"I think we’re very confident. We had a chance to beat them last year and kind of fell short. E...

"I think we’re very confident. We had a chance to beat them last year and kind of fell short. Everybody’s really hungry this year. We’ll come out guns blazin’. We’ll be ready to play."

Dothan Eagle: Alabama shifts focus to Florida

That quote comes from Eryk Anders talking about getting ready to play Florida next Saturday. From what I can tell, based on what our players have been quoted as saying in several articles this morning, it has taken practically no time for our team to forget about the Iron Bowl and turn complete focus on Florida. Hopefully that portends good things to come.

2 months ago outsidethesidelines 33 comments 0 recs |

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Mike johnson

Ots, chase goodbread was opining that mike Johnson was not performing well in the iron bowl. He stopped short of saying he was hurt, but that is what he was inferring. Were you able to watch the line much? I beleive part of it was stacking the box but these journalist know much more about individual performance than I could begin to know, especially the o-line. Do you think defensive strategy played a part on or did he look hurt to you, or something else i.e. looking ahead?

by robalo216 on Nov 29, 2009 9:44 AM CST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Johnson...

… I do believe Johnson may not have been 100%. On Monday, I believe, both he and Cory Reamer were in no-contact jerseys with some sort of minor injuries. To that end, Reamer really didn’t play a whole bunch — Ali Sharrief saw a ton of time instead — and Johnson didn’t exactly have a standout day. Obviously I have no way of knowing for certain, but it does seem in hindsight that their injuries are / were more serious than most thought.

As for the rest, I think I’ll make a post about that later. The Auburn defensive line played a whale of a game, and they did well against our offensive line. Unfortunately, Auburn did stack the box and lot and that allowed Josh Bynes to roam free all day long, which also played a big role in stopping the run. They were seemingly ripe for attacking them vertically down the field, but unfortunately we couldn’t do that.

As for strategy moving forward, I think a first grader could figure it out. We have no vertical passing game whatsoever at this point, so stuff the box against the run and squat like hell on the short and underneath routes. Both Mississippi State and Auburn did that, and got good results out of it. I expect Florida to do much of the same.

"Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself." -- Milton Friedman

by outsidethesidelines on Nov 29, 2009 9:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We have no vertical passing game whatsoever at this point

Every time I watch USC, Cincinnati, Texas, and several others (and definitely when I watch NFL games) I realize how weakly we throw the ball vertically. Can you imagine how deadly we’d be as a team if we had an NFL caliber quarterback who could hit more of those passes?

To beat Florida, we will have to attack them vertically. Our closest attempts to being a vertical passing team were the Virginia Tech and LSU games. Hopefully we can hit some throws down field. If not, it’s going to be tough because we won’t be able to dink and dunk Florida unless they fear longer throws and play back off the ball.

MATRIX: Bennett, I thought you were--

BENNETT: Dead? You thought wrong. Ever since you had me thrown out of the unit, I've been waiting to pay you back. Do you know what today is, Matrix? Payday.

by Bamagrad on Nov 29, 2009 10:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

For all the bitching about our bitching about a lack of a vertical element...

…it’s not like we’re asking to throw the ball 50 yards every play. Against Va. Tech, we picked on Kam Chancellor a total of two times, both of which were hugely successful plays that kept drives alive and (in the case of Maze’s big catch), kept their defense playing back on their heels the whole game. Just being able to hit one or two a game or, hell, just throwing deep to show that we are going to take those shots whether we complete them or not will open up so much more underneath. As it is, I bet every DC we’ve faced the last few weeks have said to their players “they’re a dump off team, lets try and get pressure and play it shallow and limit any runs after catch.”

Roll Bama Roll - The Champagne of Bama Blogs.

by Todd on Nov 29, 2009 10:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree somewhat with the "lack of a vertical element"...

but that’s much more a symptom of playcalling than capability. In the Virginia Tech, LSU and Arkansas games we actually attempted at least a couple deep balls, and we succeeded. Pretty much every time we’ve allowed McElroy to throw deep more than once in a game, he’s had some success. I agree with the idea of “throwing deep to show that we’re going to take those shots.” That’s Saban’s idea, and I bet he’s going to use it in the biggest game of the year. And let’s also remember why we were a “dink and dunk” team against Auburn during that final drive. It was because they left Julio Jones, our best receiver, wide open over the middle several times. So, playcalling itself isn’t necessarily a “problem” either. Let’s just see how it goes against Florida, and stop bitching about not having an “NFL caliber” quarterback who, despite this handicap, is a first year starter with these statistics: 16 TDs, 4 INts, 2211 Yards, 60.8%, QB Rating: 138.7. And remember, for all the bitching about our bitching about your bitching about a lack of a vertical element, we’re probably going to throw a good amount of deep passes against Florida on Saturday anyway.

by crimsontsunami on Nov 29, 2009 12:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I hope Florida does that.

It won’t pay off.

by crimsontsunami on Nov 29, 2009 12:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I would be willing to wager...

