Question: Could the team have just simply looked past USF?

[BigAlinKnoxville]

Serious question. It's not that uncommon for the stronger team to just go out there and sleepwalk through a team that they consider inferior. Add the loss to Texas in the mix, which I'm sure was very dispiriting, and it makes sense.

Think about it. You just came off a heartbreaking loss, and now you have to get past this "podunk" on the other side of the ball. Personally, if I were playing on the team, my attitude would probably be, "Blah, blah. USF. So what?" That's just human nature. Besides, the "podunks" always give us their best game.

Don't get me wrong. We have serious issues on offense and especially at QB, but I also think that Coach Saban will get it figured out. I don't expect us to go all the way this year, but I also don't expect the season to go like last night might indicate. It's just one game folks, and it's one the players probably didn't have a lot of interest in.

 

[PA Tide Fan]

I don't think we took them too lightly. I think there's at least 3 things going on that are all related. First, the team was lacking confidence after the Texas loss. Second, uncertainty at QB. Starting Buckner at QB turned out to be a mistake. I don't know if Saban thought he was the best choice or if Rees helped push Saban in that direction but if the coaches don't know who the best choice is that hurts team confidence as well. Third, it seems the players are not quite sure what their assignments are. It could be because of a new OC and DC or something else.

 

[2003TIDE]

When we have to come up with a different set of excuses 3 weeks in a row, Occam's Razor says this team just has issues.

 

[Windsortide]

I hope so. I wonder what the leadership is like on this team.

 

[CoolBreeze]

You do realize that Bama is everyone's national championship game don't you? We are going to get everyone's best shot. So no, we did not overlook USF. We are working on building our team and surviving all the challenges we are facing. If we can stay focused on that then we can keep winning games.

 

[TideEngineer08]

When we have to come up with a different set of excuses 3 weeks in a row, Occam's Razor says this team just has issues.

This.

We do not have a good team. I still happen to believe we have many good players. But the coaches have been unable thus far to get the right players playing in the right places with the right attitude.

This may actually turn out to be a true rebuilding year. Bryce covered a ton of deficiencies for two seasons and true rebuilding, which was necessary, got passed over because the possibility of a title was very real because of Bryce. But the problems remain now that he’s gone.

And I for one, would be fine with that if actual rebuilding gets done. Fix the toughness on this team. Develop actual leaders who will stand up and hold others accountable. Fix the fundamentals that keep the games from turning into a penalty fest.

At the end of the season if truly fixing that for the future means 9-3 and a Citrus Bowl, I’d take it. Because Im afraid if it’s not fixed, 6-6 is a real possibility and I don’t want to think about what that means for the future. Every season under Nick Saban is championship or bust. I think it may have finally caught up with us.

But as I’ve typed all that out I begin to wonder, is that kind of development and building even possible in this NIL/Portal era?

 

[CoolBreeze]

You do realize that Bama is everyone's national championship game don't you? We are going to get everyone's best shot. So no, we did not overlook USF. We are working on building our team and surviving all the challenges we are facing. If we can stay focused on that then we can keep winning games.

Case in point:

Jaxson Dart admits whole team has looked forward to Alabama

Jaxson Dart reflected on the end of last year's game.

www.saturdaydownsouth.com

 

[CoolBreeze]

This.

We do not have a good team. I still happen to believe we have many good players. But the coaches have been unable thus far to get the right players playing in the right places with the right attitude.

This may actually turn out to be a true rebuilding year. Bryce covered a ton of deficiencies for two seasons and true rebuilding, which was necessary, got passed over because the possibility of a title was very real because of Bryce. But the problems remain now that he’s gone.

And I for one, would be fine with that if actual rebuilding gets done. Fix the toughness on this team. Develop actual leaders who will stand up and hold others accountable. Fix the fundamentals that keep the games from turning into a penalty fest.

At the end of the season if truly fixing that for the future means 9-3 and a Citrus Bowl, I’d take it. Because Im afraid if it’s not fixed, 6-6 is a real possibility and I don’t want to think about what that means for the future. Every season under Nick Saban is championship or bust. I think it may have finally caught up with us.

But as I’ve typed all that out I begin to wonder, is that kind of development and building even possible in this NIL/Portal era?

I'd argue that we are building everyday in practice. We may have looked like a hot mess on Saturday but our goals are still right in front of us and very much attainable. If we are one point better next Saturday then the same is true. Time to suck it up if you are a Bama fan because this is going to be a roller coaster year.

 

[Tide&True]

But as I’ve typed all that out I begin to wonder, is that kind of development and building even possible in this NIL/Portal era?

