JessN: Indiana Wrap-up: The Defeat Was in the Details

[HMM]

My thoughts...

I enjoyed the band playing Fat Bottom Girls...the rest sucked...lol

I hope Ty comes back, I think the world of him but he's getting killed back there. I think he can be elite if we can get him some dang help! Our O-line is terrible, our coaching is suspect; I think a change somewhere is needed. Someone's head needs to be on the chopping block for this or more like heads. Really thinking less and less of Grubb, his lack of ability to have a run game is unacceptable. I want to like Deboer but his intensity just isn't there from what I can see, the team is soft and not focused. I miss that it's a business trip mindset. I'd love to see Pruitt back as DC or at least on staff. And maybe a change at Strength & Conditioning...something to get some fire back!

 

[64 Grad]

Alabama beat the SEC teams because they are not that good. DeBoer would be smart to hire Pruitt. He was D C on Saban's best defenses. Put him in charge. If the defense did not improve then look pass coaching. I have no clue on offense. He is supposed to be a top offensive coach.

 

[gtgilbert]

Alabama beat the SEC teams because they are not that good. DeBoer would be smart to hire Pruitt. He was D C on Saban's best defenses. Put him in charge. If the defense did not improve then look pass coaching. I have no clue on offense. He is supposed to be a top offensive coach.

I'm a fan of Pruitt, but that doesn't address the real issue right now which is the offense. I wasn't a Wommack fan and there are still some things I don't really like (going into the odd front, for example), but overall, he's got the unit working relatively well.

 

[denver]

I'm a fan of Pruitt, but that doesn't address the real issue right now which is the offense. I wasn't a Wommack fan and there are still some things I don't really like (going into the odd front, for example), but overall, he's got the unit working relatively well.

Somewhere on one of the threads there was a list of 2024 vs 2025....and we have given up more 3rd downs, 4th downs, yards per play, rushing yards, red zone points or something like that..I'll try to find it...i think his defense is fools gold

Found it...

 

[TideTerry]

Hello everyone, I haven't posted before, but I have been an Alabama fan since the mid 1960's. I can only recall 3 losses that embarrassed us as much as this one: Nebraska 38 Bama 6 (1972), Va Tech 38 Bama 3 in first Music City Bowl, and the loss to Clemson in National Championship Game 44 to 16 in think. The positive thing I can say about this season is we beat all our rivals, Ga, Vols, LSU, and Auburn, and got revenge on Sooners. Beating those 4 rivals hasn't happened too often in same year.

 

[Rocky Mtn Bob]

Hello everyone, I haven't posted before, but I have been an Alabama fan since the mid 1960's....

Welcome, Terry!

 

[CB4]

Quit is a strong term, to be sure. And I loathe using it with college players, but the paradigm has shifted with pay for play. But what I saw in that defense in the second half is something I have not seen from Alabama since Mike DuBose was coach. Maybe it wasn’t “quit” but let’s say it looked like they had accepted their fate.

To be certain the defense has not been the issue all year and maybe they just reached their limit with dealing with that fact yesterday. But I can’t deny what I saw.

This is how stupid all the stuff is now college athletics. The NCAA (you know, the feckless bunch in Indianapolis) “strictly prohibits” (cough cough) NIL being performance based, or tied to attendance at a school or game outcome oriented. BUT the new revenue shared model “can be tied to a player’s market value”. Huh?
So NIL - how does a player create the greatest “Name, Image, and Likeness” value? By their performance IN COMPETITION. How do the create they greatest market value? The very same way. It is utterly idiotic.
So with NIL these days you can’t set objective goals for players in order to receive their “bag o’ cash”. In many cases, you’re buying the proverbial “pig in a poke sack”.
Just look at the guy on our team last year that hopped in the portal supposedly heading to another program in the conference. We cave, match a high dollar figure in NIL AND let him change positions. And for the most part he rode the pine and played some special teams. Great “bang for the buck”, right. He hops in the portal again, walks away with a nice check, and the program receives little to nothing in terms of contribution.
Yep, we are as soft as fluffy down pillow. Why? Mentality. They don’t have to fight for a darn thing. They get it regardless. Meanwhile we have given into a “Coach Marty Milktoast” approach of “let’s not demand too much, they might leave. We need to make sure they are happy”.
Did they quit on Thursday? You darn right they did.

 

[bamaga]

You were much more gentle in your assessment than I expected. I'm very surprised nothing was mentioned about how much we got physically manhandled on both sides of the ball and how the lack of consistent physicality has seemingly become a staple in a DeBoer led Alabama team.

There is that thin line between winning and getting blown out. (Blue font implied)

 

[Cruloc]

Hello everyone, I haven't posted before, but I have been an Alabama fan since the mid 1960's. I can only recall 3 losses that embarrassed us as much as this one: Nebraska 38 Bama 6 (1972), Va Tech 38 Bama 3 in first Music City Bowl, and the loss to Clemson in National Championship Game 44 to 16 in think. The positive thing I can say about this season is we beat all our rivals, Ga, Vols, LSU, and Auburn, and got revenge on Sooners. Beating those 4 rivals hasn't happened too often in same year.

Welcome.

Speaking of embarrassing losses......under DeBoer and his 8 overall losses....how many have been absolute embarrassments in one form or fashion?

6

24-Vandy
24-OU
24-Michigan
25-FSU
25-Georgia
25-Indiana

The other two we were at least competitive and/or prepared
24-Tennessee
25-OU

Those 6 embarrassments:
24-Vandy - the defense couldn't stop a cold
24-OU - replay Milroe's attempted tackle on the pick 6
24-Michigan - turnover fest again, unprepared
25-FSU - manhandled up and down the field
25-Georgia - sure, we're injured here, but the offense was putrid
25-Indiana - we might as well have been Eastern Illinois

 

[Cruloc]

There is that thin line between winning and getting blown out. (Blue font implied)

That quote from DeBoer tells me all I need to know now.

He's a champion of life too.

 

[umlb1]

That quote from DeBoer tells me all I need to know now.

He's a champion of life too.

Yeah, I thought that comment from CKD was pretty baseless--like trying to make himself feel better. From my perspective, the line between Indiana and Alabama is bold and thick, and I'm tired of CDK blowing smoke otherwise. I'm resigned to the fact that he has a minimum of 1-2 more years in Tuscaloosa. I wish I had more confidence, but what I see looks strangely more like a DuBose or Shula team than a Bryant or Saban team.

 

[editder]

I'm a fan of Pruitt, but that doesn't address the real issue right now which is the offense. I wasn't a Wommack fan and there are still some things I don't really like (going into the odd front, for example), but overall, he's got the unit working relatively well.

He managed to keep the scoring down most of the season, oddly enough given how soft they were. With few exceptions nobody lowers the boom anymore. They just wrestle people to the ground, which often leads to opposing offenses moving the pile for 10 extra yards. I remember when we used to do that with Ingram, Richardson and others.