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re: KDB quietly rebuilding a defense centered team
Posted on 7/26/26 at 6:21 pm to BCBAMA
Posted on 7/26/26 at 6:21 pm to BCBAMA
Of course, it is impossible to know precisely what is in someone else’s mind, but IMO, like Saban, who seemed to give up at the end of the half vs Clemson in ‘18, DeBoer knew that his team was in deep trouble, though the score was only 3-0. I felt like Indiana was beginning to strangle Alabama, like Alabama had often done to teams through 2012 - anaconda.
I think I understand your POV and can’t disagree with your take in that light. And i certainly can’t say that you are wrong, especially in light of what happened. But I have a different perspective and thus, agree with DeBoer that a gamble on 4th and 1 at the -36 at the end of the half was one worth taking. IMO, DeBoer only cares about winning the game and nothing about MOV, e.g., UGA in the SECC game. Indiana was not superior to Alabama but far superior, though Alabama’s D was playing like a man till they collapsed. But their only chance of winning the game was via winning a couple of gambles. They failed and a 24-6 type loss turned into a 38-3 loss.
I think I understand your POV and can’t disagree with your take in that light. And i certainly can’t say that you are wrong, especially in light of what happened. But I have a different perspective and thus, agree with DeBoer that a gamble on 4th and 1 at the -36 at the end of the half was one worth taking. IMO, DeBoer only cares about winning the game and nothing about MOV, e.g., UGA in the SECC game. Indiana was not superior to Alabama but far superior, though Alabama’s D was playing like a man till they collapsed. But their only chance of winning the game was via winning a couple of gambles. They failed and a 24-6 type loss turned into a 38-3 loss.
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Posted on 7/29/26 at 8:18 am to Cover1Key
"Again, Bama is 18-0 under CKD when the offense has mustered 23 points."
I enjoy reading your posts. This and the fact that BAMA has given up fewer yards and points than uga since DeBoer's hiring is crazy as straight bananas.
Question if you'll indulge:
If Mack is the starter, how much would he have to struggle/fail to be lifted for Russell? And just to be clear I am a Mack fan. Not that I'm not a KR fan. Mack played big-time high school football just like KR did. I think people sleep on west coast players for some reason. But seeing a kid from Loomis, CA throw TDs to TE from El Dorado Hills at BAMA is a sure sign of the changing Tide.
I enjoy reading your posts. This and the fact that BAMA has given up fewer yards and points than uga since DeBoer's hiring is crazy as straight bananas.
Question if you'll indulge:
If Mack is the starter, how much would he have to struggle/fail to be lifted for Russell? And just to be clear I am a Mack fan. Not that I'm not a KR fan. Mack played big-time high school football just like KR did. I think people sleep on west coast players for some reason. But seeing a kid from Loomis, CA throw TDs to TE from El Dorado Hills at BAMA is a sure sign of the changing Tide.
Posted on 7/29/26 at 5:14 pm to Refrigeraider
Yeah I don’t think anyone would’ve believed that Bama’s defense would out-perform Georgia in points allowed, yards allowed, and forced turnovers through CKD’s first two seasons.
I think everyone (myself included) expected a more “finesse” team that won with a high-flying offense with a defense that did just enough to hang on. It’s wild that the exact opposite has been the case.
I don’t think it has anything to do with Mack at all. I think he’s a very good QB, and most importantly in CKD’s offense, he throws the ball very well down the field, which has been the “missing piece” to the offenses that CKD had fielded in the past. Until Bama is top10 in the country in downfield passing efficiency, then the offense will not look the way it did at any of CKD’s previous stops.
This coming season is by far the strongest group of WRs and both QBs throw the ball downfield very well. Anytime you can stretch the field vertically and force defenses to play 2-deep safety coverages will open up any offense’s ability to run the ball consistently.
What I think separates KR from Mack is his playmaking ability with his feet….to scramble on a 3rd and 8 and hop out of bounds for 9 yards to move the sticks, and more importantly his ability to buy time in the pocket and extend plays until the coverage breaks down (much like in the Spring game). I think he’s is an electrifying player and that is not to put down on Mack at all.
I think everyone (myself included) expected a more “finesse” team that won with a high-flying offense with a defense that did just enough to hang on. It’s wild that the exact opposite has been the case.
