re: Bama Football Tidings

Alabama offensive/defensive lines prepare for Texas A&M
3:50
Touchdown Alabama Magazine
Published on Oct 9, 2019
Alabama's offensive and defensive lines will both need to have big games this weekend in College Station.

LINK ]Nick Saban talks AP courses, special teams on SEC teleconference By Charlie Potter

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Alabama head coach Nick Saban batted in the heart of the order on Wednesday’s SEC coaches teleconference. Below is the full transcript of what Saban said as the fifth head coach during the teleconference ahead of the Crimson Tide’s Week 7 road game against Texas A&M.

"This is obviously a tremendous challenge for us to go to Texas A&M, play in College Station, tough place to play, very good team. Jimbo (Fisher's) done a great job with his team. They've had a tough schedule so far, but they've played extremely well. It's important for us to stay focused and have the discipline in our preparation so that we can stay focused and execute in the game in a challenging environment. I think their quarterback has played extremely well. They've got good skill guys. They've got good balance on offense. They've played really well on defense. They've got really good specialists. So, all in all, this is a really good team from top to bottom."

On Xavier McKinney's leadership
"He’s always been a guy that sets a great example and works hard. I think people’s role changes as they progress through their career. He has certainly embraced his role as a leader in affecting other people with his example and how he goes about his work. He’s done a great job for us so far this year."

On if he realized Jimbo Fisher would be a head coach when he met him
"I had a lot of respect for Jimbo. We’re from the same area so I always knew who he was. I remember when he was at Cincinnati, they played at Ohio State and sort of put up some big numbers against them relative to his offense and his play calling ability. So I was always impressed with him and in working with him for those years and meeting him for the first time, he certainly didn’t disappoint. I always thought he would be a great head coach."

ON IF IT'S A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE HE'S COMPETING FOR SEC WEST TITLES
"I can’t tell you that. I just know he’ll do a really good job and I think they’ve got a really good program there. Everything I know about the place is very, very positive. So I think he’ll be successful."

On how Alabama prepares players for long NFL careers
"Well, I hope our program is preparing players to be more successful in life. Whatever they may end up doing, they can become the kind of people here that make good choices and decisions about taking advantage of their gifts whatever they are. They get an education so they can have a career off the field if that’s what happens. And if they have opportunity to develop a career as a football player, they’re going to go about it the right way and do the right things and make the choices and decisions that’s going to help them take advantage of a gift. We’re hopeful that all of our players have a better chance to be successful in life."

On balancing offense and managing tempo
"I’m not inhibiting the offense at all when I do that. I’m kind of watching how the other team’s responding to our tempo, how our tempo is affecting how we execute on offense. The only time I ever try to slow our offense down is when we’re taking the air out of it at the end of the game and trying to make the clock an advantage for us. I’m never telling them to slow down or try to keep the ball or any of that stuff. Most of the time we play better when we play a little faster. That’s what I’m trying to impact on the game."

On importance of center-QB relationship
"I think it’s always important, but Landon (Dickerson)’s played center before and he’s played it in games. It hasn’t been a problem in practice."

On Gene Chizik
"I always had a tremendous amount of respect for Gene as a coach. He won a national championship and we always had tremendous respect for his teams. I think he does a marvelous job as a TV analyst guy right now and I’m sure if he chose to he could be very successful as a coach if he wanted to do that."

ON HIS FIRING TWO YEARS AFTER WINNING A NATIONAL TITLE
"I don’t really think it’s for me to judge. I have a lot of respect for the guy and I don’t ever like to see coaches get fired, especially when they have a history of success. Those really aren’t choices and decisions for me to make for somebody else."

On what stands out about Texas A&M
"As I commented before, I think one of the things I’m most impressed with is overall as a team. They’re a very capable offensive team, they’ve played really well on defenses, they’ve got really good specialists and the special teams. They’ve got good skill players, good team speed. I don’t really see like one thing. I think I see a total team, and that’s probably a compliment to them."

On preparing young players for road games in the SEC
"Well, it’s kind of like I said the other day, when you play young players it’s like teaching an AP course. It’s a tough course. It’s a big challenge. It’s hard to make an A in it. You can’t really coach experience. We try to do the best job we can to get these guys ready to stay focused on what they need to do and not get affected by the external factors. But that’s probably easier said than done. But that’s what we continue to try to do. It’s advanced placement course. That’s what AP courses are called, Advanced Placement."

