Roll 'Bama Roll: FanPosts

The Pass Sets up the Run

2009-11-08T01:19:03Z

Isn't it interesting, my fellow Bammers, in that against both Virginia Tech and LSU we used the pass to set up the run and we gained over 450 yards in both games? I don't have the official numbers in front of me, but I think we threw about fifteen passes in our first twenty plays and while we didn't gain massive amounts of yards in the first quarter, the strategy worked well as the game progressed. Against Virginia Tech we also used some surprising playcalling early (the Wildcat, among other things) that gained some yards but slowly took its toll on the Virginia Tech defense.

Today's gameplan against LSU operated in a similar fashion, and the game paralleled the effort against Virginia Tech in several ways. We rallied in the fourth quarter, we outgained our opponent by more than 200 yards, and we physically pounded on them until they gave way. Both LSU and Virginia Tech gave tremendous efforts and both teams proved themselves to be worthy adversaries, losing games that could have very easily gone their way despite the disparity in yardage.

Still, this is the second notable time that we used a heavy dose of Greg McElroy passing to move the ball and force a fast defense to cover large chunks of field. By doing this, we had them running all over the place, which wore them down, and we also were able to run the ball against Nickle packages.

Anyway, just sharing how much I liked the offensive gameplan today. We missed some scoring opportunities, but just like the Virginia Tech game (and the Mark Wahlberg character in Fear), we kept banging and banging until we broke through the wall.

Hats off to LSU. They brought it today. And hats off to our guys for playing with a lot of heart in an emotional, physical game against a great rival.

Keenan Allen Committing?

2009-11-06T21:13:32Z

A quick recruiting blurb...

Keenan Allen will be coming to Tuscaloosa this weekend for a visit. He has been widely expected to ultimately sign with the Tide for a while now, but for whatever reason the clear general consensus out there right now is that he will commit to 'Bama this weekend. Perhaps it is all smoke, but Allen definitely will be in town this weekend, and everyone is seemingly thinking he'll commit to the Tide.

Hopefully it works out this weekend because Allen is an elite player. Both Rivals and Scout have him as a five-star prospect, and he would arguably be our biggest commitment to date. As of this writing, Rivals has him as the #9 player in the country.

And as a closing note, he's an athlete who could play either side of the ball, but we are recruiting him at wide receiver right now.

byes, damn byes, and statistics

2009-11-06T20:37:38Z

Total SEC opponents coming off bye weeks, 2007-2010
Alabama - 17
LSU - 5
Tennessee - 4
Florida - 4
Vanderbilt - 3
Georgia - 3
Auburn - 3
Kentucky - 2
Mississippi State - 1
Mississippi - 1
South Carolina - 0
Arkansas - 0

This means that out of our 32 scheduled SEC games from 2007-2010 (the four most recent years with schedules) Alabama has to face an opponent coming off a bye week over 50% of the time! Meanwhile, no other SEC team has to face more than 5.

If that isn't shocking enough, take a look at this statistic: if bye weeks were truly assigned at random, there would be a less than 1 in 10 sextillion (10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000) chance of Alabama facing 17 or more SEC opponents coming off bye weeks (that's calculated by obtaining a z-score and a corresponding p-value, for all you math nerds.) How much is a sextillion? According to wikipedia, there are approximately one sextillion grains of sand on all of the beaches all over the earth combined. That means the odds of this happening to us randomly are about the same as you winning a lottery in which you randomly pick up a grain of sand somewhere in the world and then roll two dice, and to win this lottery you must have picked up the one particular grain of sand that happens to be the first one ever created AND also have rolled precisely an 11 with your dice.

Now, I'm not throwing this out there to claim conspiracy or anything like that, just to point out that there is something going on here that needs to be addressed following this season before any more future SEC schedules are finalized.

Luckily for us this weekend we get to experience the flip side of this issue for once. Hopefully our extra week of rest and preparation will give us a much needed boost as we attempt to clinch a spot in Atlanta. Roll Tide.

