Initial Impressions from the Ole Miss Game

by outsidethesidelines on Oct 17, 2010 11:12 AM CDT in Football

A few thoughts from the early aftermath of the 23-10 victory over Ole Miss:

After the thumping we received in Columbia, I imagine we will take a win any way we can get it at this point, but admittedly it was an ugly performance. Never underestimate the importance of getting a victory, even if it had the aesthetic value of an episode of Roseanne, and surely Ohio State and Nebraska would have given anything to have just won ugly yesterday. Nevertheless, if your standard is to play to a high level and play like a legitimate national championship contender, we fell far short of that standard last night.
The defense was noticeably improved against Ole Miss looking at the raw statistics, holding the top scoring offense in the SEC to only 243 total yards of offense and 10 points. Good end result, if nothing else. Having said that, what does it really mean? This was the first semi-competent defense that Ole Miss has faced all season, and as Nick Saban is fond of saying, on a lot of plays we did not defend them but they simply did not make them. A drop on a wide open slant pass prevented a big touchdown pass on the opening drive of the game, and Jeremiah Masoli badly missed an easy touchdown pass in the flats, among other mistakes. We generally stopped Colonel Reb, but we were consistently assisted along the way by the opposition.
Most frustrating of all on defense? In the second half we still could not get a stop on third and long. Six times in the second half Ole Miss converted a third down of six yards or longer, and three times they converted a third down of ten yards or longer. In effect, Ole Miss converted third and long situations at about a 75% clip in the second half. That extended the game and allowed Ole Miss to hang around far longer than they should have, and until our defense can find a way to consistently force stops on third and Northport, we're going to be ripe for the picking against opposing offenses.
The play of the game? Undoubtedly the 85-yard touchdown to Trent Richardson on the screen pass. Houston Nutt and company will surely have to resist the great urge to jump out the window while watching that screen pass in film review. When you call a screen to the tailback on third and Oakman, as an offense you are just looking to avoid the big negative play and give your punter some more room. And when it goes for 80+ yards for a touchdown? That's a defensive breakdown the entire way, and one that changed the entire complexion of the game. That score extended the lead to 23-3, and Ole Miss went 71 yards for a touchdown on the following drive. Take away that screen to Richardson and we're probably in a 16-10 game late in the third quarter and in the middle of a meltdown. More than anything else, that single play broke the back of Ole Miss.
Despite the big play to Richardson, all told the passing game was more of the same. We still had no vertical threat whatsoever -- McElroy finished something like 2-8 on throws of ten yards or longer -- and McElroy was sacked four times. That is to say nothing of the dropped pick-six by Joel Kight. If you factor out the screen to Richardson and add in the yards lost on the sacks, we had roughly 28 passing attempts that gained a combined 118 yards. And when you are averaging 4.2 yards per passing attempt, what more even needs to be said? For better or for worse, McElroy seems relatively secure in his starting job, but it's hard to imagine how the passing game could get much worse than this if A.J. McCarron went into the game.

Offensively, in the trenches it was a repeat of the South Carolina game. Until very late in the game Ole Miss was holding Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson to a combined average of 3.8 yards per carry, and frankly they dominated us in the trenches on the offensive side of the ball. Jerrell Powe and Ted Laurent controlled the defensive interior, and the run blitzes were just as effective as they were a week ago. The sad thing is that Ingram and Richardson fought tooth and nail for every inch they gained, and given what they were provided in the way of running room most of their production was the result of their own ability more than anything that the offensive line did. Whether it's physical exhaustion or some other issue I do not know, but regardless the ultimate point remains that for the second consecutive week we were consistently beaten up front at the point of attack.

On the whole, it's one thing to not be a prolific offense, but as of right now we are not even a particularly good offense. Through four conference games we are averaging only 22 points per game, we still cannot take advantage of scoring opportunities in opponent territory, the passing game is struggling greatly, and the running game is getting stopped despite having the best tailback duo in the country. We barely averaged five yards per play against one of the worst defenses we'll face all season, and we scored fewer points against them than did Jacksonville State, Vanderbilt, Fresno State, and Kentucky. If you are saying very many positive things about this offense at this point, you probably need to put down the crimson-tinted sunglasses.

Julio Jones may be the single toughest player to ever put on an Alabama uniform in my lifetime. His standard operating procedure is to play through one serious injury after another, and last night was no exception. Five days removed from surgery, he was once again back in the starting lineup. He came out after re-injuring the hand -- that may have been a dirty play, actually, by Jeremy McGee -- but Saban said in the postgame that he was fine and that he could have returned if needed. Hopefully we can just hold him out next week against Tennessee.

Dre Kirkpatrick once again re-injured his left shoulder last night, and while it ultimately did not turn out to be as bad as initially feared, it's still a major concern moving forward. The shoulder popped out of place and keep in mind that is the same shoulder that he has had two major surgeries on in the past two years. More than anything else, that shoulder is likely the biggest reason for his lack of physical play, and the recovery from the surgeries has cost him time in the strength and conditioning program. Obviously we avoided a major loss when he came back into the game, but his development as a player will continue to be hindered so long as the shoulder continues to be an issue.

Alfred McCullough played well in place of the injured D.J. Fluker. He was generally solid in pass protection and he held his own in the running game. He'll be tested more seriously against LSU, but he was not the root cause of whatever ailed us offensively last night.

DeMarcus Milliner had another rough night, but once again never came out of the game. Phelon Jones came into the game when Kirkpatrick went out with his shoulder injury, so presumably he is the top back-up at corner, but even so it does not seem like anyone else is seriously challenging Milliner for playing time at the moment. Hopefully the early playing time will pay dividends at a later point, but for now opposing offensive coordinators love to pick on the true freshman.

All told, this game just had an odd feeling permeate throughout. We had countless opportunities to blow Ole Miss out of the water but never could get the job done, and Ole Miss had countless opportunities to turn this into a nailbiter but continued incompetence kept that from happening. In that vein, with a solid performance this could have been a blowout, but by the same token a solid performance by Ole Miss could have easily resulted in an upset.

Two days ago I wrote that the Tide began survival mode against Ole Miss, and survival mode may be the best description of our performance last night. If your measure of success is to simply avoid defeat then last night was a success, but by other objective measuring sticks we simply did not play very well. We survived, but we did little else, and in the end we successfully addressed few, if any, of the issues that have ailed us through the first half. Hopefully we can continue to survive against Tennessee and find a way to play at a high level in Baton Rouge in two weeks. If not...

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Hard to argue with any of your points

At what point do we go with AJ at QB? As for our running game, is it because teams are loading box or is there something else going on? Clearly we can’t stretch the field and with a corp of WRs like we have there is only one reason. Last year we could win with a “game manager” but this year we are going to have to score touchdowns to win.

