see you next week

[bayoutider]

...for the biggest game in Fayetteville since the 1998 Tennessee debacle.

Difference now is we have a real coach and a big-time QB.

Looking forward to the battle and may the winner march on to the BCSCG!

Welcome to tidefans. Didn't you have that same real coach and big time QB last year?

Without a running game and stout defense Arkansas needs a few miracles. I think it will be a good game and there are 3 other games on your schedule I will watch, Auburn, So. Carolina and LSU.

 

[capnfrog]

I venture to say that Bama best bring their "A" game for the next month. I'm confident CNS will have the team focussed. The "D" seems to be improving each week but it seems we haven't developed an on field leader like we had last year. I noticed some plays where the "D" looked confused, still, I'll take ours over anyone elses. I think this next game is the one where it all comes together.

 

[WishIwasInBama]

I've been waiting for someone to post this idea. NO....we haven't been holding back. We are just not as good as last year but we may still be good enough.

I do agree with this to some extent but we haven't blitzed nearly as much as years past and in my opinion it is because we haven't needed to yet. I think this game will be different in terms of everything we do on D. I won't say we were holding back but I do think next weeks D will look different than the other 3 games

 

[tiber]

I'm glad we had a tune-up game the likes of Georgia yesterday... our team needed a step up in physicality before next week's match up. While Georgia is going to go through pains with their young QB they are physical across the board.

Our defensive scheme was sound yesterday, but we had some lapses in tackling and coverage that brought back painful memories of last year. Thankfully they were much fewer in number.
We're hoping our staff preps the team to play at the same level they exhibited in the 1st half yesterday for 4 full quarters next week.

As for your secondary youth, I do expect Mallett and co. to stretch the field more next week. This will hopefully open up a couple of holes for our backs, who have admittedly been underwhelming so far. IMO Wingo has as much natural talent as any back in the SEC, but has not shown the instincts and drive that make backs like Ingram and Richardson great.

 

[turbohog]

Here's to an injury free contest:biggrin2:
Although not as confident as some of my fellow fanshire, I do expect a more competitive game than 2008,2009. My hats off to Saban and tidenation for their accomplishments. Hopefully my hogs can pose more than a mere "speedbump" this year. Obviously were very excited about our team, hence the mojoitis. Enjoy your time in Fayetteville.DT_dan:

 

[uafan4life]

You guys want to look at stats? Okay, let's look at stats.

First, let's look at who we've both played.

Alabama: San Jose State, Penn State, and Duke
Arkansas: Tennessee Tech, La Monroe, and Georgia

Rather than quibble about ranking, let's just look at what their offenses and defenses have done.

OPPOSING OFFENSES:
Rushing yards / Passing yards / Total yards per game -- Passing Efficiency:
SJS: 67 / 177 / 244 -- 118
PSU: 140 / 205 / 345 -- 113
DU: 156 / 288 / 444 -- 133
TT: 86 / 83 / 169 -- 112
LM: 120 / 170 / 290 -- 116
UGA: 128 / 213 / 341 -- 145

So, on average, the offenses that Bama has faced have averaged (on the season) 121 yards rushing per game, 223 yards passing per game, 344 total yards per game, and a pass efficiency rating of about 121. On average, the offenses that Arkansas has faced have averaged 111 yards rushing per game, 155 yards passing per game, 266 total yards per game, and a pass efficiency rating of about 124. In addition, the offenses Alabama has faced are averaging, on the season, scoring about 23 points per game. The offenses Arkansas has faced are averaging scoring about 16 points per game.

Those stats aren't a world apart, but it looks like Bama has faced better offenses, on average, than Arkansas has through the first three games.