New gaming website launched by UA students

2009-11-06T16:04:34Z

A small handful of students at Bama have just recently launched a video game review/forum community website called limitedlives.com and they are some of my friends so I thought I'd let y'all know. If any of you are interested in gaming you should check it out, and a unique feature about this site (similar to how SB Nation works) is they post games that need reviews and members of the community can submit reviews to be chosen and copy edited by the staff. Obviously the site is in it's infancy and all of the staff are current UA students so keep that in mind.

Prediction Time

2009-11-05T20:51:38Z

Just two days until game time!! Thought it would be fun to start a prediction post. No outlandish comments such as bama will win by 400 points and Tebow will be injured during the game (although if ingram wore a three wolves and a moon t-shirt, see Greatest Shirt in the World, it could happen). Lets keep it to what we really think will happen, if you are interested.

Here goes, and I'll start it off with a couple:

1. Ingram rushes for greater than 150

2. Cody scores a rushing touchdown

SEC Conspiracy Theory

2009-11-05T17:46:20Z

Its well known that in the off season SEC Commissioner Mike Slive put the SEC atop the food chain by signing a multi billion dollar deal with ESPN. The unprecedented move by Slive started in 2009 and extends thru 2024. The landmark deal is the longest national rights agreement in ESPN history. All of a sudden there was a feeling that the SEC which was already dominate in coaching, recruiting and championships would also be dominate on the airways. All seemed well until Oct. 3, 2009 when LSU came stumbling into Athens for what appeared to be a top 25 match up between two SEC powerhouse schools. The game played out like any other until the fourth quarter when officials flagged a celebration penalty that the SEC later said never happened. Thus giving LSU a gift wrapped comeback and the win. But hey everyone makes mistakes. This was the feel and would have been the end of it until two weeks later the same officiating crew blew another call in a huge SEC game. This one in Gainsville. This time the pseudo flag helped keep the Nations #1 team on a path for Pasedena. Head coach Bobby Petrino came unglued and put the integrity of the SEC in question. Slive once again agreed that the penalty never happened and suspended the officiating crew. This is where it gets hairy. More coaches started publicly questioning the integrity of the league. All of a sudden each and every call was under the microscope. Lane Kiffin echoed this sentiment with more propaganda for the conspiracy cause after his bout with The Crimson Tide. Kiffin felt cheated by a no call that would have given his Vols a second shot at a last chance field goal. Although this time it was a case of a coach not knowing the rules but never less Slive and the nation heard about it. Slive issued a meaningless reprimand. Nothing seemed to be able to derail the conspiracy theories and public scrutiny from coaches. Had the nations premier college football conference rigged games in an attempt to keep the ESPN ratings high? All of a sudden the hard earned glory the SEC had built was in question. Is this all an attempt to level the playing field? An attempt by the national media and other conferences to keep the SEC from becomming to big or running to far ahead for other conferences to catch? In the preseason it seemed the SEC was the premier league. Holding BCS titles from 4 of the past 5-years. Now the entire structure of this conference is being viewed as tainted. Now I haven't seen any black helicopters flying around the conferences B'ham headquarters, yet there is a feeling that the league has moved two steps backwards. Thus helping keep all other conferences within reach of the almighty SEC.

The mindset of Bama's O-Line

2009-11-05T17:30:37Z

“One of the main things we focus on is we’re just trying to get the running back through one gap,” Johnson said. “They can have all the people they want to up there, but they can’t fit nine people into one gap. If we can get the running back that one seam then we can be successful.”

Associated Press

I like this thinking from the leader of our OL. If Ingram, Upchurch, et al, can break through that one gap -- with the LSU defense stacked up against the line -- they will be breaking off some long runs. If we're successful at doing that, we may not NEED McElroy to throw deep.

The one thing that concerns me is that this is obviously something that's been coached into Mike's head. ... which makes me think that all of Saban's talk about needing to throw it deep and open up the offense may just be a smokescreen. Of course, if it works, who cares?

Basketball team beats Montevallo. Rah.