I don’t think it has anything to do with Mack at all. I think he’s a very good QB, and most importantly in CKD’s offense, he throws the ball very well down the field, which has been the “missing piece” to the offenses that CKD had fielded in the past. Until Bama is top10 in the country in downfield passing efficiency, then the offense will not look the way it did at any of CKD’s previous stops.
This coming season is by far the strongest group of WRs and both QBs throw the ball downfield very well. Anytime you can stretch the field vertically and force defenses to play 2-deep safety coverages will open up any offense’s ability to run the ball consistently.
What I think separates KR from Mack is his playmaking ability with his feet….to scramble on a 3rd and 8 and hop out of bounds for 9 yards to move the sticks, and more importantly his ability to buy time in the pocket and extend plays until the coverage breaks down (much like in the Spring game). I think he’s is an electrifying player and that is not to put down on Mack at all.
Posted on 7/29/26 at 5:34 pm to Cover1Key
Agree with that 
… I will be disappointed if KR is not the QB but will pull for whoever wins the job
… I will be disappointed if KR is not the QB but will pull for whoever wins the job 
Posted on 7/29/26 at 6:30 pm to Cover1Key
quote:
I don’t think it has anything to do with Mack at all. I think he’s a very good QB, and most importantly in CKD’s offense, he throws the ball very well down the field, which has been the “missing piece” to the offenses that CKD had fielded in the past. Until Bama is top10 in the country in downfield passing efficiency, then the offense will not look the way it did at any of CKD’s previous stops.
This is a big point. DeBoer's offense wants to stress the defense vertically in all areas. Jalen Milroe was money at throwing seam passes, but basically nothing else. Ty Simpson was good at the 20-ish yard hole shot, but basically nothing else. Also, I don't know if that is truly a deep pass...more of an intermediate pass that exploits a cover 2 safety too far in towards the hash.
We really need to see that come back into focus in the offense. I think KR is too special to not play unless he's got problems with the playbook that we can't see. However, he seemed to have natural recognition of where to go in the playtime I've seen. However, if Mack can get it done then good. We need the deep pass back.
This post was edited on 7/29/26 at 6:34 pm
Posted on 7/29/26 at 10:55 pm to RolltideYuleTide
Even with a great defense in today's game against good teams the offensive will have to win a couple or more games. Losing to Michigan in the championship game really bothered me because the defense played lights out in the second half until they ran out of gas. A good offense or an effective quarterback would have blown the doors off Michigan when the defense was dominating for the entire second half until the final minutes. The only real good defenses Saban had Pruitt was the coordinator. Deboer better get the offense moving.
Posted on 7/30/26 at 7:55 am to Diego Ricardo
Anyone who “downvotes” this or disagrees needs to go back and listen to CKD talk (specifically in postgame losses to UTjr 2 years ago and after the National Championship vs Michigan), as well as watching Washington highlights (you can go back to Fresno or Indiana but it’s more difficult to find).
What you will see in the (multiple) victories over Sark at Texas and Lanning at Oregon (and other top programs), are SEVERAL balls that travel in the air 40 yards or more (not just 40 yard completions where it involves yac).
They completed 7 such passes vs Texas in the Semifinal game at UW in that alone, compared to just 4 such completions this past SEASON.
In my opinion, it’s as simple as that. CKD was basically “stuck” with Milroe year 1, and the only knock on Ty Simpson IS his inability to throw the ball accurately vertically outside the hashes. It was almost like Ty had such a strong arm/howitzer that “taking something off of it” to put touch on the ball just didn’t come natural to him, and McVay even commented on the need to develop that aspect of his game.
To compound that problem, has been the fact that a 17/18 year old RW plus Bernard have been the only WR’s that have NFL ability and Bernard is an intermediate/possession guy. RW is the one who can stretch the field vertically as well as anyone, and now having a Cederian Morgan type guys that possess the type of size of the WR’s this staff recruited at UW.
Just like CNS’s defense would take a year or so to get the back-end straight when they lost a lot to graduation/early departures to the NFL, the defense would dropoff but then be really good the following season. I think CKD finally has HIS type of QB that both put tremendous touch on the ball and thrive at throwing the ball down the field consistently.
