20/20 Hindsight: North Texas Edition
by kleph on Sep 18, 2011 8:19 AM CDT
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"SEC Season' will define Tide | Cecil Hurt, TideSports.com
So far, it has been more questions than answers about this Alabama team. That isn't a criticism. It is true for a lot of teams, and only to be expected at this point. You can call this stretch what you want - prologue, or exhibition season, or a 3-0 start. But whatever you call it, it is over - and the real answers will have to start coming soon.
Decisive Win Was Not Very Pretty | Kirk McNair, BamaMag.com
When the number two team in the nation takes on a winless team from the Sun Belt Conference, there are going to be areas of disappointment. Bama didn’t get much work on punting, kickoff returns, and goal line defense. But that doesn’t mean Alabama doesn’t have plenty to work on.
Trent Richardson, Eddie Lacy post career-best rushing nights | Michael Casagrande, Ledger-Enquirer
All or nothing. Big play or field goal. Sure, Alabama took care of North Texas 41-0 Saturday night in Bryant-Denny Stadium, but it didn’t earn style points in the final tune-up before SEC play.
McCarron gives Bama what it needs | Mark Edwards, Decaturdaily.com
With a top-gun defense and a solid-and-sometimes-fantastic running game, the Crimson Tide needs somebody at quarterback who can handle things. That’s all. Just handle things. That’s what McCarron has done well in second-ranked Alabama’s first three games this season, including Saturday’s 41-0 home win over North Texas.
If McCarron goes down, can Sims step up? | Jon Johnson Dothan Eagle
It’s pretty obvious McCarron has distanced himself more from Sims in running the offensive show than most figured would be the case three weeks into the season. That’s not a knock on Sims, but instead a compliment to McCarron for taking charge when given the opportunity.
North Texas speed bump on way to Bama national championship run | Stan Veitch, CullmanTimes.com
AJ McCarron has quickly become a precision quarterback, especially on short routes. With the talented receivers on the other end of those passes, and with the talented running back corps that has already shown to be one of the country's best, the Tide should have no problems scoring on any team — except maybe LSU, which contends with Bama for the SEC's best defensive unit.
No. 2 Alabama wins 41-0 over North Texas | Izzy Gould, al.com
McCarron, who has started all three games, appeared to cement his place as the No. 1 quarterback completing 15-of-21 passes for 190 yards. Sims, who only played in the final two minutes at Penn State, looked more comfortable in his second game in front of 101,821 fans at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Tide follows the script in 41-0 rout of North Texas | Ken Rogers, Dothan Eagle
Alabama coach Nick Saban sounded less than impressed with the offense’s first-half execution, however, particularly when the offensive starters were lifted – or moved positions. For instance, left tackle Barrett Jones played at four of the five different spots on the offensive line in the first half. He saw action at center, right tackle and left guard as true freshman Kouandjio continued his crash course as a backup left tackle.
No. 2 Alabama 41, North Texas 0 | Jerry HinnenCBSSports.com
WHAT ALABAMA WON: A healthy portion of rest for the starters, and only a week before the Tide open their SEC schedule against highly dangerous Arkansas. And maybe just that extra ounce of preparation and confidence for McCarron as he gets ready for the biggest game of his young career.
The Recaps
The No. 2 Ranked Alabama Football Defeats North Texas, 41-0 | RollTide.com
The No. 2 Alabama football team dominated North Texas on both sides of the football Saturday night en route to a 41-0 victory before 101,821 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Crimson Tide totaled 586 yards on offense as junior running back Trent Richardson and sophomore running back Eddie Lacy both notched new career-high rushing marks.
No. 2 Alabama blasts North Texas | GadsdenTimes.com
In its illustrious history, Alabama (3-0) never has had two players rush for more than 150 yards in the same game until Saturday. Richardson and Lacy were the 12th Alabama tandem to eclipse 100 yards on the ground in the same game.
The Dynamic Duo | TideSports.com
The University of Alabama got its breakthrough rushing performance of the young season Saturday night in a 41-0 win over North Texas as the Crimson Tide offense recorded a season-high 347 rushing yards. Running backs Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy broke four touchdown runs - two each - of at least 43 yards as the Alabama ground game took command in the second half.
Special teams hit and miss | TideSports.com
The special teams, on the other hand, didn't earn high praise from head coach Nick Saban. In a tune-up game for next week's test against Arkansas, all the special teams got some extra work in, but Saban wasn't happy with how many times he had to run the field-goal unit out onto the field, or how that unit performed.
FINAL: No. 2 Alabama 41, North Texas 0 | Huntsville Times
Alabama's predictable power was overwhelming. What mattered most was the Crimson Tide earned a 41-0 victory including its first shutout in two years. The last one was a 45-0 win against Chattanooga on Nov. 21, 2009.
