My thoughts on the Arkansas game...

[CaliforniaTide]

I was at the game, sitting in the student section...

- This is possibly the first season where I have no worry about the offense. Even though it was 0-0 after the first quarter, I had absolutely no doubt. Yes, we didn't run the ball as well (which was because of Arkansas stacking the line), but we won the game, and we won handily. If that means one game, we don't run the ball as well but throw it more (and are successful at it), then so be it.

- McElroy will get his due soon, hopefully. He is absolutely putting on a clinic, and all of the WRs are stepping up.

- The defense is getting better each game, but I really hope that losing Hightower (for however long) doesn't kill us. I don't think it will, but hopefully we'll begin to see others step up. The WRs below Julio have stepped up; now maybe the LBs below Hightower will step up as well.

Y'all can put in your own thoughts as well. Let's try to keep Lundquist and Danielson out of it haha

 

[BamaEric68]

I agree with what you said 100%. What I think will happen in the future as teams copy this method of trying to stop our running game is that we will play action them to death. Basically our message to them is we can grind you to death slowly with our running game or big play to death going up top. Your choice.

As bad as losing Hightower breaks my heart I have great confidence in our coaching staff to coach someone up to set into the role. Maybe more than one player to feel as many roles has he had. But with the talent we have I truly believe our staff can get it done.

And don't you just love the way Mac carries himself. Man I need to find a way to hire that guy in a few years. On or off the field that guy is special.

 

[CrimsonSEC]

I'd like to see us pass it more. I never thought I'd say that.:redface:

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I agree with what you said 100%. What I think will happen in the future as teams copy this method of trying to stop our running game is that we will play action them to death. Basically our message to them is we can grind you to death slowly with our running game or big play to death going up top. Your choice.

As bad as losing Hightower breaks my heart I have great confidence in our coaching staff to coach someone up to set into the role. Maybe more than one player to feel as many roles has he had. But with the talent we have I truly believe our staff can get it done.

And don't you just love the way Mac carries himself. Man I need to find a way to hire that guy in a few years. On or off the field that guy is special.

You may have to outbid NFL bucks...

 

[BamaFossil]

Good post on all counts, CA-Tide. I agree GMac is special.

For contingency purposes I wish Star could have gotten a few snaps toward the end of the game though.

 

[Tug Tide]

Good post on all counts, CA-Tide. I agree GMac is special.

For contingency purposes I wish Star could have gotten a few snaps toward the end of the game though.

I was very proud of Greg today. I also suspected we would see more of Star in the fourth. My dad and I were discussing it, and you just never know ...he could have twisted an ankle in pre-game, had a bit of flu bug, anything. I guess I'm saying coach knows best, but had he called me back at the end of the 3rd qtr, I would have told him politely to get Star some snaps

 

[GrayTide]

Good observations California Tide. I will admit I was a bit nervous in the first quarter when we could not establish the run, but give Greg and Coach McIlwain credit for making adjustments and taking what was available. Both
#3s had outstanding games. The pass rush and coverage was close to flawless. I will add that given time Mallett is the best pure passer in the SEC but he was under duress on every play. Great team effort.

 

[dvldog]

We need to find a way to get Julio more involved.

 

[bamanick57]

Other than a couple dropped passes I thought the offense was pretty good - defense no single word can describe but darn they are INTENSE!! I'm pretty worried about the loss of Hightower - he is a beast.

 

[BamaInMo1]

I thought our team played very well. We got a good rush on the passer most of the game and shut Arky down. Our defensive backs did a heck of a good job. Had one busted cvg all day. I'd say that's some improvement. Bottom line is that the team is playing as one unit and getting the job done. Sure, we couldn't run it real good in this game but passing was exceptional. It just shows we have the players and staff to make the adjustments needed to get the job done.

As far as getting more plays to Julio, that's coming as more teams will notice that if they double him that leaves another open and Gmac and Co will eat you up.

Over all, excellent game team. I'm proud of you.

God bless Hightower and I hope the injury is not as severe as it looked yesterday. Hightower will come back from this due to his great charachter and work ethic.:BigA:

 

[yesitsmed23]

ylou missed one BIG observation......arkansas played DIRTY!!!! the chop blocking the whole game, especially the missed call on Hightower's injury!!!! the league oughta suspend that lineman that did it, and also Julio got dragged down by his facemask on the TD run by TR!

 

[TRich3]

Good post on all counts, CA-Tide. I agree GMac is special.

For contingency purposes I wish Star could have gotten a few snaps toward the end of the game though.

He did.

 

[Bama Greg]

ylou missed one BIG observation......arkansas played DIRTY!!!! the chop blocking the whole game, especially the missed call on Hightower's injury!!!! the league oughta suspend that lineman that did it, and also Julio got dragged down by his facemask on the TD run by TR!

I hope I don't see that punk on the street, that was about as dirty as it gets, if Nick doesn't turn the video in, something is wrong, he did not try to block him, he went straight for the knee, I just did not think it was clean at all. There are pancake blocks, then there are chop blocks, then there are just plain ole dirty blocks like this one.

I pray that the injury is minimal, but with the hit and his foot planted I will be surprised if his ACL and PCL are not both detached.

Like Coach Saban said, he is probably one of the best athletes we have on the team.

Sorry for the rant, just so dang angry still!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Alasippi]

Defensively I thought we played great. Good pressure, good coverage, excellent run defense.

Offensively I think we tried to force the run too much against a stacked box rather than taking what they were giving us, which was man to man coverage and open receivers downfield. We pretty much had the receiver open on every deep pass and could probably have thrown about 8 TD passes.

To me, when the other team puts eight in the box, you burn them with passes until they get their butt out of the box, and then you run right at them.
I don't see anything wrong with using the pass to set up the run if the situation dictates it.

Special teams.......we still gave up another long kick return, and how much yardage did we cost Javier because we mistook the opponents backside for his front side???...lol I'd say average performance at best.

Tiffin didn't miss. That's good to see after last week.

All in all I thought we played pretty well. But I honestly don't think we've even approached our "A Game" yet. I really don't. And to me, that's a pretty scary thought for our future opponents.

sip