Just as importantly, I believe they have the WRs to go with it. RW can do two things that make him ELITE and a top-15 NFL pick: he can catch balls underneath (perimeter screens, slip screens, jet sweep) just anything to get it in his hands as quickly as possible bc he’s difficult to tackle in a phone booth….the other is playing out-wide (NOT in the slot) where he is comfortable just running by people and making highlight catches (UGA his TF season). He’s a “home run” hitter and that part of his game has not been utilized in his first two seasons.
He is a guy that FORCES a Safety to stay over the top of him at all times. Last year, defenses realized they did not have to do that, and I believe Grubb put him in the slot so they could actually throw the ball to him, since the vertical game (outside the hashes) did not exist, and the intermediate game was where Ty thrived.
All the headlines/media and 99% of fans are focused on the run game and the need to improve in that area, but the ability to throw the ball vertically EFFICIENTLY and CONSISTENTLY will FORCE defenses to keep 2-high/split-Safety/2-deep coverages at all times bc they aren’t leaving guys 1-on-1 on the perimeter when you are one of the best downfield passing teams in the nation.
THAT alone prevents all the unique pressures defenses started using vs Bama, as well as loading the box on 1st down and 3rd and short bc there was no fear of giving up the big play down the field….the best example of this is to watch the first half of Georgia game, then watch what Kirby did defensively the 2nd half to shut them out and then again in the SECCG (which was just a continuation of the 2nd half of the 1st time they played in Athens).
This year will be the first season that CKD has the ability to stretch the field when they get those 1-on-1 matchups on the perimeter. THAT is what makes RUNNING THE BALL easy/easier for any offense that isn’t designed to just blow you off the ball with the “3 yard and a cloud of dust” mentality. When you have a +1 or +2 advantage in the box, then ANY offense will average 4.5ypc.
If the defense plays as well as the past 2 seasons (I think this will be the most consistent group so thus far), and I believe they will be even better bc if the experience and dominance in the Secondary along with the bigger body types (plus depth) on the Dline where they no longer are having to play guys like Joran Renaud as a 4-tech when he is far too small. CKW came in with a
4-2-5 “come hell or high water” mentality but began to evolve after the Vandy debacle early in year 1, to the point where now they are in an Odd Front the majority of the time, but that’s why you saw a guy like London Simmons playing as a TF bc he was one of about 3 that possessed the size to play in a 3-down Front.
With the defense being just as consistent (probably better), improved special teams (especially the freaking Punter), and the offense is setup to score 28 points in every game they play imo. And if they do that, they will be a 10-2 team that most likely returns to Atlanta and certainly to the Playoffs. Then you have the possibility where KR really is that once in a decade caliber QB that can lead them to a very special season.
What you will see in the (multiple) victories over Sark at Texas and Lanning at Oregon (and other top programs), are SEVERAL balls that travel in the air 40 yards or more (not just 40 yard completions where it involves yac).
They completed 7 such passes vs Texas in the Semifinal game at UW in that alone, compared to just 4 such completions this past SEASON.
In my opinion, it’s as simple as that. CKD was basically “stuck” with Milroe year 1, and the only knock on Ty Simpson IS his inability to throw the ball accurately vertically outside the hashes. It was almost like Ty had such a strong arm/howitzer that “taking something off of it” to put touch on the ball just didn’t come natural to him, and McVay even commented on the need to develop that aspect of his game.
To compound that problem, has been the fact that a 17/18 year old RW plus Bernard have been the only WR’s that have NFL ability and Bernard is an intermediate/possession guy. RW is the one who can stretch the field vertically as well as anyone, and now having a Cederian Morgan type guys that possess the type of size of the WR’s this staff recruited at UW.
Just like CNS’s defense would take a year or so to get the back-end straight when they lost a lot to graduation/early departures to the NFL, the defense would dropoff but then be really good the following season. I think CKD finally has HIS type of QB that both put tremendous touch on the ball and thrive at throwing the ball down the field consistently.
