Crimson Red Sports

As everyone is awaiting the big game, I thought I would put in my two cents.  There are many factors to be considered in this game and many, if not all, you will already know.

1.     Bama has to play great assignment football and tackle well.  I know I talk about this in my note, but every player must take care of their responsibility.   Many times teams get into trouble when they don’t do what they are suppose too.    Along these same lines they must be great tacklers and not just go for the big hit.

2.   Bama must expect the unexpected.  In this game I would not be surprised to see Miles go for it numerous times if it is four down and less than 3.  I also would not be surprised if the QB Lee was given more runs because he is not seen as the running QB.  Don’t forget fake punt/field goals.

3.   Bama must take advantage of the good field position and when they get in the red zone produce TD’s.  The sad part here is Bama does not have a punter who can flip the field, so they must put the punter in a situation where he can punt inside the 20. 

4.   Penalties must be held down to a minimum.  Bama cannot afford to prolong LSU drives by penalties.
 
5.   Bama must win the turnover battle and hopefully convert all turnovers into points.   

6.   The OL must open holes for TR and others to make positive yardage.   Negative plays must be kept to a minimum.  They must also give AJ time to throw the ball.

7.   Finally, I think the most important is the play of AJ.  He must be able to make decisions and put the ball in small windows, pull the trigger in other words.  He must quickly evaluate the plays and know where his check downs going to be.  He must not put Bama in a bad situation by forcing a ball to be intercepted.  Live for the next play and let the D do their job.  If AJ can play well Bama will win this game.
 
These are just my opinions and others may have already stated these factors.  Feel free to add your concerns/factors

All good points.  I especially want to see the D wrap up and make a proper tackle instead of taking a chance with a big hit and counting on the impact alone to knock the guy down.

On offense I want to see us pound the ball and then run some play action passes.  Every now and then throw a deep ball and make it count.

For the first play I would love to see us come out in an obvious passing formation with 2 wideouts stacked to each side to spread them out and then run TR right up the gut.  If they don't cover all of the receivers throw the ball to the guy who is uncovered, otherwise hand it to TR and let him run over the handful of players still in the middle of the field.  Do this a couple of times during the game, then when they are lulled into thinking it is another run we hit the deep ball.

Coach you're dead on about the trick plays and going on 4th down. I think it's as important as anything else to keep them consistently at 3rd and long. I think LSU will throw the kitchen sink at AJ on passing formations so I hope they've practiced hard on screen passes and dumping off to RB's and even draw plays. I really feel that if AJ can weather the initial storm, this game will be Bama's for the taking.

I think Bama leads or was leading the nation in holding their opponents to the most 3 and outs. To me this is the key factor, they need to make LSU punt so many times that the punter for them will get cramps in his kicking leg.

But I do agree about the trickery that Les will bring with him, somehow he pulls a big one off in most of LSU's big games.

This one comes to mind....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nARZWSalJVQ

HL,MD's keys to the game:

1) Play hard
2) Play level headed

I think that's all we need.

If Bama can stop one trick play it will make LM hesitant about running another.

I know you know about CLM and trick plays
remember the time your old kicker scored a TD for him  ?

 :lol:

Yes I do.  Spoke to him today.

thats cool !

have to admit  ... that was a good play

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8bYrkXof_s

If you noticed the kid had some wheels.  He was a better athlete than most kickers and could have played rec or safety for us.

dang sure didn't take him long to get to that goal line  :o

I laughed , out loud ,  when he scored that day   :D

My biggest fear is that LSU will try to take AJ out of the game thinking Sims won't be able to carry the offense. The OL must protect AJ in this game.

Coach -- Thanks for your post. FWIW... I keep coming back to three factors that will likely determine the outcome.  One is time of possession which is a by-product of many of the things you mentioned.  Second is turnovers.  Third is in-game injuries which very few "experts" have mentioned.  With hard hitting teams like these two, just seems like injuries will be somewhat of a factor.

Our biggest advantage may be that the game is being played at BDS.  That's gotta be worth something.  RTR!!!!!

