Crimson Red Sports

Arkansas vs Bama
First congrats to the Bama players and coaches on the big win vs Arkansas Saturday.  This was a huge win going into the toughest stretch of Bama’s schedule.  
 
OFFFENSE:  Bama had 517 yards of total offense.  This included 253 yards passing and 264 rushing.   Bama had 3 three and out, one of which ended because of an interception.  Also, these were all in the second half.  As far a negative plays Bama had 6 tackles for losses, 3 fumbles (two were lost), and 1 interception.  For plays of over 10 yards, Bama had 6 runs and 8 passes.  Bama’s offense put 35 points on the board and fumbled 3 times in the red zone and lost 2 of them.  The offense did get into the red zone 5 times where they scored 3 touchdowns and lost the two fumbles.  Two touchdowns came from outside the red zone.  The other 14 points came from the defense.  Bama opened the game with one of the best drives of the year for them.  However, they did come up empty because of the fumble.  Even with the turnovers it was one of the better performances by the offense.  

QB: Hurts had a good game.  The interception was something I think he could have avoided.  I know he was hit, but I thought he had a chance to step up in the pocket and either run or get rid of the ball.  It also looked to me that he was getting ready to throw deep to a player who was double covered.  Now it has been said that if they offensive and defensive players are even then the defender is beat.  Hurts really didn’t have a lot of running room in this game, but I think it opened up the runs for the other players.  The big knock again is the balls that are thrown behind the receivers.  

RB:  I thought they all ran well.  There were very few times they were hit behind the line of scrimmage.  A couple of the tackles for losses were when the players slipped.  They also did a good job on the screens.  

Rec:  I thought they caught the ball well especially since some ball were thrown behind them.  Also, Stewart went up and took the ball from the defenders when the ball was thrown into coverage.  I also thought they did a pretty good job blocking especially on the edge on the TD runs by Hurts.

OL:   I thought this was one of their better games.  They gave up no sacks and very little pressure.  The OL stayed on their block longer and had some good combo blocks and got to the second level.  I really think the threat of the QB run helps give the OL better angles on the running plays.  There was only 1 penalty on offense and it was a false start.

Defense:  Despite the statistics the defense played well.  They gave up 73 rushing and 400 passing.  Because of the two defensive scores they had to defend a couple of extra possessions without a break.  Aa far as negative plays, I have Bama for 7 sacks, 5 tackles for losses, 3 fumbles two of which were recovered and one returned for a touchdown as well as one created by special teams, and 3 interceptions one of which was returned a 100 yards for the touchdown.  For three and outs, the defense had 2 in the first half and 3 in the second half one of which ended in an interception.  One of the three and outs in the first half was really a two and out because of the fumble return for the touchdown.  For positive plays of 10+ yard, I have Arkansas for 4 runs and 15 passes.  I have Arkansas reaching the red zone 5 times.  Here they kicked one field goal and scored 3 touchdowns, they also threw an interception that went for a Bama touchdown.  The other score came from outside the red zone when they ask Anderson to cover the TE in open space.  They did give up a few less yards in the second half and they did get some valuable playing time for the backup DL in the 4th quarter.

DL:    The did a heck of a job stopping the run.  As you know Arkansas’s coach prides themselves on a big physical OL.  They were out manned by the Bama defense.  They did lose the edge a few times and it hurt in completions.  I really thought Payne had a very good game and had a pancake block on the fumble return for the touchdown.

LB:  I thought they played very well.  This is a team that utilizes play action and puts a lot of pressure on the LB’s.  The coverage situation Anderson was put in to cover the TE was very difficult.

DB:  It is hard to assess these guys sometimes.  First they seem to be in position but haven’t made some plays.  Now part of this is the quarterback puts the ball in the perfect spot and the receiver makes the play.  There just aren’t a whole lot of times where they are completely beat by the receivers.  I thought Harrison had a better game and actually got away with a penalty.  On Humphrey’s penalty I thought he was in positon but just got there a bit early.   I also have 4 pass breakups and 2 of them were by Fitzpatrick.  

Special Teams:    The special teams created a turnover that led to a Bama touchdown.  Jones forced the fumble with a good strip.  The only concern on special teams was the decision making by Marks who may need to make better choices on kick-off returns.  There were a couple of kick-off that could have been better but were covered by the team pretty well.  Jackson handled the punts and didn’t lose any field positon here.

Penalties:   Bama had 6 penalties and 4 of them were in the first half.  The offense had only one when there was a false start.  Special teams had one when they called holding on the kick-off return.  The one roughing the quarterback was a bad call in my opinion.  What is the guy supposed to do when he is on the ground get up to make the sack.  Plus, the OL help put him on the ground.   It was a great hustle play on his part.

Finally:  I thought the offense looked good, but still has room for improvement.  If they continue to improve the way I feel they did from the last game to this game, it could be a very good season.  Bama still has a tough stretch coming up.  

Feel free to comment:

16 and Counting

First off why is Alabama vs Kentucky on the top? God Bless. RTR!

Great job as always hscoach. My question is how does our DB's improve and when the ball is perfectly thrown then they just have to keep the play in front of them instead of over running the play am I right? RTR!

Thanks Coach.  Good stuff!

Well they have to do a better job stripping the ball.  Sometimes you have to go for the arms and not the ball.  Also a bad angle by the safety allowed on throw to be completed.  We have to understand that they are going to make some plays.  However, they are also going to have to stop busting coverages and put themselves in better position to make the play.  The 3rd and 19 completion was a bust in coverage where they should have been playing deeper and forcing the underneath throw.

I just forgot to change the top of my notes from last week.  That is why it read Kentucky.  I just delete the notes from the week before so I don't have to set them up every week.

 #+ cred to you for all the answers. Makes perfect knowledge to do so.  :clap:, RTR!

Great assessment as usual coach. The hardest thing to swallow in the game, to me, was the 3rd and longs that we allowed Arky to convert. You said it, the DBs have GOT to put themselves in better position.

But you've got to give Arky credit for slowing down our aggressive pass rush with the screen passes and the dump offs. Plus, Allen threw some perfect passes like Chad Kelly did, that were nearly impossible to defend. They came to play.

So, bottom line on the DBs....they've got to play better.  For how many years have we been saying that?  Yet the same problems -- out of position, getting beaten, busted coverages, PI calls (legit or not) -- are still happening.  Even a new DC hasn't helped (at least not yet.)

Don't know if it's the scheme or the coaching, but something needs to change.

Just MHO.

As usual, a great assessment, Coach.
Like you, I saw the O line playing much better against a good AR defense. So that's improving. Hurts has ice water in his veins. Getting better each game. DB's are still a work in progress but they will get better as well as long as they stay healthy.

All in all, I saw improvement but as CNS said, there are things to work on.

I think most of us have been perplexed by the  DB play and especially them being taught NOT to look for the ball. I understand you don't look back going down the field but when the receiver is acting like he's about to make the catch, we still don't look for the ball. They look back in every college and/or NFL game I watch, but not Alabama. I wonder why Saban is so insistent on the DB not ever looking back? Have any ideas? Thanks.


 ???

I believe many times they don't look back they are out of position a bit and playing catchup.  I notice sometimes they are letting them get on their feet, too close to them.  Maybe they think they are faster than they are.  I do know that if they don't play the ball they have to play the arms of the rec.

Thanks, coach, for a thorough and well written assessment.   #+

Do you agree with the statement that the Alabama's DBs are 'being taught to NOT look for the ball'?  This conclusion has been around our forum for several years.
  :facepalm:

I haven't seen that theory until MD posted it above.  I would love to know how he or anyone came to the conclusion that our DB's are actually taught that way or is this just MD's opinion?  IMO, just opinion but have no way to know for sure.

I think the irony in this particular situation is that our Achilles heel seems to be our DB play and has been for quite a while now and who are the coaches that work with them the most?  CNS?  Maybe MD thinks it is time for The Battle Plan to come up with a new head coach or something?   :dunno:

My thoughts are:
(1) With our speed why do we get beat so easy?
(2) How can someone work to catch a ball and again out run our speed for long gains?
(3) It seems to be feast or famine. We either intercept and make a good return or they catch and go for gainers especially on 3rd down. RTR!

Here is the truth about how they're taught (from CNS last year):  DBs are taught to run "in phase" with receivers. Of course they look for the ball as part of that training. It's complex but the state of the art technique in football.

They are taught to play in phase.  They do seem to look for the ball late.  I know in man coverage the cover guy has to depend on reading the keys of the rec's body language/eyes to let them know the ball is on the way.  Also they should be getting a ball call from other DBs and sideline guys.  I just wonder is it to loud to hear in these stadiums.  I will also say some of these balls that have been completed have been outstanding throws that have been fit in some small windows.

what Humphrey says about the secondary;

http://fanbuzz.com/story/defensive-star-unhappy-with-secondary-regardless-of-big-win/

Glad Marlon was upset but that's got to translate to better play on the field.  If they are going to kick it up a few notches, this week would be a good time to do it.

Sometimes, I have to wonder are the coverages so complicated that it actually takes away some of the athletic ability?  What I am saying here could you simplify things and allow great athletes to make plays instead of having to process so much.

I've wondered that myself, but I think back to 2011 when we had stellar DB play. What happened between then and now?

Different athletes act differently in games.  Some think more clear than others.  I am not saying these guys are not intelligent enough.  But also look at some of these passes that are basically perfect throws.