Just as importantly, I believe they have the WRs to go with it. RW can do two things that make him ELITE and a top-15 NFL pick: he can catch balls underneath (perimeter screens, slip screens, jet sweep) just anything to get it in his hands as quickly as possible bc he’s difficult to tackle in a phone booth….the other is playing out-wide (NOT in the slot) where he is comfortable just running by people and making highlight catches (UGA his TF season). He’s a “home run” hitter and that part of his game has not been utilized in his first two seasons.
He is a guy that FORCES a Safety to stay over the top of him at all times. Last year, defenses realized they did not have to do that, and I believe Grubb put him in the slot so they could actually throw the ball to him, since the vertical game (outside the hashes) did not exist, and the intermediate game was where Ty thrived.
All the headlines/media and 99% of fans are focused on the run game and the need to improve in that area, but the ability to throw the ball vertically EFFICIENTLY and CONSISTENTLY will FORCE defenses to keep 2-high/split-Safety/2-deep coverages at all times bc they aren’t leaving guys 1-on-1 on the perimeter when you are one of the best downfield passing teams in the nation.
THAT alone prevents all the unique pressures defenses started using vs Bama, as well as loading the box on 1st down and 3rd and short bc there was no fear of giving up the big play down the field….the best example of this is to watch the first half of Georgia game, then watch what Kirby did defensively the 2nd half to shut them out and then again in the SECCG (which was just a continuation of the 2nd half of the 1st time they played in Athens).
This year will be the first season that CKD has the ability to stretch the field when they get those 1-on-1 matchups on the perimeter. THAT is what makes RUNNING THE BALL easy/easier for any offense that isn’t designed to just blow you off the ball with the “3 yard and a cloud of dust” mentality. When you have a +1 or +2 advantage in the box, then ANY offense will average 4.5ypc.
If the defense plays as well as the past 2 seasons (I think this will be the most consistent group so thus far), and I believe they will be even better bc if the experience and dominance in the Secondary along with the bigger body types (plus depth) on the Dline where they no longer are having to play guys like Joran Renaud as a 4-tech when he is far too small. CKW came in with a
4-2-5 “come hell or high water” mentality but began to evolve after the Vandy debacle early in year 1, to the point where now they are in an Odd Front the majority of the time, but that’s why you saw a guy like London Simmons playing as a TF bc he was one of about 3 that possessed the size to play in a 3-down Front.
With the defense being just as consistent (probably better), improved special teams (especially the freaking Punter), and the offense is setup to score 28 points in every game they play imo. And if they do that, they will be a 10-2 team that most likely returns to Atlanta and certainly to the Playoffs. Then you have the possibility where KR really is that once in a decade caliber QB that can lead them to a very special season.
This post was edited on 7/30/26 at 8:12 am
Posted on 7/30/26 at 8:10 am to Cover1Key
quote:
RW is the one who can stretch the field vertically as well as anyone, and now having a Cederian Morgan type guy with the type of size of the WR’s this staff recruited at UW.
Rico Scott is supposed to be one of the fastest guys on the team, yet he rarely sees the field.
Posted on 7/30/26 at 8:23 am to Cover1Key
I completely agree with you. But I see two things that gotta happen to make that work. 1. RW has to catch the ball and 2. the OLine has to give enough time for those downfield routes to develop.
In the old days we would try those home run balls off a hard run fake. Not a lot of WRs can just get downfield by themselves. It has to be schemed or they have to be special. Devonta Smith could do it. If RW can do it, we are gonna score a lot of points that way.
In the old days we would try those home run balls off a hard run fake. Not a lot of WRs can just get downfield by themselves. It has to be schemed or they have to be special. Devonta Smith could do it. If RW can do it, we are gonna score a lot of points that way.
Posted on 7/30/26 at 8:24 am to Night Vision
Probably bc vertical speed didn’t matter much if the QB can’t throw it accurately/comfortably past 30 yards. Ty possessed all the arm talent in the world and could work through his progressions as quickly as you will see (which is why he was drafted so early), but he simply could not throw it vertically the way this offense needs the QB needs to in order to be successful.
Once defenses started playing a ton of cover-1/man-free coverage along with rotating to 3-under 3-deep when they did show a 2-shell look, and bring creative pressures (or put multiple pass rushers on the field), the offense was effectively dead at that point. If any offense has zero threat of stretching the field vertically then any aggressive/well-coached defense is going to take advantage of it.
