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Was watching highlights of Bama-Nebraska 1979 on You Tube
Posted on 7/11/26 at 8:56 am
Posted on 7/11/26 at 8:56 am
A couple of things that stood out about those the players:
1. The players were a good bit smaller. We had offensive linemen that weighed 240 lbs (?!?!). Those guys would get killed at that weight now. LOL
2. That Bama team was fundamentally sound, especially on defense. Good pursuit angles, very, very physical with solid tackling technique. Little to no arm tackling and a lot of tough licks. Very few missed or broken tackles. Just a tough, tough defense.
Yes, players are bigger and faster now but I’m not sure they’re quite as tough as that 1978 team. Those guys were tougher than woodpecker lips.
1. The players were a good bit smaller. We had offensive linemen that weighed 240 lbs (?!?!). Those guys would get killed at that weight now. LOL
2. That Bama team was fundamentally sound, especially on defense. Good pursuit angles, very, very physical with solid tackling technique. Little to no arm tackling and a lot of tough licks. Very few missed or broken tackles. Just a tough, tough defense.
Yes, players are bigger and faster now but I’m not sure they’re quite as tough as that 1978 team. Those guys were tougher than woodpecker lips.
2
Posted on 7/11/26 at 12:27 pm to Amarillo Tide
Alabama's O-line averaged 186 lbs. per man on one of Coach Bryant's early 60s teams, and they were an elite team!
Posted on 7/11/26 at 3:56 pm to Amarillo Tide
that was my very first bama football game. ive told this before. i missed a good deal of the game. i was like 15 years old and we were sitting 33 rows straight up from the nebraska cheerleaders. lol, the good old days. ive also never forgotten how Legion field glowed under the lights.
Posted on 7/11/26 at 4:27 pm to crimsontater
I just want to post that Lee Roy Jordan was the MPV in 2 of the 3 bowl games he played in as a defensive player.
I mean I highly doubt any other football player has done that.
I mean I highly doubt any other football player has done that.
Posted on 7/12/26 at 8:05 am to McGregor
In 1962 Lee Roy Jordan was the best defensive player to date. He was the Lawrence Taylor of his day.
Posted on 7/15/26 at 6:04 am to saturdaysarebetter
I watched him play in several games and centers do not get your attention like linebackers. Bryant's statement about him was "if they stay between the sidelines Leroy will get them." Conditioning was a huge part of Bryant's program. Another thought just hit me that going to two platoons may have contributed to the other factors that caused Alabama problems for three or four years after 1966.
Posted on 7/15/26 at 7:35 am to stewieie
The skill level today is so much greater than it was just 15 years ago, that it doesn’t look like the same game. The kids are bigger, stronger and faster and the skills, especially in the passing game, are so much greater because the serious kids practice year round. Also, many kids start practicing skills from 5 and 6 years old. Finally, the coaching is getting better and better. Teams today would destroy those of the past.
Posted on 7/15/26 at 2:12 pm to tattoo
You are right of course, but the rules today help the offenses. Even when Desmond Howard played in the NFL he could not go over the middle because of fear. His size hurt him. He was MVP of a Super Bowl returning punts where he could see what was in front of him. He would be all pro receiver today. Think about how they hammered the quarterbacks back in the day. George Allen kept a stat on delivery sacks meaning how many times you hit the quarterback after he had thrown the ball. It is a good thing they changed the rules because of the size and speed of players today.
Posted on 7/16/26 at 9:31 am to tattoo
quote:
The skill level today is so much greater than it was just 15 years ago, that it doesn’t look like the same game.
At a lot of positions I totally agree. But I would still take Teague and Langham in any modern secondary and I think they would still be badasses. Derrick Thomas would still wreck modern o lineman. Will Anderson is a specimen and a hell of a football player, but he wasn't as fast or twitchy as Thomas and Thomas was just a solid muscle with great measurables. I would also argue that David Palmer was Ryan Williams with good hands
Posted on 7/16/26 at 9:42 am to GoodTalkRuss
David Palmer also had balls the size of tractors. The dude was THE most fearless player I’ve ever seen. I also think he had a smidge of really good luck because if you watch any highlights video, literally no one ever got a vicious lick in on him. He had incredible body control and could kind of contort himself to miss those hits.
He had good but not great speed, great hands, fearless and also the shiftiest player at Bama I’ve ever watched.
I always felt so lucky to have seen him play in person at BDS. Just an amazing player.
He had good but not great speed, great hands, fearless and also the shiftiest player at Bama I’ve ever watched.
I always felt so lucky to have seen him play in person at BDS. Just an amazing player.
This post was edited on 7/16/26 at 9:44 am
Posted on 7/16/26 at 12:36 pm to Amarillo Tide
Agreed, Palmer was fearless. Crossing routes, no problem. Tight center line gaps on punt returns he hit at full speed. That's a unique difference between he and Williams. Palmer didn't take big hits. Williams is super crafty but has a tendency to get wrecked at the very end. Honestly that's what makes me respect Williams. He catches a lot of flack for having bad hands and occasional alligator arms, but he will take some monster shots in between all those moves.
Palmer was just different, obviously he had some college drinking issues, but he was forgiven a lot, not just because he was good, but because he was quiet assassin who came from a pretty rough background. As Alabama fans we wanted to see him make it out.
I thought Alabama may have a Palmer clone in Milons, but it was just too steep of a comparison.
Palmer was just different, obviously he had some college drinking issues, but he was forgiven a lot, not just because he was good, but because he was quiet assassin who came from a pretty rough background. As Alabama fans we wanted to see him make it out.
I thought Alabama may have a Palmer clone in Milons, but it was just too steep of a comparison.
Posted on 7/16/26 at 2:57 pm to GoodTalkRuss
Palmer could also be absolutely clutch at certain points in critical, big time game. Ole Miss in 1994. Dude put the team on his back in the 4th quarter in an incredibly hostile environment and did it all passing, rushing, receiving and punt returns in one of the most impressive single game performances I've ever seen.
One of my all time favorites was vs Tennessee (I think same year as OM) where he made clutch catch one after the other in the last two minutes of the game and then going to two with Bama lined up in the wishbone and Palmer at QB. The collective looks of absolute panic on the UT defenders faces. Even after a UT time out and everyone on the planet knowing Palmer was going to keep the ball, they STILL couldn't keep him from scoring.
I know, I'm ranting but honest to God, he'll always be maybe THE most gifted offensive athlete of all time at Bama. Literally every time he touched the ball, you kind of expected him to score.
One of my all time favorites was vs Tennessee (I think same year as OM) where he made clutch catch one after the other in the last two minutes of the game and then going to two with Bama lined up in the wishbone and Palmer at QB. The collective looks of absolute panic on the UT defenders faces. Even after a UT time out and everyone on the planet knowing Palmer was going to keep the ball, they STILL couldn't keep him from scoring.
I know, I'm ranting but honest to God, he'll always be maybe THE most gifted offensive athlete of all time at Bama. Literally every time he touched the ball, you kind of expected him to score.
Posted on 7/22/26 at 10:01 am to Amarillo Tide
The older videos always leave me thinking, Steve Whitman was criminally underrated. That dude was a hoss. He was dang near as big as the OL/DL and was tough as nails. I think he could be a great H back in today’s game.
It’s also worth mentioning that the entire backfield around that time were Bham kids, Whitman, Nathan, Ogilve and Rutledge.
It’s also worth mentioning that the entire backfield around that time were Bham kids, Whitman, Nathan, Ogilve and Rutledge.
This post was edited on 7/22/26 at 10:03 am
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