…that Saban has been saving the vertical passing game ALL YEAR LONG for this Florida game. They’re the one team that beat us last year. Look at that man and tell me he hasn’t been saving some things for the Gators. You wanna bitch about our vanilla offense? About our lack of a passing game?

We haven’t needed it to win against ANYONE. Defensively, if not for 2 BADLY missed assignments (Barron biting on pump-fake and Eryk Anders not keeping contain to force the play inside) and 1 stupid penalty (yeah you, Woodall), and then miscues on offense (missing Julio wide-open for a score, etc), then we run away with this ballgame.

Same thing with Tennessee. If Ingram doesn’t fumble, we win 12-3 and it’s never a ballgame.

It’s all about execution. The coaches have all sorts of things planned for Florida. Not exactly tricks, but things the Gators haven’t seen all year. This will be a game for the ages, my friends. Don’t fret about the lack of a vertical passing game. They haven’t needed it, but they’ll use it on Saturday.

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by memphistider on Nov 29, 2009 11:30 AM CST reply actions 3 recs

Hopefully...

…you’re right.

Roll Bama Roll - The Champagne of Bama Blogs.

by Todd on Nov 29, 2009 11:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

x2

You can't win. You can't break even. You can't get out of the game.

by StablerRaider on Nov 29, 2009 11:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

x3

by crimsontsunami on Nov 29, 2009 12:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

x4

"You have to create 6 seconds of hell each play..."
Coach Nick Saban

by LittleSis on Nov 29, 2009 3:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

x 12

I mean, 13 :)

It is important to find someone who allows you to fulfill your dreams. It is luck if that person finds you, too - Isaiah Zagar

by BamaReturns07 on Nov 29, 2009 9:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You know

we did save the Ingram pass till the last game before Florida.

This upcoming season I'm gonna refer to Julio Jones as "The Magic Man" and Trent Richardson as "El Diablo"

by AlabamaTitans2009 on Nov 29, 2009 11:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I Agree

I’ve also had the feeling at times this season that the offense was reserving certain elements for the “playoffs”. I do not feel we have played wide open or pulled out all the stops in any of our games. I fully expect to see some new wrinkles in the game plan for Florida. Yes, more of a vertical game. And more wild elephant with different looks and personnel.

The challenge for the defense is the misdirection that Meyer is known for. And Tebow. You gotta admit, he is once in a generation football player.

Whether we win or lose, Alabama will play a great game and be in it all the way. I tuly feel we match up well with this team and have the personnel to beat them. It will boil down to execution and who wants it worse.

by AfricaMike on Nov 29, 2009 11:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ha ha

Notre Dame calls their wildcat the Leprecat. How lame is that?

It is important to find someone who allows you to fulfill your dreams. It is luck if that person finds you, too - Isaiah Zagar

by BamaReturns07 on Nov 29, 2009 9:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know so much that he’s been saving it as it is that we haven’t needed it from a strategic perspective. This game is different from any game we’ve played in save Va. Tech… coming into all of our past SEC games we’ve been facing mediocre offenses with our stellar D, so it makes sense that we played a risk-averse offense focusing on ball control and time of possession. Now we’ve played some great Ds this year, but none as great as Florida’s. More importantly, we haven’t played a team with both a great offensive and defensive unit. As a result we will likely need our offense to generate some big plays, because we know their’s will, and we can’t rely only on the short game, because they’re good enough to shut that down. The thing is, we’ve had some big plays this year, and we know Mcelroy can make those throws. So I think, as Crimsontsunami noted above, we really have no clue what this game will look like because what is required of our gameplan is different. Again, one would think our gameplan for Va. Tech would be the blueprint, and if I’m not mistaken we were able to successfully stretch their defense vertically.

by cjbama on Nov 29, 2009 12:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I really don't get the "we're saving our best plays" idea....

Every team has a play up their sleeves that they draw up for a specific opponent (i.e. the Ingram half back pass against Auburn), but no one “holds back” a significant portion of their playbook to save for later, especially when they’ve been in tight games against stout competition (UT, LSU, Auburn, Va. Tech). If the staff finds something in the Florida films that they think they can exploit with something new, they’ll put it in, but there isn’t some secret page in the playbook that has a “for emergency use ONLY” sticker on it.

Roll Bama Roll - The Champagne of Bama Blogs.

by Todd on Nov 29, 2009 1:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Saban

has specifically talked about the idea of “saving plays” for specific teams and how he wouldn’t ever do that. It shouldn’t be surprising given his “let’s win THIS game” mentality. Still, I think our strategy will be different for Florida than it was for AU, and hopefully for the better.

