Sark - most important game for an OC since...?

[tidefanbeezer]

I think Sark has done a pretty good job this year calling plays. I wasn't too excited about him coming back with how poorly he called the 2016 game against Clemson (he gave up on the run when Bo got hurt) but I can't complain too much this season.

But...

Calling plays with Tua, those WRs and Najee isn't too hard. Calling plays with Mac Jones at JHS against a pumped up Auburn team? Well, we'll learn a lot about him.

How does he respond if Bama can't block AU in the run game? What does he call if Mac gets a bit rattled?

I'm excited to find out.

When is the last time an OC went into a game with this much pressure (relatively speaking)?

Sark has been a college OC, college HC and an NFL OC. He's been in plenty of other pressure packed situations. I think he'll be well prepared for whatever Auburn brings and I think he's capable of adjusting based on the flow of the game.

I'd be more concerned if we had an OC who didn't have the same experience level as Sark.

 

[Power Eye]

I'm not concerned with Sark's gameplan. I think he has done a good job of getting Mac comfortable in the offense and building confidence in him. I'm more concerned with Mac's ability to read the defense. I suspect, and I'm sure I'm not saying anything profound here, that Steele will play the corners and safeties close to the line of scrimmage to try and take away the quick throws and dare us to throw over the top. I think there will be some real opportunities for big plays, but the question will be whether Mac can hit on them.

 

[rgw]

We haven't had a bad plan this entire season. Players weren't executing in the first half of the LSU game. Some of it was rust at QB. Some of it was on the OL who probably had their worst half of the season against a frankly mediocre 2019 LSU front seven. I'm not too worried about the plan. People don't like getting into the blaming the players game but typically more plays fail due to execution than the play call itself.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Two things...one Cam’s comeback and two Nix already has one big comeback win and almost another. Won’t make that same mistake. AU doesn’t have great depth so they will get tired. Thinking this will be a third and fourth quarter game.

My big worry is our young defense getting rattled if they get up a score or two. It seems like the last few trips to JHS have seen AU get up a score or two real quick before Bama settles down.


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The Cam debacle was when he started changing, I think. I agree about the comeback. If anything, we're probably thinner on defense than they are...

 

[TideEngineer08]

He actually hasn't done that for several years now, except for when we're far ahead. Oddly, with AU's offense, that plan would probably work, with a decent lead...

And particularly, with Mac as the starter twice this year, he has not done it. Now, Auburn isn't the same as Arkansas and Western Carolina, but I can't see him breaking the pattern now. Mac has proven himself as a weapon, not just a manager.

 

[Cruloc]

We haven't had a bad plan this entire season. Players weren't executing in the first half of the LSU game. Some of it was rust at QB. Some of it was on the OL who probably had their worst half of the season against a frankly mediocre 2019 LSU front seven. I'm not too worried about the plan. People don't like getting into the blaming the players game but typically more plays fail due to execution than the play call itself.

That first half vs LSU was a perfect storm of nerves.....but only after Tua's fumble. Think if he hadn't fumbled the half turns out differently. Ruggs saying that fumble made them get down was telling.

Can Mac handle the atmosphere and settle in? Can the young guys handle adversity when it comes?

I'm still going 30-14 Bama, with the guys letting loose and surprising folks.

 

[CB4]

He actually hasn't done that for several years now, except for when we're far ahead. Oddly, with AU's offense, that plan would probably work, with a decent lead...

My sense is the offense game plan early will focus more on the “edge” or perimeter in the short passing game and Najee out of the backfield (quick drops). Our oline has improved but not to the extent against where we can have Mac sitting back there for a multiple progression reads. The goal is to get that defense running side to side and take some of the wind out off them.

Pretty much Sark’s bread and butter.

Hopefully by the third and fourth quarters (with a decent lead) we can pound them in the run game and take our shots deep off play action.

 

[BamaMoon]

I agree with those who have said it'll be the player's execution of the offensive plan that will determine the success of the game.

But, I do think it's important for Sark to script those first 15-20 plays (I think that's the norm for most OCs) in such a way that not only are the plays the kind MJ can be relatively confident in executing, but also the kind of plays that will give us some positive momentum, move the chains and get some early points.

I think an early, successful drive will be huge for MJ's confidence and that will spread to the rest of the team. My biggest concern, if I'm being honest, is that we have a slow start and Jones gets a little rattled and we get behind a couple of scores. I think a quick start is paramount for the game.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

When is the last time an OC went into a game with this much pressure (relatively speaking)?

I don't think he has any pressure at all.

Of course, I also disagree with your assessment that he "went away" from the run when Bo got hurt, too. The distribution was 8 passes and 6 runs and one of those was the trick play on fourth down.
Without that, we're not even in the lead.

 

[CoachJeff]

I don't think he has any pressure at all.

Of course, I also disagree with your assessment that he "went away" from the run when Bo got hurt, too. The distribution was 8 passes and 6 runs and one of those was the trick play on fourth down.
Without that, we're not even in the lead.

