Bama vs. Indy in the Rose Bowl - Jan. 1

[bamaga]

Yes it is huge news! more so for his health than the team! But huge for the team !

 

[BamaMoon]

Williams scares me to death when he possesses the ball in traffic. He’s had turnovers because he doesn’t secure the ball very well. IMO, give Ty adequate time and try to hit him on a go route early in the game. If successful, we could then maybe loosen them up and have a little success running the ball.

I think that would be smart. A shot early in the game (preferably on a 2nd and short) sends a message that we are willing to try. Williams is probably our fastest receiver.

I know what most are thinking...even if he's open, he'll drop it, but it's worth ONE play to test them and to see how Williams responds IMO.

We can quibble about his hands and ball security, but his feet are world class and if he's suddenly engaged in a game plan, he could "go off."

I don't think IU would see that coming.

Obviously, I'm not arguing to build a game plan around him, but that we just don't forget that a play or two with him involved can potentially turn the "TIDE" in our favor.

 

[JustNeedMe81]

There are ways to get ball in Williams hand to build confidence. He was doing decent job in Georgia game. Need to call a Jet WR play for him. Let him go and make plays. Screen pass, few easy play. Take the pressure off him. I have a feeling he'll go off in Indiana game.

 

[BamaMoon]

There are ways to get ball in Williams hand to build confidence. He was doing decent job in Georgia game. Need to call a Jet WR play for him. Let him go and make plays. Screen pass, few easy play. Take the pressure off him. I have a feeling he'll go off in Indiana game.

I think that's possible too.

BTW, good call on Overton a few days ago!

Now, any year end stock advice???

 

[bamaga]

There are ways to get ball in Williams hand to build confidence. He was doing decent job in Georgia game. Need to call a Jet WR play for him. Let him go and make plays. Screen pass, few easy play. Take the pressure off him. I have a feeling he'll go off in Indiana game.

The problem with the Jet Sweep is the Same for returning punts. In space with defenders attacking from multiple angles, I don’t know if he can be trusted to protect the ball. I really hate to say that, I would love to see him at 165 yards and three TDs . But RW has a confidence issue and I’m not sure if the coaches and the QB haven’t mentally moved on from him.

 

[bamaga]

No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 9 Alabama: Who holds the matchup advantage?

College Football Playoff Quarterfinal: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 9 Alabama | A closer look at the statistical matchup between the Hoosiers and Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl Game.

247sports.com

The S&P+ plus is garbage. As is that article. Bama fell 2 spots in the S&P+ after beating Oklahoma, to 15th, not 25th as stated in the article, and Oklahoma is still rated 12th after losing to Alabama at home.
Bama is 8th in the FPI, not 16th as stated in the article. I’m sure this was purposely done to heighten the mismatch on paper.
From Connelly - SP+ is intended to be predictive and forward-facing. It is not a résumé ranking, so it does not automatically give credit for big wins or particularly brave scheduling. So the schedule difference may make a huge difference. anyway, Bama has not fared well All season according to the S&P+ model. They need to go back and tweak their algorithms , they call most of Bama wins unlikely duplicated luck. But, with Bama it has been duplicated 11 times.

 

[CoolBreeze]

The S&P+ plus is garbage. As is that article. Bama fell 2 spots in the S&P+ after beating Oklahoma, to 15th, not 25th as stated in the article, and Oklahoma is still rated 12th after losing to Alabama at home.
Bama is 8th in the FPI, not 16th as stated in the article. I’m sure this was purposely done to heighten the mismatch on paper.
From Connelly - SP+ is intended to be predictive and forward-facing. It is not a résumé ranking, so it does not automatically give credit for big wins or particularly brave scheduling. So the schedule difference may make a huge difference. anyway, Bama has not fared well All season according to the S&P+ model. They need to go back and tweak their algorithms , they call most of Bama wins unlikely duplicated luck. But, with Bama it has been duplicated 11 times.

I love the piece frankly. The more we are doubted the better our chances are.

 

[JDCrimson]

I dont think he has a confidence issue. I think he has a scared I dont want to be out here issue...

The problem with the Jet Sweep is the Same for returning punts. In space with defenders attacking from multiple angles, I don’t know if he can be trusted to protect the ball. I really hate to say that, I would love to see him at 165 yards and three TDs . But RW has a confidence issue and I’m not sure if the coaches and the QB haven’t mentally moved on from him.

 

[CrimSonami]

Good to hear Overton has been cleared! Happy for him no matter how much he might be able to contribute. In my mind let’s don’t let him scratch the itch to the point he breaks the skin.

Ryan Williams? I have no idea the root cause(s) of his decline. He does however indicate he does not want to get hit. That in itself is a rhythm breaker, especially in the slot where a single hit can be life altering. I hope he breaks out of it in glorious fashion but we have a very capable supporting cast around him. Looking back now I wonder if maybe he shouldn’t have reclassified but have no clue on who or how hard he was pushed to do so.

