re: LSU vs Bama Comparison by Position

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Our receivers suck. I guess you have watched every one of our games.

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Actually, Alabama probably has the best collection of WRs its ever had. That may not be saying much, but it's still a great, young group that's only going to improve.

Wouldn't the comparison only matter when comparing both sides of the ball?

He did have a great game versus LSU on 1/9. I'll admit that. It was the best game of his career. He had a great game in large part because Bama broke tendency. Your offense is usually predictable because Saban shackles the QB when he throws an INT.

He's improved this year. I'll admit that. His stats, though, are largely inflated because teams dedicate 8 and 9 to the running game. There are 4 teams in this conference capable of shutting down your run without dedicating 8 and 9. You haven't played one of those teams yet.

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eceivers: Slight Advantage Alabama

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Bama's receivers have been pretty impressive this year. I thought they would be a weakness but they have turned out to be a strength.

White, Norwood, Bell, Cooper, Jones...nice 5 wide set right there.

Our receivers, on the other hand, have underperformed. ODBJ is having a sophomore slump. Landry is good but lacks size and speed. Shep has disappeared. Wright catches what is thrown to him but doesn't get too many targets. Boone has been the only bright spot this year.

They need to catch the ball when they get their hands on it. Let's start there. Do that and we have a chance. If our WRs get the dropsies we're fricked.

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White is hurt been hurt for 4/5 games

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Ah ok, I was wondering.

But we are playing both Jones in Cyrus and Christian. Both are fast athletic waterbugs.

Why is it that everyone thinks the DBs is a wash? We're playing so many DBs.

Milliner/Belue/Fulton/Lester/HaHa/Sunseri/Perry

7 guys. Sometimes they mix it up with who is in in certain formations. We have 7 guys we play in ours and all are looking good. If there is a weak spot it's Perry, and he's gotten a lot better as the season has progressed.

I think we've got to pass to beat Bama. In light of this conviction, here are some pertinent season stats for Alabama's opponents LINK :

1st Down: 388 yards, 54% completion, 1:4 TD:INT
2nd Down: 469 yards, 48% completion, 2:4
3rd Down: 262 yards, 50% completion, 0:6

Not a huge difference in terms of what down we should throw on. Completion rates are all similarly low. If anything, we should throw on first down.

3rd Down 1-3 yards to go: 40%, 14 yards (yikes)
3rd Down 4-6 yards to go: 56.3%, 76 yards (optimum)
3rd Down 7-9 yards to go: 52.6%, 89 yards 0:2 TD:INT) (watch out)
3rd Down 10+ yards to go: 48%, 83 yards, 0:3 (definitely don't want to be here)

So ... Alabama's weak spot is 3rd and mid-range (4-6 yards)? Have Bama fans noticed this? Does Bama have a 3rd-and-Chavis equivalent?

Opp 1 To 20 Yd Ln: 39.3%, 0:3 TD:INT (basically, don't throw when you're pinned down by your own end zone).
Opp 21 To 39 Yd Ln: 46.9%, 0:7 (wow, don't throw here, either).
Opp 40 To Own 40 Yd Ln: 71.7 (optimum range)
Own 39 To 21 Yd Ln: 48.0%
Own 20 To 1 Yd Ln (RZ): 46.2% (Thought these stats would be better, actually).

Basically, the lesson here is that the best spot to pass on Bama is between the 40s, and the best time is on first down. 3rd and mid is a relative weakness, and the red zone pass D is not as good as I thought it was (53.33% total red zone scoring percentage, 40% TD).

I'm sorry but les miles is not even par w Nick Saban! Maybe if he wins a couple more MNCs