The game from a Hog's perspective

[TIDE-HSV]

Partner I dont post much but your in a Arky Dream Love Affair if you dont believe Bama wins this game by 4 TD's or more. Mallet's a good player but at this point of his college career, he is not on the same level as Gmac. Bama has serious depth, especially on Defense. This is a classic Sec blowout in my opinion. From my view Arky=Auburn and that my friend means a smackdown this Saturday.

It'll be interesting to see where Greg is drafted. One good thing - I think he stays around to finish out his eligibility...

 

[crimsonaudio]

Here's a stat that I suspect will be a major factor in this game - 3rd down efficiency:
ARK:
vs MoSt - 3-10
vs UGA - 3-14
So far, the piglets have been averaging a 3rd down conversion rate of 25%. I don't think that will win the game this weekend.

Alabama:
vs VT - 6-17
vs FIU - 3-10
vs NTU - 10-14
For comparison, Bama has averaged just over 46% success rate on 3rd down...

 

[cbi1972]

It'll be interesting to see where Greg is drafted. One good thing - I think he stays around to finish out his eligibility...

I too think he will finish his 2nd degree at Bama

 

[bmcklv]

Mallet has 70 more passing yards, more attempts, and no INT's than McElroy in one less game. And is number one in QB rating.

What kind of defensive pressure has he faced to get those 70 more yards? NOT Alabama pressure, or even Va Tech pressure. Still, I'll give it to you, but that means that you'll get 35 yards more in the air on 15 more attempts than GMAC, while we get 200 yards more on the ground than your running backs. I'll take that.

 

[Ldlane]

If Mallett is such a great passing QB, why would he leave Meechigan and the Spread Offense to play for the Piggies? It looks as though he would thrive in Ann Arbor? :conf2:

 

[capnfrog]

One thing comes immediately to mind when I think about us playing Arkansas, They always play us hard and we usually feel fortunate when we come away with a win. I hope the Bama players aren't reading this board and think all they have to do is show up. CNS has hard enough time trying to keep this attitude out of their heads. Arky is going to be chunking the football big time because they have been big time watching game film of when Bama played FIU and Utah and Arky may be as good or better than either of those teams. Bamas' D has shown this year that they are susceptible to the short pass to the speedy backs and if they think Mallet won't pull it down and trot upfield for 5 or 6 easy yards just hide and watch. We haven't even touched on the special teams play and everyone seems to have a good kick return man or are we just not that good at tackling on special teams. I wouldn't be too cocky and sunday morning have to eat crow for breakfast.

 

[Ldlane]

One thing comes immediately to mind when I think about us playing Arkansas, They always play us hard and we usually feel fortunate when we come away with a win. I hope the Bama players aren't reading this board and think all they have to do is show up. CNS has hard enough time trying to keep this attitude out of their heads. Arky is going to be chunking the football big time because they have been big time watching game film of when Bama played FIU and Utah and Arky may be as good or better than either of those teams. Bamas' D has shown this year that they are susceptible to the short pass to the speedy backs and if they think Mallet won't pull it down and trot upfield for 5 or 6 easy yards just hide and watch. We haven't even touched on the special teams play and everyone seems to have a good kick return man or are we just not that good at tackling on special teams. I wouldn't be too cocky and sunday morning have to eat crow for breakfast.

I hardly think that what we say on this board has any bearing on the game. We can be too cautious as a team and play not to win, or we can go after the hawgs with some confidence, intensity and swagger! It ain't braggin' if you can do it! Besides, none of us are playing.

 

[BLAKE55]

Obviously the QB play in this game will be important...as it is in all games. However, I don't see this game as a competition between GMAC and Mallet.

I think this game will be decided by the players on special teams, the ability of the OL of Bama to establish the run-thus establishing ball control/time of possession and the ability of Arkansas' OL to keep Bama defenders off of Mallet.

From a coaching perspective the battle will be the coverages, blitzes and disguises used by Kirby Smart versus the play calling of Petrino. It will be a chess match on this front and the defensive strategy of a master will be tested against an offensive guru. It should be fun to watch how they coach against one another and in many ways this game should become a great rivalry as long as Saban and Petrino are at each school.

I expect Mallet and GMAC to both play well since nothing this year indicates that they won't. I also expect both QBs to get a majority of the press coverage...the winning QB to get the lion's share. However, I don't think they will ultimately decide the outcome.

