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What to learn from these playoffs
Posted on 1/9/26 at 8:32 am
Posted on 1/9/26 at 8:32 am
I think it is important to realize that unlimited transfers and the clock rules have combined to end the era of tempo. Nobody has great depth, so games are now a battle of keep-away to shorten games and keep your defense fresh. In those constraints, speed has taken a back seat to power. Alabama discovered the hard way that being a ball control offense with no running game is quite difficult. It is much easier to hold the ball if you can get yourself into 2nd and 6 and 3rd and 2 more often than trying to convert 3rd and 8+.
The emergence of hurry up no huddle in the late aughts changed the game, for awhile it gave an advantage to the mid-tier but eventually the upper-tier took their tricks and used it to blow by teams. Increasing the number of possessions in a game gives your offense more opportunities to let your future pros make explosive plays.
Offenses don't have the same degree of playmaker depth, running more plays generally means more injury risk, you don't want to gas your defense with depth. So here we are.
Why did Ole Miss take a deeper pursuit of the championship than anyone else in the SEC? They were really the only elite OL in the conference. Consequently, they met their end because they are as mediocre on the DL as they are elite on the OL. Miami mostly played keep away and just ground Ole Miss's defense into dust.
Why did Alabama get handed a biblical beatdown by Indiana? Alabama was not physical enough on either side of the line of scrimmage, so Indiana imposed their will on the game on both sides of the ball.
Sure that is a bit of simplification. There are scheme issues. There are technical execution issues. However, it all flows from the first principle: college football is now about ball control, limiting possession to keep your team fresh, and doing that by physicality at the LOS. After Saban's 3 in 4 run here, the sport moved away from that style of ball but its back now.
I'm not saying we need to run 60% of the time but we need to be able to run 40% of the time and have a high degree of success when doing it. We need to be able to run the football when we want to run the football not when the defense is conceding it.
The emergence of hurry up no huddle in the late aughts changed the game, for awhile it gave an advantage to the mid-tier but eventually the upper-tier took their tricks and used it to blow by teams. Increasing the number of possessions in a game gives your offense more opportunities to let your future pros make explosive plays.
Offenses don't have the same degree of playmaker depth, running more plays generally means more injury risk, you don't want to gas your defense with depth. So here we are.
Why did Ole Miss take a deeper pursuit of the championship than anyone else in the SEC? They were really the only elite OL in the conference. Consequently, they met their end because they are as mediocre on the DL as they are elite on the OL. Miami mostly played keep away and just ground Ole Miss's defense into dust.
Why did Alabama get handed a biblical beatdown by Indiana? Alabama was not physical enough on either side of the line of scrimmage, so Indiana imposed their will on the game on both sides of the ball.
Sure that is a bit of simplification. There are scheme issues. There are technical execution issues. However, it all flows from the first principle: college football is now about ball control, limiting possession to keep your team fresh, and doing that by physicality at the LOS. After Saban's 3 in 4 run here, the sport moved away from that style of ball but its back now.
I'm not saying we need to run 60% of the time but we need to be able to run 40% of the time and have a high degree of success when doing it. We need to be able to run the football when we want to run the football not when the defense is conceding it.
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Posted on 1/9/26 at 8:44 am to Diego Ricardo
I wish the two downvotes would comment so I can see what they think the flaw in your logic is.
Posted on 1/9/26 at 8:48 am to PabloSmash
Downvotes on here are usually little to do about what the person said and more about the emotions of someone impacted by the person lol.
That is their method of cope and letting it all out, so don't take it seriously
That is their method of cope and letting it all out, so don't take it seriously
Posted on 1/9/26 at 8:56 am to Diego Ricardo
quote:
Alabama was not physical enough on either side of the line of scrimmage,
Couldn't agree more. The camera zoomed in one time on the faces of some of the defense, and there was no fire in their eyes. Never thought I would see that from an Alabama defense.
Posted on 1/9/26 at 9:04 am to YStar
quote:
Downvotes on here are usually little to do about what the person said and more about the emotions of someone impacted by the person lol.
That is their method of cope and letting it all out, so don't take it seriously
I've been accused of being a paid crisis actor by chicken soros several times over the last few months.
Posted on 1/9/26 at 9:06 am to Diego Ricardo
Great post. I noticed that Miami's Dline and Oline were just much more physical and dominant than Ole Miss. Just like Indiana DL and OL were much more physical than ours. The difference between the game styles of NFL and college are now minimal
Posted on 1/9/26 at 9:13 am to Diego Ricardo
Kalen and staff are going to have incorporate some of Coach Bryant's plan and that was get players to play giving 110-120 of their ability. That would be more than enough to defeat these 4-5 *'s that give 85% of their ability.
Ole Miss lost because Beck played the 4th QTR above his normal ability.
Salute to him. Ole Miss was great.
Ole Miss lost because Beck played the 4th QTR above his normal ability.
Salute to him. Ole Miss was great.
Posted on 1/9/26 at 10:21 am to cdur86
quote:
I noticed that Miami's Dline and Oline were just much more physical and dominant than Ole Miss.
Was Miami's DLine much more physical than OM's Oline?
Posted on 1/9/26 at 10:35 am to Funky Tide 8
quote:
Was Miami's DLine much more physical than OM's Oline?
Maybe not the DLine as much so as their Oline, but the point is when Miami wanted to run they had no problem getting to the next level. Besides Ole Miss' big touchdown run I thought Miami DLine kind of held their own
Posted on 1/9/26 at 10:40 am to Diego Ricardo
Bama admin has some massive soul searching to do because we are heading in a 'Shula' direction with Deboer. We are not anywhere close to the Bama standard. Hate to say it but Notre Dame should have been there in our place. They would have given Indiana a better game.
Posted on 1/9/26 at 11:20 am to Diego Ricardo
That I miss our running game and big shot ability. We have fallen so far.
Posted on 1/9/26 at 6:15 pm to Shocco
Posted on 1/9/26 at 6:22 pm to Shocco
Greg went the shining toy instead of sticking with what worked in cfb since the dawn of time. It happens.
Posted on 1/9/26 at 7:24 pm to Diego Ricardo
What I have learned is after watching Indiana, Oregon Miami is we are not even close to playing at this level of execution and physicality. As much as I do support DeBoer his statement about it being a fine line between championships and what happened to them against Indiana is delusional.
Posted on 1/9/26 at 7:30 pm to labamafan
quote:
What I have learned is after watching Indiana, Oregon Miami is we are not even close to playing at this level of execution and physicality. As much as I do support DeBoer his statement about it being a fine line between championships and what happened to them against Indiana is delusional.
The problem really isn't talent. We're poorly coached at almost every position. WRs can't block. Tailbacks have no vision. Offensive linemen are very sloppy so it makes them look slower than they really are. Defense has constant problem with alignment and run fits. Quarterbacks seemingly have no pocket awareness.
DeBoer has two years assuming the bottom doesn't fall out in 2026. However, my prognosis is very grim. Alabama has become a school where young men go to be under-developed.
Posted on 1/9/26 at 7:51 pm to labamafan
quote:
What I have learned is after watching Indiana, Oregon Miami is we are not even close to playing at this level of execution and physicality.
Eh... Oregon is about to get beat down like we did.
All of the people bashing KDB and praising Dan Lanning and others will disappear loke ghosts or just downvote every post pointing out how badly they were prisoners of the moment.
That Indiana team is an OLD team. Their experience and physicality isn't just taught, it was built over their 4, 5 and 6 year careers.
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