Bama Game Thread: Alabama vs Michigan PreGame Leadup thread

[81usaf92]

I think it’s time to really talk about our opponent. So the purpose of this is to:

- report news
- talk about Bama vs Michigan
- talk about the Citrus Bowl
- give info to those traveling


-Please don’t make this a fight about how disappointing this season is or how bad this team is or isn’t. Negativity is okay as long as it’s not over the top just for the purpose of getting a reaction to destroy the thread.

- Also please no score predictions because that is not my thread. But a simple “ I feel great”, “close game”, or it’s going to be a blowout is fine.


So with that said:

- so far only 2 Alabama players are skipping the Bowl (Diggs and Lewis) and Dale is questionable with an injury

- the series is tied 2-2 with Michigan. Michigan won the HOF Bowl and the Orange Bowl meeting. While Bama won the 96 Outback bowl and the 2012 opener.

So here are some questions to get us started:

1) Despite it not being our season goal, are you happy with the matchup?
- Yes it’s a game between blue blood s

2) Are you going to attend?

- Sadly no

3) What concerns you about Michigan?
- Originally Not being ready for it but now it’s really Harbaugh finding a weird formation that gives us hell

4) What is your take on Michigan this year?

- They are talented but way undersized on the D-line

5) Favorite Bama- Michigan moment?

- Dwayne Rudd pick six in the 96 Outback Bowl and CGS given a victory ride off the field for his final game.

6) Worst Bama-Michigan moment?

- Tom Brady coming back from 14 down us twice might be up there, but our 100 year itch of bad field goal kicking started in the Orange Bowl

7) Most interesting matchup to see?

- Bama’s O line vs Michigan’s Dline. Don Brown calls a lot of blitzes

8) Player most interested in seeing?

- Mac Jones

Have fun. RTR

 

[BAMAVILLE]

I'm extremely happy with the matchup, I'm a MSU football fan as well so I'm ALWAYS happy to see Michigan football lose.

Taking a look at some stats, They are ranked 6th nationally as a total defense which will make them the best defense we will face this season. The Fighting Hawbaws allowed 120 ypg rushing and 173 ypg passing. In comparison though, OSU passed for over 300 yards on them and J.K Dobbins alone rushed for 211 yards. (Wisky's Jonathan Taylor rushed for 203 yards)

On offense they have been for the most part average, just over 250 yards passing and 150 rushing per game. They average 33 points per game (ranked 30th nationally)

It won't be an easy game, but if we do everything correctly, we should win going away. I just hope we make it our mission to dominate, dismantle and destroy them.

 

[CajunCrimson]

1) Despite it not being our season goal, are you happy with the matchup?
- From the matchups I've seen for other bowls, we did great

2) Are you going to attend?

- no

3) What concerns you about Michigan?
- Not much really....I foresee a Mich State type domination....

4) What is your take on Michigan this year?

- Not as fast as they think they are.....traditional B1G team..... will have a few big splash plays early

5) Favorite Bama- Michigan moment?

- pass

6) Worst Bama-Michigan moment?

- Tom Brady

7) Most interesting matchup to see?

- The Wide Outs vs their DBs

8) Player most interested in seeing?
Mac.....gotta see if he still has the confidence

 

[Al A Bama]

Will any Wolverines miss the game because of the NFL Draft?

 

[81usaf92]

Will any Wolverines miss the game because of the NFL Draft?

Far as I know none.

 

[BamaDMD]

I did not know that it is the only 5th time we've met. I think we can handle them. Not as well as the opener about 4 years ago though. Should be fun if we show up ticked.

 

[BAMAVILLE]

Will any Wolverines miss the game because of the NFL Draft?

None yet ... several of he players have been quoted in saying that they felt like they had something to prove after such a down year

 

[BAMAVILLE]

Not sure if this has been posted anywhere but a good article from coach about the Citrus Bowl: https://247sports.com/college/alaba...irations-of-national-championship--140648839/

 

[PA Tide Fan]

I am happy to be playing Michigan. I think they will be somewhat easier to defend because they are a run first kind of team so not as much pressure on our secondary. I think our coaching staff should study a lot of film from Ohio State-Michigan games because of the tremendous success they've had against Don Brown defenses. I think we'll win this one.

 

[BamaMoon]

OP's thought about "100 year itch of bad field goal kicking started in the Orange Bowl" got me to thinking: Is it possible for Will Rechierd to be ready to play in this game. I haven't heard anything about him lately.

I think he's played in more than 4 games so there's no need to protect his redshirt now and if he's able/ready/recovered I hope we get to see him!

 

[CoolBreeze]

First of all, thank you. I always enjoy your posts. Now, on to the business:

1) Despite it not being our season goal, are you happy with the matchup?
- Yes, very happy with what I think will be a good game

2) Are you going to attend?
- Unfortunately not

3) What concerns you about Michigan?
- Their will to win this greater than ours

4) What is your take on Michigan this year?
- Overated to begin the season and solid effort down the stretch

5) + 6) Favorite/worst Bama- Michigan moment?
- Gotta echo both of yours

7) Most interesting matchup to see?
- Definitely looking forward to the battles in the trenches but more curious about our overall D play

8) Player most interested in seeing?
- Mac Jones, by far

 

[BAMAVILLE]

The biggest thing I'm thinking Michigan tries to take advantage of is the downfield passes and shoulder fade passes. Anything that will give their DPJ and Nico a 50/50 shot at catching it over our CBs. I'm also sure they will work in some QB draws as well. It will be somewhat (emphasis on somwhat) similar to playing West Georgia. They aren't explosive, but they have weapons that will allow them to move the sticks.

