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Now that we've all processed the Sugar Bowl loss...
Posted on 1/4/15 at 2:22 pm
Posted on 1/4/15 at 2:22 pm
TL/DR....but I think these are some reasonable assessments:
- Alabama won the SEC, beat our rivals, and made the first ever CFB playoff. Really difficult to get upset over that and literally every other program, minus 2 at the moment, would trade places with us for that success. Losing to OSU doesn't represent a decline or the end of any kind of era. Its like making fun of Duke or Kentucky for losing in the Final Four.
- Alabama lost to a very good team that was very well coached. That wasn't Jim Tressell's OSU. That was Urban Meyer, who is the second best coach in CFB. That OSU team has lost 3 games in 3 seasons. Its not like we lost to the typical Big 10 team we've punished over the last few years. OSU came in and played with the fire & intensity that a lot of underdogs typically do. That wasn't a pretender that beat us. The Buckeyes had the resolve of National Championship caliber team.
- While we need an offense that can keep up with other dynamic offenses, we have to return to the mindset that you still have to take what the defense gives you. If OSU were in our position on Thur night and had a back that could get 7 yards a clip, they would've run him until we stopped it.
- As good as Kiffin has been, the Sugar Bowl wasn't the first time all year where we had long periods of 3 and outs. Those kind of offensive droughts put a lot of pressure on a defense that wasn't able to handle it. Lane needs to learn how to play the percentages and that moving the chains needs to be the priority when the situation calls for it.
- It appears to me that we have an issue with in-game adjustments. The way we close out and start each half is puzzling. If teams continue to have success against us to start the third quarter, then we need to start deferring to the second half.
- The third and longs we're giving up on defense is an issue that has gotten progressively worse over the last three seasons. Its probably a result of a perfect storm of issues. We have to get more talent in our secondary but we shouldn't have to rely on first round talent across the board in order to have an efficient secondary or efficient defense. We have to fix this because giving up a third & long completely deflates our team while giving all the momentum to the opponent.
- Blake Sims will go down as a legend for UA. He surprised everybody and is responsible for much of our offensive success this year. He obviously had limitations. In the end, the Home Blake vs. Road Blake argument was never settled. Road Blake showed up against OSU.
- Alabama won the SEC, beat our rivals, and made the first ever CFB playoff. Really difficult to get upset over that and literally every other program, minus 2 at the moment, would trade places with us for that success. Losing to OSU doesn't represent a decline or the end of any kind of era. Its like making fun of Duke or Kentucky for losing in the Final Four.
- Alabama lost to a very good team that was very well coached. That wasn't Jim Tressell's OSU. That was Urban Meyer, who is the second best coach in CFB. That OSU team has lost 3 games in 3 seasons. Its not like we lost to the typical Big 10 team we've punished over the last few years. OSU came in and played with the fire & intensity that a lot of underdogs typically do. That wasn't a pretender that beat us. The Buckeyes had the resolve of National Championship caliber team.
- While we need an offense that can keep up with other dynamic offenses, we have to return to the mindset that you still have to take what the defense gives you. If OSU were in our position on Thur night and had a back that could get 7 yards a clip, they would've run him until we stopped it.
- As good as Kiffin has been, the Sugar Bowl wasn't the first time all year where we had long periods of 3 and outs. Those kind of offensive droughts put a lot of pressure on a defense that wasn't able to handle it. Lane needs to learn how to play the percentages and that moving the chains needs to be the priority when the situation calls for it.
- It appears to me that we have an issue with in-game adjustments. The way we close out and start each half is puzzling. If teams continue to have success against us to start the third quarter, then we need to start deferring to the second half.
- The third and longs we're giving up on defense is an issue that has gotten progressively worse over the last three seasons. Its probably a result of a perfect storm of issues. We have to get more talent in our secondary but we shouldn't have to rely on first round talent across the board in order to have an efficient secondary or efficient defense. We have to fix this because giving up a third & long completely deflates our team while giving all the momentum to the opponent.