2009-11-05T16:51:57Z

Crimson Tide romps in Grant's exhibition debut

We didn't actually learn very much from last night's game -- the Falcons are Division II and it was an exhibition. (Then again, Syracuse just lost an exhibition to an Div. II school.) The Tide used a size advantage with JaMychal Green (who scored all of his game-high 18 points in the second half) and Justin Knox, a size advantage they won't have against real competition.

The most interesting thing to me is the lineup Grant utilized. It was a three-guard look with Mikhail Torrance, Senario Hillman, and Anthony Brock, with the fronline starters being Green and JUCO transfer Chris Hines. Brock, the team's best long-range shooter, really needed to be in the lineup anyway, and since Torrance is 6-5 they don't lose that much defensively. Hines ahead of Knox is a surprise to me, but we'll see if that holds up.

Four Tide players besides Green scored in double figures, Knox, Hillman, Torrance, and another JUCO, Charvez Davis.

Heisman in Tucsaloossa.......

2009-11-05T09:32:01Z

I found out that the Heisman trophy will be in T-town this weekend, it would be pretty cool to check it out if you have the time to stop in for a pic.

This weekend, Nissan is bringing the Heisman Trophy someplace you'll rarely find it - Tuscaloosa. The trophy that will be awarded in New York this December will be on display Saturday at Buffalo Bill's and the Bear Trap.

Ok, who wants to bash me...

2009-11-04T17:05:59Z

I just wanna get some takes, Who thinks we should maybe spice up our jersey's? I know that it's tradition and I respect that Tremendously, but I'm just wondering who wouldn'nt mind something new....Maybe some Houndstooth around the collar? If you do like the idea of something new and/or just ideas for an alternate uniform all together please comment and tell us your ideas.

Thanks,

Bama 23 LSU 7

Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer

Alabama's Evil Genius Meets LSU's Mad Hatter With Everything At Stake

2009-11-04T07:08:35Z

In addition to getting bragging rights, the winner when No. 9 LSU meets No. 3 Alabama in Tuscaloosa this Saturday will be in the driver’s seat to win the SEC West. That would, in turn, secure the winner a spot in the SEC Championship for what has become the annual play-in for the BCS National Title game.

Here is a detailed look at the game from a Tiger's perspective:

Overview: This might have been the most highly anticipated and heavily scrutinized year in recent Tiger memory as LSU fans hoped the team would rebound from a disappointing 2008 campaign.

Read the whole Story:

Roll Bama Roll MVP

2009-11-03T21:43:43Z

As we get closer to the holidays, I think it's only fair to end the year with a friendly competition. We've battled long and hard, endured a great deal of...actually, most of us haven't really endured much of anything. Still, it's only appropriate that we hand out some accolades for a lot of excellent work. So, in preparation for the LSU game (and the rest of the 2009 season) I announce the first annual Roll Bama Roll MVP. Who is our most valuable member? Winner receives a surprise.

Poll

Who is Roll Bama Roll's most valuable member?

Ben Tate transferring to Bama???

2009-11-03T18:17:49Z

I was watching the Ole Miss vs. Auburn game on saturday and between plays one of the announcers said that we (the fans) would be seeing Ben Tate playing at the next level. So I guess he'll be announcing his transfer to Alabama pretty soon, huh? Roll Tide!

Yea, Alabama! Drown 'em Tide!
Every 'Bama man's behind you;
Hit your stride!
Go teach the Bulldogs to behave,
Send the Yellow Jackets to a watery grave!
And if a man starts to weaken,
That's a shame!
For 'Bama's pluck and grit
Have writ her name in crimson flame!
Fight on, fight on, fight on, men!
Remember the Rose Bowl we'll win then!
Go, roll to victory,
Hit your stride,
You're Dixie's football pride, Crimson Tide!

