Started By
Message
Unpopular Opinion: It wasn't all on the defensive playcalling
Posted on 10/11/20 at 12:41 am
Posted on 10/11/20 at 12:41 am
I'll probably get lambasted for this, but I figure it's much easier to just bulletpoint it.
1. The back seven is stupidly young and inexperienced. On top of that, they didn't have a spring to really get set. We're seeing offensive stats increase at ridiculous rates across the conference compared to the prior years. This isn't just an Alabama issue, anyone playing a team with a pulse is getting gashed.
2. Kiffin knows this defense.
I know everyone wants to rail Golding tonight, but Kiffin threw out all of the possible stops from the get go. Their special teams had non-stop squibbs to try and force turnovers, the surprise onside kick, pulling an uncalled play out of nowhere for third down conversions, etc.
We saw their only speed option of the night on third, we saw a Tebow-esque goal line pass on third and long (intercepted but PI on Moses), we saw screens, we saw multiple option run plays, etc. Every single time they were in the redzone they had a scripted hurry up and were gashing us because our defense isn't in a position where they can adjust on the run.
Most teams would've struggled with the playcalling tonight. What I will concede is there were multitudes of dumb mistakes we have seen. Failure to cover the RB coming out of the backfield and tackling have been major holes, with some of the youth showing (Daniel Wrights interception attempt) in the game. Golding has struggled with linebackers by all evidence we have, but a good portion of this can be attributed to COVID killing spring development for these guys.
One last thing I will leave on this point though is piggybacking on the statement made by Moses. Kiffin knew our defensive playcalls. He coached here for two years, he practiced daily against the traditional Saban packages. His film study for this game probably made it to the point where his team had an open secret on what we were moving to.
3. Ole Miss did this last year and upgraded their talent.
Last year, Kiffin put up [ 476 yards on this team through 88 plays, good for 5.41 YPP. That was with John Rhys Plumlee going 10-28 with 140 passing yards. They converted 8/20 third downs (40%) and in the ground game they ran for 279 as a team averaging 4.8 YPC.
This year he put up 647 on 88 plays, good for 7.35 YPP. They converted 52% of third downs and averaged 4.7 YPC as a team, with Snoop and Ealy averaging 6.2 YPC on 40 total carries. Unlike last year, they could actually throw the fricking ball.
Matt Corral was a borderline five star. Jerrion Ealy was a five star running back. The WR corp they had out there? All four stars. That offense was dumb talented and two of the players (QB/RB) are probably first round talent if they keep playing the way they are.
I know everyone wants to burn the house down right now, but firing a DC and implementing a new system mid-season is dumb as hell. I fully support moving for a different DC in the offseason, but tonight was also a result of the field being terrible weather wise and Kiffin coaching an incredibly efficient game. There's issues we need to fix before some of us bash our heads into the wall enough times to cause CTE (coughsetting the edgecough) but this is also probably our worst defensive matchup of the year. Lets not melt over it.
1. The back seven is stupidly young and inexperienced. On top of that, they didn't have a spring to really get set. We're seeing offensive stats increase at ridiculous rates across the conference compared to the prior years. This isn't just an Alabama issue, anyone playing a team with a pulse is getting gashed.
2. Kiffin knows this defense.
I know everyone wants to rail Golding tonight, but Kiffin threw out all of the possible stops from the get go. Their special teams had non-stop squibbs to try and force turnovers, the surprise onside kick, pulling an uncalled play out of nowhere for third down conversions, etc.
We saw their only speed option of the night on third, we saw a Tebow-esque goal line pass on third and long (intercepted but PI on Moses), we saw screens, we saw multiple option run plays, etc. Every single time they were in the redzone they had a scripted hurry up and were gashing us because our defense isn't in a position where they can adjust on the run.
Most teams would've struggled with the playcalling tonight. What I will concede is there were multitudes of dumb mistakes we have seen. Failure to cover the RB coming out of the backfield and tackling have been major holes, with some of the youth showing (Daniel Wrights interception attempt) in the game. Golding has struggled with linebackers by all evidence we have, but a good portion of this can be attributed to COVID killing spring development for these guys.
One last thing I will leave on this point though is piggybacking on the statement made by Moses. Kiffin knew our defensive playcalls. He coached here for two years, he practiced daily against the traditional Saban packages. His film study for this game probably made it to the point where his team had an open secret on what we were moving to.
