCU. How's that for being a homer?

It has more to do with the type of defense we run. A lot of our schemes are designed for the D-line to contain and control gaps. We have some very athletic and fast D-lineman and OLB's we rotate in for the purpose of applying pressure to the quarterback. We also use other defensive players to apply pressure and disguise where it is coming from to create confusion.

I can promise you this. You can watch film all day long of every game we have played this year and you still won't be able to figure out who is going to come after McCoy.
 
It has more to do with the type of defense we run. A lot of our schemes are designed for the D-line to contain and control gaps. We have some very athletic and fast D-lineman and OLB's we rotate in for the purpose of applying pressure to the quarterback. We also use other defensive players to apply pressure and disguise where it is coming from to create confusion.

I can promise you this. You can watch film all day long of every game we have played this year and you still won't be able to figure out who is going to come after McCoy.


if there is one thing I have learend about Texas fans since Dec 8th it is that they have know idea about the scheme Bama runs and they are in no hurry to learn, They see stat lines about where sacks come from and thats all they care about cause to them Colt will trow a TD evey time we blitz and they think we don't get pressure unless we blitz so to them our D line/scheme is a disadvantage for us
 
For the record I would put Bama's line at 5th best in the country at best behind Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma and TCU. How's that for being a homer?

Surely you jest??? For what Bama's DL is supposed to do, our guys have done outstanding, bar none. At least you recognized the homerism in your picks; I'd say Ole Miss and UF have better DL than OU; OU has McCoy and... TCU is definitely solid. Nebraska is obviously good (or yall had a bad OL day; or combination of both). I should've qualified my statement in saying that we might not have the best NFL players (although Cody and at least Dareus are going to be NFL players), but for the job that they are supposed to do, they have been the most consistent DL all year.
 
I get homerism, but Nebraska's defensive line is the best in the country by any real measure you may care to use. If Hightower isn't playing, and I've read he isn't, then he shouldn't be in the discussion anyway.

For the record I would put Bama's line at 5th best in the country at best behind Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma and TCU. How's that for being a homer?
I guess its no coincidence that these great D lines you have listed play in a pass happy league that is down (even by the normal standards)this year. We, on the other hand, have played in league that only had 2 losing teams and played a top 15 out of conference team as well. Your comparison looks weak at best when presented with the level of our competition verses your's.
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One other matchup that I think will be key and I just don't know how either fanbase can KNOW how it will work out... Colt's ability to scramble.

If Bama is playing zone defense... Colt can buy time with his feet and eventually find holes in the zone.

If Bama is playing man defense... Colt can run it for 5-20 yard chunks if you aren't spying him.

If you ARE spying him... that COULD open up other things.

My point is this... if your team speed is as lights out as you say... Those scrambles turn into sacks. However, EVEN IF your d-line handles our Oline and Colt can effectively scramble (like he has shown the aptitude to do in every game...even Nebraska to a degree) then we can turn those plays into huge gains.

This is the colt-factor that texas fans keep pointing to. It will be a key matchup. When the play call appears to be dead and when the defense seems to know the play as we are running as well as we do... Colt somehow still finds ways to make plays at times. How well Bama can limit these off-script and improv plays will go a long way in telling us if they win or not... or to what degree they win. If Colt is 'on' and starts making these kinds of plays early, it could be a long day for Bama.

Exhibit a: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAyiN-8Nr00]YouTube - Colt McCoy 44 Yard TD run vs. ISU[/ame] - It was SUPPOSED to be a screen play. The defense blew it up. Still a big TD.

Exhibit b: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSBACEXftw8&feature=related]YouTube - Colt McCoy TD Run Vs Arkansas[/ame] - This one is a planned run... but this is an element you'll see about 5-10 times in the game.

Exhibit C: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uRAwB-wjB8&feature=related]YouTube - Colt McCoy - Jordan Shipley TD Under Pressure[/ame] - Looks like the D has him nailed and he gets the play off for a TD.

Exhibit D: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRU9r3teCNg&feature=related]YouTube - Colt McCoy amazing TD pass to Nate Jones vs. ISU[/ame] - How frustrating this must be for the Defense.

That's all i got for now.

Now I think most Bama fans have a right to feel confident in this matchup given how ya'll were able to contain Tebow. But please understand that the comparison isn't a fair one. Tebow is more a fullback and Mccoy is more a scat back. Tebow you'll know its coming and he can get still bully his way for 4 yards. Mccoy you'll think is passing and he'll get 10 yards on the run... or you'll think he's running and he'll flip it out to the back for a score.

Thoughts?
 
One other matchup that I think will be key and I just don't know how either fanbase can KNOW how it will work out... Colt's ability to scramble.

If Bama is playing zone defense... Colt can buy time with his feet and eventually find holes in the zone.

