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re: Official In-Season Practice, Injury Reports and Press Conferences Thread: 12-0
Posted on 10/6/16 at 8:48 am to TideSaint
Posted on 10/6/16 at 8:48 am to TideSaint
quote:
DROPPING THE BALL BEFORE THE GOAL LINE
Sophomore safety Ronnie Harrison scored the first touchdown of his Alabama career this past weekend in the Tide’s 34-6 win over the Kentucky Wildcats. Midway through the second quarter, Harrison scooped a Rashaan Evans’ forced fumble and returned it 55 yards for the score, which gave Alabama a 17-3 lead in the game and its fifth defensive touchdown of the season.
But Harrison may have never crossed the goal line with possession of the football. An epidemic in college football, the young defensive back may have dropped it as he made his way into the end zone, which, of course, would not have resulted in a touchdown. Luckily for Harrison, it was not reviewed and the extra point was kicked. But he wasn’t safe during film review.
Saban noticed the blunder and pointed it out for all the other players to see.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Saban said. “We addressed it before the game ever started and we showed the whole team that play.”
6
Posted on 10/6/16 at 8:48 am to TideSaint
quote:
INJURY UPDATES
A handful of players have worn braces or appeared limited in practice this week, but Saban did not mention the possibility of any player missing Saturday’s road game at Arkansas during his post-practice press conference Wednesday.
“We don’t really have any new injuries or anything to report,” Saban said. “Everybody is OK and moving in the right direction.”
Wide receiver ArDarius Stewart (knee) has practiced all week with a brace on his left knee and looks like he’ll be able to play Saturday. Freshman wideout Trevon Diggs was back on the field after missing Tuesday’s practice session.
Posted on 10/6/16 at 8:49 am to TideSaint
It looks like we are going to be healthy for the game on Saturday. 
Posted on 10/6/16 at 8:50 am to TideSaint
Dp
This post was edited on 10/6/16 at 8:52 am
Posted on 10/6/16 at 9:22 am to TideSaint
And completely focused, from the sound of things.
Posted on 10/7/16 at 8:39 am to TideSaint
quote:
TUSCALOOSA -- Top-ranked Alabama has a difficult challenge in front of it in a road game at No. 16 Arkansas. But that is only the first obstacle in a daunting three-game slate of games before the Crimson Tide’s Oct. 29 bye week.
Looking ahead -- as Nick Saban cringes -- past this weekend’s game in Fayetteville, Alabama will travel to face rival and currently-undefeated Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 15, and will host undefeated Texas A&M the following weekend.
Needless to say, the next three Saturdays will be crucial to the Tide’s postseason hopes.
“For sure, the next three weeks are going to be a grind,” center Bradley Bozeman said. “We have Arkansas this week, then Tennessee and Texas A&M. We have to take it game-by-game and bring our best every week.
“We have to bring our best every game, just come to play every play.”
Alabama will have its hands full with an Arkansas team that has played it close the past two seasons. (27-14 in 2015, 14-13 in 2014) after a couple of 52-0 blowouts from 2012-13. But the overall road to the playoff doesn’t get easier.
The Tide, Volunteers and Aggies will take part in a round robin the next three weekends, with Tennessee and Texas A&M battling tomorrow afternoon in College Station. Only one of them will remain undefeated before facing Alabama.
But right now, the Razorbacks have the Tide’s full attention.
“We really don’t try to look down the road because we can get beat any Saturday, so we’ve just got to focus on one game at a time,” linebacker Shaun Hamilton said. “... It really doesn’t matter because at the end of the day, you gotta play football. It’s the SEC, every game will be a good game.”
Did Alabama’s players look at the schedule before the season and notice this brutal, three-game stretch?
“Probably before this season,” defensive end Dalvin Tomlinson said. “Pretty much every year, we have a long, SEC stretch, so I'm pretty used to it by now.”
It is becoming old hat for them. Last year, they faced the same slate of games in October but traveled to Georgia the week before. In 2014, the Tide faced Florida, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Texas A&M and Tennessee in consecutive weeks.
