Why has our offense been so inconsistent recently?

crimsonkelly

All-American
Feb 2, 2002
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Thomasville, GA, USA
because we have stopped running the ball and lost our balance on offense. Against LSU Yeldon and Lacy both averaged over 7 yards per carry in the first half but we stopped giving them the ball in the second half.
Saturday we were very effective straight up the gut and absolutely almost stopped completely again.
For our passing game to be effective we have to be able to run play action passes. Unless we've actually been running the ball it doesn't work.
Sometimes I think we out smart ourselves. Let's get back to what we do best and we'll be fine.
Let's put it this way, how many times have you ever heard an opposing coach say, "We have to somehow stop McCarron?"
No..they say, "To beat Bama we have to stop their running game."
Lately they haven't had to because we've made it easy for them by not running the rock.
JMO
sip
This ^^^
 

mlh

All-American
Apr 28, 2004
3,073
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I agree that it may have to do with AJ not being 100%, AC not being 100%, and our playcalling favoring the pass over the run. But we can't overlook the fact that LSU has one of the best, if not the best defense in the nation, and aTm is also a very good team. The competition we've faced in the last 2 games has been the biggest factor. Our offense was cruising up until then.
 

CapstoneTider

Suspended
Dec 6, 2000
7,453
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I agree that it may have to do with AJ not being 100%, AC not being 100%, and our playcalling favoring the pass over the run. But we can't overlook the fact that LSU has one of the best, if not the best defense in the nation, and aTm is also a very good team. The competition we've faced in the last 2 games has been the biggest factor. Our offense was cruising up until then.
And if I may add that our offense has not been able to feed off of the defense so much. Partially psychological, but our offense usually goes in after a somewhat quick, successful, momentum sustaining, lead sustaining defensive series. This has not been the case these past weeks. This probably has caused a little turmoil that has effected the offense.

Our team is spiritually led by our defense, it was this way with Coach Byant, Coach Stallings and now coach Saban. When our defense is off, the whole ship goes down.
 

TexasTideFan

All-American
Feb 6, 2003
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Kingwood, TX
I wonder if Yeldon's fumble palyed a part in us not running near the goalline?
I doubt it. You have maybe the best O-Line in the country and you don't run blows my mind. If I was calling plays that night, I would have called a Time Out after that bomb from AJ and told our line that you have 4 running plays to confirm to us as coaches and to the rest of the free world that you can motorgrade these guys back to College Station. I doubt anyone would have complained if we at least tried.
 

Rama Jama

All-American
Jan 4, 2011
3,303
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Tuscaloosa
Perhaps McCarron is still not 100% from his injuries?
While I do think he has been a little off since the back injury, I do not think that is the only thing that is a problem. We clearly miss Fowler who was a devastating lead blocker. I don't think we do anything but run from the 5 with Fowler in the lineup. We also miss Hart to lesser extent. He was a 3rd down specialist and gave us a change of pace. We have also lost D white who gave us another option. All of those injuries have maybe forced to be something we are ill suited to be, A passing team. We just are not and should not be a pass 1st offense.

It doesn't happen often, but I think we were outcoached in this one.
 

PacadermaTideUs

All-American
Dec 10, 2009
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Navarre, FL
I know that the official word is "back injury", but I firmly believe he reinjured his throwing shoulder - not his back - vs MSU. He was driven into the turf squarely on his shoulder, same one injured last year and operated on after the NCG. Ideal hit to reinjure the shoulder.

He's been much more inaccurate ever since. 68.9% pass completion before injury, 57.4% since. 9.5yds per attempt before injury, 7.8yds per attempt since. I think knowing he's injured, opponents have been stacking the box to try to stuff the run and force us to throw.

Of course as the offense has struggled to maintain ball-control, the defense is less rested.
 

jwp3d

Scout Team
Nov 3, 2010
194
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The last few seasons I have been counting the number of run plays in a row and we hardly ever run more than 2 plays in a row. We run 2 plays and then throw it. We ran the ball 3 times in a row against LSU once and we never ran it more than 2 plays in a row against A&M. It is obvious that if we run it 2 times then the next play will most likely be a pass. Pay attention to this pattern in the next few games. Many have said we should have run it 4 times at the end of the A&M game but for some reason our offensive philosophy is not to run it more than 2 times in a row. The lack of running the ball cost us the LSU game last season and is one of the things that contributed to losing to A&M, but I don't see this pattern changing any time soon.
 

