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Posted on 9/13/17 at 7:07 am to TidalSurge1
Has anybody stopped to think..."maybe Saban doesn't want his QBs slinging the ball 50 times like other teams"
After a while, someone besides the revolving door of QBs is the common denominator.
And thank God he is. Because if we didn't do what we do, we wouldn't be who we are.
After a while, someone besides the revolving door of QBs is the common denominator.
And thank God he is. Because if we didn't do what we do, we wouldn't be who we are.
Posted on 9/13/17 at 10:03 am to stomp
quote:
Has anybody stopped to think..."maybe Saban doesn't want his QBs slinging the ball 50 times like other teams"
After a while, someone besides the revolving door of QBs is the common denominator.
And thank God he is. Because if we didn't do what we do, we wouldn't be who we are.
The reason why this is a hard argument to buy into is because having a QB who only throws safe passes, and runs the ball lowers your ceiling of how good your team can be. I think it is hard for some of the fans on the board to realize that Alabama is so good it beat FSU and Washington last year with Jalen being virtually no threat in the air. Having the ability/threat of putting 300 yards and 3 touchdowns in the air makes it where opposing defenses have to prepare that as well as your running game. We can win most games with Jalen in his current form. A lot of the critics would just like to see some of these elite pass catchers get used, but that is more of a coaching decision than Jalen.
Posted on 9/13/17 at 10:29 am to KareemAbdul
Amen. Our super, elite corp of receivers are nothing but glorified blocking dummies. Our offense if Hurts could pass the ball would be an unstoppable machine. Maybe it just isn't meant to be and wouldn't be fair to the rest of college football. Maybe it is possible for Tua to have a larger role by the end of the year so that we can use the entire field.
Posted on 9/13/17 at 10:37 am to Commander Data
quote:
Commander Data
I feel like you switch your opinion on Hurts every day.
Also, to anyone who has been paying attention, Hurts has looked way better in the last two games. He looks calmer, is throwing the ball away better before taking sacks, and is making better decisions. He's running like a madman as well.
No he's not putting up numbers, but if you watch how he throws he looks a hell of a lot better than he did throughout last year.
Posted on 9/13/17 at 10:40 am to KareemAbdul
quote:
A lot of the critics would just like to see some of these elite pass catchers get used, but that is more of a coaching decision than Jalen.
Saban himself has said this many times.
This post was edited on 9/13/17 at 10:41 am
Posted on 9/13/17 at 10:46 am to TidalSurge1
quote:
A lot of the critics would just like to see some of these elite pass catchers get used, but that is more of a coaching decision than Jalen.
Saban himself has said this many times.
He has said that many times, just last week in fact, so I don't know why we didn't work more on that vs Fresno State.
edit: Well, without looking it up, I think Hurts passed 18 times (and most of those were short passes) and Tua passed 9, so 27 total. You'd think, though, the OC would call more passing plays for Hurts, including more intermediate to long passes, since he's the starting QB, and the head coach has said we need to get the receivers more involved. Instead, we "took what they gave us", as I have read, and as if Fresno State were some awesome defense that dictated how we had to play to win the game.
This post was edited on 9/13/17 at 10:53 am
Posted on 9/13/17 at 11:11 am to Kcoyote
Basically that
Saban is going to do whatever he wants in regards to the passing game. People still act like hurts can't pass, when he clearly can. If they think quick strikes and running is the key, so be it. Just win.
Saban is going to do whatever he wants in regards to the passing game. People still act like hurts can't pass, when he clearly can. If they think quick strikes and running is the key, so be it. Just win.
Posted on 9/13/17 at 11:27 am to Huddie Leadbetter
I think Bama worked on Hurts' passing game more than Hurts' attempts stat indicates. A few were RPOs where the run option was the better choice for Hurts to make. And there were a few plays where protection was not up to par.
I expect the oline play will continue to improve, and as it does, we'll see improvement in the RBs' production and Hurts' passing production.
I expect the oline play will continue to improve, and as it does, we'll see improvement in the RBs' production and Hurts' passing production.
This post was edited on 9/13/17 at 11:31 am
Posted on 9/13/17 at 11:54 am to TidalSurge1
quote:
I think Bama worked on Hurts' passing game more than Hurts' attempts stat indicates. A few were RPOs where the run option was the better choice for Hurts to make. And there were a few plays where protection was not up to par.
I expect the oline play will continue to improve, and as it does, we'll see improvement in the RBs' production and Hurts' passing production.
I agree. As long as we limit turnovers then we will be okay on offense. I did see that Justyn Ross mentioned our lack of getting the ball to everyone factored in to us vs Clemson, but we can tackle that issue when it comes. Last years WR haul was amazing. I blame the coaches, Saban included, more than I do Hurts at under using WR and TE. OJ Howard was probably the most gifted TE I've seen and we know how that story goes.
