Saban forced to play Sumlin and Manziel's game...

[Crimson-Blitz]

....and he beat them at it.

I think that one thing that is getting lost here is that Bama and Saban accomplished something that the pundits thought they couldn't. They faced the most dynamic offensive team with the most dynamic QB in college football, in a hurry up offense, and won. Critics have always tried to slot Saban as a "planner" and a "schemer". They've insinuated that his success comes from preparation only, and that on gameday he's a little ridgid. Wrong. Nick had the perfect plan. Prepare for JF as well as you can, and outscore them by turning the play calling over to the most dependable QB in college football. On goal number one we came up a little short, as will everyone who plays against A&M. On number two we came out smelling like a rose.

JF and A&M forced Bama to play Sumlin's game. And we beat him at it. Oregon, take notice.

 

[dayhiker]

....and he beat them at it.

I think that one thing that is getting lost here is that Bama and Saban accomplished something that the pundits thought they couldn't. They faced the most dynamic offensive team with the most dynamic QB in college football, in a hurry up offense, and won. Critics have always tried to slot Saban as a "planner" and a "schemer". They've insinuated that his success comes from preparation only, and that on gameday he's a little ridgid. Wrong. Nick had the perfect plan. Prepare for JF as well as you can, and outscore them by turning the play calling over to the most dependable QB in college football. On goal number one we came up a little short, as will everyone who plays against A&M. On number two we came out smelling like a rose.

JF and A&M forced Bama to play Sumlin's game. And we beat him at it. Oregon, take notice.

AJ called one play, that we know of, and you're jumping to saying that CNS turned the play calling for the game over to him? That seems like a stretch.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

AJ called one play, that we know of, and you're jumping to saying that CNS turned the play calling for the game over to him? That seems like a stretch.

In the Dan Patrick interview with AJ Dan asked AJ about this. AJ said he had full authority to change in and out of plays and he implied he did it all game.

 

[JIB]

Bama beat a TAMU team with the most dangerous weapon in college football history (yes, I said it) because that TAMU team also had the worst defense in the SEC West.

Our defense played poorly but theirs played worse, that's why we won. I don't think there are any other lessons to be learned. If we had won 42-21 maybe you could argue about this meaning something more.

 

[B1GTide]

In the Dan Patrick interview with AJ Dan asked AJ about this. AJ said he had full authority to change in and out of plays and he implied he did it all game.

Right, but they were checks - meaning that he had options at the LOS depending on what the defense was showing him. But he was not "calling plays" in the way that we think about the game from 20 years ago.

 

[B1GTide]

If we had won 42-21 maybe you could argue about this meaning something more.

You were a lot closer to winning 56-35 than to losing.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Right, but they were checks - meaning that he had options at the LOS depending on what the defense was showing him. But he was not "calling plays" in the way that we think about the game from 20 years ago.

No, the pro's don't even do that anymore. Haven't for a many, many years. But it still takes a lot of skill set and leadership to change the original play. He did it all game long. That is impressive.

 

[JBama_in_PCOLA]

You were a lot closer to winning 56-35 than to losing.

That's the way I see it. If TJ doesn't fumble I don't believe they get 35 to tell you the truth.


Sent from my iPhone

 

[Crimson-Blitz]

AJ called one play, that we know of, and you're jumping to saying that CNS turned the play calling for the game over to him? That seems like a stretch.

Call it what you want. AJ managed the game on the field, and yes, he determined what was run based on how A&M responded to the play called from the sideline.

We won in a shootout, against a defense that will be proven to be better than average.

 

[B1GTide]

That's the way I see it. If TJ doesn't fumble I don't believe they get 35 to tell you the truth.


Sent from my iPhone

I agree - they were ready to give up but you guys gave them a reason to hope.

 

[Crimson-Blitz]

And if Sunseri doesn't get the pick on a tip drill.....

And if Manziel hadn't lucked out on that 3rd down toss into coverage.....

If...............

 

[JBama_in_PCOLA]

I agree - they were ready to give up but you guys gave them a reason to hope.

Yeah, it's an early season problem.


Sent from my iPhone

 

[Crimson-Blitz]

they were ready to give up

I don't mean to be rude, but I must ask. Did you watch the game?

 

[Go Bama]

If TJ had scored, aTm would have come out and done exactly the same thing they had been doing the whole game. The only thing that would be different is some of their players may have felt victory was hopeless but I doubt that would have stopped them from scoring. Maybe ... who knows. I certainly don't think they were ready to give up.

There was never a point in the game when I felt we've got this one tucked away until the on side kick was recovered.

 

[92tide]

No, the pro's don't even do that anymore. Haven't for a many, many years. But it still takes a lot of skill set and leadership to change the original play. He did it all game long. That is impressive.

and he was calm and collected the entire game while doing that.

 

[bigjue24]

AJ did check into and out of plays all game. Bama didn't do the "meerkat" stand up and look at the sideline thing. AJ simply saw the defense, and he made the proper adjustments. It was great to watch. CNS said after the game that AJ got the offense into the right plays. I know he has a series of options, so does every great QB, and he made great decision after great decision. Don't minimize this. Alot of NFL QB's can't be trusted to do this correctly over and over. AJ was trusted with alot of responsibility because he has earned that trust, and now I'm sure he's even more trusted.

 

[GrayTide]

Yes, there were several ifs in the game and who knows how they could have affected the outcome of the game, but one thing I know from the game is that TAMU has one of the weakest defenses in the SEC.

 

[Crimson_Knight]

I did not like the package on that play. Put Green at the FB position like we have been doing for 5 years and plow thru people.

 

[bamaslammer]

You can play the if and or but game after every contest. The point remains that the Nation didn't see Saban or Alabama as a team that could survive a west coast style shootout and they proved them wrong. I for one would not have guessed we would ever allow more than 40 points and still win. I think in the back of many peoples mind was the thaught that if we ever faced Oregon we would lose. While I do believe Oregon matches up well with us this year, Alabama showed that they will come to win and can win even against a team like that.

Botton line for Saban is that he game plans to win. The game plan almost always contains certain staples that we all know work, and every team has to focus on what they do best. But we threw the ball way more than the situation initially dictated because Saban knew that ball control though critical would not alone win this game, he knew we needed tons of points to go with it and he pulled it off. Huge win for Bama and Coach Saban. (and the OC)

 

[dayhiker]

Call it what you want. AJ managed the game on the field, and yes, he determined what was run based on how A&M responded to the play called from the sideline.

We won in a shootout, against a defense that will be proven to be better than average.

I agree. Your initial post made it sound like AJ was just calling stuff off the cuff in the huddle like in the movies. That's all I was commenting on.