Roll Tide!

by mobilematt12 on Oct 17, 2010 11:47 AM CDT reply actions

my thought last night was that our running woes come from opposing defenses not respecting McElroy & simply focusing on stopping the run…maybe South Carolina gave everyone else the playbook on how to defend us…as Saban said, we were exposed that game & it looks like it contiued into this game….

we use to be a second half team – & more importantly, a 4th quarter team – what happened?

When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night he checks his closet for Mark Ingram.

by birthgoat on Oct 17, 2010 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions

It also doesn't help

that we are hell-bent on running right up the gut into 8 man lines. we need to plan, here on out, getting the edges (a la UF, and any sort of success we had last night running). We don’t have the ‘08/’09 offensive line, and it’s high time we recognize that. there’s only so far individual effort can carry you, no matter how great the backs (Barry Sanders excluded).

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions

EXACTLY

That is what I was saying during the game. Ingram has always been better when he is running more towards the edge then spotting his cutback lanes to give some ‘options’ on where to run. Against the Black Bears, we kept running straight up the center’s ass and, as OTS stated, any yardage was simply Mark and Richard moving forward on sheer talent and determination. We finally ran one of the ‘edge’ runs in the second half and I think Mark ended up with 11-12 yards (?) on that play. I don’t remember us going back to it again. Frustrating.

"I have tried to teach them to show class, to have pride, and to display character. I think football, winning games, takes care of itself if you do that." -Paul W. Bryant

by JokerBama on Oct 18, 2010 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions

"My thought last night was that our running woes come from opposing defenses not respecting McElroy"

Your thought last night was 100% correct……..the defensive strategy used by Ole Miss and South Carolina comes from the auburn game last year………crash the gaps with linebackers…….walk a safety up…….take away all short and intermediate routes……..close immediately on screen passes……….nearly completely disregard the long pass, because the quarterback will not throw it even if it is called………shut down Alabama……..simple, effective, and completely and utterly humiliating……….

by p3bhambama on Oct 18, 2010 1:40 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm with you...

and i hate to sound like an lswho fan, but when does our backup get a shot? If for nothing else than to hopefully lite a fire under GMac.

ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!!

by alanbama14 on Oct 17, 2010 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions

LSU is my example here.

Tommy Hodson: more of a traditional drop-back passer. Mickey Guidry: an option-running threat.

LSU would give Guidry one series each half — no matter how big or close the game, it seemed. That change of pace helped LSU beat us in Tuscaloosa in ’88 19-18. We were stopping them consistently, till suddenly Guidry comes in and they march right down the field before halftime.

Can we not at least try something similar with McCarron…? Why not against TN?

by Jeff Jones on Oct 17, 2010 8:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Exactly...

at least try it!

ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!!

by alanbama14 on Oct 17, 2010 10:53 PM CDT up reply actions

but when does our backup get a shot? If for nothing else than to hopefully lite a fire under GMac.

You are not going to light a fire under GMac. The problem is throwing downfield which gmac can hardly do at all. His arm is too weak. Maybe this is why he is way too tentative for this level of college football.l. The 2009 team was good enough, and teams had not learned how to defense Bama, and Bama won anyway. But this year Auburn exposed Bama in last year’s Iron Bowl that you could come up stack the box with run blitzs and keying on Mark and Trent. It basically stopped the run before it got started. Bama won that game on a last second throw. But this year everyone defenses by basically coming up and ignoring the long pass. The only thing that can offset that is a very good long ball passer, which apparently Bama does not have.

by BobM2009 on Oct 18, 2010 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions

I understand the frustration

but all of these if’s and but’s are maddening to read about:

Take away that screen to Richardson and we’re probably in a 16-10 game late in the third quarter and in the middle of a meltdown. More than anything else, that single play broke the back of Ole Miss.

That is to say nothing of the dropped pick-six by Joel Kight. If you factor out the screen to Richardson and add in the yards lost on the sacks, we had roughly 28 passing attempts that gained a combined 118 yards. And when you are averaging 4.2 yards per passing attempt, what more even needs to be said?

In that vein, with a solid performance this could have been a blowout, but by the same token a solid performance by Ole Miss could have easily resulted in an upset.

Yeah, if you take away all of our good plays and give them every near miss we would have lost. McElory needs to get back to form, the OL needs to play better, and we need to get off the field on third down defense. We don’t need to add to our troubles by taking away good plays and adding in bad ones.

by HarveyBirdmanAAL on Oct 17, 2010 12:01 PM CDT reply actions

Well, I agree that some big plays for us should be attributed at least partially to our ability to mold explosive players

But what I get out of the whole “what if” thing is that a big part of our win relied more on mistakes from the opponent than on great play from our team. I think we’re a fairly good team with the ability to be a great team, but OTS is right. At the moment, we are not a championship-caliber team.

"You know, we had a lot of fun tonight. But there's nothing funny about vapor lock! It's the third most common cause of cars stalling. So please, take care of your car and get it checked!" -Joe Namath

by billycthulhu on Oct 17, 2010 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions

True, the problem is in the cherry-picking though

I’m sure we had a couple of near misses on big plays that could have given us 30+ points last night and Ole Miss could have been shut out. I don’t think you can say we relied on mistakes for the win. Our defense was solid last night, with a few hiccups here and there (especially in the second half). The offensive consistency needs to improve (as does the OL). But we can’t start being a fan base that gets down on our kids for getting a lucky break here and there. Luck was a big part of last year’s team too (especially when it came to injuries).

by HarveyBirdmanAAL on Oct 17, 2010 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions

That's missing the point.

We are trying to evaluate our team against a standard which has nothing to do with winning or losing. If we miss out on our own big play opportunities, that’s our failure to execute. If Ole Miss drops passes and interceptions, that is not our success. It’s actually still our failure, we just got lucky not have to suffer the consequences.

by krnxprs on Oct 17, 2010 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions

Then why on earth would you take away the TD play to Richardson and evaluate the passing game based on those numbers? Do we have to assume a tackle should have been made on every long TD play we score this year, like we did with the Hanks TD against SC?

by HarveyBirdmanAAL on Oct 17, 2010 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Then why on earth would you take away the TD play to Richardson and evaluate the passing game based on those numbers?

Because it was one play, where we effectively chose to punt, that went for a big play more because Ole Miss did not defend it. Speaking of the Hanks touchdown, that’s tantamount to touting how great our passing game is because South Carolina blew an assignment on the back end.

And, honestly, you’re missing the point. The passing game was very bad even when you consider that pass to Richardson. The point is merely that when you take away that one play, it was even worse than very bad on those other 28 passing attempts.