Things are a bit different this season, however, as five weeks into the schedule the Tide sits with a 5-0 (2-0 SEC) record and a win over Ole Miss under its belt. It can’t, however, take either of those things for granted with the stretch it faces.
Entering the Arkansas game, Alabama is a different team than it was in the season opener. But one constant remains for the players, and it has helped the Tide be relatively healthy ahead of its SEC matchup with the Hogs.
“Just that you have to take care of your body,” Tomlinson said, “and just stay in the training room and just be mentally focused week in and week out.”
LINK
Posted on 10/7/16 at 8:41 am to TideSaint
Isaiah Wilson and Allan Walters are visiting Rutgers this weekend.
Posted on 10/7/16 at 9:00 am to TideSaint
quote:
Another year, another Alabama team that’s rolling like a machine.
As usual, the Crimson Tide are winning behind a great defense and a strong rushing attack. Their biggest issue has been hitting explosive plays on offense. Namely, Jalen Hurts’ struggles throwing the deep ball.
Under Lane Kiffin, Alabama’s offense has been built around a powerful running game and a vertical-strike passing game, concealed with a lots of window dressing.
Kiffin utilizes everything in the playbook to fool a defense: misdirection calls, sweeps, ghost motions and so on and so forth. Mostly, he’s uses constraint plays and perimeter runs to force the defense to move laterally before hitting them with a bomb down the field.
Hurts has given a new lease on life with Kiffin’s offense. He’s a genuine threat on option plays and can keep plays alive with his feet.
His biggest weakness has been accuracy down the field. Hurts has connected on just six throws that have travelled 20 yards or more through the air (27 attempts). With three of those coming on scramble plays — outside of the structure of the offense. Without hitting shot plays, Alabama’s offense becomes overly horizontal and much easier to defend.
It’s certainly not a question of talent. Hurts possesses one of the best arms in the SEC and the ball explodes out his hand. It’s the accuracy that has been lacking.
Alabama doesn’t demand much of its quarterback. The Tide have ridden that formula to all kinds of success. Under Kiffin, the “game manager” approach has been different, with quarterbacks being relied on to hit three or four big throws that will give them enough explosive plays to win a game.
Through disguise and misdirection, the hope is that Kiffin can scheme guys open and create easy throws. However, in tight games, Hurts will be relied upon to make big-time throws into smaller windows.
Alabama’s national championship team from last year is the perfect example. In the Tide’s only regular-season loss to Ole Miss, Jacob Coker and Cooper Bateman missed on plays deep down the field, resulting in turnovers that ultimately cost them the game. In the national championship game, Coker made almost every big throw required, hitting four passes over 20-plus yards on the way to his best individual performance and a championship.
To make another championship run, they need Hurts to hit a similar volume of deep balls — increasing the explosive play total that currently sits at 86th in the nation, per Football Study Hall.
Alabama’s deep passing game isn’t based on rhythm. Instead, it’s often slow-developing. The Tide use isolation routes and double-moves, with receivers Calvin Ridley and ArDarius Stewart trusted to win 1-on-1 on the outside.
Kiffin has done a good job of creating ways to give Hurts — a true freshman — more time to survey the field and find the best matchup, starting with utilizing deeper dropbacks.
On shot plays, Hurts has been taking five- to seven-step drops despite working primarily out of the shotgun (quarterbacks traditionally take one- to three-step drops from the gun).
Here, in the Week 5 matchup vs. Kentucky, Alabama is looking to work a 1-on-1 matchup for Ridley. Hurts is working touchdown-to-checkdown: If he gets the deep matchup he likes, Hurts takes the shot downfield. If not, he throws the ball into the flat. Kiffin uses both a play-fake and fake-bubble screen to challenge the eye discipline of the secondary, hopefully forcing a safety into an error and freeing up Ridley.
The throw is a poor one. It’s close to double coverage (though the safety misreads it) and Ridley is unable to make the catch for what would have been a 38-yard score.
Kiffin has also moved the launching point, buying more time as slow designs develop.
