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CKD Offense
Posted on 1/23/26 at 11:42 am
Posted on 1/23/26 at 11:42 am
I’m thoroughly convinced that Grubb will be CKD’s undoing if not replaced, and Idk if he will be willing to remove his close friend.
The defense and special teams (except the this year’s abomination of a Punter), have been good enough to win most every game since CKD has been HC.
It’s crazy to think that it’s the offense that is holding this program back when CKD/Grubb has been so good in the past (including 5-0 vs Sark and Lanning and averaged 38ppg in those wins).
I watched both highlights and entire game footage of CKD’s Washington/Fresno/Indiana offenses when he was hired at Bama, and was very excited about the offense.
I thought if the defense could manage to just be middle of the pack in the SEC that they would be very difficult to beat. I never would’ve fathomed what has occurred offensively these first two seasons.
Everyone knows the offense must find a way to run the ball, but I don’t think that’s a priority for Grubb, nor has it ever been. They won by Penix throwing for 400+ypg every week.
I watch our offense and fail to see any semblance of an identity. There is no quick game, no playaction, no moving the pocket, no RPO’s, and seemingly a stubbornness to account for 5-6 man pressures (blitzes).
Nearly 80% or more of the offense consists exclusively of “Duo” in the run game and 5-step drops (only) in the passing game with long-slow developing routes.
That is why Bama has little-to-no success on the ground bc there are no gap-schemes or much variety whatsoever.
This is why Bama gets blitzed at a very high rate. DC’s know that our running game is an inside-zone “Duo” scheme that runs between the Tackles only, and the passing game consists of 5-step drops while waiting for passing concepts like “Yankee/Seattle/Sail” (our 3 most common passing concepts) to develop, which are all slow-developing.
Also, these are all primarily “Zone beater” route concepts that take time to develop…hence the 5-7 man pressures from defenses that play Man-free or Cover 0 (man coverage) behind it.
I just do not see any way possible how this offense can ever be prolific or even overcome that 20-point celling that was the 2025 offense.
CKD was a very balanced play-caller at Indiana and Fresno. He even had the 2nd team all Big10 RB while at Indiana and his run concepts featured both “gap scheme” (Counter/Power/Iso) and also zone schemes.
The passing game featured quick game/RPO’s/Playaction and also took (quick) vertical shots down the field.
I just don’t understand it. I just hope CKD is willing to do what he has to do to correct it and isn’t willing to lose his job bc of friendships.
I think CKD is a good coach and if we were running the offense he ran at Fresno and Indiana (you can go pull it up on YouTube) then Bama would have one of the top offensive units in the conference imo.
Time will tell….its his decision alone to make
The defense and special teams (except the this year’s abomination of a Punter), have been good enough to win most every game since CKD has been HC.
It’s crazy to think that it’s the offense that is holding this program back when CKD/Grubb has been so good in the past (including 5-0 vs Sark and Lanning and averaged 38ppg in those wins).
I watched both highlights and entire game footage of CKD’s Washington/Fresno/Indiana offenses when he was hired at Bama, and was very excited about the offense.
I thought if the defense could manage to just be middle of the pack in the SEC that they would be very difficult to beat. I never would’ve fathomed what has occurred offensively these first two seasons.
Everyone knows the offense must find a way to run the ball, but I don’t think that’s a priority for Grubb, nor has it ever been. They won by Penix throwing for 400+ypg every week.
I watch our offense and fail to see any semblance of an identity. There is no quick game, no playaction, no moving the pocket, no RPO’s, and seemingly a stubbornness to account for 5-6 man pressures (blitzes).
Nearly 80% or more of the offense consists exclusively of “Duo” in the run game and 5-step drops (only) in the passing game with long-slow developing routes.
That is why Bama has little-to-no success on the ground bc there are no gap-schemes or much variety whatsoever.
This is why Bama gets blitzed at a very high rate. DC’s know that our running game is an inside-zone “Duo” scheme that runs between the Tackles only, and the passing game consists of 5-step drops while waiting for passing concepts like “Yankee/Seattle/Sail” (our 3 most common passing concepts) to develop, which are all slow-developing.
