I think a huge factor everyone is overlooking, it was on A&M's sideline.  Everyone there was howling calling for a flag.  It could have been different if on the Bama sideline.

That is also why I was hoping Bama would win the toss and take the ball.

People keep mentioning the total yards:  Bama 658 and A&M 628.   Think about this Bama had and 161 to 121 yard advantage on returns.  Also they lost an offensive series because VS took it to the house.

I heard today AJ had thrown 59 TD's in his career with only 4 ints.  This is a great stat.  Do you know how many ints are cause by wrong routes and tipped balls alone?  Also, did anyone see the stat with JM int's when his team was leading 1 when his team is trailing 5.

I thought the psuh out of bounds was questionable.  On two of the motion calls they one by the guard was a very small rock back by the guard.  The one with two men in motion/not set, all I could see was the rec getting his spot and leaned over a little bit more.  Probably not called most of the time.  The horse collar/ face mask, I think should be offsetting penalties.  I think facemask on the offensive player should be called like defensive players because they gain an advantage.

Thanks for the info.

A&M was supposed to have over 100 recruits at the game yesterday.  Two things, I wonder if Bama is recruiting some of the same players and did some sway to Bama?

The best thing to help is a pass rush.  I thought the week before JFK played well.  I think a lot was due to having to defend JM.  Yesterday I think Bama played with 6 DB's most of the game.  I will say CJM named was called a lot yesterday playing sideline yo sideline.

One thing I forgot, I think AJ would rather have Crystal instead of the Heisman, it would be the icing on the cake.

Both Qb's are good.  They run different systems. Could AJ run A&M's or could JM run Bama's?  I don't think CNS would allow JM to freelance like he does.  Can you imagine he meeting coming off the field with CNS if AJ threw the ball up for grab like JM does at times. 

I agree it is to early to apologize. Show me consistency.

I don't know of any team that has the big rec like A&M.  Also,in my opinion, the mobility of the Qb affects the pass rush.  You have to rush with what I call a controlled aggression.

I was disappointed in him.  He got an earful when he got to the sidelines.  The biggest problem I thought would come out of it was giving A&M field position with little time left in the half.  Thank goodness it didn't hurt Bama.  I do wonder if the officials went to the coaches before hand an warned them about the excessive celebration.  SEC officials come down harder on that than any other.   I also wonder if it was for the throat slash as opposed to the money sign he made?

Did you ever get to near where the players come in?  I was near there.

Offense:  I am going to tell you the game plan I saw was not what I expected.  I thought Bama would come out and run the ball.  However, watching the game with A&M having some many men close to the line of scrimmage, I can see why they did what they did.   Some the best news to me was that Bama, if I counted correctly, had 1 negative play all day.  It was a big one when TJ fumbled near the goal line.  Bama had 11 runs of 10+ yards.  They also had only 2 three and outs and those were related to penalties on the series.  The only screens were wide rec screens.  I guess they thought A&M could get enough push for them to run RB screens.  I also questioned the up tempo used by Bama.  I thought it would be to the advantage of the defense if the offense stayed on the field as long as possible.  I will say their up tempo was not a real hurry up play fast tempo.  Bama ended up with a pretty balanced attack with 36 rushes and 29 passes. 

QB:   I thought AJ had a good, not great game.  He was 20 for 29.  On first down throws he was 9 for 15 with 2 TD’s and a couple of drops.   He also threw to 10 different people.  The reason I say he didn’t have a great game was he missed on some throws that he should have hit.  On a big third down throw he check down to a wide open crossing route but missed the throw.  I will say he did a good job checking down to his 2nd and 3rd receivers. 

RB:  The running backs ran hard and blocked hard.  They put together 236 yards rushing and averaged 6.6 yards per carry.  I thought JF looked like the player of old.  I have mentioned KD before about how I like the way he hits the hole and yesterday he did nothing to change my mind.  They also blocked well on passing plays.  TJ had a big pick up on one play in particular.

REC:  They played pretty well.  KN made a very good catch for his TD.  CJ made a good block on KB TD.  The ball was spread around and I was especially pleased with the play of the TE’s.  I think OJH will be a special player.  When I watched the game again the announcer compared him to a young Ozzie Newsome.  The big negative was a couple of drops where plays should have been made.

