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re: Colorado State is a solid football team. This week will be a nice step up.
Posted on 9/13/17 at 10:50 pm to tider04
Posted on 9/13/17 at 10:50 pm to tider04
quote:
Secondly, I have to admit the idea of moving Womack to RG and Wills to RT really intrigues me.
I'd like to see that lineup in this game too. The RBs and passing game production should both improve significantly if the entire oline plays at a high level more consistently -- staying ahead of the chains and sustaining drives, more explosive plays and scoring more TDs in the red zone.
This post was edited on 9/14/17 at 7:44 am
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Posted on 9/14/17 at 7:24 am to AllBamaDoesIsWin
quote:
Same. I love to see Jalen slice up defenses with his legs, but I don't want him getting hurt especially against Colorado State of all teams.
Bro he had almost 1,000 yards last year, it's implied he will run a lot and if you ever watch the way he goes down, he never takes a hard shot. I think Jalen wants to win and will do what it takes to get that.
Posted on 9/14/17 at 8:33 am to SummerOfGeorge
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Posted on 9/14/17 at 9:04 am to JustGetItRight
quote:
Vanderbilt is being slept on A LOT
Based on??
They haven't played anyone.. Not saying they aren't a threat in the East, but they haven't proven it yet to jump to the conclusion they are slept on
Posted on 9/15/17 at 11:29 am to Gary Busey
quote:
Hopefully this is a game where we really start to see the offense develop its identity.
What you should be watching in Alabama's third game | al.com
quote:
The third Saturday of September is already here -- with it comes a new set of circumstances for the Alabama football team.
A step up in competition arrives with Colorado State at 6 p.m. CT in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Coach Mike Bobo has an offense that already put 58 points on Oregon State this season.
The Rams (2-1) are certainly better than the Fresno State team that left with a 41-10 loss last week. Still, this is the unspoken reverse preseason for Alabama. After the showdown with Florida State to open things, two straight non-conference home games were just what the Crimson Tide needed after paying a physical toll.
So, what will we be watching closest Saturday? Here's the list:
How will the linebackers respond this time?
It was clear this will take a little time in the current configuration. Without Anfernee Jennings (outside) and Rashaan Evans (middle), there was some serious on-the-job training against Fresno State.
It'll be interesting to see how much improvement is shown by Christopher Allen, the true freshman who saw his first action last week. The speed with which he plays will show how far his confidence has risen from week to week. The same is true for fourth-year junior Jamey Mosley. He started and got the majority of snaps on the outside with three top players out.
In the middle, Dylan Moses hasn't been spotted in practice after Nick Saban said he expected him to miss Monday. The freshman saw early action in certain situations against Fresno State. Keith Holcombe and Mack Wilson would figure to see those snaps if he's not in there for Colorado State.
Downfield passing
The talk of the offensive offseason remains under wraps to this point in September. The downfield throws haven't been a considerable part of the plan after being a big part of the discussion. They've had Hurts throwing mostly screen passes and quick routes to the sideline.
A few times he's been in the pocket on plays that figure to be deeper throws before taking off to run. How many times he stretches the field will be something to watch with SEC competition coming next week at Vanderbilt.
"One thing we have not done well in two games is throw the ball down the field," Saban said on his radio show Thursday. "And most of the time, it's not because of the quarterback, which everybody wants to blame, or the receivers not having the opportunity to be open because they have been. It's because we have too much pressure in the pocket early in the down when the quarterback cannot operate like he'd like to."
The Colorado State defense has allowed six passes of 30-plus yards, though its No. 127 ranking is skewed by the fact it includes three games while most have played just two.
With players like Calvin Ridley, Jerry Jeudy and Robert Foster, there are targets capable in the downfield passing game.
How about offensive line in running game?
Alabama's rotated running backs and used Jalen Hurts quite a bit in the ground game so far. It hasn't been necessarily bad, there just haven't been the holes that lead to big running plays by the backs.
The longest run by a running back was on the first play of the season -- the 34- yard run by Damien Harris against Florida State. Hurts cracked off a 55-yarder last week against Fresno State. Hitting big plays in the running game has been a calling card in recent years, so it'll be interesting to see when the lanes start to open.
Saban on Monday said there were seven plays from last week that would have been bigger if blocks were just finished. He lamented Saturday when they were stuffed on the goal line on a third-down run. That moment contributed to the 44.4 percent touchdown rate in the red zone this season. It hasn't helped the 26.9 percentage in third-down conversions either.
