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My take after three games (TL;DR)
Posted on 9/22/13 at 8:08 am
Posted on 9/22/13 at 8:08 am
This eerily has the look of 2010 all over again. I have a feeling in the post-mortem for this season we will look back at the warning signs from these first three contests as the fatal flaws to our championship hopes. Here's how I see them:
1.) NG - I know everyone looks at our DBs as our biggest weakness, but I am looking long term fr the rest of the season here. Saban's D is predicated on taking away the inside running game and forcing opposing Os to become one-dimensional. More importantly, it gives the numbers advantage back to Saban & Smart vs spread option teams that get an extra blocker when the QB is a run threat. Ivory is not near the force Cody or Chapman was in the middle.
2.) Pass rush - Or, rather, lack thereof. This has been beat to death, but remains a valid point.
3.) OL - Specifically, IMO, the center position. Kelly has been physically overmatched in 2/3 of the games so far. Appears to be the Bama version of T-Bob. Watch how many times he is blown into the backfield immediately at the snap. Hate to say it, but the right side of the OL has outperformed the left thus far. I don't know if CyKo looked better last year because he had Warmack next to him or not, but he is not the "Top LT on the board" we have been trumpeting him to be.
4.) DBs - Probably most Bama board members #1. But I went back and watched the aTm game and felt the DBs didn't perform as poorly as I first thought when my blood pressure was a constant 1500/1000. Are they Lester Hayes and Michael Haynes? Not by a long shot. But an effective pass rush could cover up a lot of the supposed shortcomings here.
5.) Nussmeier - This is the one that will get the fire and brimstone raining down upon my head, I know (and probably deserves its own thread). Let's just say I am not a fan. You can take the boy out of the PAC-12 but you can't take the PAC-12 out of the boy.
Trust me, I am not going all BenchMcElroy on here. There are a lot of good things to feel positively about with this team.
1.) NG - I know everyone looks at our DBs as our biggest weakness, but I am looking long term fr the rest of the season here. Saban's D is predicated on taking away the inside running game and forcing opposing Os to become one-dimensional. More importantly, it gives the numbers advantage back to Saban & Smart vs spread option teams that get an extra blocker when the QB is a run threat. Ivory is not near the force Cody or Chapman was in the middle.
2.) Pass rush - Or, rather, lack thereof. This has been beat to death, but remains a valid point.
3.) OL - Specifically, IMO, the center position. Kelly has been physically overmatched in 2/3 of the games so far. Appears to be the Bama version of T-Bob. Watch how many times he is blown into the backfield immediately at the snap. Hate to say it, but the right side of the OL has outperformed the left thus far. I don't know if CyKo looked better last year because he had Warmack next to him or not, but he is not the "Top LT on the board" we have been trumpeting him to be.
4.) DBs - Probably most Bama board members #1. But I went back and watched the aTm game and felt the DBs didn't perform as poorly as I first thought when my blood pressure was a constant 1500/1000. Are they Lester Hayes and Michael Haynes? Not by a long shot. But an effective pass rush could cover up a lot of the supposed shortcomings here.
5.) Nussmeier - This is the one that will get the fire and brimstone raining down upon my head, I know (and probably deserves its own thread). Let's just say I am not a fan. You can take the boy out of the PAC-12 but you can't take the PAC-12 out of the boy.
Trust me, I am not going all BenchMcElroy on here. There are a lot of good things to feel positively about with this team.
7
Posted on 9/22/13 at 9:18 am to SoFla Tideroller
I thought NG was our biggest concern heading into the season. We just don't have a very talented guy in the middle. Many teams are going to spread us out so it is not much of an issue in those games. However, LSU and UGA (if we play them) will exploit this position. It is not an experience thing. It is a talent thing. We will have to out score LSU or UGA.
The corners need game reps. They will be challenged next week.
On the bright side, our offense can be much better. Our o-line remains a bit of a work in progress. They took a step back tonight, but I am confident they can gel and play good football.
Amari cooper wasn't fully healthy at the beginning of the season. He will break out soon. We have spread it around a good bit the last two games and several guys are making plays in the receiving core.
I love our backs. They will hit holes well if the line can open them.
AJ is playing very well. He has complete command of the offense. He will have to win us some games if we are to win em all this year.
And our special teams look outstanding so far.
The corners need game reps. They will be challenged next week.
On the bright side, our offense can be much better. Our o-line remains a bit of a work in progress. They took a step back tonight, but I am confident they can gel and play good football.
Amari cooper wasn't fully healthy at the beginning of the season. He will break out soon. We have spread it around a good bit the last two games and several guys are making plays in the receiving core.
I love our backs. They will hit holes well if the line can open them.
AJ is playing very well. He has complete command of the offense. He will have to win us some games if we are to win em all this year.
And our special teams look outstanding so far.
Posted on 9/22/13 at 9:47 am to SoFla Tideroller
Agree with 2 and 3. Especially 3.
I kind of think Nussmeier is part of the problem on offense but I also realize it isn't his fault that the OL is incapable of opening holes against goddamned Colorado State. All of the crossing patterns two yards beyond the LOS need to go though. That shite is infuriating.
I don't think our DBs are that bad. Not having Belue out there is just a killer for our secondary. There is zero depth on our defense outside of the linebackers. I think Ivory is doing an adequate job too. We havent been hashed up the middle by anyone. Its the big plays down the sidelines that have been killing us. In large part because of Belue being out and our pass rush being a nonentity.
