Why are we where we are?

bamacpa said:

We say we have two of the best RBs in the country, but are they really ? Perhaps some of our key 5 stars, especially on offense , aren't quite as good as expected.

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At this rate we won't have a 1,000 yard back for the first time since 2007. Neither RB is on pace to hit 10 TDs either.

Im just shocked at how the offense has regressed in 2 weeks. Ole Miss is understandable as they are the best D I the country and played at home. But Arkansas? How do we rush for less yards than Texas Tech?

We are bad on special teams,ball security an we cant run the ball. I dont know if these things will be corrected this year. Very concerned.

we are 6-1 and ranked #6. May not deserve that ranking, but that's where we are. Still in control of our destiny as far as playoffs go.

Maybe we're just having a down year? Maybe all the talent we've lost over the past few years is catching up a little bit? Maybe having so many 5*s on the roster has caused some of the players we might have gotten a few years ago to go to other schools where they can get immediate playing time instead of riding the pine for a couple of years? A couple of years ago we missed out on a few QBs (who may or my not have panned out if they had come to Alabama) because we had McElroy w/McCarron waiting in the wings so they went elsewhere. I know that it's hard for us overly spoiled BAMA fans to even contemplate great players going to other schools but I'll assure you that it has happened and does happen.
Even as great a coach as Coach Bryant was even he didn't win them all and he probably would not have won as many as he did under the current 85 limit of scholarships that we have to deal with.
Does this team have issues? Sure it does. Is it the demise of Alabama football? No (see Dubose & Shula years as well as us being put on double secret probation by the NCAA).
I will agree with one thing said in this post and I've been saying it for a few years now and that is that we have to find a better tight ends and ST coach. The one we have now just ain't cutting it. However, I really don't think it would change this season too much (just my honest opinion). We just don't have it this season for whatever reason. However, I'm not ready ( as it seems that a lot of others are ) to throw the team and the coaching staff under the bus.

Just Win said:

As far as last night - when you see things like a veteran player lunging into a group of people on a wet field to try to field a punt, the thoughts that came to my mind were:

A) This guy really qualified academically to enroll at UA?
B) Is this a drug problem?
C) Is someone taking money from a bookie to throw a game?

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My only justification for it in my mind was he was trying to somehow make up for his fumble against Ole Miss and thought he could shoot through there and make a big play?????????

There's no excuse for Jones trying to field that ball. In his mind, I think he was worried about it hitting one of our players (which I was as well, and those fears came to pass on the next punt) and wanted to grab it before that happened. Still a bad play.

We're were we are today because our fans have become spoiled and apparently not as knowledgeable about football as think they are. That was the question, right?

Just a different spin here, what doesn't kill you will make you stronger, we need some games like this to learn how to win a close game, I know us fans want to beat the heck out of all these teams but this is football.

tide power fan said:

Just a different spin here, what doesn't kill you will make you stronger, we need some games like this to learn how to win a close game, I know us fans want to beat the heck out of all these teams but this is football.

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I agree with you 100%. 5 years from now, it will just be a W in the record book. And physically, we match up with anyone in the country. The problems with our team appear to lie squarely between the ears.

In the grand scheme of things, this is a small matter. Right now, i'm more concerned that the IMF will recognize the cash i have in the bank when our government finally succeeds in their apparent quest to completely devalue our dollar and collapse our economy.

Love the Ping said:

I honestly am curious as to how you know this. Has he ever taken a snap?

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Ping - maybe he was at the same "closed" scrimmage i was at on august 16 where we got to see Cooper's arm in plenty of action. He does have a nice touch on the deep ball. But Sims was clearly the one who moved the offense down the field more fluidly that day. Bateman was 2nd though. No one else was close to the 2 of them (again - i'm just talking about that one day).

Redwood Forrest said:

Two weeks ago the entire nation was in awe of our OC, QB and our Offence. What happened?

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That was against a terrible UF team that will probably finish 5-7 or worse. Real competition, injuries, and road games are what happened.

bamaga said:

we are 6-1 and ranked #6. May not deserve that ranking, but that's where we are. Still in control of our destiny as far as playoffs go.

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Not sure what polls you're looking at, but it's so early in the season it doesn't matter yet anyway with so many to play. But according to espn's website, we're only 5-1 and we're #7 in both the AP and Coaches updated polls.

CrimsonForce said:

That was against a terrible UF team that will probably finish 5-7 or worse. Real competition, injuries, and road games are what happened.

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I will bet you $10,000 that UF doesnt finish 5-7.

CoachJeff said:

I will bet you $10,000 that UF doesnt finish 5-7.

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You think worse? I really don't even know what their record is. Was just throwing out a bad record..

Why are we where we are? I just don't know. I'm just happy to be alive today. Yesterday was a HEART STOPPER!

Where are we going? The NC Championship game.

How many undefeated teams are left after this weekend? Will any team be undefeated at the end of the year? If so, which team/s?

CoachJeff said:

At this rate we won't have a 1,000 yard back for the first time since 2007. Neither RB is on pace to hit 10 TDs either.

Im just shocked at how the offense has regressed in 2 weeks. Ole Miss is understandable as they are the best D I the country and played at home. But Arkansas? How do we rush for less yards than Texas Tech?

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^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^

CrimsonForce said:

You think worse? I really don't even know what their record is. Was just throwing out a bad record..

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(They only play 11 games, so 5-7 is impossible)

They're 3-2 and would be 4-2 had they played the Idaho game. They still have Vandy and EKU. They'll make a bowl.

Just Win said:

You nailed it. A 5 star in high school doesn't always translate to a 5 star in college. Remember, a lot of these guys had it so easy in high school football, they aren't prepared for what awaits them on this level. Some pan out, others don't. I think we all get too glassy eyed over all the 5 star hype, when these recruiting services are mainly a bunch of overblown hype. Give me a 2 star Demeco Ryans who works his butt off every play all day long over some of the prima donnas we continue to fill our roster with.

As far as last night - when you see things like a veteran player lunging into a group of people on a wet field to try to field a punt, the thoughts that came to my mind were:

A) This guy really qualified academically to enroll at UA?
B) Is this a drug problem?
C) Is someone taking money from a bookie to throw a game?

I'm sure i'll get flamed for that, but you all know you were thinking similar thoughts. You just don't do stupid things like that. Bobby Williams obviously has incriminating photos of somebody. He should have been walking back to Tuscaloosa.

Yeah, we've got issues.

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you may need to change your screen name. just saying'

TydDFens said:

My only justification for it in my mind was he was trying to somehow make up for his fumble against Ole Miss and thought he could shoot through there and make a big play?????????

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or maybe he mistakenly thought it hit one of our players, but speculation is much more fun when we can impugn one of our player's character