 

[countrytider]

I think that would be smart. A shot early in the game (preferably on a 2nd and short) sends a message that we are willing to try. Williams is probably our fastest receiver.

I know what most are thinking...even if he's open, he'll drop it, but it's worth ONE play to test them and to see how Williams responds IMO.

We can quibble about his hands and ball security, but his feet are world class and if he's suddenly engaged in a game plan, he could "go off."

I don't think IU would see that coming.

Obviously, I'm not arguing to build a game plan around him, but that we just don't forget that a play or two with him involved can potentially turn the "TIDE" in our favor.

Honestly I’d take a shot or two down field instead of wasting 1st and 2nd down with 1 yard run plays.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

Has Alabama ever played a game like this before? I'm struggling to remember ever going against a historically atrocious team with a #1 ranking and perfect season on the line in the postseason.

'92 Miami?

 

[tideindc]

'92 Miami?

Miami was defending national champ. Don’t understand the comp

 

[GOIU]

Aight. We are way past the 24 hour rule. Time to focus on taking down the Hoosiers. I wonder, do their fans now say, "We are a football school?"

So, what ya got???

We don’t consider us a football school. I figure we need to win 3 Nattys before we say that.

 

[GOIU]

Hoosier fan here. We are not associated with Indianapolis so we not INDY. Bloomington or Btown please. I don’t think there is a D1 football team in Indy.

 

[GOIU]

I think we do ok. I believe our defense ( if healthy) will do well to stop their offense with their Heisman QB. Our offense is capable of scoring enough to win. Indy is a good team for sure, but they've never played a team like Bama.

No, IU hasn’t played a team like Bama. We play in the BIG 10. In my opinion the only good team there is in the SEC is Georgia. The rest are just mediocre. IU has beat 2 of the top 3 teams in the nation. Bama better be ready.

 

[BamaInCummingGA]

I don't know bro, we got a 50/50 shot at best. Indy is the first place seed for a reason and we have had a long tough road to this point. They are fresher, very confident, although relatively untested. Gonna take our A game to get the W. I just hope the team realizes that.

Gonna agree to disagree here.
There's something to be said for being battle tested and playing better competition top to bottom.
I have respect for Indiana but I remember a couple of Notre Dame teams who came in undefeated and played an Alabama team that was battle tested and Notre Dame was more rested because ,of course, no conference championship game for them.
Again, not saying we're gonna win or whatever but I think we have a better than 50/50 shot.

 

[GOIU]

They're a very good team and I'm not surprised they are favored by a TD. They have a good QB. Some solid WRs. They can rush the passer well. They had 5 sacks vs Ohio State and 6 vs Oregon. Their schedule is uneven but they had good wins vs Oregon and Ohio State and absolutely dominated some decent teams like Illinois. Allowed 2nd fewest ppg

Holy crap A tide fan that has some logical thoughts.

 

[GOIU]

This is exactly the stuff their fan base thinks.

It really caught me off guard elsewhere with how brash and cocky they are acting.

If the IU TEAM thinks this way too then we’ll definitely have a fair shot if we also approach the game with a massive chip on our shoulders.

I never expected to go into this game feeling like it was Miami vs Alabama in the ‘93 Sugar Bowl but this fan base is talking crazy trash on par with those 80-90s teams and they haven’t even won anything yet.

It’s wild.

IU will not be cocky. Some fans, yes, but this team will be ready. They will be hungry to take down a traditional powerhouse.

 

[The Ols]

Yea, it would definately take some good breaks, maybe an early not. I do have confidence we'll pressure the qb more than he's accustomed to. Maybe it'll all add up to mistakes on their part and we can get some offense on our p[art we haven't seen in a while.

I still believe field position is such a huge factor in every game…if we can make them start deep in their own territory it’s a mental/psychological advantage as well as the long field.

Holy crap A tide fan that has some logical thoughts.

Wow…just seeing how long it takes I see…nice.

 

[BamaInCummingGA]

I think some of y'all may have let the comeback win against Oklahoma affect you like the Indiana fans and some of their players feel after beating tOSU. I do not know how good Indiana is, but they beat tOSU which is arguably the most talented team in college football. Cignetti is a very good coach and having coached for CNS a number of years he is not going to let his team buy into we beat tOSU, and Alabama isn't nearly as good. Yes, we have more overall talent than Indiana, played a tougher schedule, but whether our coaching is better is yet to be seen.

I don't think this is the case for most. We just believe Bama CAN win.
I don't think we're saying IU is no good. We know they are.
We're saying we are battle tested and are not gonna back down.
Will we win? Who knows.
Can we win? We surely can.