re: Can we please have an honest conversation about Kane Wommack's defense?

Here’s a painful reality: No one making decisions about college or professional sports programs really cares what old-line, old-school, old-fart fans think. (And remember, I’m within sight of 70, I qualify as an old fart.)

The attitude … and it’s the same way in the media, I sat through corporate meetings and had to bite my tongue because I was the oldest person in the room and that message was being conveyed … is that if you cater to those people and their wants, you’ll die with them.

Unless you’re 18 to 49, you don’t matter. If Bama’s marketing is effective and successful in that age group, and the product is successful enough on the field to satisfy the money men and trustees, DeBoer will keep his job whether he’s a commanding presence or not and whether a contingent of fans likes his schemes or not. If we’re striking out with marketing to the 18 to 49 demographic and he’s not getting bottom line results on the field, he won’t keep his job.

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But calling him a stupid troll or barner is just plain dumb.

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Look I fully agree but this is a sports forum. Every single active board on tigerdroppings is filled with people being rude. People being assholes on forums has been a thing since forums came into existence decades ago

I get you’re annoyed by it but it’s best to ignore those comments and move on. Assholes will not stop being assholes because someone calls them out

We need some speed rushers. DL was getting penetration yesterday but not fast enough to finish the play. I don’t know if it’s a scheme or personnel problem because we haven’t seen much of the “speed rushers” currently on the roster.

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The Vandy game is the only real bad game. I think it's clear the coaches thought we would beat them on talent alone and they weren't prepared when they got punched in the mouth. Offense lost the Tennessee and Oklahoma games.

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Turnovers gave Vandy short fields and points as well.

Some excellent points made in this thread, but to reiterate and expound a little

1) There was an insane amount of talent on the 2023 defense that was lost to the portal and NFL draft, at key positions. Folks said Golding was the issue from 2018-2022, but the 2023 defense still had issues with Steele @ DC.

2) I firmly believe that the Vanderbilt game was the essence of a trap game for a new staff. Does that make it excusable, not in the least. But play them any other time during the season and it’s a struggle win versus a loss.

3) Got our arse flat whipped on both lines of scrimmage versus Oklahoma. The game was the total opposite of complimentary football.

4) We have one DL that fits Wommack’s scheme and that is Overton. He transferred in before Saban retired, so we were lucky to get him.

5) Our DL Coach is a great recruiter. His recruiting assignments reach beyond the defensive line. How much power do you think he had over Saban and two DCs (Golding and Steele) with regards to talent evaluations for DL? Did he decide who the top targets were?

That said, DL development has been lacking.

6) This is a new scheme with a lot of inexperienced players. We have also had some significant injuries. Run defense looks like shite because of this.

7) Defense looks good when we bring pressure because it is in obvious passing situations. So you have played good defense if you get a team behind the down and distance to bring pressure.

8) Adjustments were made versus Oklahoma. At the half.

9) It is a new era with the transfer portal and NIL. That is why Saban retired and you are seeing older coaches like Chip Kelly and Gus Malzahn step away and take positions where they can focus on coaching football versus trying to keep a staff and roster together for 12 months. And younger HC like Wommack jumping up from the Group of Five, which is about to get eaten alive in the next CFP deal.

We look pretty damn good coming off a bye week this year and a little rest
might help some of our younger guys reset for the playoffs on both sides of the ball.

But this team only goes as far as the QB. Same as 2023.

A lot of thoughts:

-It was an adjustment that had to be made for the players...on top of losing almost all the secondary

-The coaches tried to stay steady with a system that the players were struggling with early and frankly it failed. The coaches adjusted to become uber aggressive and to wean in the new style.

-This D is predicated on limiting points and forcing turnovers. It makes offenses have to stay uber focused and sustain multiple long drives to score. A war of attrition kind of thing. On points and turnovers, it has been very successful

-The team is lacking playmakers on front 7. The secondary has some potential but is so very young. Moore for all his hiccups has been the stalwart this D needed in most of the games this season(he had horrible Vandy game)

-Either through recruiting or portal, the team has to get more talented at linebacker for this D to become really good.

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I know it is popular to pile on remaster right now for some reason

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Hes a clown/troll and shouldnt be taken seriously.

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Meaning - 5 other SEC teams figured it out. And here's the kicker - Georgia State beat them. GEORGIA STATE.

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Well Bama beat Georgia...but lost to Vandy. shite happens. Notre Dame beat A&M...but lost to Northern Illinois shite happens.

Vandy got Bama early in season when they were fresh. Pavia literally had a perfect game where he made zero mistakes and made every right read. All the teams that played Vandy afterwards knew what they were capable of...and they still went toe to toe with all of them, including Texas. Vandy's lack of depth and Pavia being beaten up has worn on them after mid point of season...shite happens

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that as a staff you have to do something unusual to focus an 18 year old mind on playing your best against a team you should beat. we also learned that any team in division 1 will kick your arse if you don't play hard.

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This is such a great point and one I hope it carries into subsequent seasons

Ball Hawk.

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This ought to be a pinned post.