I think these changes have had much to do with the landscape of college football. Coach Prime changed an entire team out in just one year. I don’t think the old model of taking years to build a winning team are applicable anymore.

 

[Cruloc]

I think we just aren't a good team. We have lots of highly ranked recruits, but I'd argue the staff talent isn't there to get the most out of the kids.

Too many individuals, no cohesiveness.

No true leaders.

An OC that looked frazzled and seemed to not know what he's doing.

Dare I say, we have a lot of talkers and not enough doers. We have, I think, too many guys that pout.

The mental aspect of a strong team is missing. We very well could get clobbered at home vs Kiffin. And I mean ugly.

This is a year of true rebuilding, we have too many things that are broken.

 

[Tenntiderman]

You do realize that Bama is everyone's national championship game don't you? We are going to get everyone's best shot. So no, we did not overlook USF. We are working on building our team and surviving all the challenges we are facing. If we can stay focused on that then we can keep winning games.

Good post. Because......it is about where to go from here. It is a choice. I think there are some coaches who will be needing to leave after this season, but it will not help any of us to harp on it all year. We have what we have for sure, and I can expect progress or I can expect doom. If our OL choose nasty...we will win most of the remaining games if the Defense also improves. If our OL doe not choose nasty...then..we will have an early bowl game..maybe. but I am counting on ruining some parties. Go Bama!

 

[colbysullivan]

No, we’re just bad.

 

[mlh]

I think we just aren't a good team. We have lots of highly ranked recruits, but I'd argue the staff talent isn't there to get the most out of the kids.

Too many individuals, no cohesiveness.

No true leaders.

An OC that looked frazzled and seemed to not know what he's doing.

Dare I say, we have a lot of talkers and not enough doers. We have, I think, too many guys that pout.

The mental aspect of a strong team is missing. We very well could get clobbered at home vs Kiffin. And I mean ugly.

This is a year of true rebuilding, we have too many things that are broken.

I think this is a good summation.

I truly believe that a strong leader at QB (an AJ McCarron type) would make all the difference. We apparently don't have anyone like that in our QB room. But someone needs to step up and take charge of the offense.

 

[B1GTide]

No, we’re just bad.

The hard part to wrap my mind around is the wasted talent. This is the most talented team in college football, and they are playing like Vandy.

 

[AWRTR]

I don't think we took them too lightly. I think there's at least 3 things going on that are all related. First, the team was lacking confidence after the Texas loss. Second, uncertainty at QB. Starting Buckner at QB turned out to be a mistake. I don't know if Saban thought he was the best choice or if Rees helped push Saban in that direction but if the coaches don't know who the best choice is that hurts team confidence as well. Third, it seems the players are not quite sure what their assignments are. It could be because of a new OC and DC or something else.

DC isn’t they problem. The defense is playing well over all. They are stopping the run. I know they had some issues with the QB scrambles but who doesn’t? They are more aggressive and overall have improved. I think they will just get better as the year goes. The problem is the offense.

 

[Cruloc]

DC isn’t they problem. The defense is playing well over all. They are stopping the run. I know they had some issues with the QB scrambles but who doesn’t? They are more aggressive and overall have improved. I think they will just get better as the year goes. The problem is the offense.

I assume Rees made it back to Tuscaloosa.

 

[colbysullivan]

The hard part to wrap my mind around is the wasted talent. This is the most talented team in college football, and they are playing like Vandy.

It’s not the case anymore. Transfer portal and NIL have ruined recruiting and player development. They’re much more concerned with their “brand” than winning.

 

[2003TIDE]

It’s not the case anymore. Transfer portal and NIL have ruined recruiting and player development. They’re much more concerned with their “brand” than winning.

Sounds a lot like an excuse. Other teams are managing to recruit, use the NIL and transfer portal, and not look like a pile of hot garbage on Saturdays.

 

[colbysullivan]

Sounds a lot like an excuse. Other teams are managing to recruit, use the NIL and transfer portal, and not look like a pile of hot garbage on Saturdays.

I meant NIL and the portal have leveled the playing field. In the past, all you had to do was recruit the best players and then develop them. Now, you don’t have the luxury of time for development.

 

[teamplayer]

Sounds a lot like an excuse. Other teams are managing to recruit, use the NIL and transfer portal, and not look like a pile of hot garbage on Saturdays.

I agree. Our recruiting is still top notch, and we brought in a few guys in the portal who are contributing. We just look lost and confused on offense, and that makes us look slow. If our offense can get their crap together and start controlling the line and the clock, our defense will look even better, and we will suddenly start looking like a team.