Also, I really hope we weren’t “saving” the Ingram pass, because if we were planning to use it against Florida I would rather him get some practice than “save it”, given the execution of that play on Friday.

by billycthulhu on Nov 29, 2009 1:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

right, we haven’t been sitting on some secret goodie bag of plays, hoping to get by operating at 80% capacity all season just to sneak up on the gators.nonetheless even Saban has accused our offense of being risk-averse at times. I believe its the opinion of most on this blog that Bama will likely have to play less risk averse against Florida, because they are a much better team than we’ve played this season. All I’m suggesting is that this fact is likely not lost on the coaches, and that I have to think we’ll see a vertical element to the passing game. not because we’re “saving” plays but because our play adapts to our opponent.

by cjbama on Nov 29, 2009 2:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully?

I rec’d it like a mutha….

"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban

by NiceLittleSaturday on Nov 29, 2009 3:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I

have heard several people say the key to this game is our offense against their defense. I agree with that but I think the main key is our defensive line against their offensive line. Some teams this year have sacked Tebow several times in the game. If I am not mistaken Vanderbilt even had 5 sacks against them. If we can keep Arenas on Riley Cooper and get some pressure on Tebow I think we can hold them. They will score but I think we can hold them to about 14 to 17 points. I know Tebow just lit up Florida State but that same defense even made Harris from Miami look like a Heisman player.

This upcoming season I'm gonna refer to Julio Jones as "The Magic Man" and Trent Richardson as "El Diablo"

by AlabamaTitans2009 on Nov 29, 2009 11:47 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I screwed

up the post but you get the point. I’m just wondering what everyone thinks the keys to the game are.

This upcoming season I'm gonna refer to Julio Jones as "The Magic Man" and Trent Richardson as "El Diablo"

by AlabamaTitans2009 on Nov 29, 2009 11:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think

our inability to get pressure on Tebow last year was our downfall. When they were behind Tebow had all day to throw those deep bombs that burned us last. We have many keys to win the game I just think this one is HUGE in my opinion.

This upcoming season I'm gonna refer to Julio Jones as "The Magic Man" and Trent Richardson as "El Diablo"

by AlabamaTitans2009 on Nov 29, 2009 11:55 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Our lack of a pass rush...

…really hurt us against both Florida and Utah last year, so the fact that we are much better at getting pressure (and Florida lost both tackles and have seen a regression in their offensive line) gives me a lot of comfort. Also, their lack of a real vertical threat after Harvin helps us, too. Cooper and Hernandez have been very good for them, though, so being able to keep them from getting big plays is important. And we really need to make sure we don’t give up cheap yards/points on kick returns (while also getting cheap yards/points from ours).

Roll Bama Roll - The Champagne of Bama Blogs.

by Todd on Nov 29, 2009 12:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

that pressuring Tebow and keeping him from getting too many big plays is important. Let’s not forget Harvin was out against us last year and they still managed some big passing plays.

by billycthulhu on Nov 29, 2009 1:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Keys to the Game

1. Pressure on Tebow
2. Control the line of scrimmage on offense
3. Special teams

by AfricaMike on Nov 29, 2009 12:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Key to the game...

…kicking a$$…

…taking names is secondary….

"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban

by NiceLittleSaturday on Nov 29, 2009 4:00 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs

rec'd

Roll Bama Roll - The Champagne of Bama Blogs.

by Todd on Nov 29, 2009 4:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Marquis Johnson for HEISMAN!

It is important to find someone who allows you to fulfill your dreams. It is luck if that person finds you, too - Isaiah Zagar

by BamaReturns07 on Nov 29, 2009 9:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

One key unlocks it all

Limiting the effectiveness of that Tebow-halfback-wingback-shovel pass option on second and third downs will limit their ability to sustain long drives on offense.

Other thoughts:
I have a personal opinion that Hernandez will crumple like a leaf if hit squarely, but I haven’t seen anyone lay the wood on him all year.

I especially noticed the play when their back (forgot his name) was caught by the FSU pursuit after a big gain. I can’t remember the last time I saw a Gator not score on a play like that on offense. They’re not Florida ’08 as far as talent is concerned.

Lee Corso: How would you describe tailgating at Alabama?
Kirk Herbstreit: Barbecue and Ralph Lauren

by animalcracker on Nov 29, 2009 6:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think one of the big keys

will be whether or not Florida can run their dive play up the middle. If Cody, Deaderick, Washington, Dareus, et al can hold the middle of the line on the dive, we will have a great chance to win. WE HAVE TO STOP THAT PLAY!!! (and many others)

MATRIX: Bennett, I thought you were--

BENNETT: Dead? You thought wrong. Ever since you had me thrown out of the unit, I've been waiting to pay you back. Do you know what today is, Matrix? Payday.

by Bamagrad on Nov 29, 2009 3:27 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

you guys are right,

florida is in big trouble!!!!!! hehehehehehehehehehehehehahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha…….

by pLANEolG8RB8 on Nov 29, 2009 11:31 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, well...that's like, your opinion, man.

MATRIX: Bennett, I thought you were--

BENNETT: Dead? You thought wrong. Ever since you had me thrown out of the unit, I've been waiting to pay you back. Do you know what today is, Matrix? Payday.

by Bamagrad on Nov 30, 2009 3:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs