Pruitt vs. Smart as a DC- is the USC game a measuring stick?

4Q Basket Case said:

There you go injecting logic and perspective into a bunch of hypotheticals based on a sample of one. :biggrin:

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I'm sorry I'll do better.

Pruitt is the greatest Alabama DC of all times!


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No...not a big enough body of work...

I would have loved to hear someone ask CNS about the differences in-game. Communication, play calls etc.
I think it would be interesting to hear his take, if he did more than praise each one and actually pointed out a couple differences.

The same with Jalen and BB, it is too early. I would be happy if Pruitt ='s Kirby. But after one game........we will know maybe midway next season.

Bring this thread back up after the Ole Miss game.

I am happy that we got Pruitt because we got the advantages of familiarity with the program and scheme PLUS the experiences he learned from his stints at FSU and UGA. It won't be exactly the same but clearly a lot of it is the same.

I also got the feeling it was somewhat of a knock on some of the high scores Bama had given up the last few years, but everyone quickly turned it into an interesting discussion.
I had started to question if it wasn't time for a small change in tactics for our defense from what we were doing against hurry up teams and last second adjustments as Earl has pointed out.

I think UGA is toward the top for defense against a quality opponent with only 1 game to sample. Sometimes change is good. It will give other teams less tape and more to think about with a new defensive coordinator. I'm happy Kirby got a great job. Will just make other bright young coaches salivate at what they could do under Saban with our talent to boost their career.

A change can reinvigorate fans and players. It's one reason some colleges change their coach if things become stale and seem predictable along with a perception there is more talent than coaching on the sideline. See Les Miles.

One of Sabans best strengths is his network of coaches that would love the opportunity to become a major player on his staff.
Did I ever say I like our defense so far? Well I do. I can't really say for sure but we held USC without a touchdown. I didn't think we'd do quite that well against their offense.

Re: Would USC have scored only 6 points if Kirby Smart was still here?

Alabama22 said:

I disagree that Kirby never made adjustments at halftime. Perhaps Pruitt might be better at it. But I can think of plenty of games where adjustments were made at halftime by Smart and we played much better on defense during the second half.

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I meant that after 2 games against Nick Marshall, Kirby never figured how to stop AU, where Pruitt did it twice.

Many of these players were coached up by Kirby, a coaching change lingers between the old and new coach. FSU won their recent NC with Pruitt in charge, but we also lit it up against Pruitt at Georgia......but that may have been the culture. There is no way to anoint Pruitt better than Kirby at this point. but I believe he was the best choice for the job. He is a Saban guy.

With all this QB and other talk, I really believe that USC is not as good as we thought they were. The true challenges lay ahead, and it's premature to crown anyone from QB to new assistants. What remains the same is the best collection and coached players in the country........Coach Saban, and imo, the best OC we have ever had.

Sabanizer said:

Many of these players were coached up by Kirby, a coaching change lingers between the old and new coach. FSU won their recent NC with Pruitt in charge, but we also lit it up against Pruitt at Georgia......but that may have been the culture. There is no way to anoint Pruitt better than Kirby at this point. but I believe he was the best choice for the job. He is a Saban guy.

With all this QB and other talk, I really believe that USC is not as good as we thought they were. The true challenges lay ahead, and it's premature to crown anyone from QB to new assistants. What remains the same is the best collection and coached players in the country........Coach Saban, and imo, the best OC we have ever had.

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This!! ^^^^^

Re: Would USC have scored only 6 points if Kirby Smart was still here?

To me it looked like the same principles Bama used last year. However I think snap to effect times we're faster two seconds or less. I'm not sure how much of this is JP vs him benefitting from the process. He doesn't have to reinvent the wheel here.

I know this years D is different, fastest I've ever seen and they play mean across the board. We have some real thumpers. I can't remember seeing so many Bingo licks in a single game ever. Opposing QBs better be decisive and prompt which should be taxing considering only four guys are needed for penetration. AND we aren't blitzing as much which is great. I was so tired of seeing 3rd and sixteen get converted time and again. I love this years D! Nasty!

Re: Would USC have scored only 6 points if Kirby Smart was still here?

PA Tide Fan said:

I'd like to think so. Kirby did a great job for many seasons so I think it's way too soon to suggest that Pruitt is as good or better than Kirby. It was just one game.

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Kirby had many seasons working closely with Coach Saban to learn what Defenses for each type play worked best. While Pruitt worked for Coach Saban it wasn't in the role of Coordinator. Difference in duties and expectations.
IMO: The whole first quarter we felt out USC and learned their tendencies on Offense and Defense.
The first game of every year is kind of a feel em out game for Offense and for Defense. The Defense 12-13 games from now will look and operate smother and faster.

This early in the season it's hard to tell if Pruitt called a better game than Smart would have. Every situation is a little different, also different players on Offense and on our Defense make a big difference.

Re: Would USC have scored only 6 points if Kirby Smart was still here?

tidefanbeezer said:

Really? Is this what you are thinking about today?

We just whipped USC, watched a true freshman spark the offense, and watched a magnificent defensive performance from an incredibly athletic and fast defense.

And you want to know what would have happened if Kirby Smart was still here.

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Not to throw a wet blanket on our Defense, but USC mailed it in the 2nd half. They were beaten early and part of their guys quit on em.

Padreruf said:

No...not a big enough body of work...

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I really thought this would work out,look at his body of work from other teams where he has been before coming back.

Sabanizer said:

Many of these players were coached up by Kirby, a coaching change lingers between the old and new coach. FSU won their recent NC with Pruitt in charge, but we also lit it up against Pruitt at Georgia......but that may have been the culture. There is no way to anoint Pruitt better than Kirby at this point. but I believe he was the best choice for the job. He is a Saban guy.

With all this QB and other talk, I really believe that USC is not as good as we thought they were. The true challenges lay ahead, and it's premature to crown anyone from QB to new assistants. What remains the same is the best collection and coached players in the country........Coach Saban, and imo, the best OC we have ever had.

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14 of the 38 points UGA gave up to Bama were scored by the D (int ) return and ST (blocked punt). Another TD was from a short field caused by an int. UGA forced 8 3 and outs and one 4 and out.

Having said that, I agree with your primary point that knowing who is the best will take a while. Even then it will probably still be subjective. IMO, Pruitt is a definite upgrade, but it can't truly be proven.

Re: Would USC have scored only 6 points if Kirby Smart was still here?

Ole Man Dan said:

Not to throw a wet blanket on our Defense, but USC mailed it in the 2nd half. They were beaten early and part of their guys quit on em.

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Why frame your own comment as a "wet blanket"? The defense was so completely amazing, hit so hard, won so many battles, they made their ***** quit. Is there a higher compliment?

Re: Would USC have scored only 6 points if Kirby Smart was still here?

Most noticeable thing to me was that this years team is so fast, you did not see many solo tackles. We had 4 or more guys around the ball on almost every play.

Re: Would USC have scored only 6 points if Kirby Smart was still here?

I had many doubts about Pruitt as he progressed from The U, in part because that show made him look like such a rube. I doubted him here, I doubted his ability at FSU because they were blessed with a defensive roster of NFL draft picks, but I started to turn my thinking when he went to Georgia. Their D got better. Saban trusts him, and the first game was an awesome debut. As Earle said, they guy has learned a lot. Let's see where this comparison stands after Ole Miss, who looked like the 84 Dolphins for a half.