The Jumbo Package: 09-07-10
by Todd on Sep 7, 2010 8:38 AM CDT
Email
PrintAlabama's Saban says Bolden and Penn State impressive | Philadelphia Inquirer
I don't think you can ever really accuse Saban of "pour mouthing" his own teams, but man does he ever talk up the opposition:
That's not to say the praise is unfounded, of course. In a game where Evan Royster only had 11 carries after an offseason's worth of "Penn State is gonna pound the ball to keep the pressure off their QB", even against a D1AA cupcake a stat line like this is still impressive:
For Penn St., this is Alabama week | TideSports.com
Oh yeah, they are probably looking forward to this one, too:
There's no more pretending. A Penn State player no longer will quote the company line about how no one is looking ahead to Alabama because he needs to worry about the season opener against Youngstown State.
"Now we don't have to talk about that, we have something else before that," said wide receiver Brett Brackett, one of the heroes of the Nittany Lions' win on Saturday. "It's definitely the first thing on our list to do now."
Tide turns attention to No. 19 Penn State | TideSports.com
Even though I was kind of glad to have a patsy in the opener with all the losses from last year's team, I still really missed the "big game" excitement of having marquee opponents open the last two seasons, and it sounds like the team feels a little like that, too:
"We’re definitely getting ready to head into the big game (this) week," he said. "I know we’re all looking forward to playing them."
Tide notes: Sprained ankles slow Upshaw, Fluker, but probably just for a day | al.com
About the only two things we could consider "bad" from the San Jose State game were the injuries to Courtney Upshaw and D.J. Fluker. Neither is serious and both should play this weekend, but Fluker's is maybe a little more serious than we thought:
"D.J. Fluker, who we didn't really feel like he had that serious of an injury after the game, had a little more swelling and a few more problems, so he'll be very limited in practice today and do very little. ... We also feel he should be able to practice tomorrow."
Neither player was held out of contact yesterday, so don't expect either to sit against Penn State.
'We don't have a QB controversy,' Saban says | al.com
Well, that didn't take long:
"We don't have a QB situation here," Alabama coach Saban said Monday. "We don't have a QB controversy. There were reasons for what we did last week, but that's over and done with."
Saban is, of course, talking about A.J. McCarron, who got in the game in the second quarter and looked sharp in mop up duty behind McElroy. We all knew that if McElroy struggled any during the season there would be calls for McCarron, but for Saban to have to come out and defend putting McCarron in for learning purposes after a game we won and in which McElroy looked spectacular....
and etc.
The Penn State Hot List for Alabama | PennLive.com
The full story on Tide's Ingram (doubtful) and Dareus (out) | al.com
A murky Tide - Sports | Centre Daily Times - State College, PA
15 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
McElroy
If anything, he proved himself as the starter against SJSU on Saturday. AJ looked really really good too, but I think you could also tell that he just needs a little more experience. Very happy with GMac’s performance.
Hope Fluker can be at 100% on Saturday.
"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
Yeah, that's what's funny.
AJ did look good, but I thought GMac clearly looked better. And his stats were far better. Saban’s trying to nip it in the bud, I guess. I hope people listen.
If I'm wearing a turban, it means Auburn is playing Iraq.
That pass over the middle in the second quarter
was one of the best I’ve seen by him. He was staring down a rush and zipped one for twenty yards. That was a big throw. He still seems to not recognize the wide open receiver on occasion though (the long one in the A Day game to Maze caught for a “touchdown” and that double covered one to Julio this week). No one’s perfect and I’m sure (as the diligent perfectionist that he is) he’ll work on that this week. But he’s looking pretty sharp.
By the looks of things, I'm pretty sure God doesn't care how you do in sports.
JOOMBOW
I told myself before the game that I wouldn’t get carried away b/c we were playing a cupcake, yet I couldn’t help but walk away from the game feeling like Mac is amazing. One of the first times I can remember where he hit deep balls in stride rather than receivers having to lay out and not finish for a td. I’m feeling good.
Some people say "If you can't beat them, join them". I say "If you can't beat them, beat them", because they will be expecting you to join them, so you will have the element of surprise.
by BamaHadMeAtHello on Sep 7, 2010 9:01 AM CDT reply actions
PSU qb does look good in the pocket
No doubt, he’s a specimen.
PSU was losing 7-6 late in the 2nd qtr. Not reading too much into this, but this Saturday, the freshman qb will see blitz packages he didnt know even existed.
My question is this…does PSU, in an attempt to ease their qb into a very hostile environment against speed and power he aint nevah dreamed of, try to own the middle of the field – running plays between the tackles to test the Cody/Ro-less middle of our D?
Or does PSU have their young qb throw high percentage short routes to the wr’s-testing our inexperienced secondary?
This game concerns me greatly. 8.5/10
I mean this in a poking fun way
but—http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrMIs30B8pU&feature=youtu.be
Penn State isn't just football, it's life.
@Ben_Jones88
To answer your question
they did a lot of screen work against YSU. My guess is they’ll dink and dunk their way down the field. The run game will start from screens and draws. Penn State needs the game to play slow and not high scoring, so the need for huge chunks of yards at a time isn’t always the best option for them.
That’s not saying he’ll turn down a big play
Penn State isn't just football, it's life.
@Ben_Jones88
PS to go for quick scores.
Yes Penn State is going to play fast football with the draws, screens, dumps, until they get to the Bama territory at which time they go with their hot arm QB against the Bama secondary.. If Bama comes up sooner the pass will be sooner. I think they want to get ahead early, then hold off the Bama running that will be without Ingram. I think Bama should turn the tables, receive if they win the toss and try to beat them down for a two or three touchcown lead This will be difficult against Penn State. But you can’t let them play their game. I believe PS has looked closely at the Auburn game film. It will be frenzy football in the first quarter. A hot night will favor Bama. Bama people that are worried about this game are right.
If I were PSU, I'd attack our young DB's...
…until they have proven themselves. I saw a little weakness (due to inexperience only) in our secondary. Overall, they looked ok, but there were a few plays that SJSU’s receivers were wide open. I think they dropped one or two, but I’m not betting on PSU’s receivers on dropping anything. I’m not going to feel comfortable about this game until the scoreboard reads “00:00” and our score bigger than theirs.
"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
He said 'Poise!'
I can’t hear it enough. Say it again, Nick, please. It’s the single best thing I want to hear about my quarterback, except for maybe ‘composed’, but they mean similar things, so I’ll take it all day.
Penn State is fielding a quarterback who is universally described as poised.
/allows Hope to glimmer for a few more days
Until our defense proves otherwise, it should be presumed they will be excellent.
It's all part of Saban's plan...
Bolden can go to sleep now thinking “he likes me; Nick really, really likes me”….muahahahaha.
Process’d
"Orators are most vehement when their cause is weak" Marcus Tullius Cicero
by Stuck in the Plains on Sep 7, 2010 10:07 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
and was named Monday as co-rookie of the week in the Big Ten.
Wait, the Big Ten has a “rookie of the week award”?? Don’t they have “freshmen” up there?? I thought they were supposed to be the “academic” conference and we were supposed to be the NFL factory?
If I'm wearing a turban, it means Auburn is playing Iraq.
That's the Philly paper talking.
They barely understand the concept of ‘college’ to begin with, so I’m inclined to cut them some slack on the semantics of ‘frosh’ versus ‘rookie’.
"I’ll drink through the weirdness." - Illegal Formation
by leeharvey418 on Sep 7, 2010 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions
Screw their rookies.
WE HAVE FRESHMANS!!!!!!!!!
Roll Tide!
by rolltidefromaz on Sep 7, 2010 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