Also, these are all primarily “Zone beater” route concepts that take time to develop…hence the 5-7 man pressures from defenses that play Man-free or Cover 0 (man coverage) behind it.
I just do not see any way possible how this offense can ever be prolific or even overcome that 20-point celling that was the 2025 offense.
CKD was a very balanced play-caller at Indiana and Fresno. He even had the 2nd team all Big10 RB while at Indiana and his run concepts featured both “gap scheme” (Counter/Power/Iso) and also zone schemes.
The passing game featured quick game/RPO’s/Playaction and also took (quick) vertical shots down the field.
I just don’t understand it. I just hope CKD is willing to do what he has to do to correct it and isn’t willing to lose his job bc of friendships.
I think CKD is a good coach and if we were running the offense he ran at Fresno and Indiana (you can go pull it up on YouTube) then Bama would have one of the top offensive units in the conference imo.
Time will tell….its his decision alone to make
This post was edited on 1/23/26 at 3:13 pm
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Posted on 1/23/26 at 11:53 am to Cover1Key
They didn’t forget how to coach … it will be fine . Won 11 games with a shitty offense . Don’t jump off the ledge
Posted on 1/23/26 at 12:15 pm to Bear88
I do wish he had fired Kap and the S&C coach. Maybe it still happens but doubtful at this point
Kap’s been coaching for a long time and it’s not like his OLs at these places have been great. They’ve mostly been mediocre or worse. I have little hope he’ll all of a sudden turn it around
Kap’s been coaching for a long time and it’s not like his OLs at these places have been great. They’ve mostly been mediocre or worse. I have little hope he’ll all of a sudden turn it around
Posted on 1/23/26 at 12:32 pm to Cover1Key
CKD just needs his players.... He just needs a full team of 5 star guys... Time to open the pocket box and pay everyone top dollar. Am I right? LOL (sarcasm)
You're right. This offense ain't gonna cut it in the SEC long term. Defense won the close ones... Until the defense got gassed by an offense that couldn't sustain drives.
You're right. This offense ain't gonna cut it in the SEC long term. Defense won the close ones... Until the defense got gassed by an offense that couldn't sustain drives.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 12:40 pm to bamabonners
quote:
He just needs a full team of 5 star guys.
He hasn't had that at any of his previous coaching stops and it didn't hinder his teams at all.
The fact that the best players on offense since DeBoer came over are the guys he brought with him from UW should put a lot of people at ease. Let the man get his players best suited for his system and not trying to work with square pegs (especially on the OLine) before throwing in the towel two years in.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 12:45 pm to Bear88
quote:
They didn’t forget how to coach … it will be fine . Won 11 games with a shitty offense . Don’t jump off the ledge
I think the offense they used for two years in Washington is not sustainable against quality competition each week. I don't think they saw many superior pass rushers in the Pac-12 and Texas was a fortunate draw in two of their bowl games because they didn't really have a superior edge rusher either season they played. Texas was stout in the middle and solid in the secondary but their pressure was mostly off coverage sacks or the interior guys whipping their man and allowing a backer, edge, or DB to clean up when the QB bailed.
They're going to need more quick game throws with a diverse route tree that stems at multiple levels instead of mostly at 8-12 yards down field. I don't think they use RPO enough despite it still being an effective passing approach in college, especially if you pair it with the 5-7 step drop deep strikes. Finally, the run scheme is too simplistic and feels like they run as chore instead of plan. Too many runs in telegraphed situations. No trust in the ability to produce a tough yard. Not much diversity in the run schemes. Do not seem to be well layered with the passing attack to create confusion on play actions. "Oh look something that appears to be outside zone stretch, I'm still dead red to the quarterback before they even turn around from the fake because they never run outside zone stretch"
Posted on 1/23/26 at 12:50 pm to Cover1Key
The one item missing from the Washington staff is the OL coach.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 12:52 pm to JoseyWalesTheOutlaw
We'll see what happens when the Rams season ends.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 12:57 pm to TideSaint
So next monday?