3. Ole Miss did this last year and upgraded their talent.
Last year, Kiffin put up [ 476 yards on this team through 88 plays, good for 5.41 YPP. That was with John Rhys Plumlee going 10-28 with 140 passing yards. They converted 8/20 third downs (40%) and in the ground game they ran for 279 as a team averaging 4.8 YPC.
This year he put up 647 on 88 plays, good for 7.35 YPP. They converted 52% of third downs and averaged 4.7 YPC as a team, with Snoop and Ealy averaging 6.2 YPC on 40 total carries. Unlike last year, they could actually throw the fricking ball.
Matt Corral was a borderline five star. Jerrion Ealy was a five star running back. The WR corp they had out there? All four stars. That offense was dumb talented and two of the players (QB/RB) are probably first round talent if they keep playing the way they are.
I know everyone wants to burn the house down right now, but firing a DC and implementing a new system mid-season is dumb as hell. I fully support moving for a different DC in the offseason, but tonight was also a result of the field being terrible weather wise and Kiffin coaching an incredibly efficient game. There's issues we need to fix before some of us bash our heads into the wall enough times to cause CTE (coughsetting the edgecough) but this is also probably our worst defensive matchup of the year. Lets not melt over it.
12
Posted on 10/11/20 at 12:48 am to UhOhOreo
quote:
Unpopular Opinion: It wasn't all on the defensive playcalling
No...a lot of it was taking bad angles and shitty tackling.
Posted on 10/11/20 at 12:49 am to UhOhOreo
Kiffen hasn't been around since 2016. We've had other DC since then. Besides, this isn't new. Golding was horrible last year too. Its a pattern and its time we separated.
Promote someone to DC, simplify the defense, get back to basics in practice. This shite show needs to end.
Promote someone to DC, simplify the defense, get back to basics in practice. This shite show needs to end.
This post was edited on 10/11/20 at 12:53 am
Posted on 10/11/20 at 12:53 am to UhOhOreo
- The back seven is why they almost had 300 yards rushing?
- Was Kiffin coaching for A&M, Mizzou or any of the team which scored at will on us the last two seasons (Golding took over playcalling in the middle of 2018)?
- Ole Miss did this last year. The excuse then was Golding didn't have Dylan Moses, other injuries and the talent was young. This year he has Dylan, no injuries and a deep front seven. They still almost ran for 300.
No more bullshite excuses. When we have one side of the ball play outstanding and focused... then the other side look confused, slow and weak; then IT'S THE COACHING.
These kids have taken on bad habits and are underprepared. The playcalling is terrible as well. It's as if we didn't watch film or breakdown these teams before we hit the field.
This post was edited on 10/11/20 at 12:55 am
Posted on 10/11/20 at 1:01 am to UhOhOreo
You’re not totally wrong, but there is a lot of it that is on coaching and in the players:
- Continuous piss poor tackling effort.
- Complete confusion anytime an opposing offensive player goes in motion pre-snap or the opposing offense audibles.
- Inability to get off of the field on 3rd down (especially 3rd and long).
- Failure to make in-game adjustments and failure to correct mistakes (allowing those mistakes to be repeated such as continuously failing to cover backs out of the backfield).
- Continuous piss poor tackling effort.
- Complete confusion anytime an opposing offensive player goes in motion pre-snap or the opposing offense audibles.
- Inability to get off of the field on 3rd down (especially 3rd and long).
- Failure to make in-game adjustments and failure to correct mistakes (allowing those mistakes to be repeated such as continuously failing to cover backs out of the backfield).
This post was edited on 10/11/20 at 5:20 am
Posted on 10/11/20 at 1:09 am to UhOhOreo
The defense played like shite. Doesn't mean they will the rest of the year. But tonight , they were a fricking train wreck.
Posted on 10/11/20 at 1:10 am to Roll Tide Ravens
quote:
Inability to get off of the field on 3rd down on most 3rd downs.
Had to look this up... shockingly, "only" 9 for 17. 4 for 4 on 4th down though, ugh.
Posted on 10/11/20 at 1:29 am to MoarKilometers
I think the defense is starting to lose confidence in the scheme and the coach’s ability to have them in the right call for the situation. There was a lot of body language out there tonight suggesting frustration and resignation with their lack of ability to get off the field.
Posted on 10/11/20 at 2:34 am to UhOhOreo
I skimmed your post. It seemed like a lot of excuses for giving up nearly half a mile of offense to a lot of 3 star recruits.