On his evaluation of Alabama's special teams
"I think that the special teams have been very good, and I think that where the team has an impact _ our kickoff coverage is very good, punt return is very good. Where we need to improve, I think, is execution by specialists. So in the areas where we’re ranked very low, whether it’s net punt or punting average or whatever, it has a lot to do with who’s punting. The same thing on whether it’s field goal or percentages or whatever. I think the special teams have been very good. We need to continue to improve in all those areas, but I think we need to get a little more consistent execution from our specialists."

On facing Texas A&M's bigger DBs
"They have some good size in the secondary. They’ve got big corners. Those are the kind of guys I like and our guys are a little bit like that, too. I think it’s definitely an advantage when it comes to length and reach and playing a little bit more physical, using your hands, jamming people with longer bodies. I see that being an advantage for them, especially when you’ve got to play against bigger guys. We think those guys have played really well.

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LINK ]Knee issue has Alabama center ‘very questionable’ for Texas A&M game By Matt Zenitz | mzenitz@al.com

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Alabama will likely have a different starting center this week.

Chris Owens, who has been working through a knee issue, hasn’t been able to do anything in practice this week and is “very questionable” for the Crimson Tide’s game against Texas A&M on Saturday, head coach Nick Saban said Wednesday night.

With Owens out of practice this week, Landon Dickerson has slid in from right guard to play center. Deonte Brown has been the first-team right guard.

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Matt Zenitz is an Alabama and Auburn reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mzenitz.

LINK ]Practice/injury report: Alabama likely to have a couple of lineup changes by Christopher Walsh

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Freshman defensive end Bryon Young continues to work with the first-team defensive line

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Although no formal announcement is expected, the University of Alabama football team will almost certainly have a couple of changes in the starting lineup when it visits No. 24 Texas A&M on Saturday.

All this week true freshman Byron Young has been lined up with the first-team defensive line, alongside freshman D.J. Dale and senior Raekwon Davis. Starter LaBryan Ray (foot) is expected to be out until at least the LSU game next month.

The second team during Wednesday's practice had Phidarian Mathis, Tevita Musika and Justin Eboigbe, followed by Stephon Wynn, Ishmael Sopsher and Christian Barmore.

Meanwhile, the first-team offensive line has remained the same for more than a week, with redshirt junior Landon Dickerson at center and redshirt junior Deonte Brown at right guard. Dickerson has started all five games this season, but just once at center.

Matt Womack, who appeared to be held out of contact drills on Tuesday, was the second-team right tackle.

Sophomore reserve cornerback Josh Jobe has been practicing this week with a cast on his left hand.

Junior wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (hip pointer) has worked in his usual spot this week.

The forecast for College Station on Saturday (2:30 p.m. CT, CBS) is partly cloudy and 70 degrees.

Among those watching practice was former Crimson Tide coach Ray Perkins. Nick Saban is slated to address reporters after practice.

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DeVonta Smith leads SEC in touchdowns (Photo: Stuart McNair, 247Sports)
LINK ]Looking At Alabama Vs. Texas A&M Statistically By Kirk McNair

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One thing that was obvious prior to the start of the 2019 college football season was that Texas A&M was going to be one of those teams with a very difficult schedule. Example No. 1 is that the Aggies will be playing the nation’s No. 1 team for the second time this year and it’s only the midway point.

The Aggies opened the season at Clemson, then ranked No. 1, and as A&M hits its sixth game it will be hosting No. 1 Alabama Saturday. Texas A&M also played Auburn when the Tigers were a top 10 team.

The schedules halfway through the season are relevant in that the Crimson Tide has played no ranked teams and has romped in five easy wins with gaudy statistics. The Aggies have been less impressive statistically against generally tougher opposition.

Alabama (5-0 overall, 2-0 in Southeastern Conference games) and A&M (3-2, 1-1) will meet at 2:30 p.m. CDT Saturday with CBS televising the game.

Here’s a look at where each stands statistically among SEC teams:

Because the scoreboard rules, looking first at scoring, Alabama is second in the SEC averaging 51.8 points per game, Texas A&M sixth, averaging 32.8. In scoring defense, Bama is fourth, giving up 14.8 ppg, A&M fifth, 17.8.