Posted on 1/23/26 at 1:00 pm to Diego Ricardo
They could win on Sunday.
They beat the Seahawks at home.
It took a miracle for the Seahawks to beat them in Seattle earlier this season.
They beat the Seahawks at home.
It took a miracle for the Seahawks to beat them in Seattle earlier this season.
This post was edited on 1/23/26 at 1:02 pm
Posted on 1/23/26 at 1:11 pm to TideSaint
I think Stafford is more dinged up than let on and that is going to be a problem.
Of course, I'm putting faith in Darnold in a big game...so perhaps a bad idea.
Of course, I'm putting faith in Darnold in a big game...so perhaps a bad idea.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 1:16 pm to 1BamaRTR
The OL coach is under contract until February. Give it time.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 1:39 pm to Cover1Key
quote:
I watched both highlights and entire game footage of CKD’s Washington/Fresno/Indiana offenses when he was hired at Bama, and was very excited about the offense.
I didn’t go back to the Fresno/Indiana days but our offense looks nothing like what the Washington offenses did. Washington didn’t shift and audible and run the play clock down to near zero. They lined up, and while they did motion WRs, the ball was usually snaped w/ the play clock at between 10-20 seconds. IOW they played a lot faster than we did. And like you said, they took shots downfield. All of that stressed the opposing defense and opened the run game for them.
So why did our offense look like stir fried crap? I don’t know, but I believe they knew they had OL issues. I think they knew RBs were below average. And that Ty, while good with intermediate throws, struggled with the deep throw. I also think they knew our defense, while decent, could not handle being on the field long.
While I don’t think they deliberately effd our offense I do think they slowed it down to protect our defense. When we went hurry up we always seemed to play much better.
JMHO. Maybe Grubbs sucks. But what we are doing now doesn’t look at all like what he previously had at Washington.
This post was edited on 1/23/26 at 3:09 pm
Posted on 1/23/26 at 1:57 pm to Bear88
I agree, and that is why I think the issue is Grubb, not CKD. In 2024, with a very limited passer, Bama’s RB’s averaged 5.3ypc.
- Justice Haynes had 79 carries for 448 yards and 7 TDs (5..7ypc). Jam Miller averaged 4.8ypc, and Ryan Williams had close to 900 yards receiving and double the TD catches as a “17 year old”.
Seahawk fans unanimously complained about the EXACT things we are currently going through, and now 1 year removed from removing Grubb they have the best record in the NFL.
The fact that Bama’s RB’s averaged just under 5.5 ypc in 2024 (with a limited passer) is proof that CKD can produce a run game.
Imo, CKD is absolutely capable of fielding a great offense at Alabama. However, it’s going to take removing Ryan Grubb in order to do so.
The decision is his.
- Justice Haynes had 79 carries for 448 yards and 7 TDs (5..7ypc). Jam Miller averaged 4.8ypc, and Ryan Williams had close to 900 yards receiving and double the TD catches as a “17 year old”.
Seahawk fans unanimously complained about the EXACT things we are currently going through, and now 1 year removed from removing Grubb they have the best record in the NFL.
The fact that Bama’s RB’s averaged just under 5.5 ypc in 2024 (with a limited passer) is proof that CKD can produce a run game.
Imo, CKD is absolutely capable of fielding a great offense at Alabama. However, it’s going to take removing Ryan Grubb in order to do so.
The decision is his.
Posted on 1/23/26 at 2:29 pm to Bear88
I agree. The defense managed to carry this team to 11 wins, SECCG, Playoffs and a Playoff win.
I cannot think of a single game that the offense “carried” the team to a win. They had some high points early in the season, but even in the victory over Georgia in Athens, in took a Herculean effort by the defense to hold on for a
24-21 win, as the offense was shutout in the 2nd half.
I think CKD is a very bright guy, and Greg Byrne used “intelligent” as the first adjective to describe him upon his hiring, which was the same exact thing he said after hiring CNO.