Posted on 9/13/17 at 12:15 pm to KareemAbdul
I guess I'm just going to watch and see how, or if, our passing game develops. I don't like the offense that Kiffin ran, and I haven't been blown away with it so far under Daboll. It may turn out to be his greatest ever coaching move, but I don't like this running QB stuff that Saban has adopted. I think it's great if a QB CAN run, but in my opinion, the passing game should be developed first. I also worry that, if the offense continues this way, it will eventually begin to hurt our recruiting of WR's, and maybe even RB's.
This post was edited on 9/13/17 at 12:17 pm
Posted on 9/13/17 at 12:19 pm to PowHound
Both mindlessly criticizing and mindlessly defending the QB are just sadly a part of football.
The QB is the most prominent position and as such morons fixate on them.
The haters blame them for everything. The sunshine pumpers think they can do no wrong.
The QB is the most prominent position and as such morons fixate on them.
The haters blame them for everything. The sunshine pumpers think they can do no wrong.
Posted on 9/13/17 at 12:20 pm to IAmReality
Lots of room between those two things though.
Posted on 9/13/17 at 12:46 pm to cajunbama
quote:
Lots of room between those two things though.
Of course but extremists on both sides tend to be the most vocal and annoying. You can't have a measured conversation with them around.
Posted on 9/13/17 at 4:57 pm to KareemAbdul
Better protection could lead to more big plays for Tide | al.com
quote:
Last Saturday, after Alabama crushed Fresno State by 31 points, Nick Saban was asked during his postgame news conference to give his assessment of the offensive line.
The Crimson Tide coach acknowledged he couldn't give a definitive evaluation because of his sideline vantage point and the fact he had yet to review the game footage. So, instead he turned the tables and presented the same question to the reporter who had queried him.
The journalist's response?
So-so.
Less than 48 hours, Saban was back behind the lectern and again the performance of Alabama's blocking front came up.
"I think that the offensive line did a better job in this game," Saban said Monday. When I talk about finishing plays, there were probably seven plays that we have a hat on a hat, that if we finish one block, that play would be significantly more successful and maybe even an explosive, big play. When I talk about finishing, I think that's what we need to do. Same thing in pass protection. We get a hat on a hat, we've got to finish, get the right hand placement, get in the right position so that we have a chance to throw the ball down the field more."
Through two games, Alabama ranks 99th in the Football Bowl Subdivision in pass plays that have produced 30 or more yards. The Crimson Tide has only had one of that kind -- the 53-yard bomb from Jalen Hurts to Calvin Ridley that resulted in Alabama's first touchdown of the season in its victory over Florida State.
Then again, Hurts has largely refrained from going deep.
According to ProFootball Focus, only five of his throws have traveled 20 yards or farther in the air. And the only completion among them was the scoring strike to Ridley.
Against Fresno State, Hurts acknowledged, "We didn't take too many shots in the game, but I don't think we really had to.
"When we called them, I probably didn't have enough time, but we'll definitely take care of that this week."
That appears to be the focus as the offensive line attempts to mitigate the pressure tactics employed by its opponents.
So far this season, Hurts has been placed under duress on 13 of his 48 dropbacks, according to PFF. The protection improved against Fresno State, whose pass rush didn't pose the same threat as the Seminoles'. But left guard Ross Pierschbacher told reporters the line could do even better.
"I think some of it is just making the right checks and what they are doing on defense," Pierschbacher said Tuesday. "They are moving a lot, especially this last week. Sometimes we'll be in a five-man protection and they'll bring a sixth guy. It doesn't make us look the greatest, but work has picked up. I think stuff like that is recognizing and communicating the right way."
"I think we're doing good. I think we need to continue to grow... I think as Coach Saban has been saying, it's just one little thing away, whether it's one guy finishing his block or whatnot from being a moderate gain to a big, explosive play."
Posted on 9/13/17 at 7:28 pm to TidalSurge1
I agree with Teague; going with a mobile QB just for the sake of having a QB that can run is stupid if he's not adept throwing. I would much rather have a QB that is an SEC caliber passer and that has some escapability and ability to run and make you pay if you leave running lanes open. But I don't want my QB leading the team in rushing unless we are going back to wishbone football.
Jalen is the best we have at this point. He's a below average passer but a fantastic runner and athlete and leader. We've got to ride this pony now because we've gone all in with him. I hope he improves his arm because right now, the elite teams like Clemson, Penn State, USC and maybe Oklahoma will give us all we can handle and will have a great chance to win a playoff game.
