Finebaum reported yesterday that a lot of the players seemed angry walking around after the game and even Saban didn't seem happy at times. They were happy to win, but disappointed with their performance overall.
Our B Game Beat their A Game
- Thread starter Loam
- Start date
Because the defense didn't play as well as they could have. I also saw that Travis Reier reported that the team looked "deadlegged" in practice. Watson played out of his mind and Clemson was as good as advertised. However, anyone who truly thinks that the championship game was an "A" effort for that Bama defense hadn't been watching this team closely enough in the other 14 games. B or B+ effort? Maybe. But not an A. That front 7 was special.
As LOAM argued in the OP, Clemson got our B game and we still beat them.
Coach Saban even said that it wasn't one of Alabama's better games in terms of execution (paraphrasing but I think that's close). There are always a few mistakes by both teams in every game but overall, Alabama could have played a little better; I'm not sure if anyone could expect Clemson and Clemson QB to play any better.
The word "effort" is being used differently by different members of TF. I don't think anyone is saying the Bama players and staff did not try as hard as they could (effort) when saying it was not "Bama's best effort". I think that's why Coach Saban clarified his statement using "in terms of execution".
The word "effort" is being used differently by different members of TF. I don't think anyone is saying the Bama players and staff did not try as hard as they could (effort) when saying it was not "Bama's best effort". I think that's why Coach Saban clarified his statement using "in terms of execution".
Well put.
One comment from earlier in this thread really struck in my craw. It was B1GTide's statement that, if Alabama were to play Clemson 10 times, Clemson would win half. I often find myself agreeing with B1G's arguments and always find them thoughtful, but I really take issue with that assertion.
But perhaps I misunderstood. If he meant that Clemson would win half given how both teams performed on Monday night, then, yes, I'd agree.
If they played 10 more times based on how they played, on average, for the rest of the season, then I'd guess that Alabama would win more than half. That's not taking anything away from Clemson, a very good team. But I thought this Alabama team was better.
Why does it seem like we only hear about these "reports" after the game has been played. Is Travis Reier not aloud to report about practice until after the game or, is he just trying to be that person that "now" says they saw this coming? I don't remember seeing any reports last week about slow practices or deadlegs or looking tired, but have seen a few since Monday say that they saw this stuff in practice.
1st quarter B-
2nd-C+
3rd-B-
4th- C
Offense- B- ( mostly because of Coker and OL)
Defense-D
Special Team- B plus
Players with best grade: Drake, Henry, OJ Howard and E. Jackson with A plus.
Worst grade: D.Jackson, OL line, DL Line
2nd-C+
3rd-B-
4th- C
Offense- B- ( mostly because of Coker and OL)
Defense-D
Special Team- B plus
Players with best grade: Drake, Henry, OJ Howard and E. Jackson with A plus.
Worst grade: D.Jackson, OL line, DL Line
Why would you report on that.. giving the opposing team an extra advantage against us?
He also said we looked tired, in practices. He thinks playing 15 games is asking a bit too much.
Let's not forget how he has said that you can only ask a team to be up, for only a few "big games", in a season. As a result, teams barely win games they are expected to win big. Which team do you think had more "big games", this last season?
With all that, we still won.
Yet another reason to oppose an expansion to an 8-team playoff for which so many casual fans and media personalities are clamoring.
i think we played much worse in the 3rd quarter, and played really well (relatively) in the 4th. we entered the 4th quarter down 24-21, and the fourth quarter was a shootout between two teams whose defenses were exhausted, and we won that 4th quarter shootout, pretty convincingly, against arguably the best qb in the country who was having a record setting night.
2 thoughts here, one on topic and one off.
1) Just curious, are we positive that Clemson played their "A" game? If we gave up an INT, got fooled on an onside kick, had a 95 yard return for TD against our special teams, and gave up the long Henry run and over 200 yards to a TE, I would say we didn't. Do the Clemson fans and players believe it was their "A" game?
2) Regarding the idea of an 8 team playoff, CNS said on Mike and Mike this morning (paraphrasing) that he couldn't see playing an extra playoff game AND keeping the conference championship games. Too much wear on the players. I think he is right to oppose the extra game, even if that keeps us out some years. If you want in, dominate during the regular season.
1) Just curious, are we positive that Clemson played their "A" game? If we gave up an INT, got fooled on an onside kick, had a 95 yard return for TD against our special teams, and gave up the long Henry run and over 200 yards to a TE, I would say we didn't. Do the Clemson fans and players believe it was their "A" game?
2) Regarding the idea of an 8 team playoff, CNS said on Mike and Mike this morning (paraphrasing) that he couldn't see playing an extra playoff game AND keeping the conference championship games. Too much wear on the players. I think he is right to oppose the extra game, even if that keeps us out some years. If you want in, dominate during the regular season.
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