Last TD was incredibly high risk

[crimsonaudio]

This is drivcing me nuts! I wonder how many 3rd & 2, 3rd & 1 situations when we tried a pass play (almost always incomplete) when we were having reasonable success running the ball for short yardage.

My wish for future games: CDK takes over the play-calling in the 3rd-&-short situations!!

Playcalling isn't the issue - the OL's lack of push is.

 

[Jack Bourbon]

This is drivcing me nuts! I wonder how many 3rd & 2, 3rd & 1 situations when we tried a pass play (almost always incomplete) when we were having reasonable success running the ball for short yardage.

My wish for future games: CDK takes over the play-calling in the 3rd-&-short situations!!

Hard not to question if Grubbs inability to run the ball is a trend. First Seahawks, now … Alabama?

 

[OconeeTide]

With our history with kickers, i was all for going for it there.
Too many bad memories with kicking in that stadium..

 

[JDCrimson]

Nussmueir = Grubb

 

[Special K]

thats my problem with this team .. we cant get 2 yds needed on 3rd and 4th down running

Sometimes because we just don't try.

 

[Methylred]

Nussmueir = Grubb

Grubb is more like college football's Rainman.

Every now and then he shows flashes of genius, but for the most part he leaves me wondering if he can tie his own shoes.

 

[SkullDuckery]

The play worked, and we can happily enjoy the result. It was at least an equal chance that it would have not worked. It isn’t the style of play calling that sits well with me. I like high percentage of success play calling. I don’t like putting so much responsibility on QB1 (high traffic, pinpoint throws in high pressure situations).

It would not have worked against a better team than Auburn.

Auburns defense has been pretty darn good all year.

 

[Krymsonman]

thats my problem with this team .. we cant get 2 yds needed on 3rd and 4th down running

I think a lot of that is - 1. we don't try it enough, and 2, we always seem to run the straight ahead dive from five yards behind the line, and everyone knows what we're doing. All they do is clog the middle. Run a sweep or something different than straight into the mosh pit.

 

[BamaInCummingGA]

You have got to commit to the run and let the backs and line get into a rhythm. My problem with Grubb (from my perspective) is when we do start getting into t rhythm in the run game he inexplicably just goes away from it. I just don't get it.
With that, he never seems to have a hot route or anything knowing these teams are gonna blitz us because of our propensity to be pass heavy and never commit to the run game.
I think the biggest thing Grubb needs to do is get out of his own way and quit trying to outguess himself to prove he's the smartest guy on the field.

 

[arthurdawg]

Auburns defense has been pretty darn good all year.

We've played some extremely good defenses this year. And some really good defensive lines, like Auburn's...

That is part of why we haven't been as effective offensively.

It is much easier when you are OSU and Indiana and the average defense you are going against is ranked 100th in the nation and puts up the resistance of a wet kleenex.

 

[Bluegrasstide]

Actually, Nick Saban did elect to go for a TD in the 2009 IB instead of kicking the field goal. I think it was a Playaction pass to Upchurch. Not arguing, just saying. Both calls were dependent on brass marbles. I liked the call.

 

[22Musso22]

Grubb is more like college football's Rainman.

 

[arthurdawg]

Actually, Nick Saban did elect to go for a TD in the 2009 IB instead of kicking the field goal. I think it was a Playaction pass to Upchurch. Not arguing, just saying. Both calls were dependent on brass marbles. I liked the call.

That was a 3rd and 3 play and Upchurch was in the game because Ingram had a stinger. We had the option to kick on 4th down too, but normally Saban would have run it and burned clock and time outs. But I think he knew our defense was on its heels and didn't want to risk them driving for a FG. They had a pretty good kicker that year too.

 

[Jack Bourbon]

You have got to commit to the run and let the backs and line get into a rhythm. My problem with Grubb (from my perspective) is when we do start getting into t rhythm in the run game he inexplicably just goes away from it. I just don't get it.
With that, he never seems to have a hot route or anything knowing these teams are gonna blitz us because of our propensity to be pass heavy and never commit to the run game.
I think the biggest thing Grubb needs to do is get out of his own way and quit trying to outguess himself to prove he's the smartest guy on the field.

I agree with being frustrated when we dont run the ball, defense knows this and blitz three guys, and then our offense appears surprised with no real tactical solution or counter to the blitz. So Odd…

 

[BamaInBham]

Reality, though:

if Auburn's wide receivers could, you know, CATCH the ball, we lose last night.

Not being Eeyore, just being honest.

We should have been able to grind it and put it away, not play video game "let me see if this works."

If AU had caught any one of those passes it’s impossible to know what path the game might have taken. It’s easily conceivable that it had little or no effect on the outcome.

Not that it’s wrong to speculate what might have been but the reality is that we just don’t know what effect any catch might have had.

All season Alabama has usually done what it had to do to win, OTOH, AU has usually done things to lose their games: penalties, turnovers, even with a top D they would give up clutch drives. Whatever it took to lose they would do it.

AU could have easily been 9-2 coming in to the Alabama game. They are still top 26 in most of the advanced metrics, including Sagarin and ESPN’s FPI, 29 in Connelly’s sp+. 2 OT losses, 2 more 1 score losses, then UGA where they dominated and went up 17 before the refs wrongfully (ref fired) took it away and AU collapsed and lost by 10. I say all of that to say AU had a talented team but were unfortunate and mentally weak. Alabama was very different and would have likely won because they would have adapted to win, while AU would have adapted to lose. Both followed their usual pattern.

But of course, no one knows.

 

[BamaInBham]

Playcalling isn't the issue - the OL's lack of push is.

Ironically and surprisingly the OL did a great job run blocking vs a top 5 ypc run D. Alabama gained 177 yds on 5.01 ypc. I took out the 3 sacks of Ty.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Ironically and surprisingly the OL did a great job run blocking vs a top 5 ypc run D. Alabama gained 177 yds on 5.01 ypc. I took out the 3 sacks of Ty.

And while I've not rewatched the game (doubtful I will) someone posted that the TE's that were in replacing Cuevas may have been helping in the run block scheme more. Might be better blockers but lesser receivers?

Either way, you're correct - the running game largely worked.

 

[uafan4life]

there is probably going to be a Daniel Moore painting.

Which I, for one, will not purchase...

 

[arthurdawg]

And while I've not rewatched the game (doubtful I will) someone posted that the TE's that were in replacing Cuevas may have been helping in the run block scheme more. Might be better blockers but lesser receivers?

Either way, you're correct - the running game largely worked.

Pritchett and Edwards are young guys, but very physical. We are pretty much set with them and a couple of backups. They can catch the ball too.