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

by outsidethesidelines on Oct 17, 2010 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree that the passing game is bad. My point is why pile on by taking away the good plays we make?

by HarveyBirdmanAAL on Oct 17, 2010 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions

you realize that when he does that it doesn't actually take away points from last night's score, right?

It’s just part of evaluating the performance.

by billycthulhu on Oct 17, 2010 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions

I was wondering that myself...

I think people are getting a little too defensive at these critiques. You evaluate mistakes to figure out how we can improve, not because you hate the team. I don’t think anybody’s really trying to say that we’re terrible and the sky is falling, but it doesn’t do us a whole lot of good to hunker down and put our fingers in our ears, either.

Fight on, men.

by hazelhazel on Oct 17, 2010 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions

My point is you can critique without constantly playing the what if game. That was my one and only point. I think we have a ton of areas to improve in, for the record.

by HarveyBirdmanAAL on Oct 17, 2010 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions

RBR HIT PIECE!!!

Seriously, spot on: that’s the whole point of evaluation; finding areas of improvement, critically analysing them, and seeing where, if possible, we can improve them.

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions

love it or leave it man!

you dont like how we played? move to china. thats what i say….

In an industrial society which confuses work and productivity, the necessity of producing has always been an enemy of the desire to create. - Raoul Vaneigem

take this job and shove it - Johnny Paycheck

by tempebamafan on Oct 17, 2010 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Again...

Good PLAY. Singular. Not plural. If we would have made a second big passing play — which we did not — then you can talk about that.

And again, that goes back to my last. It’s not that we made the play, Ole Miss just did not make it. We had one block from Warmack and Richardson broke one weak arm tackle. And we get an 85-yard touchdown based on that? Again, we didn’t so much make a play as Ole Miss did not stop it.

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

by outsidethesidelines on Oct 17, 2010 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions

You still haven’t answered my question of why take away our good PLAY of the night? What on earth does that tell us besides we would’ve been worse off without making that play? It’s a fool’s exercise.

by HarveyBirdmanAAL on Oct 17, 2010 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions

It is not piling on.......

It is simply pointing out that our passing game is nearly completely ineffective…….I will go farther than that…….I’ll say that there would not be a significant drop off in our offensive production if we went exclusively to the wildcat mixing in a throw from Maze and a reverse to Julio or Hanks here and there……..I bet we would have just as many yards and score as many points……..

by p3bhambama on Oct 18, 2010 1:44 AM CDT up reply actions

Take away "all" of our plays?

I took away one play and ran the numbers. Singular. Not plural.

It seems like your entire gripe is premised on the fact that I evaluated the passing game on the 28 passing attempts aside from the Richardson touchdown, and because I mentioned — and rightly so — that Ole Miss dropped an easy pick-six.

That’s not really cherry-picking. That’s taking out one play in the course of an entire game and mentioning an easy play that was not made by the opposing team. Now if I’m here taking about eight or ten plays from consideration, that’s one thing, but one play? Hardly.

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

by outsidethesidelines on Oct 17, 2010 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions

My complaint still stands. You take away a big play like that and numbers are going to seem vastly different. What is the purpose of an exercise where you take away our best offensive play of the night, the assume that OM still scores a TD on their next possession? (Which is what I assume you meant by posting the 16-10 score in that sentence)

by HarveyBirdmanAAL on Oct 17, 2010 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions

You want to argue that?

You take away a big play like that and numbers are going to seem vastly different.

Vastly different? How? The numbers are bad even with the Richardson touchdown, that’s the point. I’m merely saying they were even worse than that on the other 28 passes. It’s not like the passing game looks great with the touchdown and then it’s suddenly “vastly different” without it.

assume that OM still scores a TD on their next possession?

Ole Miss drive 70+ yards for a touchdown on the following drive. Do you really think they would have had any issue going for 50-ish, especially when we couldn’t even get a stop on third and long? I’m going to want to hear how punting instead of throwing a touchdown pass would have changed that.

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

by outsidethesidelines on Oct 17, 2010 1:00 PM CDT up reply actions

The second half 3rd down defense was frustrating...

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions

look at "mean" vs "average"

why is there a distinction between those two things? and what about that distinction can help you better understand the data you are trying to analyze?

OTS isn’t removing one outlier simply to make GMAC’s number look worse. he’s doing it to help identify a “more accurate” median.

why do students get grades? why do sporting contests usually tally up points which are accumulated throughout the contests? to measure how you did. thats what OTS is doing. you dont like it, dont read it. just please recognize he’s not doing just to get his rocks off.

In an industrial society which confuses work and productivity, the necessity of producing has always been an enemy of the desire to create. - Raoul Vaneigem

take this job and shove it - Johnny Paycheck

by tempebamafan on Oct 17, 2010 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Plus, a 5 yard throw that turns into an 85 yard TD pass

is not the same as hitting Julio in stride 40 yards downfield for an 85 yard TD. Taking that play out when evaluating the QB makes sense.

by yellowhammer on Oct 17, 2010 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions

exactly

when evaluating a QB’s passing performance, passes of less than 5 yards to the RB’s shouldn’t be factored in. we’re looking for and trying to evaluate his downfield passing ability not his check down success rate.

In an industrial society which confuses work and productivity, the necessity of producing has always been an enemy of the desire to create. - Raoul Vaneigem

take this job and shove it - Johnny Paycheck

by tempebamafan on Oct 17, 2010 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions

Well I wasn’t talking about GMac, just the offense in general.

by HarveyBirdmanAAL on Oct 17, 2010 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Greg McElroy IS our offense

Greg McElroy has hijacked our offense.
The OL can’t hold long enough for Greg McElroy.
The WR’s can’t get open enough for Greg McElroy, or open fast enough for Greg McElory, or open long enough for Greg McElroy.
Because of all that our RB’s can’t run the ball effectively.
I say again….Greg McElroy has hijacked our offense.
And you think we can possibly seperate the two?

by Spooky112483 on Oct 17, 2010 11:46 PM CDT up reply actions

This is the heartbreaking truth.........

A player, who I love as much as any player that’s ever played QB for Alabama, is killing our offense……..he simply cannot get the job done effectively and it hurts me to say it, but it is time to try another option……..we have a receiver who is one of, if not the best, in the country and we are supposed to think he is never open except on WR screens?…….and if he isn’t, two of the best WR’s in the conference that play across from him aren’t open either?…….and that the offensive line, which was impenetrable in the first five games, suddenly can’t pass block…….and that none of this has to do with the fact that an OL that dominated in the first five games in run blocking suddenly gets manhandled in one on one matchups?…….or is it just that the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and the back up who some think is better can’t run anymore………..