Bama Offense Needs New Wrinkle

2009-11-03T07:58:05Z

I am not a "get rid of the QB at first sign of trouble" kind of guy....So bear with me on my suggestion for Bama's new offensive wrinkle....We already run the Wildcat about 15-20% of the time....In order to keep teams from putting 8 in the box consistently, why not put a package together that includes Star Jackson? Unlike GMac, he is a legitimate run/pass threat....Give him about 20% of the weekly practice snaps, and then insert into the game whenever our offense has bogged down more than two series in a row....When Ingram runs it, GMac is a non-player anyway....Florida did this back in 06' with Leek/Tebow and they rode that to a National Championship....Additionally, this gives Star significant game experience (nobody ever seems to have a problem with giving defensive freshman game experience)....Doing this, I believe, is the right thing: 1: If GMac goes down, we're in trouble as we currently stand; 2: We ALREADY run a formation that effectively takes GMac out of the equation, so why not put a guy in that is well versed in running that type of offense? It's that, or hope that GMac suddenly turns into Ken Stabler of 66'. We don't need too much more of an offensive spark to help a defense that is a championship unit....But several players (including McClain) talked about being "gassed" last week....Offensive must step up, and this suggestion doesn't replace GMac, it enhances and gives another weapon to our offense. Rebuttals?

Roll Tide in Lafayette, LA

2009-11-03T03:50:17Z

If there are any other BAMA Fans in Lafayette, LA. it would be great to have you as part of a group established last year. We are curently up to approx. 25 fans that meet for BAMA games and support/cheer our beloved CRIMSON TIDE.

If you have ever lived in Louisiana as a BAMA Fan, you know how difficult it can be to support ALABAMA Football with the LSU fans attempting to belittle our team year round. (God, if I hear Tiger Bait one more time I think I will puke!)

Got a get together scheduled for this weekends BAMA vs. LSU game, so if you are in Lafayette, LA. give us a shout on facebook (Lafayette, La. Roll Tide) for an invite.

Always,

ROLL TIDE BABY !!

LSU Fan Seeking Tailgate Advice

2009-11-02T22:34:48Z

This site appears to be the best of the Bama message boards, and I come here seeking advice. We made the road trip in '07 and tailgated near the back of the quad, used a generator, satellite, 20'x20' tent, didn't have to pay anything.

After looking through the UA gameday website for all of the new tailgate areas and restrictions, I have a few questions.

1. The website says that no gas powered generators are allowed in the "Quad Zone", and the "Quad Zone" on the map appears to be half of campus. Is this "no generator" thing enforced? We have a silent Honda 200w generator that makes very little noise.

2. The site makes it sound like there are no free spots to tailgate in the actual Quad. What is the deal with this? Could I go out Friday evening and setup a 20'x20' (after getting approval of course) and be fine?

3. We parked our trailer in a lot near capstone drive in '07. Are these spots still free?

4. We have a sound system and enjoy playing music at a decent level. Are they strict about volume of music on campus?

5. Are there any rules against kegs?

6. Open container laws?

Basically, we have put together a bus trip of 50 LSU fans (Expecting about 100 to be at the actual tailgate), and we would like to setup a 20'x20' tent somewhere on campus that is accessible by commercial bus until 10 am on gameday. We would hope to be able to use our generator so that the people without tickets would be able to watch the game at the tailgate. We don't need to worry about rules for grilling because we are having it catered. Any advice on the best place to setup would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any helpful advice!

Running Back Success (Or Rather, Failure) Rates: Opposing Teams vs. Alabama

2009-11-02T21:40:58Z

After seeing Nico’s posts on Alabama’s running back success rates against opposing defenses, I decided to take a look at the other side in every individual game. I was hoping through my ridiculous amount of effort that I might learn something that I didn’t already know. But all I re-learned is we’re awesome. I used the same categories for success as Nico did, meaning: to succeed on 1st down, they would have to gain 40% of the distance needed; 2nd down: 60%; 3rd or 4th down: 100%. I also added negative and no-gain rush categories, as well as runs of 10 yards or more.