OPPOSING DEFENSES:
Rushing yards / Passing yards / Total yards given up per game -- Passing Efficiency Defense:
SJS: 183 / 260 / 443 -- 133
PSU: 104 / 196 / 300 -- 136
DU: 223 / 288 / 511 -- 153
TT: 233 / 253 / 486 -- 176
LM: 167 / 320 / 487 -- 150
UGA: 85 / 220 / 305 -- 140

So, the defenses that Bama has faced are averaging giving up:
170 yards rushing per game, 248 yards passing per game, 418 total yards per game, and a pass efficiency of about 141.
The defenses that Arkansas has faced are averaging giving up:
162 yards rushing per game, 264 yards passing per game, 426 total yards per game, and a pass efficiency of about 155.
In addition, the teams that Alabama has faced are giving up an average of about 30 points per game compared to about 35 per game for the defenses that Arkansas has played.

Again, those stats are pretty close, with a slight edge to Bama's opponents by allowing fewer passing yards, fewer total yards, a lower passing efficiency, and fewer points against them.


Bottom line: while there's not a world of difference between them statistically, Alabama has faced both better offenses and defenses than Arkansas has up to this point in the season.


ALABAMA vs ARKANSAS:

Offenses:
Stat: Alabama - Arkansas
Rushing ypg: 251 - 116
Passing ypg: 291 - 368
Total ypg: 542 - 484
Pass Eff: 187 - 178
Points pg: 45 - 35

Interesting. While facing defenses that give up 8 more yards per game on the ground per game than Alabama's opponents, Arkansas has managed to only run for 116 yards per game compared to Bama's 251. Meanwhile, against defenses that are better against the pass, Alabama's offense has a better passing efficiency rating than Arkansas' offense.

Arkansas has more passing yards per game, simply because they throw it more. Alabama has over twice as many rushing yards per game, more total yards per game, a better passing efficiency rating, and scores more points than Arkansas does.

Bottom Line: Against better defenses, Alabama has a statistically better offense than Arkansas.


Defenses:
Stat: Alabama - Arkansas
Rushing ypg: 120.67 - 111.33
Passing ypg: 132.67 - 144.33
Total ypg: 253.33 - 255.67
Pass Eff: 73.66 - 114.95
Points pg: 6.33 - 11.33

So, Alabama is giving up a few more yards rushing per game than Arkansas while Arkansas is giving up a hair more than that in passing yards per game. Total yards per game is a little over 2 yards in Alabama's favor. Those stats are razor close. The stat that isn't close is passing efficiency defense, which is strongly in Alabama's favor. And while scoring defense is only 5 points apart, Arkansas is giving up almost twice as many points per game as Alabama's defense.

And Alabama's defense has done this while playing against better offenses than the ones that Arkansas has faced.




I know the game has to be played, and they aren't played on paper, but the paper is pretty interesting. On paper, Alabama has a better defense than Arkansas. That's not surprising. What is surprising, though, is that Alabama also has a better offense than Arkansas on paper.

The most interesting paper stat, at this point, is that the quarterback with the highest passer rating in the country will be playing in Fayettville this Saturday. However, he won't be playing for the Hogs.

 

[arkiebrian]

Welcome to tidefans. Didn't you have that same real coach and big time QB last year?

Without a running game and stout defense Arkansas needs a few miracles. I think it will be a good game and there are 3 other games on your schedule I will watch, Auburn, So. Carolina and LSU.

The big difference between this year and last year is the maturity/poise Mallett has obviously gained. He was not the superstar QB on the road like he was at home at any time last year. Compare the stats...its like night and day.

But then yesterday Mallett played at Athens and was at his best. His accuracy is up dramatically and his TD/int ratio is down. Then there's our receiver corps...last year Childs was the runaway leader but this year Adams has played the best so far. He made some unbelievable moves yesterday. DJ Williams has been much more active in the offense also.

On the defensive side, I think I'm repeating myself, but we had 6 sacks yesterday against Georgia's supposedly vaunted OL. Broadway made some super plays deflecting balls that would have been touchdowns. We did give up a couple at the end but I don't expect that loss of composure to come at home at RRS.

...and we have a kicking game! Can't tell you how excited we are about that. We lost several games last year by a field goal or less - LSU comes to mind where our kicker could have won the game but failed. Hell our punting game screwed us royally last year as well but special teams have all dramatically improved now.