I was talking this morning with one of our guys--he lives on Lake Granbury, west of Ft. Worth. He told me about 2 schools in Grapevine that have a big rivalry game. Faith Christian School vs. Gainesville State Correctional. This was a maximum security juvenile facility that had no band, fans, cheerleaders, etc. So my buddy said Faith Christian School (Grapevine) let them borrow some of theirs for the game.

So....we should lend some of our pretty girls to LSU?   :dunno:

Let's not go overboard...

I'm not sure that we will see LSU going for it on 4th down too many times unless (until) they get behind.  Les typically plays it close to the vest v. Bama.  And Bama's defense is stout.  Running the ball, field position, relying on his defense, and hoping Bama makes a mistake/turnover, that is how I see LSU's initial strategy.  For that reason, I don't want to see AJ trying to fit the ball into small windows, LSU's secondary is good with interceptions.  I'd prefer that he play conservative and take only what the defense gives him.  Throwing the ball down the field is another matter -- a long interception is almost like a punt, especially with Bama's punter.

We might see a run or two by Lee, and Jefferson passing down the field.  Les said in his interview that they had self-scouted and planned to do things differently.

I'd like to see a play action pass on first down, especially on the first possession.  LSU has been focussed on stopping Trent Richardson all week in practice, and those guys will be thinking about him on that first play.  Also, Bama has had success with first down play action.  Likely, though, we will see Bama lined up spread out on its first possession, like it has done in other games.  That could open some running lanes for Trent, and give AJ time to get comfortable, so it is a possibility as well.

They actually had the parents line up and clap/welcome them to the game.  I also think they packed lunches for the guys.  From what I understand they were going to make a movie about this.

I agree injuries to key people could be a huge factor in the outcome of this game.

"The Longest Yard"?  :think:

Doing the assignments consistently will be the key. Everything our coaching staff has taught during the past few weeks and this week is going to win this game. We are physical and they are too, so my thinking is we have to be simple do what we are taught. RTR!

HSC - It's been mentioned several times recently about the different approaches to the game that the two coaches are taking.  (CNS with the calm, serious, do your job approach and CLM with the intense, fun, high-stakes game approach).  Which of these do you like better and why, or do you think it will matter after the first couple of series?

I guess it matters as to what kind of team you have.  I can see with a Sr/experienced team like Bama that the calm approach would work.  If you have a younger team then you may have to stay on them, keep them fired up with the other antics.

I think the calm approach would work better for this game because you are focused and ready for anything, espcially with the experience.

Both Les and Saban do a good job getting their team ready for a big game.

I remember the Blackout v. Georgia.  Georgia players were all hyped up.  Bama players were dead serious.

Folks like Upshaw must play assignment ball.  Can't be crashing down on the running back when the QB might keep aroudn their end.

I keep seeing people say LSU has some huge advantage in punting the ball.  Unless I looked at something wrong, their punter has a 5 yd per punt advantage in net punting over 29.  I don't see 5 yds as a huge flip the field advantage.

 :pray:  but I still hope all the kicking we do is extra points.

I have been going to the different threads and handing these out. We don't need to peak before Saturday night!

(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/Nascarfan3824/Funny%20Pictures/ChillPill.jpg)

(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/Nascarfan3824/Funny%20Pictures/ChillPill.jpg)

(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/Nascarfan3824/Funny%20Pictures/ChillPill.jpg)

(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/Nascarfan3824/Funny%20Pictures/ChillPill.jpg)

their punter ,  Wing appears to be able to put the ball in either corner of the field he wants 
I think teams are averaging 2 ft. on returns so far this year ?

 

I hope to see this set this weekend.  TR in the back field with MW then you have three wide.  BG, MM and one of the speed guys KB or DW.  I would not mind seeing MW at TE with TR and BS then a couple of wide outs.  In the first formation you can max protect with 3 wides getting down the field.

Correct, it's not just a distance thing but accuracy as well.  LSU's cover guys cheat over to the side of the field where the punt goes.  

