Players say running game will improve

[pmull]

Going into this year I expected to be able to line up and run the ball anytime we wanted. We have a huge veteran offensive line that is suppost to be the best in the nation. We have not seen the running game game everyone expected yet. I hope that was one of the areas we worked on during the off week.

It's not that the Crimson Tide's ground game is bad, exactly. It's just that through five games, UA hasn't been as dominant on the ground as the Alabama teams that won national championships twice in the previous three years.

Alabama averaged 214.5 yards per game and 5.5 yards per carry on the way to last year's national title. The 2009 national championship team averaged 215.1 yards on the ground and 5 yards per carry.

This year's numbers are more like what Alabama did in 2010, a 10-win season that was considered a down year. The Crimson Tide averaged 182.9 rushing yards and 5.1 yards per carry two years ago. Through five games, UA is averaging 188.2 yards per game and 4.7 yards per attempt. Alabama has run for 225 yards or more in three games but been held to 125 or less twice.

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[SUPERCOACH]

We are underachieving in this area, which is a red flag for complacency.  I have been thinking for a few weeks now that this team has more in common with the 2010 team than the 2011 team.  Hopefully they will get it worked out and get on track before it costs us a game.

[Marshal Dillon]

We are underachieving in this area, which is a red flag for complacency.  I have been thinking for a few weeks now that this team has more in common with the 2010 team than the 2011 team.  Hopefully they will get it worked out and get on track before it costs us a game.

I don't see complacency. What I see is poor offensive planning. Teams are packing the box with 7 players and we are not responding by passing the ball downfield to make them back off. Western Kentucky really exposed that and it resulted in way too many sacks and short runs. Plus, the injury to Fowler and the nagging injury of Lacy have really impacted the running game, more than we realize.


 

[SUPERCOACH]

If that is true then it may have been intentional to this point.  Maybe we are not throwing the ball deep even when they load the box because we haven't needed to do that to win yet.  Maybe we are holding those cards close to the chest until we need them.

It seems like we threw the ball fairly well against Ole Miss though.  Maybe the lower rushing numbers are more a result of what the defense is giving us instead of our performance.

[pmull]

In 2010 our defensive mistakes was our biggest problem IMO. The offense did not run the ball as well as 2009 or 2011 but McElroy had a good year throwing the ball. USCe caught us off guard and hit us with their best shot. We let the LSU and barn game slip away with poor secondary play.

So far our defense looks good to me. I think our play calling will be more aggressive if it has to be. So far we have not been tested.

[Marshal Dillon]

If that is true then it may have been intentional to this point.  Maybe we are not throwing the ball deep even when they load the box because we haven't needed to do that to win yet.  Maybe we are holding those cards close to the chest until we need them.

It seems like we threw the ball fairly well against Ole Miss though.  Maybe the lower rushing numbers are more a result of what the defense is giving us instead of our performance.

Good point. Saban may be keeping things tight on offense because he doesn't see a need to open it up. Maybe he feels we can continue to run up the middle and throw a few short passes as long as we win. I think we might see a different offense against LSU, Miss. State and maybe A&M. 


 

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