You defending the defense is the most defending I’ve seen out of anything associated with Alabama football since we kicked off, so I guess I will reluctantly take it
You defending the defense is the most defending I’ve seen out of anything associated with Alabama football since we kicked off, so I guess I will reluctantly take it
Posted on 10/11/20 at 8:15 am to MoarKilometers
quote:
Had to look this up... shockingly, "only" 9 for 17. 4 for 4 on 4th down though, ugh.
I guess it seemed even worse since it seemed like many of the 3rd downs were 3rd and longs.
Posted on 10/11/20 at 8:33 am to Roll Tide Ravens
This. When it’s 3rd and 22 and they get 20 of it on a damn running play to set up 4th and 2 which they subsequently make, it feels a lot worse than 9 for 17. And they did that all fricking night long. Down and distance didn’t matter as long as they had another chance to run a play to move the chains. The biggest factors in the win were 2 bad center snaps, Kiffin not trying to score before halftime and settling for a FG late in the game. Change any one of those 3 events and we’re probably 2-1 this morning.
Posted on 10/11/20 at 8:48 am to phil4bama
Yea the 23 yds right up the gut on 3rd and 27 sent me over the edge
Posted on 10/11/20 at 9:01 am to UhOhOreo
quote:
Kiffin knew our defensive playcalls.
If this was a factor at all it is our fault, not Kiffin's.
It LOOKED like they knew what we were going to do because (1) Lane is damned good at identifying mismatches and exploiting them and (2) we were typically out of position, and when we were in position we missed the tackle.
There's no painting the turd that was last night. It was the worst defensive performance I can remember as an Alabama fan and I remember watching Bear coached games.
Overall, though, you're right. It wasn't all on the defensive playcalling. We were unprepared and made dozens of mental and physical mistakes - which is a hell of a lot more worrisome than a badly called game.
Posted on 10/11/20 at 9:04 am to UhOhOreo
No, it wasn't just playcalling, it was also miserable fundamental football from tackling to angles........which is also coaching related.
Our defensive issues are not on the surface, they are deep and to the core at this point.
Our defensive issues are not on the surface, they are deep and to the core at this point.
Posted on 10/11/20 at 9:39 am to UhOhOreo
quote:
Last year, Kiffin put up [ 476 yards on this team
Kiffin was at ole miss last year?
Posted on 10/11/20 at 9:47 am to SummerOfGeorge
quote:
No, it wasn't just playcalling, it was also miserable fundamental football from tackling to angles........which is also coaching related.
Our defensive issues are not on the surface, they are deep and to the core at this point.
My daughter, who is 12, kept asking me when you tackle someone are you not suppose to wrap them up. I mean a child can see how bad we are at tackling.
Play calling I do not have an issue with but to many players seem clueless on their assignments. Add that with their inability to tackle and play angles it will not matter who the DC is. They need to get back to basics.
As someone also mentioned youth is an issue and it is obvious. I mentioned after the first game that Anderson looks good but he still continues to overrun the play.
This post was edited on 10/11/20 at 10:18 am
Posted on 10/11/20 at 9:54 am to phil4bama
quote:
I think the defense is starting to lose confidence in the scheme and the coach’s ability to have them in the right call for the situation. There was a lot of body language out there tonight suggesting frustration and resignation with their lack of ability to get off the field.
THIS!!!
It seemed like the defense was lost most of the game... Thanks GOD that we have an all-world offense... With that said, I think they can get to where they need to be... I don't see many other teams putting up those type numbers on us...
Posted on 10/11/20 at 9:54 am to Roll Tide Ravens
Most of this could be owed to the fact that there was no spring camp and hardly much of a fall camp. I realize we had these same issues last year, but it’s kind of difficult to correct said issues when the coaches have limited one-on-one time with the players.
Posted on 10/11/20 at 10:05 am to phil4bama
quote:
I think the defense is starting to lose confidence in the scheme and the coach’s ability to have them in the right call for the situation. There was a lot of body language out there tonight suggesting frustration and resignation with their lack of ability to get off the field.
To me this is the key factor. the players appear to not believe in themselves or their coaching. it's time to hit the reset button with a different coach. Golding may not be a bad coach, but it's definitely wrong place, wrong time for him.
Posted on 10/11/20 at 10:11 am to UhOhOreo
When does the veil eventually get dropped that outside of Suseri, the defensive position coaches aren't exactly elite or even great(be it yet in some cases) either? Yet all being very good recruiters seems to be the trade off.
There's not really that stud coach on that side that Bama has to worry yearly about them being poached for a bigger job...
There's not really that stud coach on that side that Bama has to worry yearly about them being poached for a bigger job...
Page 1 of 2
Latest Alabama News
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News