We Have A Major Problem That We Must Address

[selmaborntidefan]

I say what follows in deep love of the Crimson and White. And in deepest respect of Coach Saban as well.

But Alabama - we HAVE a problem. We have a serious problem that must be addressed going into next year. And it is this: we do NOT pay 60 minute football games. And we - literally - went back to the Mike Shula era yesterday. The second half collapse was reminiscent of blowing the 21-point lead against Arkansas in 2003 to lose in OT. And how many times did Shula's players leave 18 points in the red zone with turnovers and FGs instead of TDs?

(Please do NOT draw the conclusion Saban = Shula from that; I'm just pointing out).

We have NOT played 60 minutes of football in the Nick Saban era. There are a few exceptions that stand out: 2007 Arkansas/Ole Miss/Tennessee and our 2 recent SEC championship games...and 2008 LSU, a great effort.



Here's a brief list - that could be expanded:

2007 Houston - led 23-0 at the end of the first quarter; held on to win, 30-24.

2007 LSU - led by 7 with 3 minutes left and gave up 2 TDs in final 3 min.

(I will not bash us for the losses due to the Textbook Scandal; that was a unique situation).

2007 Independence Bowl - led 20-0 at end of 1st quarter; held on to win, 30-24

2008 Georgia - led 31-0 in second quarter, held on to win, 41-30.

2008 Kentucky - led 14-0 in first quarter, needed FG with 2:12 left to beat the Wildcats, 17-14....after they had tied it. Game at BDS.

2008 Mississippi - led 24-3, just held on to 2in, 24-20

2009 Sugar Bowl - no need to even talk about this one. Trailed 21-0 and never really got going.

2009 Tennessee - yes, Rocky Block was exciting but the game should never have come down to it. With 3 minutes left we led by NINE points and gave up a TD, let them recover an onside kick, and let them get close enough to try to win.

2009 Auburn - didn't really show up to play until first quarter was over. Survived.

2010 BCSNCG - played well between 10 minutes left in first quarter and end of first half. Played poorly until final 3:14. Then played phenomnally well....after letting a 24-6 lead become a 24-21 scare.

2010 Arkansas - a middling first half and a phenomenal final 18 minutes.

2010 LSU - just how in the world did LSU's anemic offense get 433 yards against us?

2010 Auburn - no need to discuss this one.

Our record in the aforementioned games is 10-3, which is why nobody is having a meltdown. But seriously - this has GOT to be addressed.


I don't know WHY it is, but we simply do not play ENTIRE football games. At least this year I can rationalize that part of it was that we didn't have to in the early going. We drilled SJ State, Penn State was never in doubt, and we nailed Duke and Florida pretty good. But the South Carolina wake-up call didn't convince us.


Yesterday felt like February 1, 2002, when they hit us with the hammer.

LSU finishes games folks. Granted, it's sometimes out of the Keystone Kops manual - but they DO finish games (sometimes they even take an extra play).

Auburn finishes games. Like it or not, they do.


This problem MUST be addressed going forward. The accumulation of those close calls costs us. I believe Nick will address this during the off-season.

One more thing: get ready for the "Nick Saban to the NFL" rumors to crank up again. Some ESPN intern with nothing better to do is going to draw parallels between this team and 2004 LSU - who also lost to Auburn by one point (the refs gave Auburn that one).

 

[Henryrolltide]

I have to agree with you. Our team this season and in the past has had trouble finishing games, or not playing for stretches. No I am sure, some of that is by virtue of the other teams making plays. We have not played a complete game this season. It is very unfortunate that we will never know what this team could have been if it had ever played for 60 minutes.

 

[Redwood Forrest]

I have a different perspective on this but that does not mean you are not right. I tend to view the world in simple terms, so I have been told. You are asking perfection on the field game after game, year after year from human players and coaches. It is not going to happen.

I ask no more than what we have going on now and that is to be a player in the hunt for perfection (BCSCG) every year. This is three years in a row we have done exactly that. Three years in a row we have been ranked #1 at some point of the season. There are only a very few teams who can make that claim.

I remember when the main topic of college football was "can anyone stop USC and Pete Carrol." Then in his last couple of years they quit finishing the game too and reverted from machines back to being human players and coaches.

14-0 would be nothing special if someone did it every year. It would become average and that would not be exciting, just expected. So I think our main problem is that we are human.

