The game Bama played was little more than a glorified scrimmage.  Bama’s second unit would have been a better test.  However, with that being said, I don’t think Bama looked like the number 2 team in the nation, especially on offense.   What will happen to Bama if they turn the ball over that many times to an SEC opponent?

Offense:  On offense Bama did rack up 482 yards of total offense.  However, the rushed for only 183 yards against an undersized Kent State DL.  Also, they had many short fields which limited the amount of yards they could gain.  I do think the Bama O was kept simple for this game.  

QB:  From the first impressions AJM was the better QB today.  I will also say that 1 int was his fault and the other was the rec’s fault.  The ball should have been caught.  Also, in my opinion AJ seems to have a shorter throwing motion than does PS.  I do understand and take into consideration this was PS first real college game under the watchful eyes of 100,000 fans.   I think AJM is a little more comfortable with the O.  It seemed to me that PS was staring his rec’s down many times.  I haven’t given up on PS  being a very good QB in the future it just seems that AJM is ahead at this time.  As far as PS int’s one was when he was hit from behind on a blitz and the other was on him with a bad/late throw.  On the deep balls if they missed they missed in the right place, where no one else could get the ball.  Also, I know PS held onto the ball a couple of times, but the rec’s do have to get open, or he better go to the check down.

RB:  They ran well at times.  I thought EL looked very good.  Many times TR was hit almost as soon as he got the ball.  I did notice TR did not do a very good job picking up the defender on a stunt which in turn rushed the QB.  

REC:  MM had a very good game.   Other rec contributed especially, DW.  DW also need to keep the ball tighter to his body when he is running with the football.I would have like to see more rec get a chance to catch the ball.  MM also did block pretty well on the short rec screens.    

OL:  He is where I see the problem.  I didn’t see what was supposed to be a dominate power on the field yesterday.  There were blocking assignments missed.  I don’t care what Andre Ware said #65CW did not have a good game.  He did well on a couple of plays, but in my opinion not a very good game.  He was not moving his feet and allowing defenders to cross his face. I saw the OL standing around and not staying on their blocks.  If the Golden Flashes can give the Bama OL this much trouble, what will happen when they play an SEC opponent.  I really expected Bama to run at will against the Flashes.  
 
Defense:  There is little to say about the D except they played well.  They played good solid technique against and under manned team.  Early the Flashes helped them out by dropping passes.  I really didn’t expect much from Kent State.  The only negative was the lack of turnovers.  There were many opportunities for int’s that didn’t happen.   I do think there may have been an emphasis on tackling this offseason and fall practice.  I noticed the defenders wrapped up more instead of just trying to knock someone down.  The D was very vanilla.  They really

DL:    Did well keep the OL off the LB’s and allowed them to make plays.

LB:  All played well.

DB:   Did pretty well.  I thought there was a little too much separation with some of the rec.   I think, but not sure, MB got caught looking in the backfield on the TD pass.  He lined up over the TE and I think he was supposed to have him man to man.  That use to be our Red coverage where the CB’s would take the displaced rec and the safeties would take the tight rec or backs.  
  
Special teams:  A few things stood out to me here.  First, MM did a good job with his returns.  Second, there are a couple of head hunters on the kickoff team, #3 and #33 come to mind.  Also, #3 laid a guy out on a block on one of the punt returns.  

Penalties:  Very few penalties which is good for the first game.  

Finally, if I were voting I may move, at this point, LSU up ahead of Bama.  I know some people are not going to like that statement, but the OL has to pick it up if Bama wants to contend the rest of the year.

Please feel free to comment.

Good Luck and Roll Tide Roll

I will post my thoughts tomorrow.  I always watch the recorded version to make my notes.

This is a great stat.  What is more impressive to me is the ability of the SEC teams to make it thru the SEC scheudule and still compete for NC's.

Just a question, but do you really think a rb can run for over 2000 in the SEC?

What about the Manning boys and Cutler?

This is a smart move by CNS.  Too many people look at the numbers and not the factors involved with the numbers.
For instance, how many drops did the rec's have that affected the stats.  Also, int's were the balls that should have been caught, bad throws, or even a rec running the wrong route.  Stats don't show plays made on the run as well as the ablility to check down on plays.

Also, I would like to see better route combinations.

Honestly, I don't get to see the punters enough.  I would think the special teams coach works with them.  When I watch Cade Foster, he seems to try to kill the ball instead of letting his leg speed and strength do the work.  Just my opinion.

That is a legit concern.   Also, the SEC schedule as a whole.

I like it when he said he wanted to be a great player and person.

I think CNS and CJM would decide the ground rules.  Usually there is a certain time/series people using 2 qbs set for them to come in.  However, that could change depending on how the first qb is playing.  I am not sure it will be decided by the PSU game.  I think they looked very close in the spring game.  However, I am not in player meetings and practice.   One huge issue is who will play Coach Saban style football?

It is hard to say what to do without really being in the coaching situation with them.  I, as I have said before, think they both are talented and capable of leading the team.
If I did employ the 2 qb system there would be some ground rules.
First, there will be playing time for both.  It may not be equal.  If a qb is hot I may stay with him longer than I plan.  I just can justify pulling a qb if he has completed 10 passes in a row. 
There are things that bother me.  First, team chemistry with some players aligning themselves with a certain qb.  This could cause a division in the team.  Example, I will make up.  One rec says why does the other qb get more pass plays called than you do. 
Also, which qb gets the start.  I think it should be based on two things.  Who has the best week of practice and who has the best grasp of the game plan for the week. 

Lot of questions.  They have to be very mature to handle this situation as well as a total team player.

Let's say a qb is hot, do you leave him in?

And before that Todd and Rutledge

I was listening to Coach Saban on Cowherd his afternoon and as usual he was ask the question about qb's.  I got to thinking about the possibility of the two qb system.  What I am wanting here is your opinions.  I look at the situation like this.  The two qb system can be a positive because if one goes down you have a qb ready to step in with experience.  However there could be a downside.  In college players tend to gravitate to others.  Some players will like one qb better than the other.  This is just human nature.   This could lead to problems on the team's chemistry, which is more important than some people actually think with the success of a team. 

Don't take this wrong and think I am trying to create a problem, I am just wondering what other are other people's opinion.