Or is it that opposing defenses know our QB will not throw it more than 20 yds down the field so they only defend the area within 20 yds of the line of scrimmage?…….that, instead of having to block five people on running plays like every balanced team in the country, we have to block 8 or 9?

by p3bhambama on Oct 18, 2010 1:55 AM CDT up reply actions

Bingo yellowhammer........

McElroy and the “passing” game had very little to do with the success of that play………Hell I could throw a two yard pass and watch Trent dodge four people and outrun the rest to the endzone………and that was the highlight of McElroy’s day……..he threw a two yard pass and watched as one of the most explosive players in the country did what he does….

by p3bhambama on Oct 18, 2010 1:48 AM CDT up reply actions

I would love to put down the crimson kool-aid

But I’m too busy trying to catch those dual crimson rainbows.

I’m not sure why I thought we could be crisp and sharp against the Rebels. I don’t remember the last time we played worth a damned against them? 2004? For better or worse, all the way back to ’93, I probably remember more ugly, physical mistake-ridden games against the rebel moreso than any other team. This one was no different: physical, low scoring, decided by who made the fewest mistakes as opposed to the best positive plays.

There is nothing to be said at this point about our passing game, except this: Even when McElwain wants to call vertical plays, GMac misses them, or hesitates to pull the trigger. Also, remember the streaks play that GM missed a wide open Earl Alexander on? What about the two slants, prior to the 14 yd completion? The opportunities were there, and we failed to capitalize. Of those four sacks, three were on our starting QB. And, for the 3rd game in a row, the red zone playcalling was suspect (again, kind of hard to execute with a triaged OL, a gun-shy QB, and less than 100% Ingram).

And, whence Darius Hanks? I get the game plan: Get Maze with his speed into space and running around in the secondary, but he damn-near got killed.

It was good to see Burton Scott. But, did anyone else shit a solid-gold brick when get out on the field: That poor kid looked absolutely lost, and Masoli was staring him down before the play. Had OM not taken a timeout there, I think we’re looking at a blown coverage/TD.

The only group of specialists in the SEC with worse hands than our WRs is the OM LBs/Corners. Twice, GM should have been picked off, with nothing but green in front of them. (<— obligatory RBR hit piece)

Finally, OM made more than its share of mistakes, especially Masoli, but probably 3/4ths of those were forced errors. He was absolutely running for his life on any drop-back pass of consequence. And, the running game for OM was effectively shutdown. So, hats off to the front four, they did play a good game, especially Dareus who limped his way to a dominant performance (1 sack, 5 tackles, 4 pressures, t tip).

As usual, opponent mistakes were the difference here:

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 12:05 PM CDT reply actions

lets give a few props to our special teams units

considering they were one of our worst pre-season fears, they have performed quite well. i can’t honestly say i am comfortable when we line up for 3, but they have surpassed my expectations. that, coupled with nice kick-off distance, decent (sans 2 i think) punting, and good coverage, is a bright spot i can actually see.

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

by LittleSis on Oct 17, 2010 12:17 PM CDT reply actions

*let's

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

by LittleSis on Oct 17, 2010 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Our return game is not suffering.

We’re not converting the long TD runs as before, but we’re more times than not starting around the 30 on KRs, and maze is a PR weapon. The biggest problem is that we are squandering maze’s efforts.

But, i agree: I think it was Kleph who said it yesterday, who would have thought we’d win a game this year with special teams and defense?

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions

It was really frustrating seeing him return one inside the 10 and then we had to take a FG

by billycthulhu on Oct 17, 2010 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions

We had one punt that looked kind of bad

and then took a very favorable bounce. I think on the 2 “bad” punts (including the one I just mentioned) we didn’t have a lot of field to punt through so he was trying to avoid a touchback. He did succeed in that regard.

by billycthulhu on Oct 17, 2010 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions

i was actually referring

to 2 really bad punts this year. the one against UF after which saban jumped straight up his ass, and one i think that was shanked yesterday. my point is that all in all what we have is far better that what i expected.

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

by LittleSis on Oct 17, 2010 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions

good point

Maze did solid, except for the fumble of course. Foster was excellent on kickoffs and placekicking.

In an industrial society which confuses work and productivity, the necessity of producing has always been an enemy of the desire to create. - Raoul Vaneigem

take this job and shove it - Johnny Paycheck

by tempebamafan on Oct 17, 2010 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm about ready to be one of those people wanting McCarron to come in.

As long as McElroy is too scared to throw the deep ball unless the WR is wide open, our offense is going to be terrible. We really need him to take more risk and he isn’t willing to do it for some reason. I think I’m willing to risk an interception every now and then if the ball will get thrown deep.

by jsholt969 on Oct 17, 2010 12:19 PM CDT reply actions

Fear of failure > Cajones to make the big play.

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions

doesn't "not making the big play" ever = failure?

In an industrial society which confuses work and productivity, the necessity of producing has always been an enemy of the desire to create. - Raoul Vaneigem

take this job and shove it - Johnny Paycheck

by tempebamafan on Oct 17, 2010 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions

20-1

largely without the big play, so probably not always the case.

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 7:48 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

I am not sure I think this but it crossed my mind so Ill throw it out there.....

…does anyone think that GMAC’s inability to get the ball thrown deep and out of bounds(dodge sacks) is because he is being selfish and wants his completion ratio top notch? I just thought it was ironic he had his best numbers in his only loss.

"We just want to strike fear. In our mission statement, strike fear in those who attempt to bring us down." Greg McElroy

by The Voice of Reason on Oct 18, 2010 8:24 AM CDT up reply actions

I totally think that’s what the problem is. I’m not sure if he’s being selfish or he knows that he’s a “game manager” and doesn’t want to make any mistakes. Either way, he’s avoiding making any moderately difficult throws (even ones he can complete) to go for the high percentage completion.

by Bumpjon on Oct 18, 2010 8:45 AM CDT up reply actions

Personally I think the INTs in the Arky game did a number on him.

If I'm wearing a turban, it means Auburn is playing Iraq.

by CarrotTop4 on Oct 19, 2010 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm not going to assume

that McElroy is missing a lot of good choices to throw to down field without seeing them myself, which is impossible when watching on TV. Saban said after the game that we need to run the ball when the defense is in zone. I’m assuming he means particularly when they are rushing only 3 or 4 with 7 and 8 in coverage. It would be great if we could recognize those situations and check to a run, but maybe that is not an easy read; I really have no idea. It may come down to a better balance in play calling on obvious passing situations or scouting our own tendencies because maybe our offense is a little too predictable right now.

by krnxprs on Oct 17, 2010 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions

I would generally give him the benefit of the doubt,

but when McElroy has been sacked about 11 or 12 times in the past two weeks when a majority of the time it was because he wouldn’t throw the ball after holding it for 7 or 8 seconds? There had to have been someone who he could get it to at least half the time, but he didn’t want to thread it in. He wants people wide open it seems like.