The Crimson Tide is uncharacteristically low in rushing offense, seventh in the league at 164.8 yards per game. The Aggies are 13th at 133.4 ypg. In rushing defense, Texas A&M is seventh, allowing 108.4 ypg, Alabama eighth, giving up 134.8.

Bama is second in the conference in passing offense, 380.6 ypg, A&M third at 292.8 ypg. In pass defense, the Tide is third, giving up 190.6, the Aggies fourth, allowing 191.4 – less than a foot per game difference. Alabama leads the SEC in pass efficiency, Texas A&M sixth. In pass defense efficiency, A&M is third, Bama fourth.

The Tide is second in total offense at 554.6 yards per game, the Aggies eighth at 426.2. A&M is fifth in total defense, allowing 299.8 ypg, Bama sixth, giving up 325.4.

The three big statistical areas considered critical to success are turnover margin, third down efficiency, and Red Zone (inside the 20) success.

Alabama is tops in the SEC in turnover margin with 5 fumble recoveries and 6 interceptions for 11 takeaways against 2 fumbles lost and 1 pass intercepted for 3 turnovers and a plus 8 margin. Texas A&M is tied for last in the league with 1 fumble recovery and 6 interceptions for 7 takeaways, 5 fumbles lost and 4 passes intercepted for 9 turnovers and a minus 2 margin.

On third down conversions, Bama is second in the conference, converting on 31-60 for 51.7 percent, A&M sixth, 26-60 for 43.3 percent. On defense, the Aggies are second in the league, allowing 19-65 for 29.2 percent, the Tide seventh, giving up 25-76 for 32.9 percent.

On fourth downs, A&M is 4-4 on offense and 1-2 on defense, Bama 7-8 on offense, 5-11 on defense.

Alabama is third in the SEC in Red Zone offense with 18 scores (15 touchdowns, 3-5 field goals) on 20 opportunities for 90 percent. Texas A&M is tied for sixth with 22 scores (15 TDs and 7-7 FGs) for 84.6 percent. A glaring statistic is that the Aggies have suffered 4 turnovers while in the Red Zone, most in the conference.

In Red Zone defense, the Tide is sixth in the league, allowing 8 scores (5 TDs, 3-3 FGs) in 11 trips, 72.7 percent. The Aggies are seventh, allowing 9 scores (7 TDs, 2-3 FGs) in 12 trips, 75 percent.

In the kicking game, A&M ranks ahead of Bama in kickoff returns, punting, and field goals, while Alabama is better in punt returns and kickoff coverage.

Neither team is much on sacks, the Tide ranking 10th with 10 for 74 yards, the Aggies tied for last with 8 for 66 yards. Alabama is second best in avoiding sacks, 6 for 31 yards, Texas A&M seventh, giving up 10 for 62 yards.

In penalties, A&M is fifth best, flagged for 54.6 ypg, Bama 11th, 61.2 ypg.

The Aggies lead the league in time of possession, 33:23 per game, and the Tide is fifth, 30:46.

In individual statistics, Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa leads the league in passing efficiency and the Tide’s Jerry Jeudy is tops in receptions (38 for 7.6 per game). Bama’s DeVonta Smith is tops in the SEC in touchdowns (8). Alabama’s Jalen Waddle leads in punt return average (8-139 for 17.4 per return).

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LINK ]Everything Saban said in last press conference of Texas A&M week (BamaOnLine)



Note: Includes transcript and full video.

listening to Pat Dye this morning. That old coot is funny to listen to. Dye said the FL crowd probably won their game. He said the 2 players most affected by crowd noise are the center and the QB. He said the freshman QB wasnt ready for it and the FL defense took away the reverse and the long pass. Dye said the first time Gus ran the reverse there were 5 Fl players waiting for it and they didnt try it again. I cant believe any coach would prepare for a Gus offense and not prepare for the reverse and the speed sweep. At least we are not playing at Auburn or at LSU or in Atlanta which is basically at Ga.

But, the thing that concerns me is our center on the road this week. I hope we dont see a bunch of procedure calls and busted plays. Plus Cole Cubelic doesnt think Dickerson plays well at center because he isnt athletic enough to get to the second or 3rd level and make a block. He apparently doesnt think he does well at getting to the linebackers or safetys.

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Who gives a rat's arse what he thinks?

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Considering how respected he is in breaking down the OL and giving them love, several people do?