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Title Game ultimate test of Alabama's defensive shift

Posted on 1/5/16 at 4:09 pm
Posted by SummerOfGeorge
Member since Jul 2013
102699 posts
Posted on 1/5/16 at 4:09 pm
I am excited about this Title Game not only because I like winning national championships, but also because I think it is the best test of our shift in defensive philosophy since the Manziel/Marshall era made Saban move to lighter and faster linebackers and defensive backs as well as the rotation of lighter linemen. We have undergone a 3-4 year process that culminated this year with what I think is a finished product matching the system we wanted to shift to. Deshaun Watson is a great passer and runner, and is a great ultimate test to see if we have come as far as a lot of think (and hope) we have in that department.

Should be a lot of fun. I think Clemson will come ready to play and it will be a really fun game to watch.
Posted by NATidefan
Two hours North of Birmingham
Member since Dec 2008
36195 posts
Posted on 1/5/16 at 4:12 pm to
Our slow fat linebackers are gonna have trouble.
Posted by MightyYat
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2009
24533 posts
Posted on 1/5/16 at 4:15 pm to
This game will be fun to watch for maybe 2 quarters. They'll get tired of trying to tackle Henry late in the 3rd and Bama wins by 2+ TDs.
Posted by higgs_boson
State College, PA
Member since Sep 2014
22456 posts
Posted on 1/5/16 at 4:16 pm to
I hope it is a fun game to watch.

I do not think I have seen a single team run with any consistency against Alabama all year. If you cannot run, short of turnovers, I just do not see how they can beat Alabama.

I am still not sold on the Alabama offense, but with a defense like that, every time Alabama scores, it just becomes that much more difficult.
Posted by SummerOfGeorge
Member since Jul 2013
102699 posts
Posted on 1/5/16 at 4:16 pm to
quote:

This game will be fun to watch for maybe 2 quarters. They'll get tired of trying to tackle Henry late in the 3rd and Bama wins by 2+ TDs.



I don't know, I think their defense vs our offense will be very interesting. I think that they will trust Mac Alexander to shadow Calvin Ridley, keep their backers up close and dare Coker to beat them throwing to guys other than Ridley. I think that he can do that with Stewart, Mulaney and Howard, but I think they will implement the Michigan State strategy except with a lock down corner on Ridley. I think it could look a lot like the Florida game for our offense.
Posted by SummerOfGeorge
Member since Jul 2013
102699 posts
Posted on 1/5/16 at 4:18 pm to
quote:

I do not think I have seen a single team run with any consistency against Alabama all year.


Yea, and Clemson isn't going to be the one to do it, either. I am more concerned about their quick slant type throws off off zone read, though. We have had some susceptibility to that this season (Tennessee, Ole Miss, State, Auburn had it open some and just didn't hit it).

quote:

I am still not sold on the Alabama offense,


I'm not either. I think if we do what we do and Jake plays a calm game we are in pretty good shape. If he freaks out and starts trying to force to Ridley we could give away some points. Luckily, he has been pretty good at spreading the ball around this season, so I don't think it should be a major mental issue.
This post was edited on 1/5/16 at 4:20 pm
Posted by sullivanct19a
Florida
Member since Oct 2015
5239 posts
Posted on 1/5/16 at 4:23 pm to
By halftime all the Bama fans are going to be saying they already faced the best QB from Clemson: Kelly.
Posted by SummerOfGeorge
Member since Jul 2013
102699 posts
Posted on 1/5/16 at 4:25 pm to
quote:

By halftime all the Bama fans are going to be saying they already faced the best QB from Clemson: Kelly.


I think they are probably 2 of the 3 or 4 best QB's in the country. Both have huge arm talent, can run, make plays.
Posted by biggsc
32.4767389, 35.5697717
Member since Mar 2009
34209 posts
Posted on 1/5/16 at 4:25 pm to
quote:

By halftime all the Bama fans are going to be saying they already faced the best QB from Clemson: Kelly.

Yes we have
Posted by UnAnon
Breaux Bridge
Member since Sep 2013
6436 posts
Posted on 1/5/16 at 4:27 pm to
Lighter? Dem boys still bigger than most NFL teams. Something is in the water.


I think Saban just made great adjustments to the game.
Posted by SummerOfGeorge
Member since Jul 2013
102699 posts
Posted on 1/5/16 at 4:28 pm to
quote:

Lighter? Dem boys still bigger than most NFL teams. Something is in the water.


Well, in the words of Kirk Herbstreit, "they have flatter stomachs".

quote:

I think Saban just made great adjustments to the game.