This could lend itself to a trick play -- Maze is a pretty good passer and could "lateral" the ball across the field, where no defenders are.

We will block a punt by this guy.  Book it.

That would be slick.

That would be pretty cool too.

Yeah. That was what my guy said. They didn't lend them a band or cheerleaders but people lined up in rows to cheer when they ran on the field. Good story.

Using the pass to "open up" the "D" for the run?

So what will LSU start out with? Bama?  Base defenses to cover BOTH possibilities (run or pass)? That opening "script" offensively seems to be so important in setting the tone or flow of the game. On the other hand the defense tries to guess run or pass-- or what I said about a "base" defense, tries to be ready for either. This seems to lead to a whole bunch of short gain plays that can quickly turn into a drive?

Ok coaches.  You win the toss....do you take the ball, or defer to the second half?

go on D 1st  ...

Saban has been taking the ball.

In this game defer to the 2nd half.

Receive--I guess it would take a couple of Bama 1st downs to do this but-- I would like to see LSU take over on offense inside their own 5. That would "set the tone" for the 1st half.

Take the ball or play D?  

So, would we rather watch TR run 75 yards for a score or watch Lee throw a pick-6?  Hmm.

I say, "Pick-6".

I would defer to the 2nd half, it serves two purposes. If Bama scores right before the half then they would get the ball right back for the 2nd half but if LSU were to score right before the half this would keep them from getting the ball right back.

^^^THIS^^^

Right.  Not to mention that LSU would probably end up taking the ball in the 1st half, which puts us on D any way.

Coach Smart and D. Hightower were on TV earlier saying "WE WANT TO PLAY FIRST !"

If it is me I defer and play D.  I have a feeling LSU will do the same if they win the toss.  Both teams want their strength on the field at the start.  Also, I would love for AJ to sit and watch the first series while Bama's D dominates. 

I was in Mobile today and was listening to their sports radio station on the way in and out. Max Howell was saying (as I was on my way in) in response to a callers q about this very subject, that he would elect to receive, regardless of whether it's Bama or LSU, to put points on the board early and put the other team in the hole. But I agree with you, the defenses on both teams are the real strength. Adjustments will be made at halftime and the "O" will have more of an advantage by taking the ball in the 2nd half. JMO.

Chis Low talks about the game

part one of two http://www.rolltide.com/allaccess/?media=277603

If only more people would give their opinions on what they think will happen in this game.  >:(

yep ... everybody  wants in   :clap: we are hot and the coat tails have to be long   :clap:

But not the loin cloths. :-[

(http://www.popculturemadness.com/Entertainment/2007/Images/Apocalypto2.jpg)

One thing I’ve noticed about CNS, in big games if he thinks he has a good offensive game plan, he does this very thing. I’ve always been one to want to defer but I like coach’s attitude about it. Come out and hit them in the mouth.

My 2 cents is this:

I would bet money Bama comes out in the hurry up O, kind of what we saw against Tenn in the second half, but I think much faster.
Lsu is know for swaping in lineman, so keep them on the field with the hurry up.

According to Mel Kiper and Kirk Herbstreit, if AJ can't throw the ball against the LSU DB's, it will make Bama one dimensional and LSU will win the game.  That was my interpertation of what they said.

I don't mind a 7 minute drive on the ground. RTR

Well, in my limited success at predictions, let me go waaaaay out on a limb and say this:
"If Alabama can't run at all against LSU's D-line, it will make Alabama one dimensional and LSU will win."

Trying to knock Herbie out of a job? Mean spirited!

Not mean; just that I feel so much smarter saying the obvious.  Is this how writers attain success?

Occupy Herbstreit 

http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/story/_/id/7126247/occupy-herbstreit-movement-makes-demands-known-interview-varsity-tailgate

This isn't a political link, is it?  I'd hate to move one of your posts AGAIN.  >:(

One thing is for sure,,,Somebody will win this game by 1 point or 100 it is just a win. RTR!

I was going to say that.

:facepalm:

:lol:

are you sure ?    :clap: