"We overlooked the flaws of this Alabama team" (no run game)

[KrAzY3]

Nothing is set it stone right now (except A&M and Bimbo sucks). I think Georgia is going to be tested this weekend. It would not shock me if they lost. I don't think they will, I don't think they should, but far stranger things have happened.

We've seen plenty of teams start off great and then fade. We've also seen some teams that simply did not look championship caliber turn into a championship team later.

So, at this point I don't think we can really tell what the future will hold. In 2014 I could have a good laugh at Ohio State for losing at home to a mediocre Virginia Tech team by two touchdowns. Yet, and oddly enough they don't just beat Alabama, but they score 42 on them and 3 of their other last 4 opponents that year.

Early season struggles don't have to define a team. That's one reason I'm bothering to talk about the power running game for Alabama. It certainly isn't too late for them to try to get one going this year.

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

We've seen plenty of teams start off great and then fade. We've also seen some teams that simply did not look championship caliber turn into a championship team later.

So, at this point I don't think we can really tell what the future will hold. In 2014 I could have a good laugh at Ohio State for losing at home to a mediocre Virginia Tech team by two touchdowns. Yet, and oddly enough they don't just beat Alabama, but they score 42 on them and 3 of their other last 4 opponents that year.

Early season struggles don't have to define a team. That's one reason I'm bothering to talk about the power running game for Alabama. It certainly isn't too late for them to try to get one going this year.

That same year Alabama beat 7-6 Arkansas by one point. Still made the playoffs, although obviously lost to that Ohio State team

 

[TideEngineer08]

That same year Alabama beat 7-6 Arkansas by one point. Still made the playoffs, although obviously lost to that Ohio State team

You can find these games littering every season under Nick Saban. I say 2020 is an exception, even in light of the final scores of the Ole Miss and Florida games, because I think Alabama largely controlled both of those games. But the point remains.

 

[bamafaninbham]

I seem to remember three to four people pointing out the middle linebacker (I think) during this game. It made me think that Dalcourt wasn't trusted to do this by himself. That brought to mind the tidbit from last year that Dalcourt was the physical need at center, but Seth had the protections and communication down pat. Maybe we should see Seth in action and see which lacking trait is easiest to account for.

I think put Seth at Center and move Dalcourt to left/right guard. Whichever one has been a revolving door.

 

[gtgilbert]

I think put Seth at Center and move Dalcourt to left/right guard. Whichever one has been a revolving door.

I'd just put Seth in and not worry about Dalcourt. Ekiyor is a multi-year starter and has been very good. The other guard spot had Randolph take a lot of reps, but Cohen started all last year and was very dependable. Hopefully Cohen gets to where he can take all the reps soon because when he's in, we are way, way better. If Seth can't get the job done, I'd even consider moving Ekiyor over to OC and filling his spot with Booker since Ekiyor was originally projected as an OC.

 

[Ole Man Dan]

It's hard to have a good running game if you don't consistently try to run the ball. Running game just like passing game has a tempo.

Running game is heavily influenced by the OC. If he continues crappy play calling running will suffer. Same goes for our passing game.
We are dependent on the OC to do his job.
When the OC gets a rated score of 'D' or 'F" the offensive struggles.

 

[Ole Man Dan]

I think that's certainly possible, although as recent as 2017 Alabama's defense did hold Georgia to 20 in regulation despite having basically 0 first half offense, and that was the 20th ranked offense. Even then though it certainly wasn't 2011 vs. LSU level.

Accepting that though, I think a power running game is somewhat mandatory to be able to guarantee success. If your defense can't win the game, you can't rely on an inherently inconsistent passing game to win every game either. So I think the ground game becomes pretty important to controlling the game.

RUN DA BAWL... (At least more often.)

 

[KrAzY3]

RUN DA BAWL... (At least more often.)

I think it's easy to view caution about over reliance on the passing game, or calls to establish a power running game as a desire to go back to archaic Alabama football. That's not it at all though.

It is almost as simple as running more often, in particular learning the discipline to execute successful run plays in certain situations. I mentioned 2019, where Alabama was reduced to throwing on first and goal from the two (and lost the game and a shot at a championship because of it) but last game where Alabama couldn't get half a yard on the ground on fourth down is also a great example. You need to be able to do those things.

Part of that is doing things the hard way even when there's an easier way (passing,) so that you establish the ability to run when you need to. Every single season where Alabama got away from establishing a really strong running game it ended up costing them.

 

[LeBron47]

I really didn’t like a number of play calls BoB made either. I wish they would make the sideline screen illegal so we would never have to see it again. I would like to amend CPWB statement and say, “three things can happen you run the sideline screen ( I don’t know what it is called, but I know what I callEd it several times on Saturday and I can’t type that or I will be banned) two of them are bad and the third isn’t that good.”

I do think we overlook somethings that definitely affected the game namely, the intensity of the crowd noise (it appeared to me that the band was playing during plays… is that legal)… the intensity of the Texas heat 120 on the field… the defensive planning of Gary Patterson (3-6 mos)… combined with the uneven calls by big twelve officiating crew 15 is not = to 3 interpret it as you want… An the laughable 20.5 betting line from Vegas (not so funny if you took it) along with the media bashing of Texas prior to the game (and really is a team unranked when the coaches poll had them 22?)

Regardless of Sarks pregame comments this was Texas Super Bowl and all the stops were pulled out… these things combined with BoB’s calls made the game more close than it should have been.

The ”first down that wasn’t“ played a huge role in the closeness of the game and whether you believe that we picked up on third down or got it on fourth or blew it with the personel and or formation. That play was huge because we pick it up and we are heading in for second TD and go up 24-16.

just my thoughts

 

[colbysullivan]

That same year Alabama beat 7-6 Arkansas by one point. Still made the playoffs, although obviously lost to that Ohio State team

14-13, but yeah

 

[STONECOLDSABAN]

14-13, but yeah

I think he was referencing Arkansas’s season record.

 

[colbysullivan]

I think he was referencing Arkansas’s season record.

Ahh, yeah I read it wrong.

 

[BamaHoosier]

People/Media are way too worked up about this game. Yes we expect perfection. Yes this is a game we should have won handily. Yes we didn’t look good for 50 minutes of the football game… So what? Bad games happen.

I may have been the only person not surprised by the result, but I’ve made this comp for weeks. In 2019, LSU fielded what is widely regarded as one of the best college football teams of all time. In week 2, they played @ Texas, against a team that ended up 8-5. That game went down to the wire, and LSU needed a late TD to win. That was a different kind of game. It was a shootout where no defense was played. But one struggle win on the road didn’t define LSU’s season, and no one apparently even remembers that game happening. Non-conference road games are just a different beast.

Give Texas credit. That atmosphere was as insane as any I’ve ever seen. Their fans absolutely brought it that day. They played that game like their entire season depended on it. Also give Sark credit. He basically carbon copied Smart’s gameplan from the NCG. He kept us off balance, he put pressure on Bryce, and he forced us into making mistakes… We still won.

I’m seeing all this talk that Bama is overrated. That OSU is head and shoulders better right now… But that’s the same OSU team that had a similar struggle win, AT HOME, against a Notre Dame team that is currently 0-2 and coming off the most embarrassing loss in program history.

Bad games happen. They are learning experiences. We’ll be fine. This season may not always be perfect, but it doesn’t have to be. This team will grow, WRs will get more in-synch. The OL will gel. The D won’t make so many killer mistakes. The sky isn’t falling.

(And for the record, I agree with the loathing of BOB. I’ve hated the hire since the day it was announced. I disagree with at least 60% of his gameplan every game. We’re still 14-2 and a drive away from winning a NC under him. We may be winning in spite of him, but we’re still winning. That’s the Bama talent gap at work.)

Just breathe, my friends. This will be a special year. Just enjoy the ride, even when it’s bumpy. RTR

 

[colbysullivan]

People/Media are way too worked up about this game. Yes we expect perfection. Yes this is a game we should have won handily. Yes we didn’t look good for 50 minutes of the football game… So what? Bad games happen.

I may have been the only person not surprised by the result, but I’ve made this comp for weeks. In 2019, LSU fielded what is widely regarded as one of the best college football teams of all time. In week 2, they played @ Texas, against a team that ended up 8-5. That game went down to the wire, and LSU needed a late TD to win. That was a different kind of game. It was a shootout where no defense was played. But one struggle win on the road didn’t define LSU’s season, and no one apparently even remembers that game happening. Non-conference road games are just a different beast.

Give Texas credit. That atmosphere was as insane as any I’ve ever seen. Their fans absolutely brought it that day. They played that game like their entire season depended on it. Also give Sark credit. He basically carbon copied Smart’s gameplan from the NCG. He kept us off balance, he put pressure on Bryce, and he forced us into making mistakes… We still won.

I’m seeing all this talk that Bama is overrated. That OSU is head and shoulders better right now… But that’s the same OSU team that had a similar struggle win, AT HOME, against a Notre Dame team that is currently 0-2 and coming off the most embarrassing loss in program history.

Bad games happen. They are learning experiences. We’ll be fine. This season may not always be perfect, but it doesn’t have to be. This team will grow, WRs will get more in-synch. The OL will gel. The D won’t make so many killer mistakes. The sky isn’t falling.

(And for the record, I agree with the loathing of BOB. I’ve hated the hire since the day it was announced. I disagree with at least 60% of his gameplan every game. We’re still 14-2 and a drive away from winning a NC under him. We may be winning in spite of him, but we’re still winning. That’s the Bama talent gap at work.)

Just breathe, my friends. This will be a special year. Just enjoy the ride, even when it’s bumpy. RTR

The problem isn’t THIS game alone. When you combine it with last year (aTm, LSU, Arkansas, Auburn), there is a clear pattern here.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Heather Dinich says Alabama is not a lock for the Playoff and points to several deficiencies. I sure didn't know teams could be locked in to the playoff after game 2. Who knew?
Maybe Bama can get locked in after game 3!

I stopped reading here...

 

[AlexanderFan]

I will say that nobody on this board overlooked the flaws of this team.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I will say that nobody on this board overlooked the flaws of this team.

You are exactly right. The OL was a concern for us all off-season, the flavorless playcalling of BOB and the WR's were the three biggest concerns of the off season, and ALL THREE are already major talking points after the second game.

 

[UAH]

Stephen Smith on Touchdown Alabama talked today about BOB turning a Maserati into a Honda Civic saying he had the best QB in CNS's career and has him hamstrung with his play calling. Not one to turn to Stephen much but found today interesting.

 

[bamaga]

Heather Dinich says Alabama is not a lock for the Playoff and points to several deficiencies. I sure didn't know teams could be locked in to the playoff after game 2. Who knew?
Maybe Bama can get locked in after game 3!

I guarantee if they run through the 6th toughest schedule in the country, which is their SOS last I checked, they will make the playoffs even if they win every game 20-19

 

[bamaga]

Here is a flaw I read about on CBS sports page-

. only eight FBS teams have yet to force a turnover. Alabama and Notre Dame are two of them

that’s troubling even if it is early in the season. Especially given the starting QBs have been knocked out in both games