CNS said it at Alabama and he stressed it over and over during his coverage of the NFL Draft that as a defensive-minded coach, that your outside Cornerbacks dictate what your defense can and cannot do. Teams that hurt CNS’s defenses always got credit for having a mobile QB, but they all possessed an Alshon Jeffries, Bryan Thomas Jr, Malik Neighbors,Mike Evans, Justin Jefferson, Jamar Chase,or even a freakish TE like the kid from Florida under Dan Mullin, (or a year where CNS had a weak point at CB bc of injury or playing a TF like Justin Ross vs Savion Smith) type of matchup at WR that made playing man-coverage with no Safety help all but impossible and forced them into 2-high coverages , which forces you to play a lot of zone coverage, only rush 4, and also stay very vanilla/limited on 3rd down as opposed to pressuring the QB like CNS and Kirby Smart want to.
Once defenses started playing a ton of cover-1/man-free coverage along with rotating to 3-under 3-deep when they did show a 2-shell look, and bring creative pressures (or put multiple pass rushers on the field), the offense was effectively dead at that point. If any offense has zero threat of stretching the field vertically then any aggressive/well-coached defense is going to take advantage of it.
CNS said it at Alabama and he stressed it over and over during his coverage of the NFL Draft that as a defensive-minded coach, that your outside Cornerbacks dictate what your defense can and cannot do. Teams that hurt CNS’s defenses always got credit for having a mobile QB, but they all possessed an Alshon Jeffries, Bryan Thomas Jr, Malik Neighbors,Mike Evans, Justin Jefferson, Jamar Chase,or even a freakish TE like the kid from Florida under Dan Mullin, (or a year where CNS had a weak point at CB bc of injury or playing a TF like Justin Ross vs Savion Smith) type of matchup at WR that made playing man-coverage with no Safety help all but impossible and forced them into 2-high coverages , which forces you to play a lot of zone coverage, only rush 4, and also stay very vanilla/limited on 3rd down as opposed to pressuring the QB like CNS and Kirby Smart want to.
This post was edited on 7/30/26 at 8:55 am
Posted on 7/30/26 at 8:34 am to SECSolomonGrundy
I agree. It does take Jaylen Waddle, Julio Jones, Amari Cooper, etc types in order to win consistently down the field. More importantly than that is the QB’s ability to drop it in there the way Mac could in 2020-2021.
The good news is that you don’t need 3-4 of those type of guys. If you have 1 guy who can win consistently out-wide, then that alone is going to change a DC’s perspective.
I believe RW is the 2nd most important player on the roster (behind the QB). Yes he struggled dropping the football, but he also was playing out of position…he belongs in the numbers/out-wide not in the slot, and thrives on vertical balls with his straight-ahead speed which forced CB’s to play off of him and give him space to catch quick throws and do damage after the catch. No, he will not be consistent running 20 yard crossing routes or 15 yard digs out of the slot, but that’s NOT what you need him for. That guy is a nightmare lined up out wide 1-on-1 with a CB, which is what forces a defense to stay 2-high in the Secondary which means no exotic blitzes AND favorable numbers in the Box to run the ball against.
Like CNS preached, whoever had the advantage on the perimeter (outside WR vs outside CB’s) dictate what an offense can and cannot do.
The good news is that you don’t need 3-4 of those type of guys. If you have 1 guy who can win consistently out-wide, then that alone is going to change a DC’s perspective.
I believe RW is the 2nd most important player on the roster (behind the QB). Yes he struggled dropping the football, but he also was playing out of position…he belongs in the numbers/out-wide not in the slot, and thrives on vertical balls with his straight-ahead speed which forced CB’s to play off of him and give him space to catch quick throws and do damage after the catch. No, he will not be consistent running 20 yard crossing routes or 15 yard digs out of the slot, but that’s NOT what you need him for. That guy is a nightmare lined up out wide 1-on-1 with a CB, which is what forces a defense to stay 2-high in the Secondary which means no exotic blitzes AND favorable numbers in the Box to run the ball against.
Like CNS preached, whoever had the advantage on the perimeter (outside WR vs outside CB’s) dictate what an offense can and cannot do.