It's all or nothing for Tide's rushing attack in romp over North Texas | al.com
What concerned Saban was the fact that North Texas recorded seven tackles behind the line for 26 yards in losses. Four of those were sacks. The Tide sometimes stalled, having to settle for four field-goal attempts, of which it made only two.
No. 2 Alabama too powerful for Mean Green | Denton Record Chronicle
Alabama (3-0) shut down UNT’s running game, bottled up the nation’s leader in all-purpose yards in Brelan Chancellor and made life generally miserable for the Mean Green. UNT (0-3) finished with just 169 yards of total offense — its lowest total since finishing with 95 yards in its 2006 season-opener against Texas.
Defense shuts out Mean Green | CullmanTimes.com
Alabama went on to score two touchdowns and two field goals in the first half. For the game, the Tide scored on only three-of-five red zone chances.
Richardson, No. 2 Alabama route North Texas, 41-0 | Associated Press
Alabama's physical, aggressive defense set the tone against a team that is now 1-42 against ranked opponents and is off to its fourth 0-3 start in five years. North Texas had 25 yards and one first down in the opening half and only crossed midfield twice. Leading rusher Lance Dunbar gained 16 yards on 17 carries.
Tide Defense Shuts Out North Texas | The Crimson White
The Alabama defense played a near perfect game. The Tide held the Mean Green to a total of 169 yards on 62 plays. Those numbers average out to less than three yards a play. Alabama put constant pressure on North Texas quarterback Derek Thompson and never let him get into a rhythm. Thompson finished the game 11-of-22 with only 80 yards.
No. 2 Alabama Too Much for Mean Green | North Texas Mean Green Athletics
No. 2 Alabama's rushing attack proved too much for the Mean Green Saturday night as the Crimson Tide defeated North Texas 41-0 in front of 101,821 fans at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The Nitty Gritty Details
North Texas vs Alabama (Sep 17, 2011) Final Stats | RollTide.com
POSTGAME NOTES - ALABAMA VS. NORTH TEXAS | RollTide.com
Post-game Quotes - Alabama Crimson Tide | RollTide.com
Post-game Quotes - North Texas Mean Green | RollTide.com
North Texas Mean Green - Alabama Crimson Tide Box Scores, Game Results & Summary | USATODAY.com
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Any word on Lester?
Being good has nothing to do with it, Mikey. They choose your name randomly out of the phonebook.
Back spasms.
He has recurring back spasms from time to time, and stretching out last night caused one. No official word, but Saban made it sound like he’ll be fine for next week.
"I don't know; we haven't played Alabama yet." -Vince Lombardi
Stepping away from the ledge.
Being good has nothing to do with it, Mikey. They choose your name randomly out of the phonebook.
by Mr. Kobayashi on Sep 18, 2011 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions
Did you see the offensive line play last night?
Might as well stay on that ledge.
"I don't know; we haven't played Alabama yet." -Vince Lombardi
It wasn't perfect if that's what you mean
but it Richardson and Lacy had big nights and runs with gaping holes. I thought the o-line played well in the second half especially. Perfect? No. Panic time? No.
Roll Tide!
by mobilematt12 on Sep 18, 2011 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions
I have had them from time to time in my middle back since an injury I had when I use to build houses in my early 20's
They are very painfull but they are usually gone in a few days (probably would be sooner if I had access to the PT Lester does).
by T1deRollsonU on Sep 18, 2011 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions
I don't believe there's been a master plan of holding back the offense so far...
…I think it’s more we’re trying to see what’s working, ie establish the run game inside that we’ve had the past couple years. And keep adjusting and repeating until they do it right.
Obviously, we’ve shown success running wider against NT and Kent St., but we’ll have to see how that translates against the likes of AR.
Makin’ me nervous, but I know what a big-game player Trent is. I really liked Smelley becoming a weapon catching the ball. Bring on the Hogs!*
/*appeasingfootballgodswithburntofferingsfornoinjuriesthisweek
I think we have held back.
1) We have not run the wildcat at all and I can’t see us taking that out of the playbook with TR and Blake Sims.
2) We have rarely run 2 TE’s but when we have the running has been better and I look for us to go to that early against Arky.
3) We have rarely pulled any OLmen instead just blocking straight ahead. And, I have not seen that may traps either.
4) We haven’t run unbalanced and I think we will.
5) We’ve used the pistol only slightly and I think we will run it more.
6) We have not gone deep much and I think we will do a lot more of that too.
I also look for us to run an occasional qb draw, some form of shuttle pass, jet sweeps and reverse plays with Maze, White, Jones or even Blake Sims. I also think we may line up with Fowler at FB as a lead blocker on some regular running plays.
And that is just the stuff that comes to mind. Unlees we just dominate the Arky line from the first play I think we will see a totally different approach on Sat.
If Auburn was in New Mexico and we never played them I would still hate them and their dumb coach and their cheating players.
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