If Bama is playing man defense... Colt can run it for 5-20 yard chunks if you aren't spying him.

If you ARE spying him... that COULD open up other things.

My point is this... if your team speed is as lights out as you say... Those scrambles turn into sacks. However, EVEN IF your d-line handles our Oline and Colt can effectively scramble (like he has shown the aptitude to do in every game...even Nebraska to a degree) then we can turn those plays into huge gains.
. . . .
Thoughts?

I think McCoy will pick up some important yards for Texas, but I also think he will be hurried quite a bit and result in more bad plays than good plays for Texas.

In the "exhibits" you posted, Iowa state shows that their DEs are playing poor technique for a scrambling quarterback and their D has poor tackling skills (and appear to be undersized).

I suspect the Bama D Line will approach McCoy in much the same way as Tebow in passing situations, i.e. the D line will not pursue beyond the QB, preventing the pocket from opening up in front of him (like you see in that 1st ISU clip). I also think Rolando is smart enough to read when McCoy is about to tuck it and run.

It's going to be interesting to watch, but it is by no means the match-up that concerns me as an Alabama fan.

I would be much more comfortable if McCoy was having to rely on his legs more than his arm on Jan. 7th. :smile:
 
I suspect the Bama D Line will approach McCoy in much the same way as Tebow in passing situations, i.e. the D line will not pursue beyond the QB, preventing the pocket from opening up in front of him (like you see in that 1st ISU clip). I also think Rolando is smart enough to read when McCoy is about to tuck it and run. :smile:

I agree. As one Texas poster here compared Nebraska's front seven against ours statisically, in terms of sacks and what not, they failed to take into account how sound our defense is in playing assignment football. Against Florida, we gave Tebow his three seconds to try to find an open reciever down field. When Tebow couldnt find anybody, he wanted to run, but realized he still had 11 guys in front of him and had no where to go.

I agree, if I see McCoy trying to tuck and run, I will feel good about our defensive game plan and execution. Its one thing to do it against the ISU's and Arky pigs of the world. Its a different day all together when you have Cody , Dareus, Reamer, Anders and everybody else to get around.
 
One other matchup that I think will be key and I just don't know how either fanbase can KNOW how it will work out... Colt's ability to scramble.

If Bama is playing zone defense... Colt can buy time with his feet and eventually find holes in the zone.

If Bama is playing man defense... Colt can run it for 5-20 yard chunks if you aren't spying him.

If you ARE spying him... that COULD open up other things.

My point is this... if your team speed is as lights out as you say... Those scrambles turn into sacks. However, EVEN IF your d-line handles our Oline and Colt can effectively scramble (like he has shown the aptitude to do in every game...even Nebraska to a degree) then we can turn those plays into huge gains.

This is the colt-factor that texas fans keep pointing to. It will be a key matchup. When the play call appears to be dead and when the defense seems to know the play as we are running as well as we do... Colt somehow still finds ways to make plays at times. How well Bama can limit these off-script and improv plays will go a long way in telling us if they win or not... or to what degree they win. If Colt is 'on' and starts making these kinds of plays early, it could be a long day for Bama.

Thoughts?

Substitute "Colt" and "McCoy" for "Tim" and "Tebow" and this is almost word for word what Gator fans pointed to before the SEC CG.

Whether one is a 'scatback' QB or a 'fullback' QB, both are more than adequate running the ball and/or throwing the ball. Both are the focal points for their offense and carried the load for their respective offenses.

All due respect to McCoy; but our defense has been there, defended that.
 
Now I think most Bama fans have a right to feel confident in this matchup given how ya'll were able to contain Tebow. But please understand that the comparison isn't a fair one. Tebow is more a fullback and Mccoy is more a scat back. Tebow you'll know its coming and he can get still bully his way for 4 yards. Mccoy you'll think is passing and he'll get 10 yards on the run... or you'll think he's running and he'll flip it out to the back for a score.

Thoughts?

I think you will be very disappointed if you are expecting to see the kind of things that happened against Iowa State's defense and Arkansas' defense happen against Alabama's defense.

I think one thing that Tebow and McCoy will soon have in common is that they will share the experience of having the middle of the field taken away from them by Alabama's defense.

Don't get me wrong, I think McCoy is lethally accurate when he can recognize defensive coverage, has time to throw and lanes to work with. But I think he is going to see a lot more pre-snap defensive movement and a lot more traffic in his passing lanes than he has seen before and time to find an open receiver is going to be short. I think he will be running more than he likes and it will be for his life toward the sideline.
 
You just called the game right there. It all comes down to that in my never to be humble opinion. We need some "strategizing". And to play better for 3 1/2 hours.

Hook 'Em
I've said the same in a couple of threads. I think it all comes down to the UT OL...
 
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