I kind of think Nussmeier is part of the problem on offense but I also realize it isn't his fault that the OL is incapable of opening holes against goddamned Colorado State. All of the crossing patterns two yards beyond the LOS need to go though. That shite is infuriating.
I don't think our DBs are that bad. Not having Belue out there is just a killer for our secondary. There is zero depth on our defense outside of the linebackers. I think Ivory is doing an adequate job too. We havent been hashed up the middle by anyone. Its the big plays down the sidelines that have been killing us. In large part because of Belue being out and our pass rush being a nonentity.
Posted on 9/22/13 at 9:59 am to SoFla Tideroller
Just happy to win. Looking forward to next week!
Posted on 9/22/13 at 10:02 am to Robot Santa
To save my blood pressure I'll forego the Nussmeier conversation. 
As far as LBs, this is another area I think we have overstated our talent level - but is far from being a weakness. CJ is inarguably elite. But, to me, the rest are just guys. DePriest is nothing special. He's not really even a tackle-to-tackle thumper like a Freddie Roach or Nico. Our OLBs will never get confused with being game-changers. Not really weak links, but certainly not what we thought they would be.
As far as LBs, this is another area I think we have overstated our talent level - but is far from being a weakness. CJ is inarguably elite. But, to me, the rest are just guys. DePriest is nothing special. He's not really even a tackle-to-tackle thumper like a Freddie Roach or Nico. Our OLBs will never get confused with being game-changers. Not really weak links, but certainly not what we thought they would be.
Posted on 9/22/13 at 12:34 pm to SoFla Tideroller
This season also reminds me of LSU 2012. LSU had a number of lackluster games throughout the season. You'd think they would implode at any moment.
Posted on 9/22/13 at 12:54 pm to SoFla Tideroller
Good analysis. Here's the thing. Our secondary, especially the corners, are very dependent on the pass rush. Right now, we are not affecting the QB at all. Combine that with green corners, and its a recipe for bad things. Somebody has got to step up as a pass rusher, or were going to continue getting torched.
Posted on 9/22/13 at 7:02 pm to JuiceTerry
The pass rush this , the pass rush that. How exactly do you sack or affect the qb any more than we did when they are throwing quick screens. Logan Thomas spent quite a while running for his life. And JFF is well JFF, although we pressured him pretty well just didnt get a bunch of sacks, but forced 2 int's. Aint nothing wrong with our pass rush. We just dont have a guy we can let pin his ears back and not pay for it somewhere else.
How are you gonna get much pressure with 3 big arse dl and 2 huge olbs running gap control?
How are you gonna get much pressure with 3 big arse dl and 2 huge olbs running gap control?
Posted on 9/22/13 at 7:11 pm to SoFla Tideroller
This resembles nothing of the 2010 season. In 2010 Alabama completely dominated their first 5 opponents (other than Arkie) before losing to South Carolina. We had a misconception heading into the South Carolina game that Alabama was invisible. We don't have that this year.
Posted on 9/22/13 at 9:29 pm to SoFla Tideroller
quote:
My take after three games
- Never been a Nuss fan and said as much last year. Not saying he is the worst either, I just think he is avg. Him running multiple-receiver short routes on third downs is nothing new. Srill holding out hope for him though, that he is able to improve and grow with the help of Saban.
- Lack of discipline/focus is a little concerning
- I believe lack of good leadership is an issue with this team. Still believe Bell should have stayed off the team, regardless of how well he does on the field the rest of the year.
- Overall I'm happy with the position Bama is in now. 3-0, with the only win in the country over a ranked team on the road. Excited about how the depth chart unfolds the rest of the year and which of the young players step up to make real contributions.
- Very glad to see all the DBs getting playing time. I've said in the past, I think Saban doesn't play the second DBs and OLs enough.
Bama has as good or better chance at a Title as any other team in the country, good enough for me at this point.
Posted on 9/22/13 at 9:41 pm to harmonics
2010 was more talented overall imo than this team is. this team just needs experience. we will be fine
Posted on 9/23/13 at 12:10 pm to tt54l32v
We just dont have a guy we can let pin his ears back and not pay for it somewhere else.
I that is precisely the point of a lot of our frustrations. After all these recruiting classes of elite talent you'd think we'd stumble on a superior edge rusher just by accident.
I that is precisely the point of a lot of our frustrations. After all these recruiting classes of elite talent you'd think we'd stumble on a superior edge rusher just by accident.
Posted on 9/23/13 at 1:18 pm to SoFla Tideroller
I am one of the least homer fans on this board but,This same time last season we were sitting 3-0 except we had not beaten a top ten ATM. Relax, if we get by OM we have time to be ready for LSU. Plus you sweating it will not prevent anything from happening. Either the players will realize their potential and step up or they don't. We hardly attempted to run the ball against CSU so don't base our OL on that performance. They didn't look nearly as bad as the board made it seem Saturday night. Most yards given up happened on two drives In the third quarter. Remember I believe OM is starting two freshmen at OT so we should be able to just like in every game so far this year provide pressure on the qb. The DL did a great job against ATM who has a very good OL. I really think we will be fine. Geno is back and he will stat to get back into game shape. This will likely not be the dominating Bama team we are used to seeing but this team is good enough to beat everyone on our schedule.
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