Is Coach Saban's new "Softer Side" part of the process?

[BamaInMo1]

I think the o-line will come along. We knew we'd have issues from the tallent that was lost. Have to work on communication and assignments. We have the head coach and the staff to work with these guys and get their best effort. All teams have a "bad" game and if this was our one bad game this season then better to get it over now.

 

[JBama_in_PCOLA]

Soft?! Just you wait! Lol what til we beat A&M

 

[BamaPosaune]

Cannot kick a dead horse. If the o-line really is the suck, then he can't very well beat them into shape in two weeks. I'm concerned, but I believe enough in The Process to think that CNS has a plan B, C, and D ready for TA&M. RTR!

 

[CAgirl]

I might be naive, but this offensive line goes up against one of the best defenses in the nation every day at practice. It's not like they haven't been challenged. I know it's different in a game situation, but really? I can't help but believe something is really off here and doesn't quite add up. I think they're better than they showed.

 

[SavannahDare]

We all change as we age. CNS will always have his personality and "ways," but I'm sure he's learning that building a winning program and keeping a program winning are different objectives that require some different approaches. He may not be very good with people, but he seems to be pretty good at reading players and what works to motivate them properly. Maybe this group needs something a little softer. Just a thought.

 

[RollTide1224]

I might be naive, but this offensive line goes up against one of the best defenses in the nation every day at practice. It's not like they haven't been challenged. I know it's different in a game situation, but really? I can't help but believe something is really off here and doesn't quite add up. I think they're better than they showed.

That was my thought as well, how could these issues not have been known before we got into the game? I know VA Tech has a good defense but I think I can safely say ours is better.

The whole offensive performance was so confusing all around I think that is why us fans are having a hard time figuring out what exactly was going on or what went wrong in the game.

 

[rgw]

The softer side concerns me because I think it is because he knows trying to criticize through the media might make these guys mentally shut down because they're trying their best but still struggling in practice. We shall see.

 

[Perrett4Bama]

Nah, he's just lost his fire.

Should have colored this post blue.......

 

[Luvubama]

Maybe he thought that talking to them personally "coaching them up" would be better than trying to do it through the media. I'm sure he had lots to say to them in private.

 

[TideMom2Boys]

Good question but...

I think if we sit here and try to over analyze every move he makes..we will all go crazy.


We can't change the outcome of the next game. It is what it is. I fully expect Saban will do his best to have the guys ready. We can't judge a whole season and Coach Saban's demeanor on one game.

 

[JDCrimson]

It might not be chronologically accurate but at the game the other night my father and I both commented that we had a lot of inexperienced players playing key positions.

Imo, these players probably feel the pressure from the standard set before them and they don't want to be the ones to screw it up.

I suspect that CNS senses this and probably exhibiting more patience right now with the group. Likewise, it might be more detrimental to their development if he came down hard on them in the game or in PCs. Seriously if he made too big of an issue of it during a PC it could become a big public distraction the team doesn't need right now.

I could be wrong but I think we have some serious issues on the OL. I can understand stacking the box and all making it difficult to run. But we were getting absolutely blown up at the point of attack on numerous plays.

Its hard to say definitively right now what the issue is but I will say that I saw several times where our guys were whipped 1 on 1. Personally I think kelly is too light at 290 to hold his ground in the middle. But he is the best we have right now.

We could be tipping our plays again. There was rumor of that last year after WKU.

At worst the line should have stalemated their DL. But from where I was sitting I think we were lucky we didn't get AJ/TJ hurt.

Sent from my LG-P930 using Tapatalk 2

 

[rgw]

Saban's softer attitude has tempered my expectations...hopefully we can pull off a 2012 Florida minus the 6 TO game costing us a SECCG berth.

 

[TideFan in AU]

That was my thought as well, how could these issues not have been known before we got into the game? I know VA Tech has a good defense but I think I can safely say ours is better.

The whole offensive performance was so confusing all around I think that is why us fans are having a hard time figuring out what exactly was going on or what went wrong in the game.

The slants and stunts that VT's D line was doing is not something our players do in practice, and its not something VT normally does either. Our players were not prepared for it, and hadn't seen film on a lot of it. Even CNS said this himself. I think that's why even Cyrus struggled so much.

Its not as simple as saying "our defense is better than VT's" and automatically assuming we shouldn't have struggled. There's a lot more to football than that. I think Bud Foster knew their only chance was to hit us with something that we would not be prepared for. Its the same reason CNS usually destroys teams in season openers and bowl games. You need a lot more time than the normal week of practice during the season to implement a drastically different approach, and Foster had probably been working a plan all summer. Hat's off to him, he did a heckuva job.

That's not to say our O line just plain got whipped at times, but a playing thinking too much is a slow player. I've watched the game 3 times now, and we looked confused moreso than being just pushed around by better athletes most of the time. Somebody else mentioned it, but at times Kelly looked lost and then on other plays he was mauling somebody. The same thing happened with Shepard a few times. Arie seemed the most confused by it, but I saw plays where we looked great. After rewatching it, they opened up some huge holes at times. At times the O line did a good job, and the backs whiffed on blocks. AJ held the ball on more than one occasion where protection where adequate. The whole offense seemed out of sync and was off by a just little bit. If Amari doesn't have a few drops on at least 2 sure first down plays, if Fowler and TJ don't miss a few blocks, if Howard catches that long pass, and White doesn't slow up on his route and let Fuller get the INT, we probably wouldn't be freaking so bad. A lot of little things added up to a big decrease in production.

I think a lot times everybody was confused by what VT was doing, and maybe that's why our staff played so conservatively as well.

 

[TideFan in AU]

Should have colored this post blue.......

I hadn't gotten the memo at that point!

 

[CajunCrimson]

I hadn't gotten the memo at that point!

RTR

 

[IH8Orange]

Coach Saban speaks softly, but carries a Scott Cochran.

 

[JPT4Bama]

Replacing three three year+ starters in the OL along with the TE and Lacy and of course there will be growing pains. Yelling and screaming would not be the answer as far as the players are concerned.

Now as for OL coach MC...all bets are off! :biggrin:

 

[bobmack12champs]

Coach Saban speaks softly, but carries a Scott Cochran.

good answer!!!!

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Back to normal at his presser today. Even Cecil had to dodge his wrath...

 

[bamacpa]

Anyone have any insight as to which players he was referring to in a not so soft manner ?