Vandy vs Bama game notes:

[hscoach]

Again, first let me say congrats to the players and coaches on the victory and a great game plan.  I do think this is the most calm I have seen CNS during a game. I think I even saw him smile before the game was over.   I do think in the first half both the O and D displayed a lackluster effort. The 2nd half for both was better.


Offense:  The O did what they wanted to do.   They threw the ball to different rec and ran the ball when they wanted.  Like I said above the O seem to be in a practice mode in the first half.  There seem to be more focus and effort the second half.  The Bama running backs were hit in the backfield 6 times and 4 of those were early in the game before the backups came in. The impressive drive was in the 2nd half when Bama went 94 yards after losing good field position on a punt return because of a penalty.  I did notice there were some early adjustments in the OL to get CK some playing time.  I saw BJ go to the right tackle spot for DJF.  Also, I do think the D is timing the snap count at times.  Again Bama had no TO’s which if I heard correctly goes back to 37 straight offensive possessions. 

QB:  AJ had a good game and more balls were on target this game.  He hit the rec in stride more than once.  The two best throws I saw was the one to MM on a long 3rd down which gave Bama a first down and the one when he had to scramble and threw a rope to the side line.  I do think he didn’t put enough on the throw to the wide rec screen that was caught for a loss on the play.  He also missed some open rec’s a couple of times.  I still feel he locks into certain rec on some plays and doesn’t see the field. However, I did notice him check down a few times.  I thought PS did well when he came in.  I thought he should have gotten the entire 4th quarter. 
 
RB:  TR was TR.  He ran hard, protected the football, and blocked well.  I really thought JF came in and ran hard and gave TR a rest.  I don’t think Bama lost a step when he was in the game.  If this continues, Bama can have 3 backs that can get the job done.  BS also did well, and the only reason I didn’t mention him as one of the 3 above, I just haven’t seen enough of him.  Also, he isn’t usually in with the first team OL and the D is tired by this point. 

REC:  The rec’s caught the ball well and made yards after the catch.  Seven different wide outs caught the ball.  Some of them need to do a better job blocking downfield.  It seems that #2’s progression into the O may be because people continually have to tell him where to line up.  I notice this in other games as well.  I do like the fact that he went up to get the 2nd TD pass instead of waiting for it to come down and allow the D a chance to make a play.  He also made a good catch for his first TD in the back of the end zone on a high throw.

OL:  They played pretty well especially in the 2nd half.  As I stated above the Bama runners were hit 4 times behind the LOS in the first half.    The TE/HB got blown up on one play where they were on a double team.  The center WV also got blown up one in the game.  This is where I wonder a couple of things.  One does Bama need to change up the snap count or are the centers giving some indication of when the ball is going to be snapped.   I will say the starters in the second half opened some wide holes for the RB’s and gave AJ plenty of time to throw the ball. 

Defense:  The D also played a lackluster first half.  Vandy did come out with a good game plan of getting the ball out quickly and take what they could get.   They put together 2 nice drives but missed field goals.  Also, they did miss a wide open rec that may have gone for a TD.  The D did come up with 10 negative plays which included 2 Int’s.  I don’t count no gains as negative plays.  I am disappointed in CU and DH.  First, DH takes a mule kick at a Vandy player who tried to cut him (this happened around the 7:34 mark in the 2nd quarter).  Also, CU kicked a player after he couldn’t get off the block (this happened at the 4:21 mark in the 2nd quarter).  They may have been held or maybe cut, but it could cost the team in a big game.  There was one play where the TE slammed released and the caught the pass after the QB rolled right.  This is a busted coverage.  Finally, Bama missed more tackles in this game than in others.  On one play alone there were 3 missed tackles. 

DL:  They played well and what impresses me is that different players are making plays.  I really don’t think anyone stood out. 

LB:    Again they played well.  They had to come up in space and make tackles with the short passing game by Vandy.  NJ had a nice int as he stayed with the coverage when the QB scrambled. 

DB:  They really weren’t challenged much.  Most of the throws were underneath.  DK did get beat deep and the ball was overthrown.  They did come up and make some big tackles on the short throws.  MB had more than one big hit during the day. 

Special teams:  I guess it doesn’t matter how deep the ball is kicked if Bama can make the other team drive over 70 yards.  Not a lot happened on special teams.  MM had a nice return negated by a penalty.   The cover teams did their jobs pretty well.

Penalties:  Bama only had 15 yards worth of penalties.  One was a holding that negated a big run by TR.  However, AJ completed the pass to overcome. 
 
Please feel free to comment.

Good Luck and Roll Tide Roll

[Chechem]

Great job again, HSCoach.

I was disappointed, but not surprised, but the first-half play.  Alabama has done this against Vandy for years.  And usually we get away with it (the 1969 game showed what happens when we fail to prepare well enough).

HSCoach, please address what you think might be the weaknesses of this team with regards to the upcoming LSU game.  In other words, what do you expect LSU to exploit?

 

[BAMADCHAMPSHIPS]

Good stuff!

[hscoach]

Great job again, HSCoach.

I was disappointed, but not surprised, but the first-half play.  Alabama has done this against Vandy for years.  And usually we get away with it (the 1969 game showed what happens when we fail to prepare well enough).

HSCoach, please address what you think might be the weaknesses of this team with regards to the upcoming LSU game.  In other words, what do you expect LSU to exploit?

 

I think LSU will try to dump the ball short, like Vandy.  They will try to run the ball and be happy with 3 yards per play.  I think they will try to control the ball with the run and short pass.  Play D and take field position since Bama can't really flip the field with the punt. 

[Chechem]

Great job again, HSCoach.

I was disappointed, but not surprised, but the first-half play.  Alabama has done this against Vandy for years.  And usually we get away with it (the 1969 game showed what happens when we fail to prepare well enough).