QB rotation
Tua Tagovailoa got his first experience last week with a carefully planned second-quarter possession. Saban didn't take kindly to a question about his planned usage this week, which would be expected.
It wouldn't be surprising to see the freshman in the first half again if the score is comfortable for the hosts. They want him to have experience in case he's needed in the event of an injury for Hurts. It's a unique situation since the two backups were in high school this time last fall.
This post was edited on 9/15/17 at 11:30 am
Posted on 9/15/17 at 12:21 pm to JordonfortheJ
quote:
Based on??
They haven't played anyone.. Not saying they aren't a threat in the East, but they haven't proven it yet to jump to the conclusion they are slept on
By 'slept on' I mean as an east contender, not in a national sense. With that caveat in place, here are the three reasons:
1) They've bludgeoned the two teams they've played, which is something pretty much no other team in the east can say.
2) Middle Tennessee looks like they might be better than their reputation suggests.
3) Vandy seems to be playing really good defense, and they've got both a good QB and solid SEC-quality RB. The east is a shaitshow and a team with those three things is already ahead of most of the competition.
K-State will tell a lot. IF Vandy is good enough to beat them, a trip to Atlanta isn't an unreachable goal.
Posted on 9/15/17 at 1:20 pm to JustGetItRight
A Bama site retweeted Christian Miller's dad saying he hopes to be back by end of the season, hopefully he can be part of the rotation to some extent for the post season if fully cleared by medical
Posted on 9/15/17 at 2:51 pm to TidalSurge1
quote:
Dylan Moses wasn't seen. The freshman outside linebacker has yet to be spotted at practice this week. Saban said Moses would miss Monday's workout but didn't indicate then that his absence would be prolonged.
Hmmm...wassup with dat???
Posted on 9/15/17 at 2:59 pm to MrBiriwa
I've been wondering all week.This post was edited on 9/15/17 at 3:00 pm
Posted on 9/15/17 at 6:46 pm to TidalSurge1
quote:
The true freshman is likely in the team’s concussion protocol, BamaOnLine has learned
Re: Moses
This post was edited on 9/15/17 at 6:46 pm
Posted on 9/16/17 at 9:10 am to TidalSurge1
A look at key matchups, factors for Tide-Colorado State | al.com
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The details:
What: No. 1 Alabama vs. Colorado State
When: Saturday, 6 p.m. CT
Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium
Line: Alabama is a 28 1/2-point favorite, according to Danny Sheridan
This game will determine...
This is the final tune-up game before Alabama opens SEC play. The Crimson Tide will be facing a Colorado State team that's continued to rebuild after posting just one winning season between 2004 and 2012. The Rams have won seven games each of the last two years and enter Saturday 2-1.
Three things to look for:
1. Jalen Hurts: People outside the program continue to question Hurts as a passer. This, though, could be an opportunity for Hurts to post some decent passing numbers. Colorado State gave up an average of 30 points per game last year and is yielding an average of 259 passing yards per game so far this season.
2. Tua Tagovailoa: Alabama got the freshman quarterback a good amount of playing time last week and will probably look to do so again this week. Coach Nick Saban said earlier this month that he views it as important to get Tagovailoa game experience during this stretch in case anything happens to Hurts and Tagovailoa needs to step in.
3. Right tackle: Matt Womack was better against Fresno State and was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week, so it will be interesting to see how the redshirt sophomore builds on that, especially considering that it seems like freshman Jedrick Wills is still pushing for that right tackle job. Wills played a lot last week and received good feedback from Saban.
Key matchup:
Colorado State passing game vs. Alabama secondary. Led by quarterback Nick Stevens, Colorado State has scored 38 points or more in two of its first three games. Stevens is throwing for an average of 327 yards per game with six passing touchdowns and has three wide receivers each averaging at least four catches and at least 56 yards per game.
By the numbers: 28
Colorado State ranked 28th nationally last year with an average of 35.3 points per game.
Colorado State player to watch: Quarterback Nick Stevens
A three-year starter, Stevens has thrown for 309 yards or more in each of the Rams' first three games, including 334 yards and three touchdowns during a 58-27 season-opening win over Oregon State. Stevens threw for 445 yards and five touchdowns in last year's Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
This post was edited on 9/16/17 at 9:12 am
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