Here, vs. Ole Miss, the Tide run a play-action throwback pass. Hurts lines up under center close to the left hashmark (fi 1). He carries out the play-fake before rolling beyond the right hash (fig2), throwing back to a wide-open tight end running a wheel route (fig3).
He misses the easy throw, costing the team a touchdown and forcing it to kick a field goal.
On two plays, Kiffin designed favorable matchups, with no pressure in Hurts’ face. He missed them both, erasing two potential touchdowns.
Again, it’s not that he doesn’t have the ability. Although he’s a true freshman, Hurts has shown as much natural talent as any quarterback in the SEC.
In the fourth quarter of the Kentucky game he made a throw to Ridley that will rival any made this year.
Yet again, he takes a five-step drop from the shotgun. This time, he does a better job of holding a safety in the middle of the field by flashing his eyes initially to the left side of the field. Then he uncorks an outrageous throw to Ridley’s outside shoulder. The ball leaves his hand at the Alabama 42-yard line and lands in Ridley’s hands at the Kentucky 5-yard line.
It’s a rare throw that highlights just how egregious some of the simpler misses have been.
Hurts has flashed, but now he needs to find consistency. True freshman or not, completing 23 percent of balls down the field isn’t going to be good enough.
LINK
Posted on 10/7/16 at 9:04 am to TideSaint
quote:
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 1 Alabama travels to No. 16 Arkansas for its second SEC road test on Saturday. Kickoff from Razorback Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. (ET) on ESPN.
Here are five things to watch:
5. Key playmakers should be healthy
Alabama should have Damien Harris (ankle) and ArDarius Stewart (knee) healthy this week. Harris played a little in the Kentucky game last week, but he should be a full-go Saturday in Arkansas. Harris and freshman Joshua Jacobs should give Alabama’s backfield a nice one-two punch. Jacobs rushed for 197 yards and 3 touchdowns in the two games (Kent State, Kentucky) that Harris was banged up.
Stewart should help open up Alabama’s passing game. Stewart missed the last two games with a sprained knee, but he participated in practice this week so he should be a full go.
Stewart’s return will help take some of the pressure off Calvin Ridley.
4. Alabama’s defense vs. “regular people”
Whether it be three- or four-receiver sets, most of the teams Alabama has faced to this point of the season ran some variation of a spread offense.
Arkansas presents a unique challenge as it runs a traditional offense with more two tight end sets, or what Nick Saban likes to call “regular people.”
This will require Alabama to rotate more defensive linemen, particular on the interior of the defensive line.
“We’re working hard with those guys. Josh (Frazier) has done a good job of playing nose guard,” Saban said. “We haven’t played a lot of regular people where the nose guard plays a lot but he has played some in nickel and improved. Worked hard and got his weight down and moves a little better, the pass rush is a little better. I think in a game like this, he’s going to get a lot of opportunity to be in there. This is his kind of game. He’s done a really good job. Johnny Dwight, we’re trying to work with and develop him. Raekwon (Davis) is still developing. I think Dakota Ball has done a good job all year long. We just have to keep working with these guys so that they can be more consistent in how they play, technique-wise as well as understanding assignments and being able to execute them on a consistent basis.”
3. Will Hurts run much?
Blake Barnett leaving Alabama left many to question how the Crimson Tide would manage the designed runs with freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Hurts ran a good bit in Alabama’s win at Ole Miss. Hurts’ runs came mostly on scrambles last week in Alabama’s first game without Barnett.
Saban said Alabama is going to continue to take full advantage of Hurts’ skill set, including his legs.
“We have confidence in Cooper Bateman. He’s been a backup quarterback for us in the past and has some experience and has a similar skill set,” Saban said. “We certainly don’t want to do anything that would get our quarterback injured in any way, shape or form. But I think his skill set is what it is and we have to use the things that he can do effectively in our offense. We continue to try to make improvements in the passing game. I think one of Jalen’s great assets as a player is that he can make plays with his feet and I don’t think we can totally inhibit him from doing that. I guess if he gets injured doing it, then it’ll my fault.