HSCoach, please address what you think might be the weaknesses of this team with regards to the upcoming LSU game.  In other words, what do you expect LSU to exploit?

 

I think LSU will try to dump the ball short, like Vandy.  They will try to run the ball and be happy with 3 yards per play.  I think they will try to control the ball with the run and short pass.  Play D and take field position since Bama can't really flip the field with the punt. 

Thanks, HSC.  I'll bet you're right.  Hopefully our punter will begin improving in his distance and hang-time soon.

[Dig Em]

HSC I missed the game last night. Thanks for your excellent analysis on how the boys did. 

[rueben]

Corch, great job as usual, but I respectfully disagree about CU's "kick." I think it was more of a "leg shake" to get the other player off of him.

[ricky023]

Well this was a great explanation. I know ELI was sure trying to make it sound like a big game, lol. Looking forward to next week. RTR!

[bama87]

I think the lackluster play caught everyones' attention. I think there was some butt chewing going on at the break. We showed inspired play in the second. I think that will roll over to this week. CNS can get on them for not playing hard. That will help avoid a "trap" in Oxford.

[2Stater]

Being at the game and watching the sidelines and players reaction, I saw that Bama was flat last night. Very flat. I think they knew they could turn it on whenever they needed to, but they were without emotion, for the most part, last night. They went through the motions in the first half especially. Not to say they didn't hit hard, because brother, they did. I counted 7 Vandy players that left the field injured. Even flat, Bama is an extremely talented team. In past years, Vandy played us a lot closer when Bama let their guard down and that was when Vandy had lesser teams. Vandy is better this year than normal. I saw AJ really turning into a leader and MM is really the go-to guy now. DH had his best game and is really coming on now. You have no idea how good D. White has become. He was open on deep routes 3 times that I could see that if he were the primary receiver, he would have added to the 2 TD's he had. We are in very good shape with receivers. Vandy did a good job of shooting the gaps to hold Trent and Jalston a bit at bay last night, but they both did a good job considering. I felt the "D" came together in the 2nd half and really took care of business.

Late in the game, Patrick Murphy and the softball team came out and were right in front of us. They got a standing ovation. A good night was had by all. I'm tired but glad to be home. Jamos, again, was a great host. Tailgating doesn't get any better than what they put on. Thanks again, J.

Also, great analyses HSCoach. As usual, you're spot on.

[hscoach]

Being at the game and watching the sidelines and players reaction, I saw that Bama was flat last night. Very flat. I think they knew they could turn it on whenever they needed to, but they were without emotion, for the most part, last night. They went through the motions in the first half especially. Not to say they didn't hit hard, because brother, they did. I counted 7 Vandy players that left the field injured. Even flat, Bama is an extremely talented team. In past years, Vandy played us a lot closer when Bama let their guard down and that was when Vandy had lesser teams. Vandy is better this year than normal. I saw AJ really turning into a leader and MM is really the go-to guy now. DH had his best game and is really coming on now. You have no idea how good D. White has become. He was open on deep routes 3 times that I could see that if he were the primary receiver, he would have added to the 2 TD's he had. We are in very good shape with receivers. Vandy did a good job of shooting the gaps to hold Trent and Jalston a bit at bay last night, but they both did a good job considering. I felt the "D" came together in the 2nd half and really took care of business.

Late in the game, Patrick Murphy and the softball team came out and were right in front of us. They got a standing ovation. A good night was had by all. I'm tired but glad to be home. Jamos, again, was a great host. Tailgating doesn't get any better than what they put on. Thanks again, J.

Also, great analyses HSCoach. As usual, you're spot on.

I agree there was an absence of emotion.  Players didn't jump around when someone made a big play and congratulate them like they did in the "big" game.  Bama needs to understand every game is a big game if they plan to play for a national championship.

[BAMAWV]

Great notes, hsc. I'll be re-watching the game in a few minutes. I'll watch for stuff you talked about. I take notes during the game. No one cares at all about my opinions. Hey, Roll Tide!

[SUPERCOACH]

Great notes, hsc. I'll be re-watching the game in a few minutes. I'll watch for stuff you talked about. I take notes during the game. No one cares at all about my opinions. Hey, Roll Tide!

Post your notes.  We will let you know if they are correct. 

[Jamos]

I'm not that worried about the Ole Miss game since Bama came out so flat in the first half last night. Per Milliner, in his post game interview last night, CNS and the leaders of the team had a few words of encouragement at half time last night. I think that was a wake up call to this team as what can happen if they don't play with intensity.

[SUPERCOACH]

Great notes, as always coach.

I was disappointed that they started off so slow.  We have not gotten off to a fast start yet this year, that I can remember.  Maybe CNS should chew them out when they go back in the locker room after pre-game drills. 

To be honest though, it is hard for those guys to get excited about playing Vandy.  Nothing good can happen really.  If they blow them out 70 to nothing, everybody will say "oh that's just Vandy".  It will only be news if Vandy does something good.  This might be an issue the whole month.

But... they are going to be FIRED UP on 11/5.  After a month of cupcakes they will be ready for some serious competition.  Last year USC was a pretty good team and we didn't take them seriously.  They had the talent to beat us.  I don't think Vandy, Ole Miss, or UT has the players to beat us even if we played our scout team the whole game.  We shut out Vandy, Ole Miss lost to Vandy, and UT has too many injuries to be competitive right now.

Maybe the best we can hope for this month is to just make progress in some of the areas where we are not quite up to where we should be.  I think AJ made tremendous progress last night in the passing game.  I hope that continues.  I noticed that one of the kick offs made it down to the 2 yard line for the first time that I can remember this year.  It also seemed like the punter got off a pretty good one once.  If we keep making improvement in those areas we will be unstoppable down the stretch.

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