Daboll sucks. After week 2 that's pretty harsh and maybe premature but I've seen nothing impressive about his offensive strategy or play calling. With Kiffin, we'd dick around with plays for a quarter or so because he would be probing the defense and/or setting things up for later kill shots. With Daboll, we just dick around for 4 quarters hoping some of the shite we are throwing against the wall sticks. There is no apparent strategy, no continuity in play calling, no progressions, no fluidity to the offense. It's just a disjointed collection of play calls. It's just really painful to watch. It was very evident against FSU, less so against overmatched Fresno, but still evident. We have no identity. Are we a team that uses the pass to set up the run, or the run to set up the pass? Do we know? We go out of the shotgun almost exclusively now. That's rather limiting to the run game at least. We don't get mismatches with formation and exploit those mismatches. Kiffin was a witch at it. I hated Kiffin his last couple of games and I'm glad he's gone. But say what you will, the man knew how to call plays.
We have the good fortune of a weak schedule this year. We've played our toughest game already and won. LSU is still a work in progress and Auburn looks to be struggling offensively again. But I'm not sure we can handle a team that can put points on the board. We have a great defense again, but an offense that is less than formidable and a great team will simply wear our defense out and outscore us in the 4th quarter, just like Clemson did last year and almost did the year before.
Jalen is the best we have at this point. He's a below average passer but a fantastic runner and athlete and leader. We've got to ride this pony now because we've gone all in with him. I hope he improves his arm because right now, the elite teams like Clemson, Penn State, USC and maybe Oklahoma will give us all we can handle and will have a great chance to win a playoff game.
Daboll sucks. After week 2 that's pretty harsh and maybe premature but I've seen nothing impressive about his offensive strategy or play calling. With Kiffin, we'd dick around with plays for a quarter or so because he would be probing the defense and/or setting things up for later kill shots. With Daboll, we just dick around for 4 quarters hoping some of the shite we are throwing against the wall sticks. There is no apparent strategy, no continuity in play calling, no progressions, no fluidity to the offense. It's just a disjointed collection of play calls. It's just really painful to watch. It was very evident against FSU, less so against overmatched Fresno, but still evident. We have no identity. Are we a team that uses the pass to set up the run, or the run to set up the pass? Do we know? We go out of the shotgun almost exclusively now. That's rather limiting to the run game at least. We don't get mismatches with formation and exploit those mismatches. Kiffin was a witch at it. I hated Kiffin his last couple of games and I'm glad he's gone. But say what you will, the man knew how to call plays.
We have the good fortune of a weak schedule this year. We've played our toughest game already and won. LSU is still a work in progress and Auburn looks to be struggling offensively again. But I'm not sure we can handle a team that can put points on the board. We have a great defense again, but an offense that is less than formidable and a great team will simply wear our defense out and outscore us in the 4th quarter, just like Clemson did last year and almost did the year before.
This post was edited on 9/13/17 at 8:16 pm
Posted on 9/13/17 at 8:15 pm to phil4bama
quote:
phil4bama
I agree with every single word.
With that said, I'm sure that once the O-line gels, and once we actually have to pass to win, we'll see this Brady-esque Hurts that everyone keeps talking about with his super improved accuracy
The other team won't know what hit them.
This post was edited on 9/13/17 at 8:19 pm
Posted on 9/13/17 at 8:23 pm to IAmReality
quote:
The haters blame them for everything. The sunshine pumpers think they can do no wrong.
I don't blame Hurts for anything. He's just doing his best.
As an Alabama fan, I'm just always left wondering, "What if Baker Mayfield was our QB? What if Johnny Manziel was our QB? What if Deshaun Watson was our QB?"
The fact is, it's hard to win against a team with a QB who's twice as good as yours, and at some point this year, we'll face a QB that can toy with our defense...
This post was edited on 9/13/17 at 8:25 pm
Posted on 9/13/17 at 8:36 pm to phil4bama
I think most of our offensive shortcomings this season are due moreso to execution issues (especially oline & receivers) than scheme or play calling or the popular criticisms of Jalen Hurts. I think we've already improved some since the FSU game and expect that we'll see even more significant improvement over the next few weeks.
This post was edited on 9/13/17 at 8:47 pm
Posted on 9/13/17 at 8:49 pm to KareemAbdul
quote:
The reason why this is a hard argument to buy into is because having a QB who only throws safe passes, and runs the ball lowers your ceiling of how good your team can be
I can only think of one QB we have had who threw anything other than "safe passes" since Saban has been here. It's always been an offense based on ball control and limiting mistakes. McCarron as a 4th/5th year player is the one exception maybe. Even in his third year on campus AJ basically was forced to throw only high percentage passes. I think some of us are misremembering the reality of QB play since Saban has been here. It's hard to argue with the formula.
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