Question: So do we go back to old school Alabama football against Arkansas?

[GrayTide]

I said in another thread that I like Slade Bolden in a lot of roles in our offense. He gives us some versatility that Mac and Tua lack. I do think we need to ride Mack the entire game if possible though. I hope we can stay away from slow developing plays that allow DL penetration. We may see more reliance on the running game and I hope we me see more of Keilan Robinson as a change of pace back. All of that said, the defense needs to show improvement especially in the secondary. Hope Perine gets some needed experience in front of a large crowd. Bulovas, who knows what will happen, but I just assume he is going to miss until proven otherwise.

 

[WPS]

A rainy night only adds to Alabama's advantage. You won't likely cover on a rainy night, but there is no way that Arkansas can out physical you in the mud.

This is not a Bielema Arkansas team. They cannot run the ball or stop the run. They have become a finesse team.

Bielema's teams mostly couldn't stop the run either except for 2014-15 lol. Rakeem Boyd is #3 in the SEC in rushing but he gets nicked up and worn down since there's really no other back on the roster who can give him a breather. Whaley is about as average as it gets.

 

[Cruloc]

I said in another thread that I like Slade Bolden in a lot of roles in our offense. He gives us some versatility that Mac and Tua lack. I do think we need to ride Mack the entire game if possible though. I hope we can stay away from slow developing plays that allow DL penetration. We may see more reliance on the running game and I hope we me see more of Keilan Robinson as a change of pace back. All of that said, the defense needs to show improvement especially in the secondary. Hope Perine gets some needed experience in front of a large crowd. Bulovas, who knows what will happen, but I just assume he is going to miss until proven otherwise.

I just hope the pressure on Lee and Harris is not too much for them and makes them better. This D was under a lot of pressure starting the year without Moses and McMillon...with Mack already gone to the NFL. Bama was down 3 LB's...and these TRUE freshmen were forced into starting roles with no one ahead of them to give examples and lead them. I commend these boys for their effort and for stepping up. Yeah, they miss assignments and the D gives up more yards than we are used to....but these boys are doing their best.

 

[CrimsonNagus]

I think the answer is no because, this team isn’t built to pound the ball. As much as it annoys some fans, this is a pass first, run second team. Our best and most talented players are WR, you have to keep them heavily involved. Trying to rely on a mediocre run game will not work for this team, IMO.

 

[OakMtn4Bama]

I think the answer is no because, this team isn’t built to pound the ball. As much as it annoys some fans, this is a pass first, run second team. Our best and most talented players are WR, you have to keep them heavily involved. Trying to rely on a mediocre run game will not work for this team, IMO.

I don't disagree with what you say but am hoping that the run game is progressing a little beyond mediocre.

 

[CHATTBRIT]

I think there will be more Najee than in recent games. However, Mac will have had practice with the wide receivers so his throws should improve. That being said, a week is just not enough time for the receivers to comfortably switch from left handed to right handed QB so I'm not looking for a lot of long bombs against Arky.

 

[allybama2009]

run the ball a ton, use some pistol with play action pass. then go in the gun and spread it all around to the wr's

 

[Go Bama]

My guess is Arkie will load the box and dare us to throw. That is what I would with an inexperienced QB.

Really, I hope Arky does load the box. Maybe Mac will get enough playing time to get past his nerves and start throwing the ball better.

 

[Ledsteplin]

I think the answer is no because, this team isn’t built to pound the ball. As much as it annoys some fans, this is a pass first, run second team. Our best and most talented players are WR, you have to keep them heavily involved. Trying to rely on a mediocre run game will not work for this team, IMO.

I still think CNS wants a balanced attack. They've worked hard to get the run game on track. They even put OL, Chris Owens, in as a blocking TE, to help. And not just on the goal line. So they do want to run the ball. Maybe for balance, or to slow the drives down (with Tua), so the defense gets rest. Or both. I think we'll need to be able run the ball with authority against LSU, regardless of how much we pass.

 

[Cruloc]

I'd expect for this game we get more conservative, play to different strengths now...but still game plan to get those WR's the ball in space. Mac may go deep a few times to keep the D honest. Chris Owens changes jerseys and get in there as a blocking TE again...Najee and Brian get a heavier load, Mac gets some work....Taulia hopefully gets some work too, just in case.

 

[BamaMoon]

In the last two games we look like a different offensive team running the ball. So yes, I'd expect the run game to show up against the Hogs.

But I don't think that means we won't pass either. I think the game plan will feature the throws/routes the staff feels Jones is most comfortable with. I think that probably begins with short swing passes to our running backs (who are great receivers) and shallow crossing routes and slants to the 4 horsemen.

I also think field position will dictate what we do. We'd trust Tua to throw out of our own endzone, but I doubt we'd put MJ in that position.