 

[cbi1972]

I Mallett is such a great passing QB, why would he leave Meechigan and the Spread Offense to play for the Piggies? It looks as though he would thrive in Ann Arbor? :conf2:

Petrino's offenses are much better suited to Mallett's talents than Rodriguez's offenses.

 

[mittman]

I have often wanted to be connected in with Saban and the play callers (especially when we are on defense) to listen to those conversations he always seems to be having when he is pacing the sidelines. This is one of those games when I would like to more than others.

 

[Rasputin]

I Mallett is such a great passing QB, why would he leave Meechigan and the Spread Offense to play for the Piggies? It looks as though he would thrive in Ann Arbor? :conf2:

Ryan Mallett is your typical pro-style qb. 6-7, monster arm, but he does not have quick feet. To run the CRR offense, all you need to do is look and compare the differences between RM and Pat White. Obviously there are huge differences there that can't be ignored. CRR wants a qb, such as he has now with TF, that can run as well as throw, a dual threat qb. Does this make Mallett an worse for the wear because he transferred, NO!!! Mallett has the potential to be one of the first, if not the first qb taken in the draft in 2 years. Lets not get caught up in our own excellence and not think that other teams can have good to great players. I for one think Mallett will struggle with Bama's blitz package due to his inability to scrammble, but with that being said, if we give this kid time to stand back and throw the ball, this game could produce an outcome that none of us want to think about!

 

[buzzincuzzin]

Mallett has lost 30lbs, He was WAYYYYYYYY too big/fat to run,,,, much less run a spread.

 

[Ldlane]

Ryan Mallett is your typical pro-style qb. 6-7, monster arm, but he does not have quick feet. To run the CRR offense, all you need to do is look and compare the differences between RM and Pat White. Obviously there are huge differences there that can't be ignored. CRR wants a qb, such as he has now with TF, that can run as well as throw, a dual threat qb. Does this make Mallett an worse for the wear because he transferred, NO!!! Mallett has the potential to be one of the first, if not the first qb taken in the draft in 2 years. Lets not get caught up in our own excellence and not think that other teams can have good to great players. I for one think Mallett will struggle with Bama's blitz package due to his inability to scrammble, but with that being said, if we give this kid time to stand back and throw the ball, this game could produce an outcome that none of us want to think about!

Time will tell.

 

[cmmiller711]

Obviously a good strategy, but besides a blown assignment on an 80 yard run, Arkansas held Georgia's run game in check for most of the game.

My question is can McElroy make the big plays through the air if Bama can't establish the run? I honestly don't know.

Though I, for the most part, understand your argument, and I do think it'll be alittle closer than people think..... We ain't Georgia. If Georgia was even close to us in Defense and the running game, they would be undefeated. Right now we can run the ball on just about anyone. We have athletic lineman that can get upfield and put bodies on smaller guys.

 

[buzzincuzzin]

The "m.o." has been establish the passing game as a threat early. Especially with the TEs. You can't consistently shut down a quality run-game when a safety has to take an extra step before committing.

 

[WMack4Bama]

Getting in on this conversation late. So I don't know how it's gone. But I just wanted to share this particular Bama fan's perspective on the game. Enjoy.

 

[edwd58]

Before the game I wouldn't have traded GMac for Mallett, and I saw nothing today that would cause me to reconsider. Good luck to the Hogs the rest of the way, there will be several games the remainder of the year in which I'll be pulling for them.

 

[BAMA504]

Not gonna say I told you so........... Well actually I am because everyone kept pitching that Mallet was some NFL type QB I had to watch that uga/arky game about 5 times more than I should have but I just never saw it... Great arm when he has plenty of time but if there is any pressure and his feet have to move he is not good at all.......... Teams will learn from BAMA and the Mallet love will fade because other teams in the SEC will bring the heat and make him move...........

 

[Ldlane]

I wouldn't say that's just as effective as Mallet considering he's thrown twice as much as McElroy has, and besides VaTech, UNT and FIU aren't exactly bell ringers. Mallet hasn't thrown an INT yet, and torched an SEC defense for over 400 yards and 5 td's.

Yep, Mallet is definitely better than McElory! Well, Mallet is 6-7 and there is always Basketball! RTR.

 

[NYBamaFan]

One thing to remember before we rip Mallett too much - McElroy didn't have to play against our defense. I think that our defense is going to make a lot of QBs look bad this season...