First,

Virginia Tech

Season Average: 4.6 YPC, 190 Yards per game

Vs. Alabama (including sacks): 31 Rushes, 64 Yards, 2.1 YPC

Negative Rushes (excluding sacks): 5/29 = 17%

No-Gain Rushes: 2/29 = 7%

Successful Rushes: 12/29 = 41%

Runs of 10 yards or more = 2/31 (16, 32) = 6%

1st Half Stats (Excluding Sacks): 17 rushes, 2 Yards, .1 per carry, 33% Success Rate

2nd Half Stats (Excluding Sacks): 12 rushes, 97 Yards, 8.1 per carry, 50% Success Rate

The defense made Tyrod Taylor a negative factor on the ground (-26 yards rushing), and only gave up one big run to Ryan Williams (32 yards), who was otherwise completely contained, for a TD in the second half. This has turned out to be the longest run of the year against our defense. 24% of VT’s running plays were no-gain plays or negative plays. Negative plays in particular are drive killers, which accounted for 17% of VT’s rushing plays. There was a very big difference between our 1st and 2nd half performance in this game on rush defense.

Florida International

Season Average: 2.5 YPC, 86 Yards per game

Vs. Alabama (including sacks): 26 rushes, 1 Yard, 0 YPC

Negative Rushes (excluding sacks): 4/21 =19%

No-Gain Rushes: 3/21 = 14%

Successful Rushes: 7/21 = 33%

Runs of 10 Yards or More: 0/26 = 0%

1st Half Stats (excluding sacks): 8 rushes, 12 Yards, 1.5 per carry, 38% Success Rate

2nd Half Stats (excluding sacks):14 rushes, 27 Yards, 1.9 per carry, 31% Success Rate

Alabama dominated Florida International’s run game, causing 33% of their rushing plays to go for negative or zero yards, equaling the percentage of successful rushes we allowed, none of which went for 10 yards or more. Darriet Perry, FIU’s main running back in the game, gained 5 yards on 9 carries.

North Texas

Season Average: 5.4 YPC, 198 Yards per game

Vs. Alabama (including sacks): 26 Rushes, 61 Yards, 2.3 YPC

Negative Rushes (excluding sacks): 2/26 = 7%

No-Gain Rushes: 7/26 = 27%

Successful Rushes: 7/26 = 27%

Runs of 10 Yards or More: 0/26 = 0%

1st Half Stats (excluding sacks): 9 Carries, 9 Yards, 1 YPC, Success Rate: 0%

2nd Half Stats (excluding sacks): 16 Carries, 51 Yards, 3.2 YPC, Success Rate: 44%

We dominated North Texas as well, holding them to no gain or a loss nine times. They had successful rushes only seven times in comparison, and once again none of them were ten or more yards long. Five out of the seven successful rushes for North Texas were on their final drive in garbage time. The first half was the only half of the year that we held a team to a 0% success rate.

Arkansas

Season Average: 4.7 YPC, 142 Yards per game

Vs. Alabama (including sacks): 26 Rushes, 63 Yards, 2.4 YPC

Negative Rushes (excluding sacks): 3/22 = 14%

No-Gain Rushes: 0 = 0%

Successful Rushes: 6/22 = 27%

Runs of 10 Yards or More: 2/22 = 9% (18, 12)

1st Half Stats (excluding sacks): 14 Rushes, 55 Yards, 3.9 YPC, 21% Success Rate

2nd Half Stats (excluding sacks): 8 Rushes, 36 Yards, 4.5 YPC, 38% Success Rate

Alabama’s first test against an SEC running unit was a big success. Only six successful rushes and we shut down Ryan Mallett. They had two rushes of ten yards or more, but the 18-yarder was on 3rd and 25, which counts as a failure.

Kentucky

Season Average: 4.6 YPC, 187 Yards per game

Vs. Alabama (including sacks): 38 rushes, 133 yards, 3.5 YPC

Negative Rushes (excluding sacks): 3/36 = 8%

No-Gain Rushes: 2/36 = 6%

Successful Rushes: 20/36 = 56%

Runs of 10 Yards or More: 4/36 = 11% (11, 11, 18, 15)

1st Half Stats (excluding sacks): 23 rushes, 81 yards, 3.5 YPC, 43% Success Rate

2nd Half Stats (excluding sacks): 13 rushes, 65 yards, 5 YPC, 77% Success Rate

The worst statistical game so far, we allowed Kentucky to succeed on 56% of their carries overall, and 77% in the second half. It was good that we created all the turnovers we did (particularly the fumble just before the half) so that they were forced to pass in the second half. And our offense performed pretty well. Still, holding them to 3.5 YPC is not bad, just bad for us.