- Blake Sims will go down as a legend for UA. He surprised everybody and is responsible for much of our offensive success this year. He obviously had limitations. In the end, the Home Blake vs. Road Blake argument was never settled. Road Blake showed up against OSU.
7
Posted on 1/4/15 at 3:25 pm to FairhopeTider
One other psychological element that makes it tough - we have been the favored team for every game since 2009. More often than not, the line is generally greater than a TD - even against top 10 teams. It is crazy! It has to be tough to always be expected to win every game.
Posted on 1/4/15 at 3:58 pm to Rocco Lampone
I don't mind so much that we lost. What pisses me off is the over the last few years, we've lost that "make his arse quit" mentality.
We get that back with the talent Saban keeps hauling in and my dumb arse could coach us to 8 wins.
We get that back with the talent Saban keeps hauling in and my dumb arse could coach us to 8 wins.
Posted on 1/4/15 at 4:07 pm to Rocco Lampone
quote:
One other psychological element that makes it tough - we have been the favored team for every game since 2009.
I agree. The one time we've played someone without that element was Miss State this year IMO. They came in #1 and I think our guys were charged up to beat the #1 team. We seemed to play pretty loose for the first quarter or two of that game.
In the end though, we're going to be carrying that albatross. That's why its easier to build a program than it is to sustain it.
Posted on 1/4/15 at 4:50 pm to FairhopeTider
quote:
Losing to OSU doesn't represent a decline or the end of any kind of era.
I said this at the beginning of this year, but in a way there is the end of the "there's Bama and then everyone else" era. Almost any team (SEC & Bowl) can beat us on any given Saturday which I guess has always been true, but it never felt like that. Truth be told, this team was just a few plays away from going 9-3 in the regular season. Don't get me wrong. I still think we could win the title next year, but I am not expecting it.
quote:
- Alabama lost to a very good team that was very well coached. That wasn't Jim Tressell's OSU. That was Urban Meyer, who is the second best coach in CFB. That OSU team has lost 3 games in 3 seasons. Its not like we lost to the typical Big 10 team we've punished over the last few years. OSU came in and played with the fire & intensity that a lot of underdogs typically do. That wasn't a pretender that beat us. The Buckeyes had the resolve of National Championship caliber team.
Urban Meyer is a damn good coach. That being said, I wonder if their mindset was just more with it than ours. Similar to our 2009 team where we would not be denied. Then you have Evans mentioning living it up on Bourbon and Collins posting an edit on his instagram of him holding the NCG trophy, and you have to wonder where the mindset was of some of our players. Again, not an excuse, but there is something that can't be replicated when you feel disrespected versus entitled.
quote:
While we need an offense that can keep up with other dynamic offenses, we have to return to the mindset that you still have to take what the defense gives you. If OSU were in our position on Thur night and had a back that could get 7 yards a clip, they would've run him until we stopped it
I miss having a run game. The frustrating part of it is that we didn't necessarily lack the talent to have one this year, just the playcalling. How many times did tOSU stop Henry for no yards when he ran behind Cam?
quote:
Lane needs to learn how to play the percentages and that moving the chains needs to be the priority when the situation calls for it.
Blake made a terrible throw to OJ. That being said, why were we in such a hurry to score? I miss having 8 minute drives that would bleed the clock and exhaust the competition. I hope Kiffin takes a long look in the mirror after this one.
quote:
The third and longs we're giving up on defense is an issue that has gotten progressively worse over the last three seasons.
I'm not sure what we could have done differently tbh. It was absolutely frustrating, but beyond having better personnel, what could have been done there?
quote:
- Blake Sims will go down as a legend for UA. He surprised everybody and is responsible for much of our offensive success this year. He obviously had limitations. In the end, the Home Blake vs. Road Blake argument was never settled. Road Blake showed up against OSU.
