Can We Take a Moment to Admit Our Idiocy in the Offseason?

[AWRTR]

I was good with both coordinator hires. I like that CTR likes to run the ball and be physical and CKS is more old school hard nosed type of coach. Arnold’s comment about what Steele said at halftime of the Who game tells you that man is serious and intense. He has the defense playing hard and with some meanness. CTR had to bring Milroe along slowly. It really limited what he could call and masked the fact that often times the play was good just the right execution was off. It also affected the running game because teams didn’t fear the pass. That has changed. Teams have to respect the pass more and it’s helping the oline and the running game. Milroe’s improvement along with some improvement in the oline has really made the team go to another level.

I wasn’t sure Milroe would get there and he still gives me heartburn every once in a while, but he has put in the work and really settled into the position and is playing much better. I see no reason that he won’t continue to progress. This team has the potential to peak at the right time.

 

[CajunCrimson]

Whining is a characteristic of Bama fans .

It’s how we roll

 

[JohnD]

Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.

 

[bvandegraff]

I was fine with Rees and Steele. The pre-season buzz and MTSU game were a bit of fool's gold given the lack of experience at key positions like QB and LT, and we shouldn't have been that surprised when our guys lost to a veteran TX team (who, by the way, I think we'd beat pretty handily now) in game 2.

Rees was dealt a tough hand with a green QB and a porous OL at the season's start (remember those shots of an exasperated TR in the press box against TX?). Their quick improvement has helped him get a much better handle on how to use these guys effectively.

After how they started, they have everything to play for in November. Major kudos to the players and the coaching staff.

 

[AWRTR]

If Saban can win the sec I think this will be his best coaching job at Bama.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I get the spirit of your post, but since you dedicated an entire thread for people to "apologize" and admit they were/are "idiots", I'll say this. You're painting with an enormous broad brush and have no idea how true and close to happening certain things were that you're wanting people to "apologize" for. There were some very rough waters happening within the lockerroom and coaching staff the first part of this season. Simply because the team and coaches have done a WONDERFUL job of righting the ship, doesn't mean some of these items you're scoffing at didn't exist.

I know there a few threads discussing some of the points below, but I thought this would be a good cathartic experience for us all. What were we thinking?

The narratives around starting Milroe over Simpson or Buchner ("Why would Saban let a QB transfer if he wasn't going to play"?) are one thing. Many of you on this very board can go back to your post history and cringe.

"This team has quit"
"Saban has lost it"
"Receivers are only catching balls for their favorite QB"
"Someone told me race is a factor in why [x] is starting/not starting" (yes, this happened)

But I'm not here to talk about the QB battle which has worked out exactly as Saban imagined. I'm not saying it did not have rocky moments, but I am saying Saban knew what was best for this team all along. Which brings me to...

Coordinator hires. Boy, we sure settled. We just had to have Glenn Schumann, Jeff Grubb (or Lebby) or [insert hot coordinator hire here]. But then...

"Saban can't get the guys he wants! They're turning him down!"
"Saban won't let them run their offense/defense. He's costing us good hires!"
"No one good wants to work for Saban anymore!"

Obligatory: "The dynasty is dead" / "It's been a fun ride" / etc etc etc

R E L A X

We all knew from the beginning Saban knows best. Or did we forget? Would we have these same objections before *gasp* we went two seasons without a championship??? (never mind we played in the 2021 title game)

Now look at this team. Now look at these coordinator hires. Now look at this QB.

Now, just look (again) at the G.O.A.T.

 

[Oregon Tide]

I get the spirit of your post, but since you dedicated an entire thread for people to "apologize" and admit they were/are "idiots", I'll say this. You're painting with an enormous broad brush and have no idea how true and close to happening certain things were that you're wanting people to "apologize" for. There were some very rough waters happening within the lockerroom and coaching staff the first part of this season. Simply because the team and coaches have done a WONDERFUL job of righting the ship, doesn't mean some of these items you're scoffing at didn't exist.

Did I ask for everyone to apologize? I think you missed the "spirit" of the thread and seem to be taking it personally.

 

[bamaga]

Yeah and it always seems to come after a big win. But usually not to this degree. Much of what the OP is saying is lacking sufficient context of what was actually being said. Yes some went too far with their assessments but there was much more of it grounded in some sorta truth.

I will willingly admit that after the REC scrimmage that I thought if Milroe started then we were in serious trouble. But this is based on the fact that REC scrimmages usually provides more insight on the team than what the media viewings and A day shows. But he has proven that 1) he progressed and 2) that could have been just a bad day. EIther way I never openly cheered against Milroe like some make it out to be.