I think Georgia is a good team - certainly not the team they were a couple of years ago - but they are far better than last year and that Murray kid will be leading the SEC in passing numbers in a couple of years I think. I'm not sure what Georgia's schedule is this year but I bet they finish with 8-9 wins.

 

[arkiebrian]

So, Alabama is giving up a few more yards rushing per game than Arkansas while Arkansas is giving up a hair more than that in passing yards per game. Total yards per game is a little over 2 yards in Alabama's favor. Those stats are razor close. The stat that isn't close is passing efficiency defense, which is strongly in Alabama's favor. And while scoring defense is only 5 points apart, Arkansas is giving up almost twice as many points per game as Alabama's defense.

I find this defensive stat amazing but I don't have a lot of faith in it...Arkansas 2.5 yards behind bama in total defense? ranked 10th in the country?

that is night and day for us compared to last year...that's why no one outside the state of Arkansas has believed in us because they have doubted our D

 

[bayoutider]

I find this defensive stat amazing but I don't have a lot of faith in it...Arkansas 2.5 yards behind bama in total defense? ranked 10th in the country?

that is night and day for us compared to last year...that's why no one outside the state of Arkansas has believed in us because they have doubted our D

Brian I hope you don't think only Arkansas improved from last year. We are the defending national champions and picked to play for the championship again. Some credence has to be given to a team voted #1 in the polls for a second season. Mark Ingram, our Heisman winner's first carry back from knee surgery was 48 yds. We have both played some cupcakes but you played a 1-2 Georgia and we played a 2-1 Penn St and we made a statement playing PSU. Good luck.

 

[Hal Bennett]

You're right, it has. We have an offense to go along with that D now

I was thinking something of the same thing, Redstar. In a way, he's describing this Alabama football team. The Tide HAS turned.

 

[ElkhartTider]

The big difference between this year and last year is the maturity/poise Mallett has obviously gained. He was not the superstar QB on the road like he was at home at any time last year. Compare the stats...its like night and day.

But then yesterday Mallett played at Athens and was at his best. His accuracy is up dramatically and his TD/int ratio is down. Then there's our receiver corps...last year Childs was the runaway leader but this year Adams has played the best so far. He made some unbelievable moves yesterday. DJ Williams has been much more active in the offense also.

On the defensive side, I think I'm repeating myself, but we had 6 sacks yesterday against Georgia's supposedly vaunted OL. Broadway made some super plays deflecting balls that would have been touchdowns. We did give up a couple at the end but I don't expect that loss of composure to come at home at RRS.

...and we have a kicking game! Can't tell you how excited we are about that. We lost several games last year by a field goal or less - LSU comes to mind where our kicker could have won the game but failed. Hell our punting game screwed us royally last year as well but special teams have all dramatically improved now.

I think Georgia is a good team - certainly not the team they were a couple of years ago - but they are far better than last year and that Murray kid will be leading the SEC in passing numbers in a couple of years I think. I'm not sure what Georgia's schedule is this year but I bet they finish with 8-9 wins.

Have you bought your BCS title game tickets yet?
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[cmmiller711]

sure they missed Green today but I don't think he would have made much of a difference...gotta have a QB that can get the ball in his vicinity...Murray didn't do much of that today

on another note...did you guys notice the OBSCENE number of times that the announcers mentioned Green today?

Not trying to gang up... or tick you off. BUT... how could you possibly say, in a game where you're "all-everything QB" had to go more than half the football field with less than a minute left to win the game, that the BEST RECIEVER IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL wouldnt have made a difference??? if you win by 20 sure, but that was a squeaker and Green is a 4-10 point swing type game changer.

 

[Bama1993]

I'm glad we had a tune-up game the likes of Georgia yesterday... our team needed a step up in physicality before next week's match up. While Georgia is going to go through pains with their young QB they are physical across the board.

Maybe I was watching a different game. Georgia looked very soft in the trenches. I made that comment numerous times during the game. I think your frame of reference for physicality is skewed. Don't worry though, we'll provide a much better measuring stick on Saturday.