OL:   The OL played very well.  I don’t think AJ was really flushed but once or twice, but that was caused by the coverage from the secondary.  I am not really sure if he was even hit more than twice all day.   They established the LOS and there was not a running back ever hit until he reached or passed the LOS.   I notice one play that should the athleticism of the center when he pulled and got a good block.  They seem to do a better job communicating in a very hostile environment than when they played in the Ga. Dome.  The only negative and question I have are these.   About 1/3 of the Bama penalties were on the LG and LT. The other is A&M defensed that weak that Bama could dominate so well or has Bama improved that much? 

Defense: Even though the defense gave up many yards they played pretty well.  They had 4 tackles for losses, 2 sacks, and 2 ints.  On the int in the end zone the ensuing drive was a TD.  The 2nd int was a TD.  Next time Bama has a game I want you to pay close attention of how well Bama’s defense sets up the wall when they have a chance for a return.  I didn’t really see many alignment problems or communication problems, just busted assignment.  A&M attacked the Bama defense on the outside with the deep ball/fade and in the middle of the field.  It is obvious Bama is going to have to do a better job on the deep route especially playing tall rec’s.  I was on the end where A&M scored the first TD and before it happened I told the guy I was sitting by Bama was in trouble because of their defensive alignment.  A&M’s number 13 is a beast and I didn’t see it on TV when I watched the game, but at the game I thought he pushed off to get separation to move the ball close for their last TD.  Too show what a hard team A&M is to defend.  I have JM extending 14 plays with his feet.  I think all but 2 of these were some type of success for A&M.

DL:  The DL played pretty well.  There were a few times they got out of their pass rush lanes.  I am not sure how many different players played, but I know there was a lot of shuffling during the game.  They did allow the blocker to get to their legs a few times.  Also, on the QB counter, and this is tough to read, they went inside and allowed the run to get to the outside.  This may be how they were taught, or it may have been something they had not seen.

LB:  They had a tough job in the game.  If you aren’t rushing you have to drop in pass coverage, but also be sure you are ready to come up and try to tackle JM in open space.  The name that kept coming over the loud speaker was CJM.  I don’t know how many plays he was in, but it seems he played a very good game. 

DB: This is where there is some more work needed.  One of the major mistakes I was when Bama was in man coverage they were beat and looking back at the QB and getting even more separation.  Second, when you are playing a taller rec it is hard to get to the ball to knock it away.  I don’t know what these guys are taught and I am sure not questioning Coach Saban’s teachings, but we always taught to go for the arm, grasp it and pull one arm away so they could secure the ball.  The D may not face another duo like JM and ME.  Let’s hope not.

Penalties:   Bama had 12 penalties to A&M’s 6.  As I stated earlier 1/3 of these came from the left side of the O line.  The targeting penalty was a joke that has to change.  I also don’t think A&M should have been penalized, I know it is the way the rule is written, but continuing to play without your helmet,  even if they change the distance of the penalty. 

Special teams:  A couple of mistakes. One was trying to run out of the end zone on the kickoff when the ball was that high and deep.  The second was not following the blocking on the return. 



I want to add here about my experience of this weekend.  It started on the way down listening to sports radio and they did an interview with John David Crow, A&M’s first Heisman trophy winner.  He had some great stories about Coach Bryant and his playing days.  I, may have known this from last year but forgot, the A&M and Bama players who played for the Bear get together before each game for a social gathering.  Can you imagine the stories that are told that night?   The next day at the game they were recognized.  The next day we load up to go tailgating and set up where the buses come into the stadium and where the Corp Band marches into the stadium.  I walked over to see the players come in and I notice AJ walking over to where the people are.  He comes over to speak to his mother and father.  I got to speak to her and told her what a fine young man I thought her son is.  One the way over I overhead a A&M guy  say he had never seen anything like this with all the fans coming over to greet the players coming in.   Finally, I got to see and learn about a lot of the A&M traditions inside the stadium.  I have been to LSU at night and I think this stadium compare to the volume of noise you find there.  I have never been treated so nicely at another stadium.  It was glad you are here and congratulations after the game.  They are a class group of people.  I would also say Bama didn’t have a whole lot of tickets but the people there did their part to make some noise.  I actually think A&M has become my 2nd favorite SEC team.  Finally, I will have to say JM plays his butt off.  He played with class in my opinion today.  I hope this side of him continues. 


Finally:  Again, Congrats to the Bama team and coaches. 

Please feel free to comment.

Good Luck and Roll Tide Roll 
15 and counting