 

[tideronthehooch]

Very true. Seems like we get up and then put it on cruise control. I knew that yesterday was not a time to get conservative and I don't know that the coaches necessarily did, but the players certainly lost their focus and did not execute when we had chances to put the game out of reach ( Trent's bobble in the end zone, Mark I. not protecting the ball, letting the ball just lay on the ground when GMAC fumbled and Mark B. whiffing on the TD pass). A team that was ready to stomp on the Barn's throat would've done those things, but we did not and it cost us BIG.

 

[Harmost]

I'm not sure there is ever a "complete game" for any team to have against talented competition, but we absolutely have trouble adjusting - particularly on offense.

It gives the appearance that the team's effort has trailed off when really the problem is in the plays being figured out.

 

[NatchezTider]

the players tend to lose focus after bama jumps out to a quick lead. give the other team's some credit for making adjustments at half. give bama some blame for not making some necessary adjustments at half.

then again, all of this could be baloney and bama simply doesn't have key leadership on the field.

i told my son yesterday after trent's dropped pass at the goal line, and when mcelroy missed his next few passes that bama had opened the door for auburn to come back. should have been 41-0 in the second quarter. even $cam newton could not overcome that margin.

 

[Squirrely]

Yep, that's definitely a problem that needs addressing in the off-season. Plus, this years Bama team has gotten outplayed by every Senior lead & experienced team in the 2nd half they've faced this year. Well, except the Arkansas game that is, but SC, LSU, and Auburn outplayed us in the 2nd half. After thinking about Yesterday's loss now, I'm not to shocked that happened with this Bama team, it's been their M.O. this whole year.

Bama's offense inability to score TD's in the Red-zone is a serious problem that's got to be fixed. Our defense last season was great enough to overcome this, but this young defense wasn't. I don't blame the defense this season so much because with youth comes some errors in games. Bama's defense has given up some big plays & some long 3rd downs situations in games, but overall the defense did OK this season. I think the next few seasons we'll see more of last season defense. They'll win those 3rd & long situations while not giving up so many big plays either.

Now Bama's offense is what has been the biggest disappointment this season, and there's many reasons to why. I don't even know where to start with all that, and will just say this for now. The offense has way underachieved this season for the talent Bama has got on that side of the ball. Only allowing Auburn 100 yrs or so rushing yds & only giving up 28 points should've won that game yesterday. The offense having so many 3 & outs in games, not scoring TD's when they should, and play-calling(No adjustment in games), and other things have put stress on this young defense to much this season. Hopefully Bama gets the offense figured out next season, and knows what kind of offense they want to be.

Still proud of this Bama teams accomplishments since Saban's & Staffs arrival. I'm happy that Saban has Bama in the running for titles again too. Sometimes a team has to go through seasons like this to become a great team, and they will become the same seniors/experienced lead teams that beat us this season. That's what I've noticed in all my years of watching CFB, and we'll see what kind of team Bama becomes the next few seasons.


:BigA: ROLL TIDE :BigA:

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I'm going to throw this in. I normally can predict around 90% of our play calls. Hell, even my wife, who's really just a casual FB fan can. In the first half yesterday - I couldn't. Neither could Auburn. In the second half, we went into our protective shell offense and became almost totally predictable again. When we do that, it has a ripple effect. GM became uptight and started holding the ball too long. The backs and receivers became tentative. Worst of all, Auburn's confidence soared as they made plays on both sides of the ball. I see complaints of lack of toughness, but it's hard to play tough, when you're playing not lose. This is not a CJM problem. This problem lies squarely at the feet of the HC. Saban was criticized for it at previous stops. To be fair, this is true of many defensive minded HCs. I'd still rather have him than any other HC I can think of, but I'm not going to say that he's perfect. Last season, we were able to make that mold work, because our OL performed at a much higher level and MI and TR were at peak form for much of the year. Of course having starters on the bench late didn't help much last night, but the three major fails made us tighten down (and become more uptight) even more. Our best hope would have been to continue with the first half gameplan. We didn't do that...

 

[Heather]

I have a different perspective on this but that does not mean you are not right. I tend to view the world in simple terms, so I have been told. You are asking perfection on the field game after game, year after year from human players and coaches. It is not going to happen.