“I guess if he gets injured by sitting in the pocket throwing a pass, then it’s OK. (It’s) football. I don’t worry about guys getting hurt. We’re going to do what we have to do to try to give ourselves the best chance to be successful and give him the best chance to be successful.”
2. Will we see improvement in the passing game?
Having ArDarius Stewart back from injury should help the passing game. But Hurts also must show improvement with his accuracy.
Hurts has been late on a few throws in the last couple of games. Hurts has a strong arm, but he needs to put a little more touch on some of his deep throws so the receivers can run under the ball.
Hurts still is a true freshman so expectations have to be realistic for him. Heading into the midpoint of the season, it’s time for Hurts to show growth on deep throws. He took a big step in the second half vs. Kentucky when he found Calvin Ridley on a few long passes.
Saban provided insight into how Alabama is managing Hurts during his Wednesday news conference.
“What we’re talking about, basically, is you have a play call, you have a pattern that develops, and the guy has to read, sometimes whether the middle of the field open, whether the middle of the field is closed, as to which side he’s going to throw the ball to,” Saban said. “So that’s one of the things that we think about. Other times you’re just trying to limit the side of the field he’s going to throw the ball to, he’s reading some kind of a high-low, which is a little bit easier for him to do. He’s a very bright guy, I think he get it.
“He just needs turns so that he can get the kind of experience to feel comfortable and confident in doing this, sort of that same old over and over and over and over thing. Everyone thinks that you practice something to get it right. You really practice it until you can’t get it wrong. There’s a difference in that.”
1. Will the non-offensive touchdown streak continue?
One of the interesting side shows to Alabama’s season has been the number of non-offensive touchdowns the Crimson Tide has scored.
Alabama has scored a non-offensive touchdown in seven straight games dating back to the 2015 College Football Playoff semifinal vs. Michigan State.
Alabama leads the nation with 7 non-offensive touchdowns. Two have come on punt returns (Eddie Jackson, Xavian Marks).
Further, Alabama has scored 5 defensive touchdowns this season, which also is the best in the country.
Alabama’s defense has scored the same amount of touchdowns it has allowed. Four of those touchdowns came against Ole Miss in the Tide’s 48-43 victory, and the other came vs. Western Kentucky. That means three of the Tide’s opponents have failed to score touchdowns.
LINK
Posted on 10/7/16 at 11:07 am to TideSaint
quote:
Alabama is the alpha male of college football, the bully from up the street who both steals your lunch money and the food you manage to acquire later. The Crimson Tide win championships under Nick Saban, and they do so nearly every year.
There’s no doubt Alabama is the favorite in the SEC, and likely nationally, again.
The Crimson Tide made that clear during their soul-crushing victory over USC (the Trojans are still picking up their remains after a 52-6 whipping) to open the season, and proved they could win close during after coming back against Ole Miss two weeks later.
With the No. 1 ranking for seemingly the 79th straight week – it’s only seven – the Crimson Tide appear primed to bowl through their remaining opponents on the way to a fifth SEC title in the last eight years.
But like always, the SEC West won’t be run through without its say.
The toughest portion of the schedule is up next for the Tide. Alabama will face three straight ranked opponents followed by a trip to LSU, arguably the nation’s most talented roster outside of Tuscaloosa.
There might not be a true season-long challenger to Alabama in the group, but the Tide usually suffer at least one stumble in conference play. Alabama has lost at least one conference game each season of the Saban era, which began in 2007, except its undefeated 2009 campaign. It hasn’t mattered some years. Alabama won the national title in 2011 (LSU), 2012 (Texas A&M), 2015 (Ole Miss) despite a loss in conference play. But in other years a regular-season loss – 2008 (Florida) and 2013 (Auburn) – cost the Crimson Tide an opportunity to play for a national title.
So while Alabama is mostly invulnerable, it’s not infallible.
With the toughest portion of the schedule up next, let’s look at the four teams with the best shot to pull off an upset of the Crimson Tide and why they just might.
