re: Let's talk about Bama

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The announcers were going on during the game that we had the fastest pace in the SEC last year and were faster this year. Maybe we've become jaded to the pace?

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That's actually a distinct possibility

We love us some uptempo.

The way to beat that monstrous defense is to go as fast as possible and don't substitute so they can't rotate linemen, 5 wide and dink and dunk until the pass rush is gassed then over the top for a kill shot. I'm talking a play every 15 seconds or so. Force Bama to have to go slow on offense to give their defense a break and hope we can get a couple of stops and get them off the field and then mash the gas again.

Here are my thoughts:

Offense:
The QB will HAVE to become mobile and force an numbers disadvantage on coverage. Have one more than them at the point of attack.
The QB will need to be ACCURATE and have quick reads to negate their front 7.
Need to stay on schedule in downs and minimize the 3 and outs.
Need to score TDs early and often, circa 2012.

Defense:
Keep them off schedule and create the 2nd and longs 3rd and longs
have to force them to pass. If their run game gets going it is going to be tough
I'd crash a safety up and give us numbers advantage. I think our CBs can go to press for a bit.
Vary the looks and don't get predictable.

This is winnable, but it's going to take a hell of a near perfect game.

Only way I see us beating them is to jump on them. If we can take ball control away then we have a shot. If we frick around like we did against Arky we will absolutely lose. It can happen though; our defense actually takes the ball away this year.

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I just dont believe we are capable of beating a good team that plays that style until proven otherwise. They will use the exact same gameplan as Arkansas but with a better offense and a MUCH better defense.

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I doubt it. Collins is a much better back than either Drake or Henry, and a lot of the reason for the holes he got through was Garrett and Hall overshooting the play. They cleaned that up against MSU very well.

Arky also had a bigger line, and Brandon Allen played lights out for 90% of the game. Bama does not have a senior QB that is going to match that.

I think bama is going to have a very hard time moving the football on us.

EDIT: After watching the OM/Bama game, I think OM has a very, very similar offense to ours, just not as good at most positions.

OM moved the ball fairly well against bama, primarily around the edge. OM beat bama to the sideline on play after play. I'm sure Saban is working to fix this, but it was a glaring weakness that plays right to our strengths. Kylar would shine I think.

One thing I think would be very confusing to bama: Why not line up both QBs in the backfield w/ 4 wide? Shotgun formation, and you let bama guess who you're snapping to? Would be an interesting wrinkle.

Bama's OL is not the best at run blocking. Arky's OL was a LOT better. OM was in the backfield all day on runs.

1. The team will be ready to play and will be better prepared with a week off.

2. I have no doubt that our defense will be able to control the run enough to give us a chance to win. However, Kiffin is going to want to run his offense and that means passing the ball. Last year, in their first drive, they started off with four straight completions. In the first half beat down, they had 25 pass plays to 22 running plays. I think that is the mix that Kiffin looks for and where he is most comfortable calling plays. Saban might want to run it more, but Kiffin gets a little nervous when he does that.

I think he tries to come out and do the same thing that he did last year. I mean, why go away from what worked so well for him last year? Arkansas ran it down our throat last year and it didn't change their game plan, so what makes this year different? Simms? I don't think so.

He will try to pass it again and keep that same mix. This year though, Chief will have us ready to compete and I think it results in some 3rd and long situations due to our pass rush and some turnovers.

3. I think we run straight up HUNH offense and open up the playbook. We have nothing to lose. Gas them early and put their defense out there more than they want to be. They still have 59-0 securely lodged in their brain housing group, and will be overconfident. This isn't the same team that we faced in 2012 and 2013 and they will run out of steam if we keep the pressure on.

4. I think their ST are suspect. I could see this game coming down to a big play by Kirk or Speedy in the return game.

Call me a fool, but I see us playing a nearly perfect game (weekly improvements and trending that way) and winning in a close one due to either a turnover for a touchdown or a punt return for a touchdown (or both).

Ags 38 or 31
Gumps 28

Pretty sure Bama fumbled on a couple of kickoff returns against OM.

I'm getting more and more scared by the minute

My BAS is flaring up

Yeah, I'm not nervous at all. There aren't any of the same glaring warning signs that were there last year. We aren't going to get blown out. We have a high chance of losing, but I won't lose any sleep over it. Going 5-0 has greatly exceeded my expectations already. I expected 8-4 this year, and that seems below the floor for this team. Plus, after watching Bama yesterday, they sure as hell don't look like a suffocating force like they have in the past. They're beatable.

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. I had us at 8-4 preseason and there's no way we finish worse than 9-3 now. Wins at Bama, Ole Miss, or LSU are bonuses. We'll give em hell this weekend

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exactly. Just no 59-0 and I'll be cool this week