FF4bama

1st Team
Sep 13, 2012
956
289
87
I doubt it. You have maybe the best O-Line in the country and you don't run blows my mind. If I was calling plays that night, I would have called a Time Out after that bomb from AJ and told our line that you have 4 running plays to confirm to us as coaches and to the rest of the free world that you can motorgrade these guys back to College Station. I doubt anyone would have complained if we at least tried.
^^^
This
 

BamaRV

BamaNation Citizen
Jun 19, 2007
68
0
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Roswell, GA
I doubt it. You have maybe the best O-Line in the country and you don't run blows my mind. If I was calling plays that night, I would have called a Time Out after that bomb from AJ and told our line that you have 4 running plays to confirm to us as coaches and to the rest of the free world that you can motorgrade these guys back to College Station. I doubt anyone would have complained if we at least tried.
Every single person in our group came back to our tailgate with this same comment. 4 plays to get 6 yards with the best O-line in the country and you don't give them the chance.
 

gwilliams

1st Team
Aug 29, 2011
462
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0
It doesn't happen often, but I think we were outcoached in this one.
aTm did some quick strick things early. Every team wants to do this even BAMA. But after adjusting, aTm scored 9 points the last 3 qtrs of the game. NINE. The defense did fine. There were drive stoppers for BAMA---mistakes and just pure luck of the bounce, EVERY bounce went their way. Play aTm again next week and BAMA beats them like BAMA did in the LSU rematch last year.

I think the defense adjusted but the offense---not so much.
 

bamafaninOhiO

All-American
May 11, 2010
2,114
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Dayton, Ohio
I understand what you're saying..I don't agree that it cheapens the game..That's the point of the spread..It tires out the D trying to stop it..It's up to our coaches & players to adjust to it to stop it..JMO

I agree with you, it doesnt 'cheapen' the game. The objewct of the game is to find an opponents weakness and exploit it.
Cant be upset that a team that cant match up in a slugfest finds a way to beat you in other ways...
 

CRIMTIDE

Scout Team
Jan 29, 2004
122
0
0
Knoxville
IMHO, If you watch the defense closely against A&M, when we brought pressure, we won more plays than we lost. The first 3 drives we rushed 3 or 4 and played zone and A&M picked us apart. I thought we should have adjusted earlier and sent pressure. UF and LSU both done this in the second half of their games and it really made a difference. On offense, if you look at the play by play drive summary, we don't stay with the run long enough. Two examples: first, in the third qtr. we hold them 3 and out. Then we run 5 yds on first down and pass on 2nd and 3rd. Second A&M drive, 3 and out. then we come out pass on first down for a yard. (2nd and 9) Lacey 8 yd run. (3rd and 1) Lacey 3 yd run. (1st and 10) incomplete. (2nd and 10) draw for no gain. (3rd and 10) McCarron to lacey 21 yd. gain.

Here is where I get confused:
(1st and 10) Lacey 3 yd run
(2nd and 7) Yeldon 5 yd run

Both of these plays were run out of a wide set meaning multiple wide receivers. On third down we bring in the tight ends and the fullback and get stuffed because everybody knew we were running. Then we kick a field goal.

It brings to mind the saying if it ain't broke don't fix it!!
With the wide receivers in, the backers and safeties are worrying about the run and pass and we have a numbers advantage in the box.

Moral of the story: IMHO, Our one back set gives us much more production than the heavy set between the 20's.
 

glasscutter256

All-American
Jan 31, 2009
2,173
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Huntsville
I love how many offensive coordinators we have here on this board. :biggrin: Saban has said many times that he strives for balance. If we are predictable running the football every time, teams will load the box and stop our run. I think we have had balance in every game this year. The only reason we threw more last game is because we were behind and trying to play catch up. If we are ahead, we'll run it more to run out the clock.
I do think we could have more creativity in running the ball. More reverses. Misdirection plays. Shovel pass. etc. We haven't been very creative in how we mix up our running plays. It was almost like aTm had our playbook and knew exactly where our plays were going every time. I guess that is good coaching on their part. Our receivers were covered up all night and they constantly closed our running lanes. Lacy and Yeldon were having to cut back constantly. That could be execution or they were better prepared.
 

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