It is a shame that type of behavior is associate with Alabama.

I notice a few pick plays hoping to get their playmakers free underneath.  Actually on the 39 yard reception the rec released inside and picked the lb from getting outside to cover the route.

That is the first perosn we tell DL to find on the int's.

Again, first let me say congrats to the players and coaches on the victory and a great game plan.

Offense:  In my opinion, this was the best the O has looked.  They had very few negative plays.  Also, they had big play, some of which were TD’s.  I think you can see how vanilla the O has been the past few games and the potential for more diversity.  There are still areas for improvement, getting the ball in the end zone inside the 1, but I like the improvement I saw yesterday. Bama had been effective running the ball on the edge why not goes here when on the goal line?   Bama ran the ball to the left and the right effectively.  I would love to see the Bama backs work more to open space and give the QB a better throwing lane when needing to check down.  The fake FG was run to perfection and game Ark something to think about on all punts and other possible FG’s.  One other thing that bothered me was Bama’s O was not ready after Ark scored their 1st TD and took a penalty to start a drive.  I also think early in the game Ark was timing the snap count well.

QB:  AJ had a good game.  He connected on 75% of his passes.  Of the 5 incompletes 3 were on deep balls.  This is an area where he needs to improve.  There we a couple of balls that should have been int’s but the Ark. D players missed.  One turned into a 61 yard TD for TR.  Also, I think, early on, he missed a couple of check downs.   He averaged over 13 yards per competitions.

RB:  Both running backs ran hard and well.  TR looked like the TR of old.  He got yards after contact as well as made people miss.  They also caught the ball and blocked well. 

REC:  The recs did a pretty good job.  Again it is hard to see routes on TV.  They were seen blocking downfield on the running plays.  KB was short by about a yard on a 3rd down throw that would have kept the drive going if he had been deeper. 

OL:  In my opinion, here was the most improvement on the offense.  They came off the ball very well.  There were very few plays where the RB’s were hit before they reached the LOS.    Also, AJ had time most of the day to get the ball downfield.  In the beginning Ark had 7 in the box and Bama ran effectively. At times there were 8 in the box and they still made positive yardage.    I will say #65 does a good job when he pulls.  What some people may not have noticed was when he stuck out his arm out to cut off the back side pursuit.  I think this was the 2nd play of the game.  That being said I do think he was the one who did not block down on the 3rd down goal line play which allowed the penetration.  This had to be done to cover for the pulling lineman. 

Defense:  This, in my opinion, was their best performance yet.  There were open field tackles, plays where they were supposed to be (assignment football), and some vicious hits.  It looks like this year there has been an emphasis placed on tackling.  However, it looks as if they don’t just want to tackle they want to hurt you when they tackle.   The D held, Ark to 244 yards of total offense.  According to who you ask, some had them averaging 517 yards per game I calculated it at 492 yards per game, Bama held them about 248/273 yards under their average.  The QB started out 11/12or 13 and ended up 11 for 23 with 1 int.  The average for completion was 8.4 yards for the starter.  I had the D for 11 pressures vs 10 for the TV guys and I had the QB hit9 times and the TV had 9.  Their biggest play was a 39 yard completion where someone didn’t get out on the back this went for a TD last year.  For you old folks, like me, if you had been watching when Coach Bear Bryant was doing his Sunday replay show, with his Golden Flakes, you would have heard, “Bingo that was a goodie” several times.  One last comment here, I hope everyone understands how complex Bama’s D is and how the coaches must be in tune during the game to get the proper packages into the game.

DL:  The D line had a good game.  They did not allow Ark to run the ball effectively and still put pressure on the QB.  They created several negative plays which put the O in long down and distance situations. 

LB:  The LB had a great game as they were ask to stop the run, cover the defenders and blitz the passer at times.  The only problem I saw was when CJM got hurt and NJ had to play on passing downs there seem to be a little confusion of where to line up.  I think DH had his best game of the year.  Also, did you notice on the int CU went looking for the QB on the return?  He actually passed one player up to get to him. 

DB:  This is the type of game I expected from the DB the entire year.  This was the best group of rec’s they have faced and they met the challenge.  No real deep balls were completed and they came up and made the plays on the short throws.  DK is really emerging as hitter.  I don’t know if you noticed, but on the TD, DK slipped when breaking up to the rec which allowed him to get into the end zone.  Also, on the completion for the TD in the second half that was just an outstanding catch by the rec.  Again, this was the best coverage as a unit that I have seen in a long time.
 
Special teams:  Again great job by MM and the punt return team.   Not only did the return impress me, but the amount of blockers who stayed with him into the end zone was impressive.  MM saved Bama valuable yardage by making the fair catch when needed.   I did watch #3 on the punt return and he looks like he is searching for someone to ear hole every time.  The punt coverage was very good and no big return was given up.   This was the worst field position given up by the kick off cover team and it still was not too bad.  I would like to see the ball kicked deeper. 

Penalties:  This is the first time Bama has had more penalties than the opponents.  The problem was 2 were for 30 yards.  Both could have been border line, but they were called. 

Please feel free to comment.

Good Luck and Roll Tide Roll

Also, understand with the game plans many teams come up with have the QB getting rid of the ball quickly.  You won't see as many sacks.  Also when they do try to go downfield there is max protection.  I will say Bama does not seem to have that one guy who can really just beat a guy one on one.  The closest to me is when they put DH down and let thim go.

I just watched a little.  It looks like they try to isolate their playmakers on a defender.  They don't have to substitute much so it will be hard to sub.  I would not be surprised if Bama pllays their nickle package most of the night.   Troy did move the ball on them in the first quarter, that I watched.  They got by the CB's and missed a field goal their first drive. 

No and my schedule is not going to work out anyway.

Their offense scares me, but I don't think Bama's offense scares them.  I hope I am wrong. 

Honestly, I have not seen Ark play this year.  I do know that CBP will have them ready.  What little I saw of their QB last year, he looked impressive. 

I don't see them shuffling QB's.  I do expect different rec packages in the game like normal.  Also, I feel there may be one or two changes in the OL if one guy is not getting the job done.

One thought it was a very simple/vanilla scheme.  One of my fears is the inability to put the ball in the endzone against inferior talent.  What will happen when they start the SEC schedule?

Don't know if I can speak a lot on his ability, but the coaches seem to show confidence in him since he is the one back on punts when MM is not in there.

Out here in Tx, I don't get a lot of recruiting info.

Thanks, I really enjoy watching as a fan and then as a coach.  Glad you all enjoy the breakdown.