I actually heard Colin Cowherd say that Bama and LSU should play again and Bama is the best team in the country.

Watching film has changed.  It is now specialized.   The D will break it down into favorite running plays, favorite passing play, formations, etc.  I would just about bet most of the running plays featured have TR in the backfield.    Bama, TR, or the OL may be tipping off where the ball is going.

I really don't know if he talks to them or not.  I worry more about an injury in those piles than him losing the football.  I know he takes pride in his strength and ability to make yards after contact, but sometime go down and save the body.  Easier said than done.

Glad you enjoy the notes.  I don't think it is a situation where the OL purposely don't block as hard.  Probably the best case is the D lets up a little when TR is not in the game.  Maybe that is why they are able to get to the second level.  I do believe the D relaxes a little when TR is not in the game.  I am sure it is pounded in their heads all week that you can't let TR dominate this game.   Now, why the D has not seen the effectiveness of EL is beyond me. 

One point I left off, I do think the punter's knee was down when he had control of the ball costing Bama a great scoring opportunity.

I think many times it is a philosophy that we can get this with you packing the box.  I like the idea of speading out, however, 95 percent of the time the D knows you are not going to throw in that situation.  Also, most people believe with the O knowing the snap count they get a jump on the D and can get the short yardage.

You are right.  I forgot to mention that.  Also, the guys who were making tackles earlier this year like #33, I guess teams are assigning someone to them.  I don't think #3 wasn't in the game at that time because of the block on the punt return.

I have started taking H. A. Joint formula.  I get it thru Purity products and my joints feel better.  It is over the counter and too me works  better than the Gluco, what ever it is.

I would have to look again, but what I saw was the outside rec on the los, he should have been off with the TE there.  I wil have to double check and see if others were on or off the los.

Congrats to the Bama players and coaches for coming back and getting a big win.  This is a time they could have felt sorry for themselves and played a lack luster game.  They played hard, both offensively and defensively.  MSU has a better team than most people give them credit for.  

Offense:  The offense had a quiet 386 yards of total offense.  This could have been more with better passing and catching.  There were also a few missed blocks.

1.    I think AJ was too quick to pull the trigger on the early two drives.  I think he expected the players to be open and went there instead of reading and had some happy feet.
2.   Finally Bama hit a hot route off of the corner blitz and it resulted into a first down.
3.   It didn’t seem that the MSU DB’s were scared of Bama’s recs running past them.
4.   A couple of drops hurt the offense.
5.   I don’t know why on the goal line Bama doesn’t check out of runs when they have a press man cover.  I loved the flag cut by the inside rec when teams were playing man on the goal line because they would take the inside route, easier throw, away leaving all the outside room to work.  I guess Bama is just very confident and knows if TR or EL can get by the initial surge it will be a big gain or TD in this case.
6.   On the fade route the rec may want to give himself a little more room, in other words line up more inside.
7.   Bama has seen it so much they need to be ready for more short side corner blitzes.  They got it this game.
8.   On the int, the corner read AJ and allowed his rec to run free, that should have been the throw.
9.   Two passes were overthrown in the medium to deep route area.  Bama has got to start taking advantage of these situations.  One was to Maze and I think the other to Norwood.
10.   Again, Bama made plays on the crossing routes.  One was missed as mentioned above.
11.   On the screen where TR picked up 19, CW made a great read to pick the defender off behind.
12.   On 4th and 3 inches the OL has to get a better push, they know the snap count.  We use to have a goose play where the QB would just give pressure and make no calls.
13.   Probably the best throw of the night was the ball to Maze where he was out of the end zone.
14.   The wide rec covered up the TE and cost Bama a 1st down.  The WR has to be aware of who is inside of him.
15.   In the red zone, a running play was stopped for no gain or a loss.  The LT did not take the proper angle to cut off the DL which would have allowed CW to pull.  
16.   When AJ threw left a couple where high, the slant and stop to Maze.  


