re: Bama Football Tidings

I just want somebody to be able to get the quarterbacks off their game in obvious passing situations. Seems like it's been forever since we've had a decent pass rusher. It drove me insane last year watching us try to blitz on passing downs only to watch every rusher run into a blocker and the quarterback still had all day to pick our defense apart

Ryan Anderson

I mean I might be buying into the offseason hype but our front 7 is like a fricking swiss army knife. We got dudes for every type of situation, man I cant wait for Saturday!!!

LINK ]Alabama picked to win SEC championship in SEC's preseason media poll (BOL)



LINK ]ESPN FPI predicts Alabama's 2020 season game by game (BOL)



LINK ]Nick Saban calls on Alabama team to establish its identity in 2020 season opener (SI, Sep 22)

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mean I might be buying into the offseason hype but our front 7 is like a fricking swiss army knife. We got dudes for every type of situation, man I cant wait for Saturday!!!

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If you think about it baring major injuries or Covid BS we are in great shape to make a run.

Veteran OL
Experienced Front 7
Elite WR’s
Experienced TE
Veteran RB’s
Experienced QB
Experienced Secondary

Unless we just absolutely suck as a unit, or have a horrible game we can make it all way.

Let’s be honest the 4 at the end are (no specific order).


Clemson
Tosu
SEC Champ (Bama)
Likely Oklahoma, Texas, Oklahoma State

We walk the dog on the Big12 again, and face Clemson or Tosu.

I could see the SEC get 2 teams in the playoffs this year. I think the Big12 has no one undefeated.

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Holmon Wiggins -- Field

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What is the board’s thoughts on Wiggins tenure thus far? Is he a key piece in recruiting and to the WR room?
I have not heard his name been mentioned very often from various outlets that follow the team.

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What is the board’s thoughts on Wiggins tenure thus far?

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In my opinion I don’t see a drop off from Gattis, that was all I expected from him. With this group of receivers he is bringing in, I think he recruits the position well. I know they are area recruiters but the recruits get to know their future position coaches.

Breakdown of Mizzou (vs UA) by St. Louis Post-Dispatch"s Dave Matter:

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BOL: Drinkwitz isn’t going to reveal who will be his starting quarterback against Alabama, so who do you think it is going to be, and why? Is there a chance we see multiple quarterbacks?

DM: I have suspected all along it will be Shawn Robinson, the junior transfer from TCU. Though I absolutely wouldn’t be shocked if more than one QB takes snaps against Alabama. After the first couple weeks of practice, I was convinced from those watching practice that it was a two-man race between Robinson and redshirt freshman Connor Bazelak. Then that became the reality when junior Taylor Powell opted to transfer. Bazelak is probably the more polished pocket passer, but Robinson has far more college experience — he started eight games at TCU — and gives the offense a genuine running threat on designed keepers and scrambles. With the offensive line a huge question mark, a more mobile QB might be the best option. But, again, Drinkwitz might want to play both in the opener and see how they respond on the big stage.

BOL: Not only do the Tigers have to find a new quarterback, they have to replace a number of receiving targets and offensive linemen from last year’s team. Who are some emerging names to watch on offense that could help Mizzou improve upon last season’s totals? 

DM: Wide receiver KeKe Chism has been one of the more remarkable offseason stories. He’s a Division II grad transfer from Angelo State who showed up this summer and became an instant playmaker and team leader, by all accounts. Damon Hazelton Jr. has been a bit of mystery. He was the prized graduate transfer acquisition from Virginia Tech—he caught eight touchdowns each of the last two seasons—but he’s been sidelined with what’s only been called a “soft tissue” injury. He’s listed as a starter for Saturday. Jalen Knox returns at wideout and this staff seems intent to use him in a more versatile role, not just a long-ball threat. He was a high school quarterback and could take some wildcat snaps or be used to throw the ball on trick plays. 

Along the offensive line, MU went out and got the most experienced grad transfer center on the market, three-year Rutgers starter Michael Maietti. There’s experience on the right side in guard Case Cook and tackle Larry Borom, but with tackle Hyrin White out for the year with a shoulder injury, the left side will almost certainly feature new starters. Drinkwitz has indicated COVID-19 has hit the O-line more than any other position group. At one point, the team started five different left guards in five straight practices, he said. The starting left tackle will be either Zeke Powell, a grad transfer who didn’t join the team until late this summer, or sophomore Bobby Lawrence. 

BOL: Defensively, Mizzou was solid in 2019, though it declined down the stretch. What are you expecting from the defense in 2020? Who are some players to know on that side of the ball?

DM: Nicholas Bolton might be the best linebacker in the country not named Dylan Moses. As a first-year starter last year, he was Mizzou’s best playmaking linebacker since Sean Weatherspoon, a three-time first-team All-Big 12 linebacker from 2007-09. Up front, the nose tackle Kobie Whiteside posted more sacks last year (6.5) than any returning SEC player, but he had the luxury of playing next to All-SEC defensive tackle Jordan Elliott, who entered the 2020 NFL draft. He’ll have to prove he can produce alongside different teammates this year.

Mizzou needs to rediscover its pass rush from the edges. The base defense still plays with a four-man front, but often it’s three down linemen and a stand-up rusher. They’ve even renamed their defensive ends as outside linebackers. That group has to put more heat on the pocket for this defense to have any success. In the secondary, Josh Bledsoe and Tyree Gillespie should be one of the better safety tandems in the SEC. MU bases out of a 4-2-5 look with a third safety — the strong safety — playing closer to the line of scrimmage in a hybrid role. The staff really likes Martez Manuel, a sophomore, in that role.

BOL: It sounds like Drinkwitz is expecting to be without a few players for the opener due to COVID-19 cases. How much has the pandemic affected the Tigers and their depth chart?

DM: MU will be without seven players at the minimum for Saturday. There’s no indication that these are starters or even scholarship players. The only players missing from the public depth chart are players who probably weren’t going to have major roles this year. So, it’s still a bit of a mystery who won’t be available or if it will have any impact on the game. MU also has two more tests before Saturday on Wednesday and Friday, but Sunday’s round of tests revealed no new cases. The offensive line has been the one position group most affected by COVID, but four of the five listed starters were projected starters all along. MU has also had three opt-outs, all expected backups this season, though there was some hope receiver Maurice Massey would be a factor in the passing game.

BOL: Finally, how do you see this game playing out? Care to give a score prediction?

DM: In the three Alabama-Mizzou matchups in SEC play the margin of victory has been right at 30 points. That seems about right for this game. Mizzou’s offense is still a mystery. Alabama should be able to adjust and react to any element of surprise Drinkwitz might have with personnel and scheme. Missouri’s defense could very well again be among the best in the SEC, but I’m not convinced it can slow down Alabama's offense. 

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