Mississippi

Season Average: 4.7 YPC, 176 Yards per game

Vs. Alabama (including sacks): 23 Rushes, 71 Yards, 3.1 YPC

Negative Rushes (excluding sacks): 5/23 = 22%

No-Gain Rushes: 4/23 = 17%

Successful Rushes: 5/23 = 22%

Runs of 10 Yards or More: 3/23 = 13% (15, 10, 18)

1st Half Stats (excluding sacks): 10 Rushes, 3 Yards, .3 YPC, 10% Success Rate

2nd Half Stats (excluding sacks): 13 Rushes, 68 Yards, 5.2 YPC, 31% Success Rate

This was an all-around great defensive performance in which Kareem Jackson looked like Antonio Langham for at least one play. We absolutely dominated Ole Miss in the first half, holding them to just three rushing yards. Negative and no-gain rushes accounted for 39% (nine) of their rushing plays, while they only had five successful rushes. Three of those went for ten yards or more, but Snead ran all of those and one of them was on 3rd and 13 for 10 yards and another was on 4th and 20 for 18 yards. Both were failures.

South Carolina

Season Average: 4.0 YPC, 129 Yards per game

Vs. Alabama (including sacks): 27 Rushes, 64 Yards, 2.4 YPC

Negative Rushes (excluding sacks): 3/22 = 14%

No-Gain Rushes: 3/22 = 14%

Successful Rushes: 8/22 = 36%

Runs of 10 Yards or More: 3/22 =14% (12, 21, 12)

1st Half Stats (excluding sacks): 10 Rushes, 54 Yards, 5.4 YPC, 40% Success Rate

2nd Half Stats (excluding sacks): 12 Rushes, 39 Yards, 3.3 YPC, 33% Success Rate

We had five sacks in another fine defensive performance. Also, 28% of South Carolina’s rushing plays went for negative or no yards. However, the three runs of 10 yards or more all came on the same drive that let South Carolina make it a one score game with a field goal just before halftime. If we had not allowed those plays, the game would not have been such a close one near the end. On the other hand, this is the only game where our rushing defense improved in the second half, and we did not let them score again.

Tennessee

Season Average: 4.6 YPC, 172 Yards per game

Vs. Alabama (including sacks): 35 Rushes, 76 Yards, 2.2 YPC

Negative Rushes (excluding sacks): 4/32 = 13%

No-Gain Rushes: 1/32 = 3%

Successful Rushes: 15/32 = 47%

Runs of 10 Yards or More: 1/32 = 3% (10)

1st Half Stats (excluding sacks): 12 rushes, 32 Yards, 2.7 YPC, 33% Success Rate

2nd Half Stats (excluding sacks): 20 Rushes, 63 Yards, 3.2 YPC, 50% Success Rate

Despite being on the field for 46 plays (Alabama’s offense had 19) and 20:33 in the second half, the defense was relentless, holding Tennessee to 3.2 YPC, and, when most teams would break, they continued fighting until the final play. There was not much of a drop off at all in rush defense from first to second half even under these extremely unfavorable circumstances. Our defense was amazing.

While we have allowed just 15 rushes of 10 + yards (long of 32, average: 15 yards), we have also accounted for 29 negative rushes and 22 no-gainers through eight games (and a total of only 533 yards). Overall, we hold opponents to 42% of their average rushing yardage, and we’ve never been outgained on the ground. However, in every game except one we’ve seen a decrease in effectiveness in the second half. Still, every time I see an opposing offense call a run play, I think, “Do you know who you’re playing? This is Alabama. You’re going nowhere.” Or as Marty Lyons yelled just before the Goal Line Stand, “You’d better pass!”

Men's Cross Country SEC Champs

2009-11-02T19:51:40Z

editor's note - though I know nothing about the sport personally, we always need to congratulate our teams on their successes. Roll Tide!