Oct. 8 – at No. 16 Arkansas (4-1)
Why the Razorbacks could pull a major upset: It’s usually impossible to beat Alabama at what it does best, but that’s what Arkansas will attempt to do. A run-first attack that finds its big gains in the play-action passing game, head coach Bret Bielema and crew attempt to punish opposing teams. Generally that strategy is met by bruises at the hand of Alabama, but Arkansas got its licks in the last two years. The last time Alabama traveled to Fayetteville, the Tide needed a comeback for a 14-13 victory. Last season, Alabama trailed at halftime before scoring 24 second-half points to earn a 27-14 win.
Arkansas plays Alabama tough, and it’s mostly because they’ve forced Alabama into mistakes. Alabama turned the ball over twice in 2014 and 2015 (it also missed two field goals that year) allowing the Razorbacks to punch early. Alabama tends to stymie Arkansas’ running game (a combined 100 rushing yards the last two years) but the Hogs have done enough in the downfield to make up for it. First-year starting quarterback Austin Allen and the Razorbacks have scored plenty early this year (36 ppg). Against Alabama, they’ll need the team’s newly re-energized passing attack to be at peak performance.
The Razorbacks have shown they’re capable of playing with Alabama. If Arkansas forces early turnovers of Alabama’s freshman QB and avoids mistakes of their own, a formula for an upset will have been concocted.
Oct. 15 – at No. 9 Tennessee (5-0)
Why the Volunteers could pull a major upset: This is the hardest matchup of the four to project an upset. Tennessee, despite its 5-0 record, is woefully inconsistent. The Vols have trailed in the second half in all but one of their games, and they beat Ohio (of the MAC) by just 11 points in the game they didn’t.
But perhaps that’s why Tennessee is dangerous. The Volunteers, one way or the other, have found ways to win games. An overtime victory over Appalachian State, a 21-point second-half comeback over Florida and a last-second Hail Mary against Georgia – the Vols have won in every inconceivable way possible. Are they a team of destiny? Who knows? But one thing you know is Tennessee isn’t going to buckle or be intimidated if it gets behind, and that’s invaluable against Alabama.
So who cares if Tennessee’s offensive line is an issue? Who cares if the Vols struggle to run the ball? Who cares if senior quarterback Joshua Dobbs continues to be a question mark? The Vols have found a way to win. That trait is as dangerous as any.
LINK
Posted on 10/7/16 at 11:07 am to TideSaint
quote:
Oct. 22 – vs. No. 8 Texas A&M (5-0)
Why the Volunteers could pull a major upset: If there’s an offensive archetype that’s given Alabama issues over the last few years, it’s a high-powered spread offense with a dynamic running quarterback.
Texas A&M and Johnny Manziel knocked off Alabama in 2012, in 2013 Nick Marshall and Auburn pulled the upset and the previous two seasons it has been Ole Miss (led by Bo Wallace and Chad Kelly). Not to say this is a perfect formula. Mostly, the Tide’s defensive speed overwhelms these dual-threat passers. But stretching Alabama’s defense horizontally and using the quarterback to find the seams both through the air and on the ground seems to be the best bet against what's usually an immovable defense.
There’s actually one more example of this that could prove critical on Oct. 22. During the 2013 Sugar Bowl, Oklahoma and freshman quarterback Trevor Knight shocked many by upsetting Alabama, 45-31. As it happens, Knight is now the Aggies quarterback. Knight only ran for seven yards in that 2013 victory, instead shredding Alabama for 348 yards through the air. As a senior, Knight is still plenty dangerous as a passer, but he’s also running the football. Knight is third nationally in rushing among quarterbacks with 392 yards and six touchdowns, adding another element to an already potent Aggie attack.
Oh yeah, the Texas A&M defense is also mighty salty. No longer a signpost for opposing rushing attacks, the Aggies are stout on the defense end allowing just 15.4 points per game, good for 12th nationally. Texas A&M’s defensive ends (Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall) are as good, likely better, than anyone in the country.