He’s under pressure. He’s got to get a backup QB to beat a good team on the road. That’s never happened under Saban. He’s got to figure out how to put Mac in situations he can succeed. He’s not Tua. He doesn’t process things nearly as quickly.

In the championship game Sark didn’t call 3 straight runs after Bo went out despite having a lead and a good running game. If he had ponded the ball Baka likely wins that game.

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

This is a bigger game for Mac than Sark IMO.

 

[Ledsteplin]

He’s under pressure. He’s got to get a backup QB to beat a good team on the road. That’s never happened under Saban. He’s got to figure out how to put Mac in situations he can succeed. He’s not Tua. He doesn’t process things nearly as quickly.

In the championship game Sark didn’t call 3 straight runs after Bo went out despite having a lead and a good running game. If he had ponded the ball Baka likely wins that game.

You say "back up QB", like Mac is somehow less than in some way. Mac can handle himself just fine. He's not a freshman. And he's no longer a back up.

 

[B1GTide]

He’s under pressure. He’s got to get a backup QB to beat a good team on the road. That’s never happened under Saban. He’s got to figure out how to put Mac in situations he can succeed. He’s not Tua. He doesn’t process things nearly as quickly.

In the championship game Sark didn’t call 3 straight runs after Bo went out despite having a lead and a good running game. If he had ponded the ball Baka likely wins that game.

I have never been a head coach or an offensive coordinator, but I know many. One thing that I know, with certainty, is that guys like Sark only feel pressure when they don't feel that they have an opportunity to adequately prepare. They don't feel pressure from the things that you describe. If they did, they could not last in the job.

* Tough game on the road? Sark has had more of those than we can imagine, and he has been dealing with them for decades.
* Breaking in a new QB for a big game? If Mac can't handle the job, it is Sark's fault?

It sounds like you blame Sark for what happened when Kiffin melted down. You don't blame Kiffin. You don't blame Saban. You blame the guy who had a week to prepare for a national championship game after not calling a single play in years.

You have coached. You should know better.

 

[B1GTide]

This is a bigger game for Mac than Sark IMO.

I agree. Win this game and Mac wins the starting job next year whether you make the CFP or not. Huge game for Mac, but I believe that he is as ready as anyone could possibly be. He will either rise up or he won't. But he is going to need the entire team to play well around him for his play to even matter.

 

[tidefanbeezer]

He’s under pressure. He’s got to get a backup QB to beat a good team on the road. That’s never happened under Saban. He’s got to figure out how to put Mac in situations he can succeed. He’s not Tua. He doesn’t process things nearly as quickly.

In the championship game Sark didn’t call 3 straight runs after Bo went out despite having a lead and a good running game. If he had ponded the ball Baka likely wins that game.

No, but he's got 2 weeks to prepare (last week and this week). Daboll had to put a true freshman in at half time of a national championship game. I think that was a bit more pressure than Sark.

 

[CoolBreeze]

I agree. Win this game and Mac wins the starting job next year whether you make the CFP or not. Huge game for Mac, but I believe that he is as ready as anyone could possibly be. He will either rise up or he won't. But he is going to need the entire team to play well around him for his play to even matter.

Got to eliminate the penalties in this one. Barney is going to make it impossible to hear on the field so let's hope they are practicing with discipline and earplugs this week.

 

[BamaMoon]

This is a bigger game for Mac than Sark IMO.

100%

I agree. Win this game and Mac wins the starting job next year whether you make the CFP or not. Huge game for Mac, but I believe that he is as ready as anyone could possibly be. He will either rise up or he won't. But he is going to need the entire team to play well around him for his play to even matter.

While what you say may be true, I sure hope Jones isn't thinking beyond this game. He needs to be a game manager and deliver the ball to the play makers (CNS's point guard analogy).

It's for another time and discussion, but I don't think Jones winning the game means he's the shoe in for next year...but if he leads us to victory and shows out doing so, it puts him in the drivers seat for sure.

And, as you say, his success will largely depend on those around him playing well, especially the OL.

 

[B1GTide]

While what you say may be true, I sure hope Jones isn't thinking beyond this game..

He isn't going to be, but we can.

 

[CoolBreeze]

While what you say may be true, I sure hope Jones isn't thinking beyond this game. He needs to be a game manager and deliver the ball to the play makers

I am 100% positive that it is not lost on Mac that this is the biggest game that he has ever played in. Let's just hope that he is poised enough to execute the offense and not get caught up in the moment.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

100%



While what you say may be true, I sure hope Jones isn't thinking beyond this game. He needs to be a game manager and deliver the ball to the play makers (CNS's point guard analogy).

It's for another time and discussion, but I don't think Jones winning the game means he's the shoe in for next year...but if he leads us to victory and shows out doing so, it puts him in the drivers seat for sure.

And, as you say, his success will largely depend on those around him playing well, especially the OL.

If he finishes strong this year, I'd say he probably is a "shoo-in" next year. He's the kind of QB Saban likes and is comfortable with...