I hate it for him because there is no Bama player I'd rather have seen go out on top like Blake. But Road Blake again showed up when the team needed him to be on his A game, he was on his C game.
Posted on 1/4/15 at 5:06 pm to FairhopeTider
We lost! Just got from a trip and told everyone not to tell me, dang!
Posted on 1/4/15 at 5:10 pm to FairhopeTider
I was saying that the only thing that bothered me was defense because we scored 35 points, but the amount of wasted field position and insanely short drives leading to punts is unacceptable. If we call the right plays I don't think it's unrealistic to think we score more than 45 points. I think the offensive play calling reflected desperation earlier than it should have. I know Kiffin likes to do big things on first downs and early in drives, but that hadn't worked once in that game and he still decided to throw deep after being handed perfect field position and the ball was intercepted. And the QB draw on 3rd and 5 when their defensive line was clearly gashing us at that point? Come on. Not only abandoned the run too early, but we got put in positions where we couldn't run the ball because we HAD to score or move the ball immediately to keep the game alive, and OSU knew it and Alabama couldn't execute.
Then on defense, it's just the same crap over and over. I completely agree about not being able to adjust. They did the same thing all game and we got destroyed. I don't understand what Kirby Smart is thinking when QBs are running all over his defense. It's like he pretends it isn't happening or that the offense is just going to stop doing it. Then no matter how bad they are at blitzing in a game, he just keeps calling a blitz over and over and over and over. We give them a free play because they just cannot get to the QB and even when we do, odds are someone will get a hand on him and he'll run for 10-20 yards. I just don't know what the problem is. Is it a coaching problem, a play calling problem, or if we just do not have a single defender on this team who can stop a QB from having a huge run. I think keeping Jackson in at corner was a mistake in this game. Clearly his injury is bothering him and they figured it out. That's pretty much everything I took from this game.
Then on defense, it's just the same crap over and over. I completely agree about not being able to adjust. They did the same thing all game and we got destroyed. I don't understand what Kirby Smart is thinking when QBs are running all over his defense. It's like he pretends it isn't happening or that the offense is just going to stop doing it. Then no matter how bad they are at blitzing in a game, he just keeps calling a blitz over and over and over and over. We give them a free play because they just cannot get to the QB and even when we do, odds are someone will get a hand on him and he'll run for 10-20 yards. I just don't know what the problem is. Is it a coaching problem, a play calling problem, or if we just do not have a single defender on this team who can stop a QB from having a huge run. I think keeping Jackson in at corner was a mistake in this game. Clearly his injury is bothering him and they figured it out. That's pretty much everything I took from this game.
Posted on 1/4/15 at 6:23 pm to ConnorTide
I think Saban is so wedded to the thought of size he will simply not put his best pass rushers on the field. On 3rd and long, why wouldn't we have Williams and Evans on the outside and Pettway and Dixson at DT and just tell them, "Boys, go get him!"
How on earth you can look at Pettway and think he is an outside pass rusher is beyond me.
How on earth you can look at Pettway and think he is an outside pass rusher is beyond me.
Posted on 1/4/15 at 7:32 pm to FairhopeTider
See ya'll in September
I'm already in Gymnastics mode.
Go get'em flippy girls!
I'm already in Gymnastics mode.
Go get'em flippy girls!
Posted on 1/4/15 at 8:13 pm to Lordofwrath88
M&W's golf here 
Posted on 1/5/15 at 9:16 am to Gary Busey
We still have work to do on defense to adjust to the way offense is being played today. We adopted some of that new fangled stuff ourself to some degree and had some success but we have to do a better job developing quarterbacks. We can't win championships in today's college football with converted running backs playing QB.
I believe Saban improves incrementally over time. He won't sit still like many think he will. The improvements we made on the defensive line were massive this season and resulted in us beating Auburn. Saban will keep plugging away with schemes, recruiting and development until he gets back to the big dance.