I am probably one of the few on here that has an interest in the sport but I wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate the BAMA men's cross country team on winning their second consecutive SEC championship. Arkansas, historically a CC powerhouse, is the only other SEC school that has achieved consecutive championships. This is a tremendous milestone for the program and hopefully carries with it some good karma for next Saturday. The story: http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-xc/recaps/103109aaa.html

LSU fan here...

2009-11-02T04:27:06Z

Well the game is almost here...y'all had the bye week to heal...we had the...well a bye week to heal...

I have been reading RBR (seems to be one of the better Bama sites) the past week and decided to post what I believe to be an objective view of the game from a LSU fan's perspective.

Warning...kinda long...

Concerns for LSU

Saban's combo coverages...CNS likes to use coverages with great mix of zone/man. These are more complex and take a while for Defs to learn. Well, Bama's def has learned them well. LSU has a young and realtively inexperienced QB, while he possess a great deal of talent is still only 19 yrs old. These coverages are tough for young QBs to read, not to mention that CNS does a tremendous job of disguising his coverages.
Hands on Hips LSU Def...I feel that LSU def matches up very well with the Bama off, BUT if the LSU off struggles early and the TIDE continue to pound out long drives this Def will be exhausted by the 4th. This is my biggest concern. Quick three-n-outs by LSU's off and a Bama time consuming, flat out exhausting drives.
Conservative Off...LSU has only recently begin to open up the off. I have a feeling that this could be a game where Miles decides to regress the off (^^cough^^ Florida ^^cough^^) to minimize mistakes by playing a very vanilla off. These plays right into the strengths of a nasty Bama def and also leads to Hands on Hips LSU Def...yikes.

Opportunities for LSU

Stretch the field...I wholly believe that when LSU spreads the off out that it can become very explosive. (Tolliver/Lafell at WR, Scott/Keiland at RB, Holliday/Shepard Utility) These are some serious weapons to have on offense, and when JJ can push the ball vertically and horizontally with these guys, points can come quickly.
The learning curve...LSU looked flat out bad on both sides of the ball early this year. This needs to be factored in with a completely new Def system and a VERY young QB. It seems that both sides of the ball are starting to really get a grasp of their assignments and potential. We all know they have the talent, but how long would it take for everything to come together...its almost there.
Patrick Peterson...If there is ONE player who can man up with Julio, it's this guy. You know it..I know it...we both can't wait for this battle. If LSU can take away Jones then the focus really can be on stopping the run.

Should be a great game, unfortunately CBS is covering the game, so the over/under on tebow's name will be set at 435. Holliday as the fastest man, 265. Terrance Cody being very large and capable of blocking FGs, 5,000.

How Would You Call It?

2009-11-02T02:36:33Z

I believe the main difference between the Alabama that scored 30+ points per game and the offense we've seen in the last three games is a lack of early aggression. In the first part of the season, we, for the most part, struggled early with the run, which then led us to pass with a good amount of success in the first half, which in turn set up great success with the run against tired defenses in the second half to close out our games. Lately, however, we've become more run-based not just at the end but at the beginning of our games, and we've relied on dump off passes in the passing game. These dump off passes worked extremely well earlier in the year against less competent defenses, but not so much lately. And LSU, for sure, will be prepared for a run-based attack mixed with screens.

I am tired of our games coming down to the fourth quarter. So I propose that we come out aggressive, maybe even hyper-agressive, against LSU right at the beginning in order to put the game away at half time. If I were OC, I would start the game with a deep play-action pass to any of our receivers (maybe even Peek, if he's healthy) out of a run formation. Then, if it fails, I'd have us pass vertically again, and then again on third down. If it succeeds, I'd repeat the process. For the rest of the game, depending on the situation, I would probably continue an aggressive pass-based (but not run-excluding, of course: about 65-35% pass to rush) mentality until we have a 17+ point lead, and then I'd tone it down a lot or a little depending on how late in the game it is. In essence, I'd have us attack LSU the way Utah attacked us last year. So, what do you think? If you were an offensive coordinator, how would you call our game against LSU?