This post was edited on 7/30/26 at 8:41 am
Posted on 7/30/26 at 8:51 am to SECSolomonGrundy
Go to YouTube and lookup “Washington vs Texas Semifinal”.
You could lookup the majority of games under CKD and you will see the same, but that game stands out in my mind bc Texas had 3 first rounders in the Secondary and tries playing man-to-man and sending lots of pressure…..it does NOT take a long time to throw the ball vertically effectively. It’s a different style than the “hard play fakes” we saw under CNS that were 2 man routes with maximum protection…..this offense is a “throw it early and throw it to a spot” and let the WR’s go get it.
Again, I think watching those offensive highlights from UW will show you what they want to do offensively and what has made them one of the top offenses in the nation at Fresno, Indiana and UW.
It’s a “timing” based passing game where the ball is out in 2.5 seconds even when throwing it 50 yards down the field. Five such completions like that down the field is 28-35 points on its own. But you must have a QB that throws a consistent deep ball and a WR or two that can go get it. I believe CKD had those two things for the duration time since his final season at UW.
You could lookup the majority of games under CKD and you will see the same, but that game stands out in my mind bc Texas had 3 first rounders in the Secondary and tries playing man-to-man and sending lots of pressure…..it does NOT take a long time to throw the ball vertically effectively. It’s a different style than the “hard play fakes” we saw under CNS that were 2 man routes with maximum protection…..this offense is a “throw it early and throw it to a spot” and let the WR’s go get it.
Again, I think watching those offensive highlights from UW will show you what they want to do offensively and what has made them one of the top offenses in the nation at Fresno, Indiana and UW.
It’s a “timing” based passing game where the ball is out in 2.5 seconds even when throwing it 50 yards down the field. Five such completions like that down the field is 28-35 points on its own. But you must have a QB that throws a consistent deep ball and a WR or two that can go get it. I believe CKD had those two things for the duration time since his final season at UW.
This post was edited on 7/30/26 at 10:31 am
Posted on 7/30/26 at 10:59 am to Diego Ricardo
Milroe did throw a decent deep ball (still not a what you need), and its what he did by far the best in the passing game.
The issue in Year 1, was basically the opposite of the issue they had in Year 2 (which isn’t that surprising being that Milroe and Simpson were completely different QBs) as far the play from the QB position:
In year 1, you saw RW’s go for 800+ yards and did make plays down the field but didn’t really have anyone to compliment him, but defenses started playing almost exclusively zone coverages against Milroe to eliminate the vertical throws and actually make him work through his progression (the way Ty did SO well), which obviously Milroe could not.
That’s why you saw RW’s production (and the offense as a whole) become stagnant towards the end of the season. Also Zone coverage allowed 2nd level defenders to keep eyes on Milroe to prevent him from scrambling as opposed to trying to spy him with 1 person (usually a LB) and play man-coverage behind it and let him rush for 5 TD’s the way LSU was hellbent on doing for some reason.
OU and Michigan mixed up zone coverages and zone pressures and Milroe had no clue where to go with the football. Ty was just the opposite….he could go through his progression extremely quick, and shredded zone coverages and made a living throwing intermediate passes to the MOF.
Then just like with Milroe, around week 8, is when defenses started to adjust and take away the intermediate throws (especially to the MOF), and played lots of 1-high coverages with MAN instead of Zone (opposite of how they defended Milroe) and sent a lot of man pressures (instead of all the zone pressures defenses started sending against Milroe).
Both years, the offense was pretty good, certainly good enough to win, through the first 8 games of the season and were ranked #1 and #4 at the point in the season respectively. Then defenses adjusted with all the Zone coverage disguises and zone pressures vs Milroe and all the 1-high/aggressive coverage vs Ty and the offense didn’t have an answer late in the season both years.
CKD’s offense has to have a QB who can go through his progressions and find the giant holes in Zone coverage and not lock onto WRs and hope they come open (Milroe), and also a guy who can throw the ball vertically to where a DC feels like leaving his Corners on an island is taking a gamble.
The good news is that it doesn’t take that great of a QB to be able to do both those things IF they have 1-2 really good WR’s who are dangerous 1-on-1.
