The Missouri Game Will Reveal This Team's Ceiling...

[uafan4life]

There are four realistic possibilities for this game and each of them points to a different, regular-season ceiling in terms of wins for this team.

This is a classic trap game. First, we had Georgia on the road and all that comes with that. That win showed us this team's potential. A casual observer would have called the Vandy game a trap game and, under other circumstances, it might have been. However, this team was talking about Vandy before leaving Georgia's stadium.

No, this is the trappiest of all trap games. We are riding a two-week high and going on the road to face an undefeated but also unappealing SEC opponent. If overconfidence is going to creep in (again?) this season, this game would be the most likely spot.

So, what are the possibilities and what - in my opinion - does each say about our win ceiling this season?
- We lose and lose poorly, e.g., mistakes, penalties, turnovers, get outplayed, etc.: 8 wins
- We compete well but lose a close (one-possession) game: 9 wins
- We compete well but win a close game: 10 wins
- We win handily (two-plus scores): 11 wins

I don't think any of us would have pegged this game - before the season - as being the linchpin for the entire season. To be fair, though, this particular linchpin is less about Missouri than it is about Alabama. If Alabama is able to continue progressing - without regressing - as it has already within this season, the sky is the limit.

If, however, we fall back into the trap we fell into multiple times last season (and, seemingly, to start this season) of showing up not ready to play the game, then we simply have to expect that pattern to continue under Coach DeBoer.

I'm hoping for progression - and I believe this game will show us both where we are and where we'll be at the end of the regular season, at least...

 

[MikeInBama]

Agreed, we hopefully got the looking lost/unprepared in road games out of the way in week one. It's entirely possible we were dialed in for the UGA game because it was UGA and we will sleep walk through an 11am kick in Como. I think the leadership is different this year and we don't have another let down. All the goals are still on the table and we will do no worse than tie for 1st place in SEC if we win out.

If Ole Miss, A&M and us win out and everything else status quo.

 

[uafan4life]

Agreed, we hopefully got the looking lost/unprepared in road games out of the way in week one. It's entirely possible we were dialed in for the UGA game because it was UGA and we will sleep walk through an 11am kick in Como. I think the leadership is different this year and we don't have another let down. All the goals are still on the table and we will do no worse than tie for 1st place in SEC if we win out.

If Ole Miss, A&M and us win out and everything else status quo.
View attachment 53471

I'm not sure I'd put $1.00 on three teams ending up undefeated in SEC play this season.

Or any upcoming season, for that matter...

 

[davefrat]

There are four realistic possibilities for this game and each of them points to a different, regular-season ceiling in terms of wins for this team.

This is a classic trap game. First, we had Georgia on the road and all that comes with that. That win showed us this team's potential. A casual observer would have called the Vandy game a trap game and, under other circumstances, it might have been. However, this team was talking about Vandy before leaving Georgia's stadium.

No, this is the trappiest of all trap games. We are riding a two-week high and going on the road to face an undefeated but also unappealing SEC opponent. If overconfidence is going to creep in (again?) this season, this game would be the most likely spot.

So, what are the possibilities and what - in my opinion - does each say about our win ceiling this season?
- We lose and lose poorly, e.g., mistakes, penalties, turnovers, get outplayed, etc.: 8 wins
- We compete well but lose a close (one-possession) game: 9 wins
- We compete well but win a close game: 10 wins
- We win handily (two-plus scores): 11 wins

I don't think any of us would have pegged this game - before the season - as being the linchpin for the entire season. To be fair, though, this particular linchpin is less about Missouri than it is about Alabama. If Alabama is able to continue progressing - without regressing - as it has already within this season, the sky is the limit.

If, however, we fall back into the trap we fell into multiple times last season (and, seemingly, to start this season) of showing up not ready to play the game, then we simply have to expect that pattern to continue under Coach DeBoer.

I'm hoping for progression - and I believe this game will show us both where we are and where we'll be at the end of the regular season, at least...

With all due respect, with the loss to FSU, pretty much every game we play (except for whatever meat puppet we play before Auburn) will be that kind of game.

We have room for one more loss before our chances at the playoff become tenuous at best.

There is pretty much no margin for error left.

 

[CoolBreeze]

There are four realistic possibilities for this game and each of them points to a different, regular-season ceiling in terms of wins for this team.

This is a classic trap game. First, we had Georgia on the road and all that comes with that. That win showed us this team's potential. A casual observer would have called the Vandy game a trap game and, under other circumstances, it might have been. However, this team was talking about Vandy before leaving Georgia's stadium.

No, this is the trappiest of all trap games. We are riding a two-week high and going on the road to face an undefeated but also unappealing SEC opponent. If overconfidence is going to creep in (again?) this season, this game would be the most likely spot.