I ask no more than what we have going on now and that is to be a player in the hunt for perfection (BCSCG) every year. This is three years in a row we have done exactly that. Three years in a row we have been ranked #1 at some point of the season. There are only a very few teams who can make that claim.

I remember when the main topic of college football was "can anyone stop USC and Pete Carrol." Then in his last couple of years they quit finishing the game too and reverted from machines back to being human players and coaches.

14-0 would be nothing special if someone did it every year. It would become average and that would not be exciting, just expected. So I think our main problem is that we are human.

You put into words exactly how I feel. Great post RF!

 

[selmaborntidefan]

I'm going to throw this in. I normally can predict around 90% of our play calls. Hell, even my wife, who's really just a casual FB fan can. In the first half yesterday - I couldn't. Neither could Auburn. In the second half, we went into our protective shell offense and became almost totally predictable again. When we do that, it has a ripple effect. GM became uptight and started holding the ball too long. The backs and receivers became tentative. Worst of all, Auburn's confidence soared as they made plays on both sides of the ball. I see complaints of lack of toughness, but it's hard to play tough, when you're playing not lose. This is not a CJM problem. This problem lies squarely at the feet of the HC. Saban was criticized for it at previous stops. To be fair, this is true of many defensive minded HCs. I'd still rather have him than any other HC I can think of, but I'm not going to say that he's perfect. Last season, we were able to make that mold work, because our OL performed at a much higher level and MI and TR were at peak form for much of the year. Of course having starters on the bench late didn't help much last night, but the three major fails made us tighten down (and become more uptight) even more. Our best hope would have been to continue with the first half gameplan. We didn't do that...

I agree with ALL of this - including your comments about our first-half offense. That was about the most stunned I've been by our offensive play calling since last year's SECCG (another offensive show).

And I concur regarding Saban, too.

 

[TidenLA]

agreed on all points. When was the last time we have had a coach on the sidelines that gets the players fired up. Say what you will, but if you look at Aub through the year, those players were fired up beyond belief. We have NO fire on the sideline. Saban is like Stone Wall Jackson...just saying

 

[AustinTider]

Big defensive fronts all have trouble with sweeps and misdirection. Makes them run more than they are used to. The QB rush is the easiest and less tiresome push for a DL. I do not know what happened to our rushing game except there is a book that all the defenses in the SEC have on how to stop Mark and Trent.
With Greg being kinda slow of foot and in the pocket it makes him a human punching bag in the second half.

 

[GrayTide]

Good read Bill. I do not think a 9-3 season is a failure, I predicted 10-2 before the season. I am sick of hearing how much talent we have, how young we are, beat up with injuries, the lack of leadership IMO these are all excuses for a team that never was a team.

At some point the players have to step up and execute; the coaches cannot do it for them. The biggest disappointment for me this season was the apparent lack of intensity, no sense of urgency and an entirely too much business attitude. I think Coach Saban has his work cut out for him going forward to instill a team mentality, and find players even if they are 2 or 3 star recruits who want to play for 60 minutes. That is why he makes the big bucks.

 

[imauafan]

I'm going to throw this in. I normally can predict around 90% of our play calls. Hell, even my wife, who's really just a casual FB fan can. In the first half yesterday - I couldn't. Neither could Auburn. In the second half, we went into our protective shell offense and became almost totally predictable again. When we do that, it has a ripple effect. GM became uptight and started holding the ball too long. The backs and receivers became tentative. Worst of all, Auburn's confidence soared as they made plays on both sides of the ball. I see complaints of lack of toughness, but it's hard to play tough, when you're playing not lose. This is not a CJM problem. This problem lies squarely at the feet of the HC. Saban was criticized for it at previous stops. To be fair, this is true of many defensive minded HCs. I'd still rather have him than any other HC I can think of, but I'm not going to say that he's perfect. Last season, we were able to make that mold work, because our OL performed at a much higher level and MI and TR were at peak form for much of the year. Of course having starters on the bench late didn't help much last night, but the three major fails made us tighten down (and become more uptight) even more. Our best hope would have been to continue with the first half gameplan. We didn't do that...

Agree 100%. The only think I would suggest that was different about last year is that our OL wasn't that much better but Ingram was 100% healthy (except for the AU) and was able to carry the offense on his shoulders when GMac went into his shell. This year Ingram and Trent have not been healthy so our running attack has fizzled.