If they just have the level of play at QB that CKD had at Fresno or IU, then that’s really all you need. The key is getting 2 out of RW/Morgan/Rogers (I’m
high on Noah Rogers) to become guys you don’t want to leave 1-on-1 on the perimeter with no Safety help. I didn’t list Brooks bc he’s strictly a slot WR, and he’s great against Zone, and makes plays vs man-coverage underneath as well, and is a tremendous piece of the offense…..but he isn’t an outside guy that can line up on numbers and just run by people (RW) or go over a DB (Morgan) to haul in 1-on-1 throws.
I think this year, Bama will have a QB who can throw a nice deep ball on time AND go through his progressions vs zone coverage. That’s when CKD’s offense can look like it did at his previous stops, and continue it past week 8 without defenses being able to zero in on the inability of the offense to be proficient in both those areas and take it away like we saw these first two seasons.
The issue in Year 1, was basically the opposite of the issue they had in Year 2 (which isn’t that surprising being that Milroe and Simpson were completely different QBs) as far the play from the QB position:
In year 1, you saw RW’s go for 800+ yards and did make plays down the field but didn’t really have anyone to compliment him, but defenses started playing almost exclusively zone coverages against Milroe to eliminate the vertical throws and actually make him work through his progression (the way Ty did SO well), which obviously Milroe could not.
That’s why you saw RW’s production (and the offense as a whole) become stagnant towards the end of the season. Also Zone coverage allowed 2nd level defenders to keep eyes on Milroe to prevent him from scrambling as opposed to trying to spy him with 1 person (usually a LB) and play man-coverage behind it and let him rush for 5 TD’s the way LSU was hellbent on doing for some reason.
OU and Michigan mixed up zone coverages and zone pressures and Milroe had no clue where to go with the football. Ty was just the opposite….he could go through his progression extremely quick, and shredded zone coverages and made a living throwing intermediate passes to the MOF.
Then just like with Milroe, around week 8, is when defenses started to adjust and take away the intermediate throws (especially to the MOF), and played lots of 1-high coverages with MAN instead of Zone (opposite of how they defended Milroe) and sent a lot of man pressures (instead of all the zone pressures defenses started sending against Milroe).
Both years, the offense was pretty good, certainly good enough to win, through the first 8 games of the season and were ranked #1 and #4 at the point in the season respectively. Then defenses adjusted with all the Zone coverage disguises and zone pressures vs Milroe and all the 1-high/aggressive coverage vs Ty and the offense didn’t have an answer late in the season both years.
CKD’s offense has to have a QB who can go through his progressions and find the giant holes in Zone coverage and not lock onto WRs and hope they come open (Milroe), and also a guy who can throw the ball vertically to where a DC feels like leaving his Corners on an island is taking a gamble.
The good news is that it doesn’t take that great of a QB to be able to do both those things IF they have 1-2 really good WR’s who are dangerous 1-on-1.
If they just have the level of play at QB that CKD had at Fresno or IU, then that’s really all you need. The key is getting 2 out of RW/Morgan/Rogers (I’m
high on Noah Rogers) to become guys you don’t want to leave 1-on-1 on the perimeter with no Safety help. I didn’t list Brooks bc he’s strictly a slot WR, and he’s great against Zone, and makes plays vs man-coverage underneath as well, and is a tremendous piece of the offense…..but he isn’t an outside guy that can line up on numbers and just run by people (RW) or go over a DB (Morgan) to haul in 1-on-1 throws.
I think this year, Bama will have a QB who can throw a nice deep ball on time AND go through his progressions vs zone coverage. That’s when CKD’s offense can look like it did at his previous stops, and continue it past week 8 without defenses being able to zero in on the inability of the offense to be proficient in both those areas and take it away like we saw these first two seasons.
This post was edited on 7/30/26 at 11:10 am
Posted on 7/30/26 at 1:50 pm to Cover1Key
Thanks for the response. I am nore than a casual fan but my insight isnt what yours is.
I think Mack is the QB1. He moves at least as well as Penix. His deep ball is choice. What matters is does he have a Rome Odunze?
I think Mack is the QB1. He moves at least as well as Penix. His deep ball is choice. What matters is does he have a Rome Odunze?