 

[teamplayer]

All I know is losing to both Tigers on our schedule stinks, so losing to Harbaugh and the Wolverines would be tough to take. I also know that I don't want to hear any crap about our players being flat because they didn't want to be there. If any players don't want to be there, leave their arses home. Let's get after Michigan's tail and bury them and leave a stupid look on Harbaugh's face.

 

[Ole Man Dan]

I think it’s time to really talk about our opponent. So the purpose of this is to:

- report news
- talk about Bama vs Michigan
- talk about the Citrus Bowl
- give info to those traveling


-Please don’t make this a fight about how disappointing this season is or how bad this team is or isn’t. Negativity is okay as long as it’s not over the top just for the purpose of getting a reaction to destroy the thread.

- Also please no score predictions because that is not my thread. But a simple “ I feel great”, “close game”, or it’s going to be a blowout is fine.


So with that said:

- so far only 2 Alabama players are skipping the Bowl (Diggs and Lewis) and Dale is questionable with an injury

- the series is tied 2-2 with Michigan. Michigan won the HOF Bowl and the Orange Bowl meeting. While Bama won the 96 Outback bowl and the 2012 opener.

So here are some questions to get us started:

1) Despite it not being our season goal, are you happy with the matchup?
- Yes it’s a game between blue blood s

2) Are you going to attend?

- Sadly no

3) What concerns you about Michigan?
- Originally Not being ready for it but now it’s really Harbaugh finding a weird formation that gives us hell

4) What is your take on Michigan this year?

- They are talented but way undersized on the D-line

5) Favorite Bama- Michigan moment?

- Dwayne Rudd pick six in the 96 Outback Bowl and CGS given a victory ride off the field for his final game.

6) Worst Bama-Michigan moment?

- Tom Brady coming back from 14 down us twice might be up there, but our 100 year itch of bad field goal kicking started in the Orange Bowl

7) Most interesting matchup to see?

- Bama’s O line vs Michigan’s Dline. Don Brown calls a lot of blitzes

8) Player most interested in seeing?

- Mac Jones

Have fun. RTR

Michigan is pretty fired up about their chances to beat Alabama on TV.
They saw where some of our guys are planning to sit out the bowl, and I guess they figure it's about the only way they can beat us.

With that attitude, I'd like to see us whup em bad.
One thing is for sure. We don't need silly penalties to stop us.
AND... we don't need to play from behind.

 

[BamaFanatJSU]

For the love of sweet baby Jesus, I just want to see our defense find a way to get off the field on 3rd Down.

 

[ROTYDE]

Michigan will be coming for us. We had better be mental ready.

 

[BamaFlum]

Harbaugh is an emotional coach and we have trouble with these types of coaches get their teams ready to play us. But, their offense is nothing like Auburn’s and Patterson is no Burrow, so I believe the defense will look better. We ran and passed through Auburn’s defense like butter so if the guys come to play we should score some points.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

1) Despite it not being our season goal, are you happy with the matchup?
- Yes it’s a game between blue blood s

Don't really care either way.

The only matchups right now that I'd get maybe a little bit excited about are teams we've NEVER played before (most of the Pac 12) OR teams with long-term great reps that we haven't played for a LONG time (e.g. Nebraska is the best example).

2) Are you going to attend?

Nah

3) What concerns you about Michigan?

I'm afraid they will be motivated and we won't - in which case, we're going to lose.

4) What is your take on Michigan this year?

Haven't watched them play

5) Favorite Bama- Michigan moment?

At the Dallas game in 2012 - my first time at Jerry World - and my son took something like 105 pictures of the cheerleaders of both schools

6) Worst Bama-Michigan moment?

Teaser Tom Y2K

7) Most interesting matchup to see?

Our field goal kicking versus reality

8) Player most interested in seeing?

Tyrell Shavers - went to school and graduated with my son so....hoping.

 

[TideEngineer08]

1. I am happy with the match up. These are the kinds of non-conference games that make me happy.

2. Not going to attend, but how much fun would a Citrus Bowl trip coupled with a Disney vacation be?

3. I'm not terribly concerned with anything about Michigan. I am more concerned with our attitude going into the game. But I've got a good feeling about that based upon the little things we've heard thus far.

4. My take on Michigan is similar to that of Jon Stevenson's take on Ohio State leading up to the 1995 Citrus Bowl: Slow, and lack of foot speed.

5. Favorite Alabama/Michigan moment: I echo the Dwayne Rudd INT TD return in Coach Stallings's last game.

6. Least favorite: well it would have to be the 2000 Orange Bowl, and Pflugner's missed XP, which I've always said was karma paying us back for Florida's missed XP in our regular season win against them that year.

7. Most interesting match up: how our defense does against their offense. I think we're fine on the other side of the ball, so if the defense has a great game, it is going to be a blowout.

8. Player most interested in seeing: really, it's the ILBs. I think they hold the key to this being a white knuckle game or a blow out for us.

 

[B1GTide]

This is a great game for two obvious reasons:
1. It is Michigan, another blue blood
2. Both teams really want to win and are capable of winning, which will keep Alabama focused through practices.

#2 is really huge as a lesser matchup would be less likely to glean the focus necessary to see improvement which can carry over into 2020, and it is all about 2020 now.