State of Alabama defense

[gtgilbert]

Don't think it would work with your signal-caller. On Anderson, I noticed him overrunning Corral and his taking advantage of it. IDK how many times it happened. I haven't rewatched the game yet...

agreed - and you can't really have your spy on the edge like Anderson would most often be, so it would have to be Moses or Harris.

We do typically have an ILB underneath in coverage, but they can drop quite deep sometimes depending on the routes in the offensive pattern.

 

[KrAzY3]

I have a hard time believing much change in scheme or coaching personnel with UGA coming up. It's just not the right time and opponent...

I have to agree, anything beyond subtle changes before the game could be disastrous. I know Saban was in an impossible situation, but I always felt like Sark was also thrust into an impossible situation when he had to become the playcaller with only a week of prep. My defense of Hurts was in part a reflection of how bad I felt the situation was as well. It wasn't fair to him either.

At this point it's irrelevant if Strong is a better playcaller than Golding. The question is merely could he do a better job against Georgia, and given the circumstance it's hard to imagine he could.

This is where a cupcake or two would come in real handy, heh.

I can't help but believe that Golding is a technician who doesn't connect his approach to the explosive quickness required for a player to be effective on the field.

Next week aside, if Golding remains in any capacity, I am of the belief that moving to the box and let someone else have more player interaction and on field interaction is the way to go. I believe Saban when he credits Golding for having a great defensive mind, but I don't see that translating as well as I think it should to what happens on the field. The problem that Saban is faced with is how to get the good parts of Golding, and how to avoid the bad parts. Clearly there are some things he's very good at, but clearly there are areas he is currently struggling with. Saban's comments about being a play behind on defense directly addressed this. That's on Golding...

 

[crimsonaudio]

On Anderson, I noticed him overrunning Corral and his taking advantage of it. IDK how many times it happened.

Yah, Corral was Manziel-like with his slipperiness. Very impressive athlete. Add to that his ability to throw darts while running for his life and it's clear why he made the front seven look bad.

I haven't seen anything that leads me to believe Bennet is as elusive and good under pressure as Corral, so I'm hoping WA has a huge day (and I expect he will).

 

[bvandegraff]

As crazy as this season has been, I wouldn't be surprised if our defense completely turned it around for UGA. I also wouldn't be surprised if they didn't.

 

[jashleyren2]

Yeah, it might not be necessary to revert to handling man to man only, with a dedicated spy this week against UGA. Night and day different from what Ole Miss brought. Might not have another offense left on the schedule like that. But, I do expect some teams to try and implement the hurry tempo more, and Auburn is known for it. Certainly NIx gave us trouble last year.

All of this isn't a new problem. Our struggles with a running QB, an "improv" QB is nothing new. Hell, most defenses struggle with that. I like keeping people in their defensive lanes, which is like a zone, in how it's implemented. But man to man, especially in the defensive secondary, is my way to deal with the out of position back field guys. They have to be step for step with receivers. Linebackers need to stay home. I probably never blitz more than 1 guy on a given passing situation. I want people to be in position, or responsible for an offensive player. Not a part of the field. We are sucking at that. And, I don't even think it's how the defense is being drawn up!

 

[crimsonaudio]

Bennett is not the run threat that Corral was. Bennett has 27 rushing yards in three games, Corral has 141.

 

[gman4tide]

You don't "spy" a 5'11" 180lb qb that can't run. You pressure the crap out of him...don't let him think...and hit him (legally) every chance you get.

 

[jashleyren2]

You don't "spy" a 5'11" 180lb qb that can't run. You pressure the crap out of him...don't let him think...and hit him (legally) every chance you get.

Well said. Again, this week, this game, no big changes, other than keeping our defensive guys more "in their lanes", and pick and choose when to blitz. But teams know they can pick on what we have been doing in the secondary.

Honestly, I'm not as concerned about UGA's offense against our defense. It doesn't use tempo much, and it will more like what we are prepared for. No need to panic, necessarily, over what we saw on defense against Ole Miss, though it's fine to panic about what the second string defense has done in second halves this season, which is "not much". My biggest area of concern is will we be able to move the ball effectively, and finish in the red zone, against UGA. I don't think there will be as many big, explosive plays, but we have the weapons and the QB to move the ball against anyone. They will come after Mac, because they don't believe he is as mobile as some others. We will need Najee more for his blocking, than counting on him for long breakaway runs.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

You don't "spy" a 5'11" 180lb qb that can't run. You pressure the crap out of him...don't let him think...and hit him (legally) every chance you get.

I just hope if he tucks and runs, that whichever side of the field he runs to, we have defenders on that side of the field. I don't think I can take another game of ball carriers running to a side of the field and literally not one of our players were within 30 yards.

 

[DogPatch]

Having football acumen is not enough. You have to be able to communicate it to 18-21 year olds. It is about teaching them, not how much you know.