Posted on 7/30/26 at 8:03 pm to Refrigeraider
I am looking more forward to this season than I have in a long while. I know NIL/Portal have changed the sport, but I still love watching good defense and I think we will finally get to see a fully capable CKD offense.
The media and opposing fan bases are all doubting Bama bc based off of how the season ended last year, but only Bama fans who follow them closely realize what the defense is about to do and that CKD has what he needs to run his offense efficiently for the first time since being at Bama.
He’s already proven he can win big games and win “ugly” and win with a defensive-led team. I think this year we see all 3 phases clicking for the first time.
The media and opposing fan bases are all doubting Bama bc based off of how the season ended last year, but only Bama fans who follow them closely realize what the defense is about to do and that CKD has what he needs to run his offense efficiently for the first time since being at Bama.
He’s already proven he can win big games and win “ugly” and win with a defensive-led team. I think this year we see all 3 phases clicking for the first time.
Posted on 7/30/26 at 8:21 pm to Cover1Key
Who do you see starting at the LB spots throughout our nickel and dime packages?
Do you think Hubbard moves up? We have really good depth at DB
Do you think Hubbard moves up? We have really good depth at DB
Posted on 7/31/26 at 10:03 am to SECSolomonGrundy
- CKW has consistently moved Hubbard to LB in obvious passing situations, which puts another DB on the field. They also pressure a lot out of this package.
- Q.B. Reese is the best LB right now on the roster. Doesn’t do anything flashy, but is extremely physical. He reminds me of an “old school” type LB like a Marvin Constant (prior to injury obviously) that plays extremely hard/gritty player that doesn’t allow yards after contact.
- The other spot will be a rotational position imo. CKW has shown how much he likes to get as many players who are good enough to play on the field…..he even rotated the Corners and Safeties, which is rare. I think Woodson gets the first crack at it and will wear the “dot” like Lawson did. However, I think we will see 2-3 guys get playing time here during games. Obviously Xavier Griffin is the one to watch. He reminds so much of CJ Mosely and he started as a TF (as did 7 other TF at LB under CNS). I also would t count out Duke Johnson or Abdullah Sanders either.
- Early on, QB Reese and Woodson. Woodson will stay on the field (former Safety) and wear the dot in Nickel/Dime. Then I think you have 2-3 guys pushing to get playing time with X Griffin having a tremendously high ceiling. However, I think QB Reese is the LB fans will enjoy watching play the most (at least until X Griffin comes into his own).
- Q.B. Reese is the best LB right now on the roster. Doesn’t do anything flashy, but is extremely physical. He reminds me of an “old school” type LB like a Marvin Constant (prior to injury obviously) that plays extremely hard/gritty player that doesn’t allow yards after contact.
- The other spot will be a rotational position imo. CKW has shown how much he likes to get as many players who are good enough to play on the field…..he even rotated the Corners and Safeties, which is rare. I think Woodson gets the first crack at it and will wear the “dot” like Lawson did. However, I think we will see 2-3 guys get playing time here during games. Obviously Xavier Griffin is the one to watch. He reminds so much of CJ Mosely and he started as a TF (as did 7 other TF at LB under CNS). I also would t count out Duke Johnson or Abdullah Sanders either.
- Early on, QB Reese and Woodson. Woodson will stay on the field (former Safety) and wear the dot in Nickel/Dime. Then I think you have 2-3 guys pushing to get playing time with X Griffin having a tremendously high ceiling. However, I think QB Reese is the LB fans will enjoy watching play the most (at least until X Griffin comes into his own).
Posted on 7/31/26 at 10:09 am to Cover1Key
If Reese is the kind of linebacker who stonewalls RBs instead of letting them gain 2 extra yards being dragged down he'll be the favorite player of this board by late September.
Posted on 7/31/26 at 12:51 pm to Cover1Key
I just hope we arent soft at the point of attack, again. Sounds like Reese is the thumper we all want. But behind him its a bunch of converted safeties.
There is a lot of playing time to be earned. Somebody will step up. I just worry what happens if we start to get some injuries.
There is a lot of playing time to be earned. Somebody will step up. I just worry what happens if we start to get some injuries.
Posted on 7/31/26 at 1:06 pm to crimson crazy
We definitely have players, but need to get out if that zone and play man- we have the talent to do that.
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