Tide turns ... to offense?

Crimson Surfer · July 29th, 2006, 11:14 AM

	Quote:
	Two conclusions are inescapable as you look back on Alabama’s 2005 football season and look ahead to 2006. The defense can’t get much better; the offense can’t get much worse. If you throw out a 35-3 Homecoming blowout of Utah State, the ’05 Crimson Tide scored a mere 80 points in its final six games, an average of just 13.3 per outing. Despite the paltry production, Bama won four of those last six games. Why? Because its defense was virtually impregnable. The Tide ranked No. 1 nationally in scoring defense (10.7 points per game), No. 5 in pass defense (160.8 yards per game), No. 9 in run defense (94.3) and No. 2 in total defense (255.1).

Tide&True · July 29th, 2006, 12:00 PM

It seems, historically speaking, that Bama has always majored on defense. It would be nice if our defense didn't have to save the day so often. Even in '92 our offense was just good enough to win most games.

bamanut_aj · July 29th, 2006, 02:02 PM

I really think we'll start to see some more offense in the years to come. We're getting good QBs, good WRs, and good RBs. We should be very balanced and capable of scoring more points when necessary. And most importantly, we should be able to grind that clock!

peteswell4 · July 29th, 2006, 02:37 PM

I am actually more worried about our defense than our offense, not that i don't think it will be good, but we lost so many great players with tons of experience. I have read previews talking about how our defense comes back loaded. I think it will be very good, but certain players will have to step up and prove themselves. It is not a given that it will be great. I THINK they will, but I KNOW darby, McClain, Castille, and Hall/Brown will perform, plus the O-Line has to be better, especially with more experience. Hopefully Caldwell will be rock solid as every one has predicted.

Proxigean Tide · July 29th, 2006, 02:47 PM

While offensive coordinator for Tampa Bay, it was thought the miserable output of Shula's offense was due to Dungy's conservative, defense first, philosophy. However, Shula was eventually fired and one year later Dungy was let go.

After arriving in Indianapolis, Dungy started airing it out on almost every play with Manning and talented recievers. In Tampa, Jon Gruden takes the Bucs to a Super Bowl win.

So, the question is...was Shula the real problem? Afterall, it obviously wasn't a talent problem in Tampa and Dungy obviously doesn't have a problem with playing wide-open offense. RTR.

BAMAHD · July 29th, 2006, 03:47 PM

I feel like Rodney Dangerfield,Not one preseason poll is giving us any respect this year. BOL has the current depth chart at six seniors and five jr's. That with Joe Kines will be very tough. We may not be ranked #1 again but i will be very suprised if we fall out of the top 10 or 12.
The media acts like our backups have been watching every game from the stands and have not learned a thing.They read the boards,paper and the preseason rags, thanks to Mr Kines they will be ready.

Bama323 · July 29th, 2006, 04:39 PM

	Quote:	Proxigean Tide
	While offensive coordinator for Tampa Bay, it was thought the miserable output of Shula's offense was due to Dungy's conservative, defense first, philosophy. However, Shula was eventually fired and one year later Dungy was let go. After arriving in Indianapolis, Dungy started airing it out on almost every play with Manning and talented recievers. In Tampa, Jon Gruden takes the Bucs to a Super Bowl win. So, the question is...was Shula the real problem? Afterall, it obviously wasn't a talent problem in Tampa and Dungy obviously doesn't have a problem with playing wide-open offense. RTR.

I'm sure Shula would have aired it out alot more also if he would have had Peyton Manning behind center.

C Earl · July 29th, 2006, 05:02 PM

Exactly 323. Does anyone remember the name Shaun King? From Tulane? At 5' 10"? That is who Shula had at Quarterback and Tampa Bay still made it to the NFC championship. But somehow it was Shula's fault that they did not make it to the Super Bowl that year.

davefrat · July 29th, 2006, 05:04 PM

	Quote:	Bama323
	I'm sure Shula would have aired it out alot more also if he would have had Peyton Manning behind center.

yeah. if i'm not mistaken, shula's last year with the bucs was when we went to the nfc title game and lost to the rams. sean king was the qb, and everyone constantly talked about how the coaches had to "cut the field in half" for him to keep the game under control. the offense was severely limited that season by injuries and shula paid the price as the OC.

i think you have to give shula at least 2 more years before "his" offense can be run to perfection. from all accounts, it's a pretty complex system for college and requires a lot physically and intellectually out of the players. he needs to fill the roster with experience and two-deeps to have maximum output from his system...in my humble opinion.

bamaslaw · July 29th, 2006, 05:05 PM

	Quote:	C Earl
	Exactly 323. Does anyone remember the name Shaun King? From Tulane? At 5' 10"? That is who Shula had at Quarterback and Tampa Bay still made it to the NFC championship. But somehow it was Shula's fault that they did not make it to the Super Bowl that year.

Not to mention I think that was the year they signed Keyshawn Johnson and Brad Johnson.

CornBiscuit · July 29th, 2006, 05:08 PM

And they still won with defense, not offense.

As for Dungy, he is a defensive guy.

Proxigean Tide · July 29th, 2006, 05:21 PM

Just throwing that out for discussion.

I'm a huge Shula fan and can't really think of anyone else I would rather see at the helm. Actually, I recall remarking to a friend while watching Shula QB the Tide against Penn State: "That guy is going to be head coach at Bama about 20 years from now". Called it almost perfectly.

My point is that if/when we see a high-powered Shula offense, it will be the first one. RTR.