He certainly did. The in the box safety was one of his favorite position types in football and he basically threw it to the wayside once Collins left. The changes he made in the secondary are the biggest differences in pre-2012 Saban and post-2012 Saban. All those guys are cornerbacks and the "safeties" play the in the box safety spot now (Geno Smith, Ronnie Harrison).
Posted by Kcoyote
Member since Jan 2012
12050 posts
Posted on 1/5/16 at 4:35 pm to
Also something to note, I remember for years we have been a 3-4 defense. Without fail. This year I'm seeing a majority 4-3 and 4-2-5. Maybe I'm wrong but it could also be because we have such strong linemen this year.
Posted by SummerOfGeorge
Member since Jul 2013
102699 posts
Posted on 1/5/16 at 4:39 pm to
quote:

Also something to note, I remember for years we have been a 3-4 defense. Without fail. This year I'm seeing a majority 4-3 and 4-2-5. Maybe I'm wrong but it could also be because we have such strong linemen this year.


Agreed. In 2008-2012 we plugged the middle with a giant run stuffing DT who would get little pass rush (and wasn't asked to) (Cody, Chapman, Ivory) and allow the LB's to fill the gaps on run downs. On pass downs we would blitz gaps and use a bunch of delayed blitzes. We do almost none of that now. The only blitzing we ever seemingly do on pass downs is out of the star spot with Minkah. We line up 4 (Reed, Allen, Williams, Anderson) and everybody else plays a spot. We certainly don't blitz QB's who can run.

Of course, having 4 linemen who can get a push on any offensive line makes that a whole lot easier.
This post was edited on 1/5/16 at 4:40 pm
Posted by Kcoyote
Member since Jan 2012
12050 posts
Posted on 1/5/16 at 4:44 pm to
Crazy how much a shift there was from the 3-4 to whatever we're doing now haha.

Also if you look at the LSU game, it was called so perfectly. We ran with 5 linemen down on almost every play Fournette was running, and went back to 4 or 3 on the plays he didn't end up running. Smart just knew when he was running.
Posted by Funky Tide 8
Tittleman's Crest
Member since Feb 2009
52869 posts
Posted on 1/5/16 at 5:18 pm to
quote:


I do not think I have seen a single team run with any consistency against Alabama all year.


To be honest, the only teams that have been able to run on us consistently since 2012 have been 2014 OSU, 2013 Auburn, and 2012 UGA. Am I missing anyone?
Posted by SummerOfGeorge
Member since Jul 2013
102699 posts
Posted on 1/5/16 at 5:21 pm to
quote:

To be honest, the only teams that have been able to run on us consistently since 2012 have been 2014 OSU, 2013 Auburn, and 2012 UGA. Am I missing anyone?


Nope, and those teams were pretty great rushing teams with very good offensive lines

2014 OSU : 11th ypa
2013 Auburn : 4th ypa
2012 UGA : 30th ypa (actually only had 113 yards on 29 carries, which perplexed me because I felt like Gurley had a big game)

Clemson is 28th in YPA (4.99 ypa).
This post was edited on 1/5/16 at 5:27 pm
Posted by SummerOfGeorge
Member since Jul 2013
102699 posts
Posted on 1/5/16 at 5:26 pm to
Most rush yards vs Alabama since 2011

2011 Ga Southern - 302 yards (7.74 ypa)
2013 Auburn - 296 yards (5.69 ypa)
2014 Ohio St - 281 yards (6.69 ypa)
2015 UGA - 193 yards (5.08 ypa)
2014 LSU - 183 yards (3.27 ypa)
2014 UT - 181 yards (4.21 ypa)
2014 Auburn - 174 yards (3.70 ypa)
2013 Arky - 165 yards (4.23 ypa)
2012 A&M - 165 yards (3.59 ypa)
2013 A&M - 164 yards (5.13 ypa)
2013 Va Tech - 153 yards (4.64 ypa)
Posted by BamaGradinTn
Murfreesboro
Member since Dec 2008
26994 posts
Posted on 1/5/16 at 8:39 pm to
I haven't noticed...but do other teams have 15 to 18 defenders on the field during a change of possession, waiting to see what personnel comes out for the offense, like Smart does? This is the first year I have really noticed this.
Posted by alabamabuckeye
Member since Jun 2010
22206 posts
Posted on 1/5/16 at 8:48 pm to
shite through a tin horn
Posted by Sid E Walker
InsecureU ©
Member since Nov 2013
23888 posts
Posted on 1/5/16 at 9:51 pm to
quote:

2015 UGA - 193 yards (5.08 ypa)

Artificially inflated by Chubb's 80 yard TD in garbage time.
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