Diego Pavia on Alabama game: 'If we play our game, it won't be close'

[Valley View]

If our guys play like they did against Georgia and Wisconsin, I think we win easy. It's still Vanderbilt regardless of what happened last year. We have a real QB this year.

 

[92tide]

I’m curious. If one looks at recruiting rankings, Alabama and Vandy are galaxies apart. Now, here they are, an O line that’s touted as the second coming of the 60’s Packers. Is this a portal built team or were the majority of them developed at Vandy? If the latter, we need to be poaching some coaches!

from my understanding they basically brought in new mexico state’s entire offense last year, including the coach

 

[gtgilbert]

I dont know how our team is preparing for this game, honestly. I know that we are getting elite play from our QB and WRs and serviceable play from our RBs and DBs. But we still need a lot of improvement from our OL, DL, LBs, and ST. In that regard the mystique is gone with Alabama. And our team should be mature enough to recognize this and address it on the practice field and playing with full effort and focus.

The OL, at least the starting group, took a big, big step forward against UGA. When we started running all the other bodies into the game it got a bit less effective, but not sure if that was the players or something UGA was doing adjustment-wise.

 

[AlistarWills]

So serious question cause I have not seen Vandy play at all. Is Pavia’s passing % so high cause he’s standing there fitting the ball into windows or is the situation what it is because his legs are forcing someone to be undisciplined and leaves a wide open receiver?

 

[Saban4Ever]

So serious question cause I have not seen Vandy play at all. Is Pavia’s passing % so high cause he’s standing there fitting the ball into windows or is the situation what it is because his legs are forcing someone to be undisciplined and leaves a wide open receiver?

Probably right, but also he hasn’t played against any good defenses yet. Bama defense, even with flaws, will be the best he has seen this year. Of course he saw our defense last year but hopefully, we change some things to pressure him.

 

[mlh]

So serious question cause I have not seen Vandy play at all. Is Pavia’s passing % so high cause he’s standing there fitting the ball into windows or is the situation what it is because his legs are forcing someone to be undisciplined and leaves a wide open receiver?

I watched the Vandy-USC game. He made some good throws but a lot were where he scrambled and the defenders came off their man to defend against the run, opening throwing windows. But he is talented and will have success if we don't get pressure on him.

 

[AlistarWills]

I watched the Vandy-USC game. He made some good throws but a lot were where he scrambled and the defenders came off their man to defend against the run, opening throwing windows. But he is talented and will have success if we don't get pressure on him.

So if we do the mush rush and don’t get too far upfield and let him step up and get out of the pocket…
Just wondering if he can stand in a pocket snd pick someone apart or if he has to have the threat of his legs opening up the pass game

 

[mlh]

So if we do the mush rush and don’t get too far upfield and let him step up and get out of the pocket…
Just wondering if he can stand in a pocket snd pick someone apart or if he has to have the threat of his legs opening up the pass game

Let me put it this way - he does not have the arm talent of TS. If we get a big lead and force Vandy to rely on the pass, we will win.

 

[cdub55]

My gut is telling me Saturday's game is going too be a mud stomping of epic proportions at Vandy's expense..

In other words, we will beat Vanderbilt like Alabama beats Vanderbilt...

 

[Bama9001]

Long sustained drives like the first two touchdown drives against UGA. Even when we don't drive for a score we need to generate first downs and keep our defense off the field, keep theirs on the field. All of last year was so skewed because of our penchant for turmovers and 3-and-outs. We'll know a lot more about our defense once the offense has had a few more productive outings like the UGA game.

If we win the TOP battle and don't turn it over we will win handily. Would also be nice if we hit our field goals.

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

If our guys play like they did against Georgia and Wisconsin, I think we win easy. It's still Vanderbilt regardless of what happened last year. We have a real QB this year.

They have one of the top offenses in the country. They're legitimately good this year.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

If our guys play like they did against Georgia and Wisconsin, I think we win easy. It's still Vanderbilt regardless of what happened last year. We have a real QB this year.

I think this will be the biggest difference from last year to this year, is the QB position and what we can do on offense. We couldn't get into sustained drives at all last season and it hurt us. We have shown we can eat up a lot of clock too with our passing game and how methodical it is. We just have to continue with the no turnovers and the efficiency. If we do that, I think we win going away. I don't think for one second Vandy's defensive coordinator is better or even equal to Kirby and Schuman and we picked them apart.

 

[STONECOLDSABAN]

Can’t overlook home field advantage. For all the talk of our road woes. Dabeor’s teams seem to do really well on their own turf. I looked it up. He has only lost two home games going back to his time at Fresno.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

Vanderbilt’s getting a little mouthy. We’re not responding, at least not publicly.

I like that.

 

[CoolBreeze]

I think this will be the biggest difference from last year to this year, is the QB position and what we can do on offense. We couldn't get into sustained drives at all last season and it hurt us. We have shown we can eat up a lot of clock too with our passing game and how methodical it is. We just have to continue with the no turnovers and the efficiency. If we do that, I think we win going away. I don't think for one second Vandy's defensive coordinator is better or even equal to Kirby and Schuman and we picked them apart.

Awesome post.

 

[The Ols]

We weren’t that good last year…and certainly not a “team”, and they needed a miracle back footed fingertip caught 4th down rainbow pass at their place to beat us…soooo…I’m laying the 10.5!!!

 

[Redwood Forrest]

The FSU quarterback did the same thing and backed it up. Let's hope the players see this and ensure this time that doesn't happen.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Bruce014]

After the Fla State loss, I was saying (as was Bob Baumhower, it turns out) that this 2025 Bama team bears a weirdly striking similarity to the 1975 squad, one I had the pleasure to watch in person while a student. I have a feeling that the embarrassment of the FSU loss puts us in the right mindset to run the table, just as the embarrassment of the Missouri loss did in '75.
The scores will be different, of course. There won't be 56-0 wins over Clemson or 52-0 over Washington, but I think we will prevail.

Pavia is right: it will not be close

Bama 42 Vandy 21

 

[Smoovee7]

Diego talked before the game last year too and everyone said he was crazy. Bama has not forgotten that game and I believe they didn't need any more motivation than what happened last year. But Vandy just gave 'em even more.

 

[BhamToTexas]

They had him on Gameday. This guy has gone way past confidence which I could respect. He is now just a trash talker and a cocky jerk that needs to have his tail kicked. I hope we do it today.