I think he’s a great leader and all, but he needs to take a bit more risk on the deep ball.

by jsholt969 on Oct 17, 2010 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Piling on.

OM gave us a second chance at that first touchdown by roughing the kicker. Good for us for converting after the penalty, but I’m confounded by our play calling prior to that in the red zone. When are we going learn that the fade on first and second down is a total waste, puts us behind the downs in yardage, and basically ensures a FG attempt? I really, really, really hate the fade and wish it would get ripped out of our play book.

On a more positive note, Alexander and Bell looked pretty good after Julio came out.

by krnxprs on Oct 17, 2010 12:22 PM CDT reply actions

off - topic

OTS – are you at all conflicted for Pats vs. Ravens today?

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

by LittleSis on Oct 17, 2010 12:34 PM CDT reply actions

watching both that and the Saints game

had a Brandon Deaderick sighting a few minutes ago

"Fortune, as they call her, is a drunken and capricious woman and, worse still, blind; and so she doesn’t see what she’s doing, and doesn’t know whom she is casting down or raising up." - Gary Crowton to Les Miles

by Thomas Walker Esq on Oct 17, 2010 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions

do you follow LeRon Mclain on twitter?

i just started last week – gotta say i like him more every day

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

by LittleSis on Oct 17, 2010 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Not really, why?

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

by outsidethesidelines on Oct 17, 2010 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions

just curious

if the # of bama boys vs your fav makes any difference to you.

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

by LittleSis on Oct 17, 2010 1:41 PM CDT up reply actions

go ravens

got le’ron on my bench, not racking up 4 fantasy points a week for me… (if rice AND mcgahee get hurt? he’s starting…)

In an industrial society which confuses work and productivity, the necessity of producing has always been an enemy of the desire to create. - Raoul Vaneigem

take this job and shove it - Johnny Paycheck

by tempebamafan on Oct 17, 2010 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions

On an absolutely more positive note:

It’s the 3rd Saturday in October, and I get to hate, hate, hate on the Volunteers. Two minutes after the OM slobberknocker was done, my beady little eyes narrowed in anticipation of Lulu and Junior’s tears, and the alcohol-induced dog/wife/child/coon beatings that must surely follow next Saturday.

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 12:44 PM CDT reply actions

I was too engulfed in my own self-loathing after the game to remember to hate. Shame on me.

by krnxprs on Oct 17, 2010 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions

glorious hate week!

despite our woes, it’s quite satisfying seeing that program in the proverbial shitter

by Thomas Walker Esq on Oct 17, 2010 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions

My entire life, I have despised UT more than Auburn

Some years, e.g., Tubby’s halcyon years and the nadir of their success, my hatred of the ‘Barn has gotten close to that of the Viles. I fear that now, my loathing of Auburn may be meeting, and may soon exceed, that of Tennessee. Tennessee is just dreadful, and i see no problems kicking them and curb-stomping them when they’re down. But Auburn? Damn.

They’ve played absolutely no defensive team yet, and they play no defense; they’ve won jack squat, and yet they’re woofing as though they are the ‘05 Trojans. Add to that the fawning over Cam (by various and sundry), the CBS knob-slobbing, their dirty play, their attribution of all missed tackles to Jesus’ guiding hands and I’m just about to the “UT level” of disgust with these loathsome dirt merchants.

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions

You, sir, have summed up my feelings for the '10 auburn boogs

very succinctly.

I’m ready for someone with a defense to pay them so the little uringe and blew fair weather lovers that have crawled back out of the closet can crawl right back in.

by Vod Kanockers on Oct 17, 2010 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Next Saturday, we are all Cajuns

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 1:47 PM CDT up reply actions

and the frustrating thing for me too is

why are we ‘limping’ to our bye week and thankful that it is week after next, when they have 4 games before their’s gets here and they do not seem to be limping at all

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

by LittleSis on Oct 17, 2010 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions

You have to admit, Kentucky and ULM aren't nearly as physical

as OM, UF, PSU

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 1:47 PM CDT up reply actions

okay but add them all in

clemson, arky, & sc (who am imissing?) and SJSU, arky, and sc

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

by LittleSis on Oct 17, 2010 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions

It's the injury bug this year...

Not of the horrific season-ending variety, but the lingering ones: Groins, high ankle sprains, hammies, shoulders. And, of course, the lingering effects of surgeries: Hightower, Julio, Ingram (who hasn’t looked right since the second quarter of the UF game).

Not sure why, but it just hits. And you work through it. We’ve had good injury luck last year (and for the most part 2008). This year? Not so much. The bye can’t come soon enough.

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions

and clemson and Arky aren't very phsyical.

For that matter, SC is erratic as well. Our problem is that we’re getting intensity and physical play from everyone on the skeddie. We’re the target, not the ‘Barn. And it’s like that year in and year out.

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree with everything you said SitP except

the part about cam newton……..this guy may be the best player in college football……..he scares the living shit out of me given the way our defense tackles……..that being said, without him, they have already lost 3 or 4 games……..if we can find a way to shut him down, we’ll beat them………as long as we find a way to score against their d, which is not very good……..of course, we struggled mightily against OM’s D, and they are worse than the barn’s……

by p3bhambama on Oct 18, 2010 2:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Not sure what to think on the GMac vs McCarron debate

But I will say this, the debate is exploding in a big way and I think even if GMac stays in all year we have something of a QB controversy on our hands. I don’t think the coaching staff is going to just let McElroy keep his job only because it’s been his in the past, so if they keep him in I would think there’s a real reason for it. We’ll see…

by billycthulhu on Oct 17, 2010 12:51 PM CDT reply actions

in other news...

i finished a woefully mediocre 1:43 in my 20K this morning. turned out there were a lot more hills than advertised.

Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.

by kleph on Oct 17, 2010 12:54 PM CDT reply actions

Is 1:43 "woeful"?

When is qualifying for Boston?

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions

registration starts tomorrow...

but they’ll be filled for this year by the time i run my planned qualifying race.

Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.

by kleph on Oct 17, 2010 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions

So, next year, then...It's a good goal to aim for.

We got a wee bit inspired by the Iron Man, so we’re going to try for next September’s Keauhou mini-Lava Man. 5K run, 500m swim, 10K ride. There’s no qualifying, but with these knees, if I can complete it, I’ll declare victory!