 

[The Ols]

I agree with Mac getting more comfortable with more reps. I do think that we need to catch the ball better for him too...
His stat line was: 6/11 72 yds. 0tds 0ints.
It should have been (this is not whining, Forristall and Najee DROPPED two wide open passes):
8/11 120+ with a possible TD and 0 ints.
He's better than 90% of us give him credit for...RTR!!!

Really, I hope Arky does load the box. Maybe Mac will get enough playing time to get past his nerves and start throwing the ball better.

 

[rgw]

I'm kinda anxious to see him play on Saturday. I don't think we can win a national title without Tua at QB but I'm open to being pleasantly surprised.

 

[Tradition4ever]

The main thing I want to see out of Mac will be his recognition and success against blitzes. I think Arky will blitz early and often, as will all of our future opponents if Mac is playing. That's what I would do if I was a D-Coordinator facing Bama without Tua. Why wouldn't you blitz? The Bama run game has improved, but it hasn't proven yet to have the ability to produce game breaking plays on a regular basis. Plus, although our receivers are great, they haven't had to be the type of receivers that you can just throw it up quickly in their direction and they can make a play in tight coverage, which is what a lot of what you see QB's do when the blitz is in their face. Tua is great at seeing where pressure was going to come, and diagnosing where his play was, then delivering an accurate ball. I haven't seen Mac diagnose and deliver the ball accurately to the correct read consistently. If Mac shows improvement and consistency in recognizing and beating the blitz, I will feel somewhat better about things if Tua is out longer than expected...

 

[BamaFlum]

The main thing I want to see out of Mac will be his recognition and success against blitzes. I think Arky will blitz early and often, as will all of our future opponents if Mac is playing. That's what I would do if I was a D-Coordinator facing Bama without Tua. Why wouldn't you blitz? The Bama run game has improved, but it hasn't proven yet to have the ability to produce game breaking plays on a regular basis. Plus, although our receivers are great, they haven't had to be the type of receivers that you can just throw it up quickly in their direction and they can make a play in tight coverage, which is what a lot of what you see QB's do when the blitz is in their face. Tua is great at seeing where pressure was going to come, and diagnosing where his play was, then delivering an accurate ball. I haven't seen Mac diagnose and deliver the ball accurately to the correct read consistently. If Mac shows improvement and consistency in recognizing and beating the blitz, I will feel somewhat better about things if Tua is out longer than expected...

Yup, I was thinking that the Hogs have nothing to lose. Blitz, load the box, play one on one on the WR and make Mac beat you.


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[The Ols]

As was pointed out earlier (apologies for no props, I don't remember who posted it) Mac has the 2nd longest TD pass in Bama history... on a slant...:Joker_PDT_08: on TideFans.com

Yup, I was thinking that the Hogs have nothing to lose. Blitz, load the box, play one on one on the WR and make Mac beat you.


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[crimsonaudio]

I just hope bama wins this Saturday. I believe they will, but they're already paper thin at various positions and the DL got manhandled several time in the game against tennessee. I don't think Arky has the OL to push Bama's DL around, but I honestly didn't think tennessee would have been able to push some of our guys back like they did.

 

[TiderJack]

I just hope bama wins this Saturday. I believe they will, but they're already paper thin at various positions and the DL got manhandled several time in the game against tennessee. I don't think Arky has the OL to push Bama's DL around, but I honestly didn't think tennessee would have been able to push some of our guys back like they did.

I did not see what you are talking about. Tennessee had 231 total yards, 117 yards rushing on 37 carries which is a 3.1 yds/carry. They had two long runs of around 30 yards each due to bad gap discipline. Take those two carries out and they had 57 yards on 35 carries or 1.6 yds/carry. That is not pushing our guys back and around IMO.

 

[crimsonaudio]

I did not see what you are talking about. Tennessee had 231 total yards, 117 yards rushing on 37 carries which is a 3.1 yds/carry. They had two long runs of around 30 yards each due to bad gap discipline. Take those two carries out and they had 57 yards on 35 carries or 1.6 yds/carry. That is not pushing our guys back and around IMO.

They crushed the DL/LBs on the TD fumble Diggs returned for 6.

On another play the defense stopped the RB after a four yard gain and were subsequently pushed well past the first down marker.

Those are just off the top if my head. There were more times they got push that I didn't expect.

They didn't dominate the DL, but Bama got pushed around more than I expected from that DL.

Reality is this team is paper thin, it's not the dominant team we're accustomed to seeing under CNS. Might they win it all? Sure, and I hope they do. But the defense needs to improve a good bit between now and then. And missing Tua means the offense won't be as productive as it has been.

 

[Tradition4ever]

As was pointed out earlier (apologies for no props, I don't remember who posted it) Mac has the 2nd longest TD pass in Bama history... on a slant...:Joker_PDT_08: on TideFans.com

I think Mac has shown some ability, but now he has to do it consistently with the opposing D scheming particularly for him. There's no other way to find out but to play the game. I just hope he can hit on some plays, avoid negative plays and sacks, and definitely avoid turnovers. Oh, and try and stay healthy!