I agree with this. I have social media to keep up with going ons with family, in that process,I have joined Bama groups because of Meta . I find myself accused of being a Milroe Hater or Milroe lover, just for giving an honest assessment. The ones I really hate are the posts that ask for an apology to JM. I love the kid, he is a great ambassador for the University, but I don’t think many Bama fans wanted to see him fail as the starting QB.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Ok, you weren't asking anyone to apologize, you were (according to your words) asking everyone to admit they're idiocy and to cringe at their past posts of criticism. I gave you the benefit of the doubt of the "spirit" you intended, because I'm pretty sure I know what you meant, but your words and how you explained it don't convey the spirit you're claiming you intended. Maybe I'm the only one who took it that way, but that's how I read your post.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I would remind that, preseason, we were going back to primarily a running team and recruited to it. (Remember "murderball?") It's the reason we have the largest OL in the SEC, maybe the country. It didn't work. The staff, to their credit, backed up and modified their approach, although some of our problems date back to that now abandoned philosophy. I'd be willing to bet that they wish they'd recruited a leaner, more agile LT. Part of that change was convincing JM to become a running QB. Understandably, he had/has NFL ambitions and wanted to be known as a pocket-passing QB. No small part of this coaching job was getting him to buy into the proposition that he wasn't hurting his draft status by running some plays. A glance round the NFL would convince anyone that the NFL values the running ability of a QB. This has been a masterful coaching job, all in all...

 

[TideEngineer08]

I'm never going to back away from how I felt about what had happened in the program after the 2020 season.

Particularly the OL Coach, OC, and retaining the DC. There were obviously issues deeper down the coaching org chart than those, but those were the glaring ones.

It is my opinion those 3 decisions were the most detrimental ones of the Nick Saban era.

I will admit that I was wrong about how I saw this season going after USF, when it was my opinion that I thought none of the issues which had cropped up from 2021 onward had been corrected. But since the Ole Miss game, my mantra has been just enjoy the ride.

I do believe the coaches now in place at OL, OC, and DC have been serious upgrades. I also am simply elated that it looks like the attitude and disposition of the players are more like what we saw from 2020 backward, and not what we had the past 2 seasons.

Finally, it has been and will continue to be my opinion that Coach Saban can and should remain as long as he pleases (because I know his standards haven't dropped even if he has mellowed) and I hope that's for at least 10 more years. I understand we may not see 6 more NCs over that time period. But that is more to do with how the college football world has changed around him with NIL, Transfer Portal, and the ever expanding playoff system.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

This was the best game Milroe has played based mainly on his running ability. No argument there. He didn't look good on his deep passes. Still not all that accurate on shorter passes. But he was efficient running the offense. He is our best option no doubt. I don't understand why it took so long to get all the parts working , but hopefully we have. I have worried his passing would get us beat. That's still a fair concern. But if he can run effectively like he did last night it alleviates some of my passing concerns. I'm pulling for him 100%.

I'm going to disagree on the bolded.

Ya'll know that I was very critical of his Short and Mid-range passing earlier in the season but he has shown a LOT of improvement on these passes in recent weeks.

He is for the most part hitting guys in stride now with catchable passes.

He is MUCH better at Slants , Out routes, Digs and those dump off routes to the RB's were beautiful and he's also hitting the TE on crossing routes.

The main route he seems to still be iffy on is Corner/Fade Sideline throws because those do require a lot of touch and he hasn't quite got there yet on those.

But his passing accuracy has improved a good deal at every level and those Circus Acrobat catches by WR's from earlier games are becoming less and less needed.

I owned up to the fact that I was wrong about him several games ago when I started seeing noticeable improvement and I'll say it again.... I was wrong about him.

He's Better.

 

[davefrat]

The team has shown steady improvement over the course of the season. A month ago I was worried we'd be looking at mid-tier bowl game and now I'm cautiously optimistic that we'll be in Atlanta with a chance at the SEC title and a playoff game.

All the coaches and players deserve credit for their perseverance and support of one another.

This group is starting to really look like a "team", and that's good news for Bama and not so good news for the rest of the college football world.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

I remember when a few of us wanted Steve Spurrier rather than CNS.

So yeah, everything is debatable in hindsight. As Yogi said, "It's 50/50."

Wasn't that Pat Dye that said that...

 

[Bamabuzzard]

The offensive line blocking more consistently AND Rees calling more designed running QB running plays have opened up the middle of the field A LOT more. I noticed after Milroe ran the first QB-designed run around the left end for a TD, the LSU defensive ends and LB's weren't crashing toward middle as much. But it all starts with the OL and giving the plays called consistent blocking

I'm going to disagree on the bolded.

Ya'll know that I was very critical of his Short and Mid-range passing earlier in the season but he has shown a LOT of improvement on these passes in recent weeks.

He is for the most part hitting guys in stride now with catchable passes.

He is MUCH better at Slants , Out routes, Digs and those dump off routes to the RB's were beautiful and he's also hitting the TE on crossing routes.

The main route he seems to still be iffy on is Corner/Fade Sideline throws because those do require a lot of touch and he hasn't quite got there yet on those.

But his passing accuracy has improved a good deal at every level and those Circus Acrobat catches by WR's from earlier games are becoming less and less needed.