So, what are the possibilities and what - in my opinion - does each say about our win ceiling this season?
- We lose and lose poorly, e.g., mistakes, penalties, turnovers, get outplayed, etc.: 8 wins
- We compete well but lose a close (one-possession) game: 9 wins
- We compete well but win a close game: 10 wins
- We win handily (two-plus scores): 11 wins

I don't think any of us would have pegged this game - before the season - as being the linchpin for the entire season. To be fair, though, this particular linchpin is less about Missouri than it is about Alabama. If Alabama is able to continue progressing - without regressing - as it has already within this season, the sky is the limit.

If, however, we fall back into the trap we fell into multiple times last season (and, seemingly, to start this season) of showing up not ready to play the game, then we simply have to expect that pattern to continue under Coach DeBoer.

I'm hoping for progression - and I believe this game will show us both where we are and where we'll be at the end of the regular season, at least...

Thanks for the thread and I feel the exact same. Game opened with us as a 4 point favorite which I see as good. Mizzu has been playing a cupcake schedule all at home so they are going to be prepared. I am hoping it is a case of "over preparedness" that plays in out favor really. We have not lost to them since they came into the league and that will be their rallying cry. I just think we have to play to our strengths and avoid turnovers/injuries to get out of there with the win.

 

[CoolBreeze]

Alabama continues focus on ‘shutting up and doing the work’ ahead of Missouri

Here's how Alabama football is preparing for a ranked matchup with Missouri on the road.

www.al.com

 

[denver]

With our schedule, there are no games where we can go in thinking its a walk in the park. I think that helps focus them every week vs needing the staff to remind them of the tough game coming...especially now we have a loss that counts as one strike. If we take a game for granted then we have bigger issues. So far, they have been really focused post FSU.

 

[davefrat]

With our schedule, there are no games where we can go in thinking its a walk in the park. I think that helps focus them every week vs needing the staff to remind them of the tough game coming...especially now we have a loss that counts as one strike. If we take a game for granted then we have bigger issues. So far, they have been really focused post FSU.

It's going to be a test for the team and the staff to maintain that edge for 7 more regular season games because pretty much every team on our schedule other than the meat puppet is a quality opponent.

With every win there will be more and more reason to ease up, and the moment we do that, we'll drop a game.

Our schedule this season seems like a gauntlet almost like no other we've faced in recent memory.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

With all due respect, with the loss to FSU, pretty much every game we play (except for whatever meat puppet we play before Auburn) will be that kind of game.

We have room for one more loss before our chances at the playoff become tenuous at best.

There is pretty much no margin for error left.

There is an outside chance we can afford three losses. The FSU loss wasn't a conference loss so currently we're undefeated in the conference. If we lose one more game in the regular season and make the SEC title game, but lose there. Our third loss would be in a conference title game. Its going to be tough leaving both teams from the SECCG out. Im hoping we dont get to that point, though. But its possible.

 

[Bama Lee]

Mizzou is definitely a talented team, but they really have not played anyone of note to this date in the season. Bama definitely needs to not take them lightly. It will be interesting how JessN will size up the group comparisons. Alabama should be superior in multiple groups, but especially both OL and DL. To me the crux of this game will come down to which team is the most focused (sound assignments and penalties) and wins turnover battle. Bama has been tested.…. Mizzou has not

 

[PA Tide Fan]

I just hope the team can maintain its intensity to play a team like Missouri. It isn't that I think Missouri is bad but it's a team we don't have an intense rivalry with like we have with teams we always played every season like Tennessee, LSU and Auburn. We have no revenge factor working for us either since we beat them 34-0 last season. They actually have the revenge factor working for them. It's still a big game since they're ranked and undefeated but it's not quite the same as when you have a little bit of hate toward your opponent and really want to beat them bad. 2 out of the 3 regular season losses last season were to teams we didn't have a big rivalry with (Vandy and Oklahoma) so maybe that was part of the problem.

 

[BhamToTexas]

We are riding a two-week high and going on the road to face an undefeated but also unappealing SEC opponent.

This is obviously the key. They really are unappealing. How do we create/maintain an edge for this one?

 

[CrimsonBloodn62]

Offensively, Bama is much better than the past two seasons. We're no longer one dimensional and opponents can’t just key in on stopping the run or the pass. It also feels like the team has stronger leadership this year. If the offense and defense keep improving, making the 12 team playoff shouldn’t even be a question.

 

[Padreruf]

Missouri is legit...it will take our best to come away with a win in Columbia. I sure hope my heart can stand it....110 HR during this last game -- 1st half.

 

[Ledsteplin]

None of Missouri's 5 wins are teams currently in the AP top 25. Their best wins are Kansas 42-31, and S Carolina 29-20. They have a decent team, and Bama will have to take them seriously. They can't get the big head, and eat a big plateful of rat poison. If they stay focused, and do their jobs, they will win.