I've been saying this about Saban for awhile, he will not beat you with X's and O's. His main focus is recruiting and then out-working the opponent. When it comes down to strategy, Saban is an average coach. The problem this year is that I don't think we've out-worked anyone. We spent too much going going to parties at South Beach, making movies, and allowing ESPN insider access but we lost our focus. Our players have been out of shape and the coaches have not responded well to ours or the opponents weaknesses. Perhaps Saban let his ego get the better of him this year and he lost his focus.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

And as you know this type of approach isn't going to change. Bill Parcells was the same way. It didn't matter how many offensive weapons he had he was not going to "turn it loose" for an entire game. That is why with teams coached by coaches cut from this mold the defense is where they earn their money. Not the offense.

This problem lies squarely at the feet of the HC. Saban was criticized for it at previous stops. To be fair, this is true of many defensive minded HCs. I'd still rather have him than any other HC I can think of, but I'm not going to say that he's perfect. Last season, we were able to make that mold work, because our OL performed at a much higher level and MI and TR were at peak form for much of the year. Of course having starters on the bench late didn't help much last night, but the three major fails made us tighten down (and become more uptight) even more. Our best hope would have been to continue with the first half gameplan. We didn't do that...

 

[h2o]

I posted this in another thread so forgive me for posting again but in Gene Chizick's post game interview he said his team knows how to win. He's right. We just simply don't know how to close the deal with a killer instinct.

 

[Tide Warrior]

As someone pointed out before, CNS has to get all the players to buy in to what he wants and next year all players should be CNS recruits.

In regards to pass rush, it actually looked very good at times last night compared to the rest of the season. We also held CN to 39 rushing yards which no other team has been able to do. But remember that has been the major factor in recruiting on the D right now. So the staff understands that and is looking to fox it.

In regards to this season lets get over it. So what we finish 9-3. We finished 07 7-6 barely. In 3 years now we are 35-5 since finishing 7-6. Not bad in the best conference hands down where we conitinue to play top 10 teams and go long streches without breaks and against other teams coming off bye weeks. I am very happy with the direction of this team and with the staff.

Do not get me wrong I to question some of the play calling and the defensive tactic of slowing the game down to hold on, but I still believe we just do not have all the players we need to attack wide open. Depth was an issue this season, because when Jones and Alexander were out, we had no option other then run it with 2 RBs I still feel are somewhat gimp from injuries. You only have so much to work with and I think with the continue additions of players like CJ Mosley and others are team under CNS will be a dynasty everyone in the country will envy.

 

[bear1973]

I agree with what someone said earlier that I'd rather have Saban than anyone else. I think we're blessed to have him. But he's known for coming into a program and turning it around then winning a championship. I think after that's done his coaching style becomes predictable. I think he's been figured out. And like he said yesterday it begins and ends with him. I think he'll do some serious soul searching in the off season. And yes.. I also agree that he has to get these players to buy into his vision and play to a standard. Every play.. Until the final second rolls off the clock

 

[TENNTIDE1]

Last year we owned the fourth quarter, not so much this year. Last year I had a calm about me knowing we had CNS on the side line and didn't fear a fourth quarter collapse, I have not had that feeling this year. But, it is nice to be unhappy about winning 9 or 10 games this year. If we are unhappy, just think about UF and Texas.

 

[Bama323]

I posted this in another thread so forgive me for posting again but in Gene Chizick's post game interview he said his team knows how to win. He's right. We just simply don't know how to close the deal with a killer instinct.

That AU team we played yesterday has 24 Seniors, and 4 of them are on the Oline. They have probably the best player in the country at QB, and a very good front 7 on defense. They have a good kicking game and had a favorable schedule this year. In short, the stars were aligned for them to have an excellent season this year. In comparison, Bama has 8 Seniors this year, and most of them don't start. We only have one Senior on the OLine, our kicking game is starting a new kicker and new punter. We had a schedule this year playing 6 SEC teams coming off a bye, and played most of our toughest opponents on the road. Now, we should have won the game yesterday in spite all of the above, but I just post this to say that most of us knew that it would be almost impossible for us to repeat given the circumstances. Its hard to dominate every opponent from start to finish in the SEC. Those other SEC teams have talented players and coaches also.
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