I believe Saban improves incrementally over time. He won't sit still like many think he will. The improvements we made on the defensive line were massive this season and resulted in us beating Auburn. Saban will keep plugging away with schemes, recruiting and development until he gets back to the big dance.
Posted on 1/5/15 at 1:22 pm to FairhopeTider
quote:
Alabama won the SEC, beat our rivals, and made the first ever CFB playoff. Really difficult to get upset over that and literally every other program, minus 2 at the moment, would trade places with us for that success. Losing to OSU doesn't represent a decline or the end of any kind of era. Its like making fun of Duke or Kentucky for losing in the Final Four.
Agree....we overacheived based on the players we lost from last years team. I didnt expect a SEC Title nor BCS title this year, It was a great season all things considered
quote:
Alabama lost to a very good team that was very well coached. That wasn't Jim Tressell's OSU. That was Urban Meyer, who is the second best coach in CFB. That OSU team has lost 3 games in 3 seasons. Its not like we lost to the typical Big 10 team we've punished over the last few years. OSU came in and played with the fire & intensity that a lot of underdogs typically do. That wasn't a pretender that beat us. The Buckeyes had the resolve of National Championship caliber team.
Very good team we lost to, but that win was there for the taking. Little to no execution on defense coupled with some huge errors by the offense. Cant make mistakes like that vs good teams
quote:
While we need an offense that can keep up with other dynamic offenses, we have to return to the mindset that you still have to take what the defense gives you. If OSU were in our position on Thur night and had a back that could get 7 yards a clip, they would've run him until we stopped it.
Agree. Bama was dominating the OSU line running away from Bosa. Think Kiffin saw some matchups with Coop he liked and tried to hard to end the game with Cooper, rather than being patient and running the ball. Where was the zone read? Kiffin wanted to make Cooper "show out" when the running game was working. His West Coast roots came back to haunt us
quote:
As good as Kiffin has been, the Sugar Bowl wasn't the first time all year where we had long periods of 3 and outs. Those kind of offensive droughts put a lot of pressure on a defense that wasn't able to handle it. Lane needs to learn how to play the percentages and that moving the chains needs to be the priority when the situation calls for it.
Agree. You find a weakeness and exploit it. OSU played 2 safeties high all game. They didnt want Coop going over the top. That alone should tell you to keep running the ball. Its a crime that Henry only had 13 carries.
quote:
The third and longs we're giving up on defense is an issue that has gotten progressively worse over the last three seasons. Its probably a result of a perfect storm of issues. We have to get more talent in our secondary but we shouldn't have to rely on first round talent across the board in order to have an efficient secondary or efficient defense. We have to fix this because giving up a third & long completely deflates our team while giving all the momentum to the opponent
Agree. QB runs killed us on 3rd down
quote:
Blake Sims will go down as a legend for UA. He surprised everybody and is responsible for much of our offensive success this year. He obviously had limitations. In the end, the Home Blake vs. Road Blake argument was never settled. Road Blake showed up against OSU.
Considering no one gave the guy a shot in the first place, Im happy with his performance overrall. We one the SEC and made the playoff with a 1 read QB. Gives me hope that if we can get a QB back there who can read the entire field could do wonders in Kiffins offense
Posted on 1/5/15 at 2:12 pm to FairhopeTider
Alright yall. I have a confession. I'd been wearing the same lucky shirt on game day since after Ole Miss without washing it. Well, I accidentally washed said lucky shirt a week before the game. We then proceed to lose the game.
Sorry guys, this all is my fault. I won't let it happen again.
Sorry guys, this all is my fault. I won't let it happen again.
Posted on 1/5/15 at 2:14 pm to chattabama
You mother fricker. 
Posted on 1/5/15 at 2:47 pm to AllBamaDoesIsWin
I have to confess that when I saw it in the bin while folding my clean clothes, my first thought was "Prepare Uranus."
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