 

[ElephanTideis]

I think it will be a good game. Mallet will throw for multiple TD's and it will be up to our offense to keep up. Petrino and Mallet are going to pick on the young secondary all day.

 

[Hal Bennett]

Earle's assessment of this as turning into smack -- I like that. Earle is truly good in his judgment.

But you know, this sort of thing has been going on forever. It's just that now you have these forums, where it becomes more defined and out in the open.

The Arkansas guys are right. Mallett is a great passer. That is, he's physically gifted and somewhat accomplished. He's got a head coach who knows what he's doing.

Petrino probably hasn't been given his due. But there's a reason for it. He hasn't won much in the way of championships, has he?

At Arkansas, Petrino is going to have to overcome the same problem he had at Louisville -- recruiting. When Frank Broyles was winning at Arkansas, I think he won one national championship. That is probably the only national championship Arkansas ever won. That wasn't that long after Ole Miss had won one or two national championships. What has happened to Ole Miss since then? Year in and year out, it is virtually impossible to get players to come to stay at Oxford, Mississippi for three to five years.

Yep, Petrino has brought in a quarterback who is going to win BIG, when it comes to making NFL dollars. Mallett came because he was (I think) originally from Arkansas, and he knew Petrino could teach him to become an NFL quarterback. The problem is building a supporting class, enough other guys who have enough quality to keep defenders off Mallett -- and turn the ball over to him.

And, yep, I'm concerned about Mallett, because I know that when you have a passer with his capabilities, one or two or three plays where a defender misses swatting away one of those passes, and Alabama could find itself behind. And that hasn't happened much in two or three years around here.

That's why they don't play the game on paper. This isn't fantasy football. You can't just press a button here and there on your computer and have this game go the way you want it to go. I will give the Arkansas guys a blessing for their quarterback and the possibilities he presents. But that is as far as it goes. Guys, Arkansas is playing Alabama next Saturday. You will probably understand a little better then just what that means.

 

[arkiebrian]

Brian I hope you don't think only Arkansas improved from last year. We are the defending national champions and picked to play for the championship again. Some credence has to be given to a team voted #1 in the polls for a second season. Mark Ingram, our Heisman winner's first carry back from knee surgery was 48 yds. We have both played some cupcakes but you played a 1-2 Georgia and we played a 2-1 Penn St and we made a statement playing PSU. Good luck.

of course!

I haven't made any predictions here or guarantees of wins...we're the underdogs obviously and I'll looking forward to a good game and not one dominated by bad calls or bad play.

I will say that I think Georgia would beat PSU...as would more than half the teams in the SEC.

...just sayin'

 

[Heather]

Interesting thread.


Heres to a great game this weekend with NO INJURIES!

And that we BOTH whoop up on Auburn this year and make em cry like babies!:biggrin:

 

[TIDE-HSV]

of course!

I haven't made any predictions here or guarantees of wins...we're the underdogs obviously and I'll looking forward to a good game and not one dominated by bad calls or bad play.

I will say that I think Georgia would beat PSU...as would more than half the teams in the SEC.

...just sayin'

Well, it appears you have the odds-setters in Vegas on your side. The line is only Bama -4. BTW, "smack" is sort of like porn. I have trouble defining it, but I know it when I see it. When I see it around here, I stop it...

 

[TIDE-HSV]

of course!

I haven't made any predictions here or guarantees of wins...we're the underdogs obviously and I'll looking forward to a good game and not one dominated by bad calls or bad play.

I will say that I think Georgia would beat PSU...as would more than half the teams in the SEC.

...just sayin'

BTW, there's no way on earth there's enough data in the bank yet that you can say that half the SEC can beat PSU. That's just unsupported opinion...

 

[arkiebrian]

BTW, there's no way on earth there's enough data in the bank yet that you can say that half the SEC can beat PSU. That's just unsupported opinion...

yes its an opinion...that's why I preceded my statement with "I think"

:cool2:

I think the Big 10 sucks and this has been proven on the field over and over again in Big 10/SEC matchups over the years. Northwestern was lucky to beat Vandy a couple of weeks ago.