Question: So What Should Bama do different on Defense

[CoolBreeze]

We will never know, but Saban knows. You are losing too many of these guys. It has t stop. Figure it out.

Hard to figure out teenagers. That has always been true. We have always recruited the best athletes and high character kids, at least, that is what built the Saban Dynasty. Something tells me Nick will make the tweaks necessary to get the right guys on campus going forward. Had we taken guys lower on our board than Anoma and Alfano then there are two potential players that could have helped us in this loss we gave up over the weekend. I mean, there were three gimpy guys going into that game on the D Line.

 

[mlh]

I'm ready for something really innovative. The kind of thing that makes people say: "Whoa! Where did that come from?"

Kind of like when Bama took the field and lined up in the Wishbone. But that's probably not going to happen.

 

[Saban4Ever]

I stopped worrying on the 3rd down and began expecting the opponent to make it regardless of distance, then when they did get a stop I was pleasantly surprised. Only way I could deal with the utter frustration of seeing other teams convert when the D should have been off the field.

Me too... Same with field goals... Punts too. Penalties all year caused a lot of those 3rd downs to become 1st downs.

I hope the players did not think this, consciously or subconsciously. Surely not. We as fans do though. Let's hope the coaching is much better next year for the position coaches and assistants.

 

[Saban4Ever]

I can believe for some kids its just home sickness or going from being the #1 guy in high school to fresh meat at Alabama. But I wonder how much of it is a sense that Saban and Bama are more business like, as opposed to Clemson, LSU etc that "appear" to them to be more "fun."

I have wondered the same thing. Maybe Saban needs to make the atmosphere more fun for coaches and players. Not as extreme as Clemson, but just a bit more than now.

 

[CajunCrimson]

Me too... Same with field goals... Punts too. Penalties all year caused a lot of those 3rd downs to become 1st downs.

I hope the players did not think this, consciously or subconsciously. Surely not. We as fans do though. Let's hope the coaching is much better next year for the position coaches and assistants.

I found that we'd stop drives....and then some drives they'd get 3-4 3rd down conversions in a row.....

Usually due to penalty --

 

[bigjue24]

I'm ready for something really innovative. The kind of thing that makes people say: "Whoa! Where did that come from?"

Kind of like when Bama took the field and lined up in the Wishbone. But that's probably not going to happen.

This is where I’m at too. I want to see real attempts to dictate to the offense instead of the other way around. Let’s try some crazy stuff.

 

[DogPatch]

You had in Alfano and Anoma elite players who could have helped you this year. I would certainly look at why they left.

Anoma's issues had nothing to do with playing, or waiting to play, or anything on the field.

 

[DogPatch]

We have always recruited the best athletes and high character kids, at least . . .

Character issues have been more of a problem the last few years.

 

[B1GTide]

Anoma's issues had nothing to do with playing, or waiting to play, or anything on the field.

I think that is true of both, but for different reasons. Point is - can't keep missing stuff like this with players like this.

 

[DogPatch]

I have wondered the same thing. Maybe Saban needs to make the atmosphere more fun for coaches and players. Not as extreme as Clemson, but just a bit more than now.

I think that's part of the problem that got us to the undisciplined group we saw in the Iron Bowl.

 

[CoolBreeze]

Character issues have been more of a problem the last few years.

Agreed. I think recruiting is our number 1 issue right now. With all the early departures and (suddenly) injuries we have to do a better job of getting the right kids in T-town.

 

[Moro Creek]

Hell, if it's only 2.....that would be fantastic. Compared to the last two years, if we get that kind of continuity .... that's tremendous.

I'm guessing if anyone, it's Flood.....

We can certainly hope.

 

[Jack Bourbon]

We will never know, but Saban knows. You are losing too many of these guys. It has t stop. Figure it out.

It’s been figured out: kids these days are kinda douchey.

 

[TexasBama]

Based on my memory (suspect) but I think the CNS defense needs - 1) a NT that can hold the A gaps, 2) ILBs that can run horizontally, and 3) lockdown corner (or 2).

 

[timmer0911]

Maybe it's time to "dumb down" the defense a little bit instead of making it so complex. The elite athletes that come into the program are only staying around for 3 years and it takes them too long to pick it up. Having a super complex defense that's hard for qbs and OC to read is great, but what good is it if your players are lost and can't grasp where they should be? When your players are always out of position, it doesn't matter if you have the right defense called or not. Why not make it a tad bit easier for players to grasp and then let your athletes go make plays.
I DO feel like our tackling this year is the worst that I've seen in the Saban Era and that part of the defense has to be fixed first!!

 

[BamaFlum]

My first thought is start looking at more home grown talent that may not be the flashy 5 star but will give his heart and soul to the program. I’m thinking an Alabama Josh Jacobs type player. Find those 3 and low 4 star kids that just exude Crimson blood and sprinkle in the national 5 stars. We won’t win the “recruiting” trophy anymore but we will have a roster full of kids that probably will stick around longer and give their blood, sweat, and tears to the program.


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[DogPatch]

I think that is true of both, but for different reasons. Point is - can't keep missing stuff like this with players like this.

True, and I think part of that is EVERYONE wants to be a part of the recruitment process that it's very hard to find an unvarnished report on some of these kids.

 

[BamaBoySince89]

Agreed. I think recruiting is our number 1 issue right now. With all the early departures and (suddenly) injuries we have to do a better job of getting the right kids in T-town.

I'm wondering if the type of players recruited in the past 2 cycles are indicative of the attitude of the coaches that are no longer here. Remember Saban wanted to go young with the recruiters and it may have paid of talent-wise and nowhere else

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

I'm wondering if the type of players recruited in the past 2 cycles are indicative of the attitude of the coaches that are no longer here. Remember Saban wanted to go young with the recruiters and it may have paid of talent-wise and nowhere else

Valid point...................maybe they looked at stars and not other factors

 

[hollisx4]

My first thought is start looking at more home grown talent that may not be the flashy 5 star but will give his heart and soul to the program. I’m thinking an Alabama Josh Jacobs type player. Find those 3 and low 4 star kids that just exude Crimson blood and sprinkle in the national 5 stars. We won’t win the “recruiting” trophy anymore but we will have a roster full of kids that probably will stick around longer and give their blood, sweat, and tears to the program.

You do know that Josh Jacob's is from Tulsa, right?:smile:

But I do see your point.