Texas A&M is not as deep or winning savvy as Alabama. But the Aggies combination of Knight and a potent defense makes them the biggest threat to knock Alabama off in the regular season.
Nov. 5 – at LSU (3-2)
Why the Tigers could pull a major upset: Yes, LSU already owns two losses. Yes, LSU’s offense can border on anemic. And yes, LSU already fired its coach midway through the season. But there are two important things to note for this game: It’s in Death Valley, and the Tigers are still the most talented team Alabama will see in the regular season.
Sure, Alabama has dominated the series since LSU’s 2011 regular season victory. Five straight in this series is a lot, and it’s a big reason Les Miles is no longer the head coach in Baton Rouge.
With Miles at home, the Tigers, at least after one week, appeared to have a new energy. Ed Orgeron wants the role of head coach long term. It’s his dream job as a Louisiana native, and the swagger of arguably the nation’s top recruiter is rubbing off on his team.
After the Tigers averaged just 340 yards of offense through their first four games, they exploded for 634 against Missouri last week for a program record in SEC play. At their best, the Tigers are a swarming defense and an offense capable of scoring on anyone because of their deep stable of skill talent.
In other words, they’re as close to Alabama as one can get. A college football demigod, if you will. Flawed, but with powers few can match if channeled correctly.
LSU lacks an explosive quarterback, but all of the other pieces are there. If the offense continues to look vivacious, there’s no reason the Tigers can’t upset Alabama at home. Who knows? The Tigers might still be playing for something at that point. An SEC championship isn’t out of reach for LSU, and a motivated Tiger team is a dangerous thing – even for Alabama.
Posted on 10/7/16 at 10:14 pm to TideSaint
Will Harris be 100 percent? And what about Stewart? He had 2 full weeks off
Posted on 10/7/16 at 10:28 pm to South Alabama Tide
Stewie will play. Not sure if 100% tho
Posted on 10/10/16 at 9:48 am to A-TOWNUAFAN
quote:
Bowl projections going into Week 7
Note: All times Eastern
College Football Playoff semifinals
College Football Playoff at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Georgia Dome, Atlanta
Saturday, Dec. 31, TBD (ESPN)
Schlabach: Alabama vs. Washington
McMurphy: Alabama vs. Washington
College Football Playoff at the Fiesta Bowl
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Saturday, Dec. 31, TBD (ESPN)
Schlabach: Clemson vs. Michigan
McMurphy: Clemson vs. Ohio State
College Football Playoff National Championship
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, TBD (ESPN)
Schlabach: Alabama vs. Michigan
McMurphy: Alabama vs. Ohio State
LINK
Washington looks really good so far. This would be an intriguing matchup.
Posted on 10/10/16 at 7:46 pm to TideSaint
6 - 0 ...
Posted on 10/11/16 at 5:08 am to TideSaint
Happy the playoff is on Saturday.
Posted on 10/11/16 at 8:43 am to TideSaint
quote:
Alabama returned to the practice field Monday afternoon for its first on-field preparation day of Tennessee week. The Crimson Tide players practiced outdoors and in jerseys and shorts on a sunny, 79-degree afternoon.
Here are several observations from the media viewing portion of Alabama’s Monday practice in Tuscaloosa:
- Linebacker Reuben Foster (concussion) and offensive guard Alphonse Taylor (concussion) both wore black, no-contact jerseys and did not participate in drills during the one viewing period Monday afternoon. That was expected, as Nick Saban said a couple of guys would be out today. “Hopefully they’ll be back tomorrow,” Saban said. “We’re a little banged up after this game.”
- With Foster sidelined for the moment, Shaun Hamilton and Rashaan Evans led the linebacker line, with Keith Holcombe and Mack Wilson behind them. Lester Cotton lined up at right guard with the first-team offensive line.
- I didn’t spot linebacker Ryan Anderson during the media viewing period. I did, however, hear outside linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi yell his name just before reporters exited the field, so the reasoning behind his absence is unclear.
- Running back Joshua Jacobs (elbow) led the tailbacks through drills and was moving well.