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions

we'll see...

its a long way away and qualifying is by no means a sure thing.

Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.

by kleph on Oct 17, 2010 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions

cz

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 12:56 PM CDT reply actions

What the?

In other unrelated news: Hawaii did beat Nevada, up 17-0 in the 3rd, then decided to play “prevent [winning]” defense. One baffling play at the end. Up by 12, Nevada with the momentum, 4 mins to play, Warriors decide to kick the XPAT to go up by 13. Predictably, Nevada scores, then gets the onside kick.

If the Ostrich Man hadn’t have thrown a terrible pick w/1 min left, inside the UH 20 yard line, that is a heart-breaking game. One observation: If BSU comes to the Rock, the Warriors are going to be a tough out.

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions

My take...

As always OTS is spot on but some things I would like to add.

1. We are still having redzone troubles and the play calling in the RZ has been suspect at best.
2. The D did improve a little which makes me happy.
3. The special teams did a great job last night.
4. AJ v Gmac, I still go with Gmac. Gmac had a slump last year and came back. I still think the loss affected Gmac more than he let on. AJ is an unknown. We have only seen him in cleanup duty. Also, when you change QBs other mistakes are more likely to happen. In addition it screws up the chemistry of the team. Zow and fat freddy remind you of anything.

Since I was playing a show at the time, while watching the game. I really can’t add much more but when we played Sweet Home Alabama TR scored the TD.

(Disclaimer: This is The GTO Judge’s mobile posts so you are being warned of the following: The Judge can not spell and his grammar ain’t no good. In addition, these are the ramblings of a Lawyer/Rockstar/Crimson Tide fan with very little football knowledge outside of the SEC. One more thing, My Judge is Carousel Red not F’ing orange. I hate orange!)

by TheGTOJudge on Oct 17, 2010 1:33 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

Im no OL guru

but i played center in HS and was pretty damn good…

That said our OL woes is simply a #’s game…6-7 guys (5 Olineman and a TE/ Hback) can not block 8- 10 defenders successfully. OM was consistently putting 8-9 guys in the box AND sending corners/ safeties on blitzes all night.

Run blocking is simple. Get a hat on a hat. Ingram and Trent had holes but weren’t able to get to the second level cause the safeties were playing so close…The OL is blocking just fine. In fact, id say they are doing a hell of a job…But without a vertical passing game to keep those safeties honest…We will NOT be able to run the ball…

So don’t blame the big uglies…this is on Gmac…

Alabama football....The only addiction God wholeheartedly approves of..

by bammer on Oct 17, 2010 1:50 PM CDT reply actions

But without a vertical passing game to keep those safeties honest…We will NOT be able to run the ball…

When both safeties blitz on 1st and 10…

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

by outsidethesidelines on Oct 17, 2010 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions

i would even go as far to say that our

short passing game is the biggest reason our running game has struggled. Think about it. If the defense is concerned about screens, slants, bubble screens etc…they are going to play close to the LOS to counter act the quick pass..id rather see a medium passing game: outs, 10 yard ins, curls…that will actually force the defense to play off a bit than short routes….

Alabama football....The only addiction God wholeheartedly approves of..

by bammer on Oct 17, 2010 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed

The OL can only do so much when it’s 8-9 on 6-7. The GMacs have to hit a few slants or plays down the hashes to back the D up. They didn’t seem particularly interested in either and don’t know why.

I prefer to see the D as half-full. Ole Miss had, what, one sustained drive past midfield? I can live with that. Masoli made some plays and I gotta give the kid for credit. A double-clutch improv shovel pass for a first down? Come on. Besides, the D can’t run the offense more efficiently and address their issues without something giving.

Special teams may be our secret weapon. How about a little love for the 3rd phase of the game???

"That rug really tied the room together."

by pantsfucious on Oct 17, 2010 2:11 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

That “double clutch improv” was one of those zone read plays we’ve been hearing about. Ole miss was running those plays all night, but we were mostly stopping it.

by beejaxon on Oct 17, 2010 3:25 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Agree w/ much of the initial impressions

I think our defense played w/ better intensity and better execution for the most part. They did put as much pressure on the QB as they have this year. The 3rd & long situation is frustrating and is insane. We did not play as well as we can (or must) but it was better. As for the offense, it is frustrating as well. We are a defensive team and when your offense is supposed to carry you team through a growing period for your defense, it is difficult. Our offense is not very good right now. GMac doesn’t throw long into one on one coverage. He seems to look for wide open recievers. You have to throw it to your recievers and let them make plays. He missed a few open recievers (Julio for TD) and so our passing game is killing us. If we do not improve in the pasing game we will not win out and will not be in Atlanta. We simply cannot outscore other teams and at times we need too. I do feel a little better about the defense, so lets hope for improvement.

Baptman

by baptman on Oct 17, 2010 2:15 PM CDT reply actions

Honestly, I just wanted to see an improvement over the SC game

and I feel we got just that. There were several times where Bama’s mistakes could have made it closer. There were several times where Ole Miss’ mistakes could have opened the game up… But in the end, we won 23-10. It wasn’t flashy, Trent and Mark didn’t light-up the scoreboard and we played a typically difficult, scrappy game against Ole Miss.

We improved markedly over the SC performance and as long as the improvement continues, we will be just fine, people. Coach Saban stuck with Mac in ‘09 because he knew something we did not and he should do it this year as well. AJ is getting a daily tutorial on how to lead an offense in the SEC. Trust me, 2010 will unofficially be “Watch the F___ Out Year” for Bama’s opposing defenses. Until then, McElroy will be the “game manager” and we will have to keep the battering rams at the ready.
Besides…
WE SURVIVED UPSET SATURDAY!!!

Charles Martel, Charlemagne, William the Conqueror, Raymond IV the Count of Toulouse, Godfrey of Bouillon, Baldwin of Boulogne, Henry II, Richard the Lionheart, St. Joan of Arc and Napoleon Bonaparte -- all of good stock.

by TiderUpNorth on Oct 17, 2010 2:24 PM CDT reply actions

I also noticed...

It seemed we tried running a lot more out of 3 wide sets on first and second down. Guessing trying to get a better match-up offensively, however it was pretty much non-effective. Guess until we are able to start burn people deep for playing within a 10 yard box of the LOS, we aren’t going to see a good running game.

by bigcdiddy16 on Oct 17, 2010 3:17 PM CDT reply actions

Additionally

Our offense is starting to remind me of 2003 Auburn team, ton of talent, not many points scored.

by bigcdiddy16 on Oct 17, 2010 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions

But, 2004 was a whole 'nother story, right.