CKD’s offenses (that he called personally) at Fresno and Indiana were excellent, and exactly what I wish Bama’s offense looked like. Obviously, that means he is capable of it.
I just hope he is not willingly to go down with Grubb bc of their friendship. I do not mean to come across as pessimistic, and I certainly hope I am wrong in my assessment, but I believe that as long as Grubb is here we will get more of what we witnessed this past season (and Seattle the year prior).
Grubb simply does not believe in running the football. That is straight from the mouth of maybe the best coach in the NFL right now. Mike Macdonald said he sat down “multiple times” (reports claim after 4 separate games) and told him that he wanted a more diversified run game that included gap-schemes, and that Grubb never changed. In fact, in the final game of the regular season and the Seahawks Playoff hopes on the line, Grubb proceeded to run the ball 7 times the entire game….that’s the EXACT number of carries Bama’s RB’s combined for in the SECCG this year.
That is not a coincidence. Grubb is who he is. There’s no OLine coach that’s going to “fix” this run game bc there isn’t one to work on.
The good news is Grubb will either change his identity and next year will be different (I would be stunned), or we will see more of the same, and CKD will be forced to make a change.
I just think fans looking for an OL Coach to come in here and create a running game when the OC doesn’t run gap-schemes and “Duo” (a compliment to OSZ) is the “staple” run in this offense, is a pipe dream imo.
The Seahawks (same Backs and 4/5 same OLine) were 30th in the NFL in rushing last year under Grubb, and with those same players, are top10 in rushing this year and also have the best record in the NFL.
I really like CKD. I think he can be successful at Alabama for several years. I just think he’s going to have to cut ties with Grubb or ultimately it will be his undoing.
I cannot think of a single game that the offense “carried” the team to a win. They had some high points early in the season, but even in the victory over Georgia in Athens, in took a Herculean effort by the defense to hold on for a
24-21 win, as the offense was shutout in the 2nd half.
I think CKD is a very bright guy, and Greg Byrne used “intelligent” as the first adjective to describe him upon his hiring, which was the same exact thing he said after hiring CNO.
CKD’s offenses (that he called personally) at Fresno and Indiana were excellent, and exactly what I wish Bama’s offense looked like. Obviously, that means he is capable of it.
I just hope he is not willingly to go down with Grubb bc of their friendship. I do not mean to come across as pessimistic, and I certainly hope I am wrong in my assessment, but I believe that as long as Grubb is here we will get more of what we witnessed this past season (and Seattle the year prior).
Grubb simply does not believe in running the football. That is straight from the mouth of maybe the best coach in the NFL right now. Mike Macdonald said he sat down “multiple times” (reports claim after 4 separate games) and told him that he wanted a more diversified run game that included gap-schemes, and that Grubb never changed. In fact, in the final game of the regular season and the Seahawks Playoff hopes on the line, Grubb proceeded to run the ball 7 times the entire game….that’s the EXACT number of carries Bama’s RB’s combined for in the SECCG this year.
That is not a coincidence. Grubb is who he is. There’s no OLine coach that’s going to “fix” this run game bc there isn’t one to work on.
The good news is Grubb will either change his identity and next year will be different (I would be stunned), or we will see more of the same, and CKD will be forced to make a change.
I just think fans looking for an OL Coach to come in here and create a running game when the OC doesn’t run gap-schemes and “Duo” (a compliment to OSZ) is the “staple” run in this offense, is a pipe dream imo.
The Seahawks (same Backs and 4/5 same OLine) were 30th in the NFL in rushing last year under Grubb, and with those same players, are top10 in rushing this year and also have the best record in the NFL.
I really like CKD. I think he can be successful at Alabama for several years. I just think he’s going to have to cut ties with Grubb or ultimately it will be his undoing.
This post was edited on 1/23/26 at 2:36 pm
Posted on 1/23/26 at 2:31 pm to Diego Ricardo
100% agree with your assessment of the offense. You sound like a Seattle fan lol
This post was edited on 1/23/26 at 2:34 pm
Posted on 1/23/26 at 2:59 pm to JoseyWalesTheOutlaw
No OL Coach at any level is going to fix a run game when the Offensive Coordinator does not prefer to run the ball.
I do not know if Grubb was always like that, or if he became that way with Penix. He doesn’t even use Playaction in the passing game (very rarely).
Defenses figured out all they need to do is pressure the QB bc there is no other aspect to this offense outside of 5-step drop/slow-developing route concepts.
That’s why it looks like a “Chinese fire drill” trying to snap the ball bc the QB is trying to set the protection to where the pressure/blitz is obviously coming from.
Then you watch Ty take the sack and then go-back and watch the All-22 Camera angle and watch it in slow-motion and see all 3 WR’s that were released into the pattern are running 15-30 yard routes to the opposite hash with a DB in their hip-pocket. Meanwhile, there is 1 more rusher coming after the QB than there are blockers (cover 0 or 4-from a side).
What is even more shocking to me, is how Grubb will just brush it off and turn around and run it back on the very next play….meanwhile DJ Durkin/Schumann are just calling the same pressures over and over again with zero fear of a “man-beater” throw like a quick “rub” route, a 3-step slant by L. Brooks, a straight vertical throw vs press-man to Ryan Williams, a “pick” route like a “mesh” concept, which are all “easy answers” to man-coverage/blitz packages that you would expect most any offense to have in their playbook.
Maybe the cumulation between last year with Seattle, combined with this season at Alabama will be enough to humble/humiliate Grubb enough that he will “lock himself in his office for 3 months with only a TV and a treadmill” and come up with a brand new offense like he supposedly did when getting to Washington (Huskies).
I do not know if Grubb was always like that, or if he became that way with Penix. He doesn’t even use Playaction in the passing game (very rarely).
Defenses figured out all they need to do is pressure the QB bc there is no other aspect to this offense outside of 5-step drop/slow-developing route concepts.
That’s why it looks like a “Chinese fire drill” trying to snap the ball bc the QB is trying to set the protection to where the pressure/blitz is obviously coming from.
Then you watch Ty take the sack and then go-back and watch the All-22 Camera angle and watch it in slow-motion and see all 3 WR’s that were released into the pattern are running 15-30 yard routes to the opposite hash with a DB in their hip-pocket. Meanwhile, there is 1 more rusher coming after the QB than there are blockers (cover 0 or 4-from a side).
What is even more shocking to me, is how Grubb will just brush it off and turn around and run it back on the very next play….meanwhile DJ Durkin/Schumann are just calling the same pressures over and over again with zero fear of a “man-beater” throw like a quick “rub” route, a 3-step slant by L. Brooks, a straight vertical throw vs press-man to Ryan Williams, a “pick” route like a “mesh” concept, which are all “easy answers” to man-coverage/blitz packages that you would expect most any offense to have in their playbook.
Maybe the cumulation between last year with Seattle, combined with this season at Alabama will be enough to humble/humiliate Grubb enough that he will “lock himself in his office for 3 months with only a TV and a treadmill” and come up with a brand new offense like he supposedly did when getting to Washington (Huskies).
Posted on 1/23/26 at 3:06 pm to Ten Bears
1. Michael Penix
2. Pac-12
3. Multiple 1st round WRs
4. They were notorious for taking the playclock way down unless 2-minute situation, they just didn’t have the “Chinese fire drill” looking protection changes being made by the QB
5.They still struggled mightily vs teams that pressured the QB (Arizona State/Oregon State/Michigan).
All 3 of those teams made their offense look just like what it looks like at Alabama under Grubb.
2. Pac-12
3. Multiple 1st round WRs
4. They were notorious for taking the playclock way down unless 2-minute situation, they just didn’t have the “Chinese fire drill” looking protection changes being made by the QB
5.They still struggled mightily vs teams that pressured the QB (Arizona State/Oregon State/Michigan).
All 3 of those teams made their offense look just like what it looks like at Alabama under Grubb.
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