I owned up to the fact that I was wrong about him several games ago when I started seeing noticeable improvement and I'll say it again.... I was wrong about him.

He's Better.

 

[pelleas]

I would remind that, preseason, we were going back to primarily a running team and recruited to it. (Remember "murderball?") It's the reason we have the largest OL in the SEC, maybe the country. It didn't work. The staff, to their credit, backed up and modified their approach, although some of our problems date back to that now abandoned philosophy. I'd be willing to bet that they wish they'd recruited a leaner, more agile LT. Part of that change was convincing JM to become a running QB. Understandably, he had/has NFL ambitions and wanted to be known as a pocket-passing QB. No small part of this coaching job was getting him to buy into the proposition that he wasn't hurting his draft status by running some plays. A glance round the NFL would convince anyone that the NFL values the running ability of a QB. This has been a masterful coaching job, all in all...

So much of the season now makes sense.

 

[UAH]

I know there a few threads discussing some of the points below, but I thought this would be a good cathartic experience for us all. What were we thinking?

The narratives around starting Milroe over Simpson or Buchner ("Why would Saban let a QB transfer if he wasn't going to play"?) are one thing. Many of you on this very board can go back to your post history and cringe.

"This team has quit"
"Saban has lost it"
"Receivers are only catching balls for their favorite QB"
"Someone told me race is a factor in why [x] is starting/not starting" (yes, this happened)

But I'm not here to talk about the QB battle which has worked out exactly as Saban imagined. I'm not saying it did not have rocky moments, but I am saying Saban knew what was best for this team all along. Which brings me to...

Coordinator hires. Boy, we sure settled. We just had to have Glenn Schumann, Jeff Grubb (or Lebby) or [insert hot coordinator hire here]. But then...

"Saban can't get the guys he wants! They're turning him down!"
"Saban won't let them run their offense/defense. He's costing us good hires!"
"No one good wants to work for Saban anymore!"

Obligatory: "The dynasty is dead" / "It's been a fun ride" / etc etc etc

R E L A X

We all knew from the beginning Saban knows best. Or did we forget? Would we have these same objections before *gasp* we went two seasons without a championship??? (never mind we played in the 2021 title game)

Now look at this team. Now look at these coordinator hires. Now look at this QB.

Now, just look (again) at the G.O.A.T.

I'm going to disagree on the bolded.

Ya'll know that I was very critical of his Short and Mid-range passing earlier in the season but he has shown a LOT of improvement on these passes in recent weeks.

He is for the most part hitting guys in stride now with catchable passes.

He is MUCH better at Slants , Out routes, Digs and those dump off routes to the RB's were beautiful and he's also hitting the TE on crossing routes.

The main route he seems to still be iffy on is Corner/Fade Sideline throws because those do require a lot of touch and he hasn't quite got there yet on those.

But his passing accuracy has improved a good deal at every level and those Circus Acrobat catches by WR's from earlier games are becoming less and less needed.

I owned up to the fact that I was wrong about him several games ago when I started seeing noticeable improvement and I'll say it again.... I was wrong about him.

He's Better.

I expect that everyone can see improvement and his strong arm. He still has a lot of work to do on sideline routes and long throws over the middle that are to the wrong shoulder of the reciever. My biggest concern his tendency to throw into double coverage. On one occasion he threw into practically triple coverage in the endzone against LSU.

Kirby Smartt will mask coverage and make him pay for careless throws as he did with Tua. I do hope that he and Rees are allocating time to review film.

 

[Padreruf]

I will never admit my idiocy as my wife would have me committed in a heart beat. I enjoy mine...keeps others guessing as well.

 

[Tidelines]

Did I ask for everyone to apologize? I think you missed the "spirit" of the thread and seem to be taking it personally.

I don't think BB took it personal at all. Just trying to get you to see the bigger picture. I never read anything but heartfelt concern from very loyal fans. You post came off condescending. JMO.

 

[81usaf92]

Ok, you weren't asking anyone to apologize, you were (according to your words) asking everyone to admit they're idiocy and to cringe at their past posts of criticism. I gave you the benefit of the doubt of the "spirit" you intended, because I'm pretty sure I know what you meant, but your words and how you explained it don't convey the spirit you're claiming you intended. Maybe I'm the only one who took it that way, but that's how I read your post.


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The problem is that it didn’t come across as the normal “appreciation” or “I was wrong about this player or coach” thread in which it’s giving people a chance to say “yeah okay I was a bit wrong”. The thread more came out as “I’ve hated a lot of the things said on this board and I’ve been waiting for a high positive moment to throw everything in everyone’s face all at once”.

A more effective way would have been to quote individual posts or go the normal route of “appreciation” threads. Because painting everyone in the same category is really not a great way to achieve the “spirit” that the OP is suggesting the intent was because it’s effectively calling everyone an idiot for having an opinion that wasn’t totally pro Milroe, Rees, and Steele.