Problem is ’11 is a very different team:
Ingram is gone, as are Julio and McElroy (you always miss veteran leadership), Carpenter is gone (maybe Vlachos, depending on the draft status…likely not). Earl Alexander is gone, and Dial are gone.

That puts Maze and Hanks as your starting WRs. Who next? Bell and Norwood probably? Then there’s a battle for LT, unless Fluker grows up and gets moved there. Then what? McCullough to RT?
RB is TR and Lacy, with any of the young guys as #3. McCarron or Simms at QB. This is a lot diiferent offensive identity: I think it’s a lot more balanced as there’s not “one guy” to key in on at the wideout spot. And the line is certainly a bit smaller without carpenter. It’s going to be a balanced o, I do believe (although to be fair, we are trying to be balanced this year: This team isn’t the 2008 OL who gutstomped people 10-12 rushes in a row).

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 7:56 PM CDT up reply actions

I will take the blame for the misunderstanding.

I didn’t mean we would win or even compete for a NC next year. I was simply trying to say there is a lot of talent that is producing sub-par results. Agree with you about McElroy, because even if the dream scenario occurred were we got back all of our juniors we would still miss him simply for his leadership and experience.

by bigcdiddy16 on Oct 17, 2010 9:56 PM CDT up reply actions

I know what you were saying, that dividends occasionally pay off a year later.

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 10:24 PM CDT up reply actions

I'd like to put McCarron in for . . .

. . . a series or two just to see how the opponent responds. We know what every defense is going to do with GMac in the game. What will they do with AMac in the game?

I’m concerned that GMac may not give us our best chance against LSU and Auburn. Auburn cannot stop the down field pass but they may not need to against us.

by toofull on Oct 17, 2010 5:47 PM CDT reply actions

"hmm... seems like we've got a problem on our offense."

“what might that be?”

“well, we have difficulty executing and hour national-championship-winning quarterback is in another mid-season slump.”

“that sounds bad. what’s the matter?”

“not sure. he’s still one of the most efficient and playcallers in the conference and doesn’t make mistakes that kill us but he’s having trouble hitting receivers on high-risk down-the-field throws and holds onto the ball too long when he tries to push it.”

“that’s a stumper.”

“we’re really keen on finding solution.”

“I’VE GOT IT!”

“great! what is it.”

“you need an old fashioned QUARTERBACK CONTROVERSY!”

“BRILLIANT!”

Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.

by kleph on Oct 17, 2010 7:13 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Ok, I laughed.

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 7:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Sometimes it works

It’s working for LSU right now, at least enough for them to stay undefeated.

It seems to me that the issue is about using your personnel in a way that is best for the team. If we had a 2-TD lead I’d say there’s no way we go with anyone other than GMac. But sometimes you go to Maze or Richardson or Ingram in the Wildcat. Is that controversial? Was it controversial when Saban said last year in the SC game, “Greg can’t do it; let’s give it to Ingram”? It’s all about doing what gives you the best chance to win. I don’t give a shit if people think it’s controversial. Why should that matter?

But every damn defense is loading the box against us and GMac has been unable to get them out of the box. I’m having hard time figuring out how we are going to beat Auburn if we can’t get them to pull a few out of the box. Why not let McCarron have a shot at it?

by toofull on Oct 17, 2010 9:58 PM CDT up reply actions

and lsu's offense is completely feared throughout the sec

Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.

by kleph on Oct 18, 2010 6:29 AM CDT up reply actions

You mean . . .

. . . the way they fear GMac?

by toofull on Oct 18, 2010 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions

versus a backup who has never started

what logic you have here that isn’t completely faulty relies on circular reasoning. what problems this team has will not be solved by mcarron in the lineup.

Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.

by kleph on Oct 18, 2010 1:41 PM CDT up reply actions

You'd start Jefferson or Lee . . .

. . . over McCarron?

by toofull on Oct 18, 2010 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Ima go for burying my head in the sand.........

Serenity now…….Serenity now……….

by p3bhambama on Oct 18, 2010 2:21 AM CDT up reply actions

As an admittedly schizophrenic fan...

I was alternately pleased and disappointed. Meaning, as an Ole Miss fan I was pleased with our defensive performance overall. As a Bama fan on a break (I’m back y’all!), I was just slightly worried about going into this Tennessee week. But only slightly. It looked like good Ds vs. not-so-good or bad Os last night. I feel good about this week and even believe both my teams have a shot as beating them (obviously Bama having a much better shot).

I don’t know if all that made any sense but it’s all I got.

Yes, I live in Starkville...WHO did I piss off in a past life?

by Queen Hoka-Hotty-Toddy on Oct 17, 2010 7:09 PM CDT reply actions

The OM defensive line played very well...

The secondary is still a smoking crater. Had G-Mac been reasonably brave and/or reasonably accurate, that is a very different ball game.

I will hand it to Nutt though, he hasn’t completely squandered ed o’s talent on the D-line.

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 7:59 PM CDT up reply actions

For those

who thought we would KILL OM they were just showing how little they have watched this team. We are not going to KILL anybody, including GSU.

We may have the two best running backs in the country as well as one of the top 5 wide reveceivers. But the truth is we are weak at QB and can not throw the ball 20 yards down the field and other teams know it. The result is a stacked line with DB’s playing our WR’s close because they just don’t think GMac can get it to them over about 10-15 yards.

If we do not improve or change qb’s I don’t like our chances vs. Auburn or LSU. I do think we can win UT, MSU, and GSU, but we are going to need to be better at qb to avoid 9-3. 9-3 wouldn’t be bad, but when you consider what we could be…it stinks.

As much as I hate Auburn I hate Tenn. that much more.

by 5026 on Oct 17, 2010 8:45 PM CDT reply actions

we're going to kill GSU

Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.

by kleph on Oct 17, 2010 8:49 PM CDT up reply actions

I guess it depends on what you mean by “kill.”

by Bumpjon on Oct 17, 2010 9:19 PM CDT up reply actions

name your score Duke-type killing

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 10:25 PM CDT up reply actions

What about an SJSU type score? You wouldn’t say we killed SJSU?

by Bumpjon on Oct 17, 2010 10:48 PM CDT up reply actions

NOT AS GOOD AS BOISE!!!

THEM BRONCOS GOT A SHUT OUT, AND WE ONLY WON BY 42!

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 17, 2010 11:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Things would’ve been different if Coach put McCarron in. He could sling a pigskin a quarter mile. Yep, we would’ve killed SJSU if the put him in; no doubt in my mind.

by Bumpjon on Oct 17, 2010 11:24 PM CDT up reply actions

We will see but

if we played GSU this week we could not put and would not put the 60+ Auburn scored yesterday. Obviously we win easily, but even GSU can stack the box and make GMac strentch the field. By the way GSu is now 5-2, not bad for a 1st year program even if they are playing no bodies.