QB:   AJ played OK.  As I mentioned above he seemed not to be reading the routes early.  The interception was all on him.  If he hits a couple more throws it may have loosened the D up earlier.  I believe he was thinking about LSU and how quickly they could put pressure on you.  I think footwork needs to improve on throws to the left as a couple were thrown high.

RB:  Both TR and EL ran well. TR carried the ball 13 times for 39 yards in the first half and 19 for 88 in the second half(127).   If not for the negative plays TR probably would have had 145 yards rushing.  It amazes me each week watching these guys make cuts.  Each ran well against a tough MSU D.

REC:  Someone needs to step up and be a go to guy beside MM.  Six different rec caught the ball as did one running back.  There were a couple of balls that should have been caught, especially the drop by KB or DW.  I forgot to put down which number it was.  He may have scored if he catches the ball and gets up field.  

OL:  The OL played pretty well.   The box was loaded a lot of the night.  There were a couple of bust, but MSU played them hard.  I was upset that the OL could not get 3 inches for a first down, I don’t care who the ball carrier is.  I don’t know if the D relaxes when EL is in or the OL doesn’t think they have to block as hard when TR is in the game.  It seems EL has better holes to run thru at times.

Defense:  The D was not effected one bit by the loss.
1.   If my count is correct they had 5 three and outs and 3 four and outs.  Also, if my count is correct, MSU had 12 offensive possessions in the game.  
2.   They also came up with 10 negative plays while holding MSU to 150 total yards.  Five of the negative plays were in the first quarter.  
3.   I put the TD on the O because of the int.
4.   The longest play of the night was 16 yards.  The second longest was a 15 yard penalty.
5.   Thanks to MSU coaches for taking a hot QB out when he was driving the team.
6.   If RL gets more depth on the TD throw he takes away the throwing lane and may have prevented the TD.
7.   Another good goal line stand by the D and it led to a missed FG.
8.   There were a couple of missed tackles going for the big hit.

DL:  The D line played well.  Many players are quietly having good years.   I like the way #92 played last night.  I am not saying others didn’t play well, I just noticed him more.

LB:  Again good job playing both the pass and run.  The biggest mistake I saw was when CU did not play assignment football and allowed the option to get outside.

DB:  Again MB does a good job filling the lane and coming up and making plays.  As I stated above it looks that if RL drops deeper, then he is in the throwing lane.   No real big plays by the MSU rec and Bama may have gotten away with a couple of pass interferences.
Penalties:  There were a couple of penalties, but none that Bama didn’t overcome.  A couple were avoidable, the one with CU off sides and when the WR covered up the tight end.

Special teams:  Bama left 6 points on the field with missed FG’s, as did MSU.  What I did like was the long FG had the distance and it looked like he is getting back to his old kicking style.  If you happen to read it, I posted where CF form was different now than what it was in high school.  I still think he need to go thru the football more on his kick offs.
  
Please feel free to comment.

Good Luck and Roll Tide Roll

Great story, thank you for sharing with the rest of us.

Not saying they didn't down their best.  I am just saying they need to make sure they don't have side effects (Utah) and let this next game slip away.

If the players want to earn their credibility back with the poll/voters then they will go out and kick butt.  I don't really listen to Lou Holtz a whole lot, but what he said the other day makes a lot of sense. 

In the games you can fool the coaches, cheerleaders, fans, and family.  However, you can fool yourself when you know you didn't give 100%.  It all come down to you and your inner self.

Has anyone beside me looked at the technique of the Griffith kid vs Foster.  This is something I have mentioned in the past about his not following thru on his kick.  Look at the difference of CF technique in high school vs now.  Then look at the Griffith kid and how he extend and goes thru the footbal when he kicks.  CF does not even have the same kicking motion he did in high school.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ3_zA7zRkQ" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ3_zA7zRkQ</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EttA0rTXbc" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EttA0rTXbc</a>

I say he didn't get outcoached because nothing Miles did was a true turning point in the game.  The Bama players made mistakes, key mistakes.  I still think it was the right time to call the trick play because I bet all of LSU was expecting TR to get the ball again.  Maybe it should have just been a playaction pass.  If the play had worked would it still have been a bad decision?