- Running back Damien Harris stood off to the side and watched as teammates made their way through footwork drills. On Monday, Harris said he was in the team’s medical tent during Minkah Fitzpatrick’s pick-six at Arkansas.
- Wide receiver Trevon Diggs was no longer wearing a knee brace and was moving well.
- Several Alabama players wore scout-team jerseys, representing Vols players. They were:
Derrick Gore -- RB Alvin Kamara (5-10, 215)
Ronnie Clark -- RB Jalen Hurd (6-4, 240)
Ben Davis -- LB Cortez McDowell (6-0, 235)
Joshua McMillon -- LB Colton Jumper (6-2, 224)
- Last year, we saw outside linebacker Jamey Mosley throwing and wearing a white No. 11 jersey for Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs. The now-scholarship linebacker wore his usual crimson No. 16 Monday.
*** What’s next: Alabama will be back at practice Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. CT.
LINK
Posted on 10/11/16 at 8:48 am to TideSaint
quote:
TUSCALOOSA -- Two days after Alabama’s secondary allowed Arkansas quarterback Austin Allen to throw for 400 yards and three touchdowns, the Crimson Tide’s veterans decided to hold a defensive backs-only meeting.
Despite three interceptions, including a pick-six, from Minkah Fitzpatrick, a fumble return for a touchdown from linebacker Tim Williams, six sacks and 12 hurries, Alabama’s defenders were not happy with their performance.
“I made my mistakes out there, too,” Fitzpatrick said Monday after being named SEC Defensive Player of the Week. “There were a couple plays where I played bad technique and I got beat on occasion and I didn’t play the ball the right way. None of us had a perfect game, even though we had some big plays and turnovers. I know I didn’t have a perfect game and nobody else did.
“We’re having a meeting today talking with the DBs about how we need to execute and get back to that national championship secondary. We’ve got to do that by just staying focused, executing and paying more attention to details. We have the talent, we have the athleticism that nobody has in the country. We should be able to execute and keep teams under at least 200 receiving yards a game.”
Fitzpatrick said he, Eddie Jackson and Marlon Humphrey were behind the impromptu meeting. This comes after giving up the second-most passing yards of the season -- Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly threw for 421 yards.
Before Saturday’s game at Arkansas, the Crimson Tide ranked 27th nationally and second in the SEC in pass defense, allowing 188 yards per game to opponents. After the 49-30 victory, Alabama ranks 61st and eighth (223.3).
On Monday, head coach Nick Saban was asked if the Razorbacks did anything offensively to surprise them.
“There wasn’t anything that they were doing to surprise us,” Saban said. “I think we made a couple of mental errors. The first touchdown, the tight end catches the ball and there’s nobody around. We busted the coverage. A miscommunication. A very simple, easy thing. We just didn’t play smart at times in terms of executing what we were supposed to do, and there were several opportunities where we had a chance to make the decision you always have to make.
“Do I intercept the ball? Do I swap up the guy who has to break down and tackle this guy here? And we didn't do that very well and we need to play better. We need to have better eye control. We need to key better, and we need to execute what we do a little better. I think that players probably understand that and they certainly want to play better and we want to help them play better.”
Fitzpatrick and company will look to clean up their mistakes ahead of a road game at Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 15.
LINK
Posted on 10/11/16 at 8:51 am to TideSaint
ESPN senior writer Brett McMurphy revealed his Week 7 AP Poll ballot Sunday on SportsCenter and had a couple notable difference inside the Top 5.
Here's McMurphy's Top 10 as revealed on ESPN:
10. Nebraska
9. Tennessee
8. Wisconsin
7. Michigan
6. Louisville
5. Texas A&M
4. Washington
3. Ohio State
2. Clemson
1. Alabama
LINK
Here's McMurphy's Top 10 as revealed on ESPN:
10. Nebraska
9. Tennessee
8. Wisconsin
7. Michigan
6. Louisville
5. Texas A&M
4. Washington
3. Ohio State
2. Clemson
1. Alabama
LINK
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