And, listen as far as MSU, we should win, but it may be a 9-3 game.

As much as I hate Auburn I hate Tenn. that much more.

by 5026 on Oct 17, 2010 11:21 PM CDT up reply actions

is Star Jackson playing? thought I heard he wasnt...if he is ...hes not a nobody...

"We just want to strike fear. In our mission statement, strike fear in those who attempt to bring us down." Greg McElroy

by The Voice of Reason on Oct 18, 2010 8:39 AM CDT up reply actions

I

believe he is 3rd string at GSU.

"A demagogue is one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots." -H. L. Mencken

by Bens4vcobra on Oct 18, 2010 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions

I believe Bama can beat GSU

But it will not be a blowout.

by BobM2009 on Oct 18, 2010 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Last week I said Gmac wasn't able to take this team on his back and win ball games

that he was scared, held the ball waaaaayyyyy to long. I was bashed for it ! Looks like some of you see it the same as me now.
.
I’m going to add one more thing about Greg. He telegraphs his throws heck everyone knows who he’s looking at. The only QB who soes this worse is Jarret Lee. If your goping to stare down your WR’s you’ve got to have a cannon for an arm. Greg has one of those $6 bow and arrows with the red stopper on the end. Bama needs a game changer at QB not a game manager. Hell Arky lost Mallet Saturday and look how their back up responded. IMO AJ can respond too, I’ve seen him play. His arm is a hell of a lot stronger. A better arm will help WR play. When a WR has to wait for a ball, run around trying to stay open for 7, 8 or 9 seconds while our QB waits on Haleys comet. This only lets the coverage….well, cover, not to mention what it does for our rushing game. It’s time for a change. I wan’t a different team and that starts with the QB, period. Look what a diiferent QB did for Auburn. Granted you have to have the right QB for the supporting crew. Thats the problem we don’t, with AJ we might, guess we’ll never know unless Greg gets injured. I really don’t understand why Saban hasn’t shuffled it up in an attempt to add a spark. He’s gotta know were struggling to throw, right?

Hold my beer and watch this.

by silentboob on Oct 18, 2010 10:43 AM CDT reply actions

You're goping

It’s you [apostrophe] re goping.

Saban will put McCarron in if he thinks we have a better chance with him. He benched GMac for the wildcat last year against SC. I know that was a different situation but he’s not afraid to pull a struggling qb.

by toofull on Oct 18, 2010 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions

and he hasn't

thus, saban must believe we have a better chance to win with mcelroy.

Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.

by kleph on Oct 18, 2010 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Well, we'll see

I wasn’t calling for McCarron in the OM game (and I’m not questioning Saban) but I do wonder if maybe a little non-garbage time against the Vols might be the way to proceed. I certainly would not be shocked if McCarron came in for a series or 2 in the first half.

by toofull on Oct 18, 2010 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions

I certainly would not be shocked if McCarron came in for a series or 2 in the first half.

I absolutely would. Barring a complete and utter collapse, where the loss can be largely attributed to McElroy, or some catastrophic injury, the coaching staff is not going to headfuck our starting QB on the eve of three ranked teams (two in the top 10, and a really nasty roadie to boot), whose outcome will decide the division

"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero

by Stuck in the Plains on Oct 18, 2010 6:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Maybe you're right . . .

. . . but GMac’s a big boy, I think he can handle it. He handled it last year when we went to Ingram in the Wildcat.

by toofull on Oct 19, 2010 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions

Goping oh please sir...give me a break I'm on my phone and typos happen but

thanks for keeping me in check teach.

Hold my beer and watch this.

by silentboob on Oct 18, 2010 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions

I think goping is a great word.

I’m gonna use it whenever I get a chance.

by toofull on Oct 18, 2010 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Let me offer a suggestion....

Does Bama perhaps have a 250-260 lb wide receiver who runs fast and can throw the ball 50 years and knock the head off a pin? Maybe there is one on the redshirt team who can come over. Could Bama rush him into quarterback play in a week or so? It will help if he can dive over offense and defense lines on the one yard line. He needs to be able to throw off balance. Oh, one other think he needs to be able to run over defenders and be 6’6" or over. If Bama does not have someone like that then start looking to recruit him. He is the QB of the future, and not just at Bama.

by BobM2009 on Oct 18, 2010 2:03 PM CDT up reply actions

The scary question is...

Can the Bama defense stop a quarterback like that in the last game of the regular season?

by tndefender on Oct 18, 2010 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions

I was thinking this same ting yesterday. It is the future fosho

Hold my beer and watch this.

by silentboob on Oct 18, 2010 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Saban

Is Saban just dumb or has he not seen AJ’s high school highlight youtubes? At what point do we start throwing bricks through Saban’s office window for being so d&mn lazy to not even read AJ’s scout.com report? The kid has got the goods. I mean did you see when ESPN cut to him on the sidelines Saturday night? He looked like he will certainly go early 1st round in the NFL draft.

by rtrochoquatro on Oct 18, 2010 2:02 PM CDT reply actions

You again?

Are you trying to set a record for the dumbest things ever posted on RBR? Either that or you are a troll.

by toofull on Oct 18, 2010 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions

You certainly are

Too full

by rtrochoquatro on Oct 18, 2010 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions

No I'm not!

by toofull on Oct 18, 2010 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions

:-)

Are too.

by rtrochoquatro on Oct 18, 2010 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions

I guess it is only intelligent around here

if you are begging for the backup.

by rtrochoquatro on Oct 18, 2010 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions

read my post asswipe

I have never begged for the backup. I’ve only suggested that it MIGHT help the team.

by toofull on Oct 18, 2010 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions

I made a tongue in cheek comment

About the begging for AJ. It was not directed at or in reply to you. Then you attacked me. I simply defended myself. Take a valium, bud..

by rtrochoquatro on Oct 18, 2010 2:11 PM CDT up reply actions

My bad

I saw that you were the same guy called out for a comment a few days ago and figured you were offering more of the same.

Besides, you have to admit that your “tongue in cheek” comment, except for the perfect grammar and spelling, might have been lifted straight from al.com.

by toofull on Oct 18, 2010 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Nno problemo

I did make a pretty stupid comment last week and deserved the wrath I received for it. At least I am decent at spelling and grammar. But last I checked, al.com users are certain that AJ should be playing. Just like last year in October they were certain the 3rd string GA State QB should be playing over McElroy.

by rtrochoquatro on Oct 18, 2010 3:07 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions