I wonder with the meat of the schedule coming up if there will be more freedom to check out of some of those bad plays.  I say this because sometimes the D lines up and take away what is called and I haven't really seen Bama check out of those plays.  I really think the running game will be fine if the OL will sustain their block and work the combo block better.  It is hard to tell by watching tv, but some of it could be as simple as footwork or communication.

Glad I could help make your day.

Offense:
The OL has got to do a better job, especially early in the game.  If you are the best OL in the country, then prove it.
They have to get the ball downfield to take the safeties out of the box or close to the LOS.
Rec have got to make plays downfield and create an opportunity to throw the ball when the QB is scrambling.

Defense:
The D can't keep missing tackles. 
They have to play better assignment football.  They have allowed opponents to get outside too often.

Finally, Bama is getting ready to play some quailty competition.  It will be time to put up or shut up.  They can't afford to miss tackles or break down in assignment which could lead to TD's.  If you want to be number 1 then play like you are number 1.

Sounds good and also sounds like a lot of work.  It would be fun to look at a clip with others and see what they see. 

Thanks again to all that enjoy the notes and keep the discussions going.

I don't mind the crossing routes, especially in man coverage.  I can't see on tv, but I think there needs to be a high low for zone when the crossing routes are run.

I should have added, there are a couple of philosophies.  One you don't show things so the next team can't work on them.  Two, you show a lot so the team have to decide what they are going to work on.

I also think they are holding back.  I am a huge fan of play action with Bama being such a running team.  I can't remember the stats, but AJ had a big day a while back and his completions were very high when using play action.  I saw very little boot the other day, something Bama had used more in the games before.  I will say, I think the rec's will agree, they were ready for the crossing routes.  It looked like OM played a lot of zone which allowed them to sit on these.  I don't mind WR screens if you have a better athlete on theirs.  Also, I hate them when the throw is about 20+ yards.

Thanks for sharing that.  I always wonder if other rec's are open.  The view on tv just doesn't let me see the big picture.

4.  Yep, we have a young team that maybe did not play up to their full potential against Ole Miss. Also, I think we are noticing some areas (HB and RB on offense) where Bama is missing some talent from last year.

The OL is not that young.  Plus there are 3 preseason all americans there.

One note I left off and was going to put in the Finally section.  Where is the emotion?  I only saw it a couple of times last night.

Was the field wet?  If so were they wearing the longer cleats last night?

I think it is a combination of things.  One, I am not sure the O is changing up the snap count enough.  Two, I think they are trying to get to the second stage of their block instead of taking care of the beginning.  For instance, I saw, what I think, should have been a combo block between Jones and Steen.  Jones does not help and Steen's man crosses his face and beats him.  It could be stepping with he wrong foot.  I also don't think they are coming off the ball hard enough at times.  I saw Jone get blown at least once last night.

Too me, the most underachieving group is the OL.  They have been inconsistent since the Mic game.

First, let me send congrats to the Bama players and coaches on the win. They may have won the game, but there is still a lot of work to do.
 
Offense:  The offense had 325 yards of total offense.  They gave up 8 negative plays.  A couple of these were passes behind the LOS, most were where the D hit the running back behind the LOS.  It looked like the Rebels had the snap count down a few times and hit the LOS running. The glorified Bama offense had a total of 26 total yards in the 3rd quarter by my calculations.  There were 2 three and outs which accounted for -8 yards. Finally, they put together a drive that went into the 4th quarter which allowed them to have positive yards in the quarter.  They wasted great field position and had to settle for field goals.  The O had drives start on their own 40, 41 and 42 (because of an int) and got two FG’s and a TD.  They had drives starting on the 44 and 36 (another int) going in and came up a FG and TD.  Think about this, if you take away the 2 TD’s that came off of the offense set up by the int’s and the kick off return for the TD, then the offense really came up with 12 points.  This offense, being so hyped, needs to improve.  I have not seen the ability to really just take over a game since Mich. 

QB:   AJ was efficient.  He missed on a throw to Calloway.  The 2nd TD to Cooper, Cooper saved his butt.  This should have been broken up or intercepted.  The throw that was almost picked in the end zone need to be zipped, not lofted.  I will say if Cooper had continued his route inside he would have been wide open for a TD.

RB:  They ran hard and they were hit hard and quickly by the Rebel D. 

REC:  Cooper has emerged as a target that D’s will have to account for.  He, as I stated above, saved AJ on the TD where he went over the defender.  I still question The rec’s ability to help a scrambling QB. 

OL:  Stop reading your headlines.  You have a lot of improving to do.  Jones and Steen got blown up a few times.  The OL did not work together well on some combo blocks and it did not allow the other player to get to where he needed to be.  For instance, the DL was slanting and Jones did not chip the guy Steen was expected to block and Steen was beat inside.  The sad part here is they show signs of being the “BEST OL in the Country”, now it is time to go out and prove it.  They were beat off the line many times which is horrible since they are the ones who know the snap count.  I have not been impressed the last couple of games. 

Defense:   They gave up 218 total yards.  They had 11 negative plays which included 3 picks.  They also had 6 three and outs or less. There were numerous missed tackles.  By my count there were at least 4 on the one scramble play that ended up gaining 1 yard.  They did have 2 ints that led to points, TD’s.  It seemed like they played hesitant, or tired.  They just didn’t seem to be getting to the football.  I really don’ think I saw but 1 big hit by the D.   The Rebels did put together two 75 yard touchdown drives. 
   
DL:  They did ok here.  Numerous players made plays.  Pagan was in on a lot of plays.  No one else really stood out, but this is the way of the D.   They did allow contain to be broken a couple of times.   I did notice Williams dropping in a zone blitz look once. 

LB:  They made some plays, but again nothing really stood out.  They did seem to be late or take bad angles at times when the ball was run outside.  I am not sure about the penalty on Johnson for interference, not even sure the ball was catchable. 

DB:  They were in position most of the day as they came up with 3 ints.  They also knocked each other off of a couple of ints.  They are going to have to do a better job fighting thru the wide rec screen blocks.  They also took some bad angles on a couple of plays.
 
Penalties:  Nothing of real note here.  The only thing I will say is it looked like the Rebels got away with a hold on their first offensive play of the game.   

Special teams:   The kickoff return provided one of the best hits of the night by Perry. 

Finally:  Bama has not looked like the number one team in the country, to me, the last couple of games.  The OL has got to do a better job.  The offense as a whole has to do a better job.

Please feel free to comment.

Good Luck and Roll Tide Roll 
14 and counting