I get that, too,

A change could mean Coach Pete will be in the press box, so he can see how bad our guys are out of place and can't tackle.

I was wondering if a move to the press box woukd help. Couldn't hurt.

 

[GrayTide]

With the exception of QB, UGA has better players at every position than OM, and the depth to back it up. Meaning, I am not counting on wearing them down like we did OM and pulling away late.

 

[B1GTide]

With the exception of QB, UGA has better players at every position than OM, and the depth to back it up.

I'm not sure that matters as much as you might think. On offense GA has better players but a far inferior play caller. MS scored 48 - GA won't come close to that.

On defense GA has far better players but they still have to beat the best offense that they have ever seen - as in, EVER. Alabama scored 63 points in that game. Half that will win this one.

 

[CoolBreeze]

With the exception of QB, UGA has better players at every position than OM, and the depth to back it up. Meaning, I am not counting on wearing them down like we did OM and pulling away late.

And yet, that is precisely the key that will hamstring the UGA offense. We will not have to wear them out because our offense will lay down more points than theirs will be able to because of the QB position.

 

[GrayTide]

I hope you guys are right!!!!!

 

[techster79]

We get everyone's best shot week in, week out. UGA has been circled on our schedule for a long time. Some of OM may have been looking ahead. The "want to" should definitely be there on both sides but especially on defense. Mac faced at least two good defenses since being the starter. UGA has yet to face an offense like ours since the LSU game.

 

[gman4tide]

I know if i was an opposing OC, what i'd do...I'd have twins set to either side and bring one in motion towards the formation. If defender moved with him (man coverage), he'd sit down in the lb's way (run a pick) and i'd hit the rb coming out of the backfield on that side. The other WR would be running a go to clear the db. Lane laid the blueprint for that saturday night. I'd run it till bama stopped it. We. Never. Adjusted.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I know if i was an opposing OC, what i'd do...I'd have twins set to either side and bring one in motion towards the formation. If defender moved with him (man coverage), he'd sit down in the lb's way (run a pick) and i'd hit the rb coming out of the backfield on that side. The other WR would be running a go to clear the db. Lane laid the blueprint for that saturday night. I'd run it till bama stopped it. We. Never. Adjusted.

I think it's more the case that the players couldn't handle the adjustment. At least that's what CNS said...

 

[B1GTide]

The Ole Miss game is old news to me now, but thinking back the thing that bothers me more than anything else is that the coaches did not use a single time out to help the defense. Aside from the two fourth down plays, there were a number of other times in the game in which the defense was not even getting lined up properly. They needed someone to help them settle their minds and get back to the basics. It never happened. Not sure if it would have helped or not, but it would not have hurt.

The player confidence got worse and worse as the game progressed. Call a time out.

 

[gman4tide]

The Ole Miss game is old news to me now, but thinking back the thing that bothers me more than anything else is that the coaches did not use a single time out to help the defense. Aside from the two fourth down plays, there were a number of other times in the game in which the defense was not even getting lined up properly. They needed someone to help them settle their minds and get back to the basics. It never happened. Not sure if it would have helped or not, but it would not have hurt.

The player confidence got worse and worse as the game progressed. Call a time out.

Nah, we took em to the house with us.

 

[Rolltide51]

I have to agree, anything beyond subtle changes before the game could be disastrous. I know Saban was in an impossible situation, but I always felt like Sark was also thrust into an impossible situation when he had to become the playcaller with only a week of prep. My defense of Hurts was in part a reflection of how bad I felt the situation was as well. It wasn't fair to him either.

At this point it's irrelevant if Strong is a better playcaller than Golding. The question is merely could he do a better job against Georgia, and given the circumstance it's hard to imagine he could.

This is where a cupcake or two would come in real handy, heh.


Next week aside, if Golding remains in any capacity, I am of the belief that moving to the box and let someone else have more player interaction and on field interaction is the way to go. I believe Saban when he credits Golding for having a great defensive mind, but I don't see that translating as well as I think it should to what happens on the field. The problem that Saban is faced with is how to get the good parts of Golding, and how to avoid the bad parts. Clearly there are some things he's very good at, but clearly there are areas he is currently struggling with. Saban's comments about being a play behind on defense directly addressed this. That's on Golding...

someone said something a few weeks ago on one of the boards ( involving politics i think) and it seems to apply to the current situation on defense as well as supports what you are saying. he said, "i can explain it to you but i can't make you understand it" ( something like that). anyway, explaining it, even in a simpler way, doesn't mean the players will always understand. i don't know if the coaches allow players much input but they sure need to get feedback from them and LEARN what is causing confusion from the players. also, on saturdays game board probably the best statement made during the game was , Do your job! (i think it was tide-hsv that said it) and it surely applies to what was going on.