I think everyone is caught up in so called "problems" Bama has with tempo. After thinking about it I see it a little differently. Bama has dealt with spread teams for years. It has never been a problem. These up tempo teams simply run it faster. I see where that may take away some of the exotic blitz and coverage packages Saban likes, but I don't think that is the real problem. The problem is the CB position. Bama doesn't have lock down corners, and they haven't had one since Millner in 2012.
The '08 team had Arenas. The '09 team had Arenas, Jackson, and Johnson had some good moments as well. Check out his series against Jeffrey from USCe. He was epic three straight plays. The '10 team had inexperience and got burned over the course of the season. That same group came back the next year, and Kirkpatrick and Millner were fantastic all year. Millner was back for '12, but Belue never really developed into that shut down type guy. Some of that was a skill issue and some was injuries. The '13 and now the '14 team doesn't have a single guy ready to be the shut down type CB that Saban needs to be able make the rest of the defensive scheme work to the perfection we are so used to seeing, and wow are we a spoiled bunch because of it. The starting corners are two converted WR. They are fast, athletic, and hard working young men that are giving it their all, but there is a certain skill level and mind set necessary to play CB for Bama. The best defenses Bama has put on the field have been able to have at least one CB that you can put on the field and say lock that guy down, and he was pretty much locked down. No one is perfect, but guys like Arenas, Kirkpatrick, and Millner got the job done way more times than they didn't. They located the ball in the air and made plays over and over. This lets the rest of the defense get creative with blitzes, zones, and the ability to roll safety help to other parts of the field or closer to the line of scrimmage.
I think the problems with this are coming to an end. Eddie Jackson will hopefully be back soon, and reminds me a ton of Kirkpatrick. According to all accounts he was tearing it up in spring before his injury. If he hadn't been injured Slyve probably isn't on the field much on Saturday. Then there is Brown and Humphrey. Brown blew me away at A-Day, and I would look for him and Humphrey to get tons of snaps the next two weeks. If Saban is able to get at least one of these guys ready by Florida to take one of these CB spots, maybe both, I really think Bama can return to the form we all have gotten spoiled by. The HUNH will move the ball against Bama to some extent. The days of 150 yard passing games are over when played teams like A&M, but a return to holding these teams to under 250 is possible on a regular basis with the type of CB play Bama has generally had over Saban's tenure. RTR!!
The '08 team had Arenas. The '09 team had Arenas, Jackson, and Johnson had some good moments as well. Check out his series against Jeffrey from USCe. He was epic three straight plays. The '10 team had inexperience and got burned over the course of the season. That same group came back the next year, and Kirkpatrick and Millner were fantastic all year. Millner was back for '12, but Belue never really developed into that shut down type guy. Some of that was a skill issue and some was injuries. The '13 and now the '14 team doesn't have a single guy ready to be the shut down type CB that Saban needs to be able make the rest of the defensive scheme work to the perfection we are so used to seeing, and wow are we a spoiled bunch because of it. The starting corners are two converted WR. They are fast, athletic, and hard working young men that are giving it their all, but there is a certain skill level and mind set necessary to play CB for Bama. The best defenses Bama has put on the field have been able to have at least one CB that you can put on the field and say lock that guy down, and he was pretty much locked down. No one is perfect, but guys like Arenas, Kirkpatrick, and Millner got the job done way more times than they didn't. They located the ball in the air and made plays over and over. This lets the rest of the defense get creative with blitzes, zones, and the ability to roll safety help to other parts of the field or closer to the line of scrimmage.
I think the problems with this are coming to an end. Eddie Jackson will hopefully be back soon, and reminds me a ton of Kirkpatrick. According to all accounts he was tearing it up in spring before his injury. If he hadn't been injured Slyve probably isn't on the field much on Saturday. Then there is Brown and Humphrey. Brown blew me away at A-Day, and I would look for him and Humphrey to get tons of snaps the next two weeks. If Saban is able to get at least one of these guys ready by Florida to take one of these CB spots, maybe both, I really think Bama can return to the form we all have gotten spoiled by. The HUNH will move the ball against Bama to some extent. The days of 150 yard passing games are over when played teams like A&M, but a return to holding these teams to under 250 is possible on a regular basis with the type of CB play Bama has generally had over Saban's tenure. RTR!!
