Microcosm of the Season: Bama's Last Drive and OT against UM

[BamaMoon]

This is so frustrating to watch!

This guy is my alter ego speaking!

"Butts, butts, butts...strip club and cigarettes."

 

[Isaiah 63:1]

If "microcosm" is used appropriately here I'm sorry.

I used the word to suggest "a situation regarded as encapsulating in miniature the characteristic qualities or features of something much larger." IOW, "a small sample representing a bigger picture."

That's the point I was trying to make, which I think the list of plays supports that about half or more of our plays this year didn't yield their intended result, which left us playing behind the chains most all the year.

The original title was "Microcasm...", so we were just having some fun with that. We all knew what you meant ...

 

[BamaMoon]

The original title was "Microcasm...", so we were just having some fun with that. We all knew what you meant ...

Yeah, I noticed that later. I'm a bad speller.

 

[gtgilbert]

He ain't lying...

 

[Scobaman]

I've mentioned in a couple of posts how inconsistent our offensive productivity was this year and against UM and I think our last drive in AND OT against UM illustrates how limited we were: Here's a recount of the last 11 plays we ran from scrimmage this year:

Last Drive of Regulation:

1:34: 1st and 10 from our 25: JM drops back then scrambles for 7 yards - At least one receiver in ESPN broadcast preview was open (#81 Dippre) dragging across the middle but Jalen ran instead. Kinda recurring issue all year, but we can count this as a positive play at least.

1:18: 2nd and 3: JM hits Jace M. on short route out of back field to pick up 1st down. Positive play to gain 1st. Not a bad start!

1:11: 1st and 10 from out 37: JM drops back and throws across the middle but VERY LATE to a wide open Kobe Prentice at UM's 45 yard line. Two things went wrong on this play: JM failed to climb pocket while getting mild pressure from this right side and starts falling back. But the more egregious error is he fails to hit KP on time when he's literally wide open. Kirk Herbsteit comments about how the ball should have come out earlier. If this pass is on time, KP has his man beat and he catches around midfield and likely advances the ball to the UM 35-40 yard line which gets us into FG range with over a minute still to play.

1:06: 2nd and 10 from our 37: JM drops and gets ball out pretty fast but pass is no where close to a receiver in right flats. JM acts as if the receiver (Benson #11) ran wrong route. Wasted play.

1:01: 3rd and 10 from our 37: JM hits Jace M. for a 6 yard gain (same play as 2nd down play that gained the 1st at 1:18. This play falls 4 yards short of 1st down marker. Once again, KH notes JM failed to read the defense correctly thinking UM was showing "man" but dropped to "zone." If JM reads right he's got #3 Burton streaking wide open for at least a 20+ yard gain, but JM immediately gets duped into throwing short and Jace M is stopped short of the line to gain.

:52: 4th and 4: PUNT

If we just stop right here and consider that the offense had 1:35 seconds to advance the ball 40 yards to get into WR's range but we only manage to advance to our 43. Made 18 yards on 5 plays.

IMO, THIS IS WHERE THE GAME IS LOST! Not winning in regulation sends us to OT where we are tactically at a disadvantage to a less mistake-prone team.

ON TO OT:
UM POSSESSION: UM runs two running plays and scores.

BAMA OT POSSESSION:

1st play: 1st and 10 from the 25: JM throws a 0 yard pass to Kendrick Law into boundary side. Terrible 1st down play! Don't know what CTR saw here OR if the play is just defeated by excellent coverage. The timing seemed very off to say the least. UM had this route covered perfectly with 3 guys in position to make a tackle. The official mark is at the 24 for a 1 yard gain.

2nd play: 2nd and 9 from 24: JM runs to the 9. This was our best play. Straight QB counter with pulling guard and tackle. No hesitation/decision to make here but run up behind the pullers. JM at his best running downhill!

3rd play: 1st down Goal from 9: JM hands to JM for NO gain. Snap was terrible, but hand off was clean. UM blows up play. Pretty much a wasted play.

4th play: 2nd and Goal from 9: THIS IS WHERE IT ALL FALLS APART. We run a RPO and the handoff is given to Jace M. running parallel to the LOS. Booker is beaten badly by his man and the tackle is for a 5 yard loss. The play is likely unsuccessful even the call is for JM to keep (remember his not "reading" the ROP give/take but even if he takes the play is likely defended pretty well because of a corner blizter crashing in. IF JM keeps there is likely some positive yards but JM gives and we lose 5 yards back to the 14.

5th play: 3rd and Goal from 14: JM throws to #3 Burton at UM 3 yard line and is immediately tackled. ESPN purview shows Dippre dragging across the middle at about the 7 yard line with his defender on his back hip. Might have been a TD if JM gets the ball to him in rhythm. Hard to see if other receivers are open from TV viewing angle.

6th play: 4th and Goal from 3: You know what happens.

So to review: in the last drive of regulation and in OT we ran a total of 11 plays (not counting the Burnip punt). In the last possession in regulation we ran 5 plays and only 2 of them were successful. In the OT we ran 6 plays and only 2 of them were successful (counter QB and pass to Burton). 4 out of 11 plays were unsuccessful/unproductive.

I'd say this is probably indicative of most of the year. No wonder this offense was frustrating to watch.

Quoted from above: (the more egregious error is he fails to hit KP on time when he's literally wide open. Kirk Herbsteit comments about how the ball should have come out earlier. If this pass is on time, KP has his man beat and he catches around midfield and likely advances the ball to the UM 35-40 yard line which gets us into FG range with over a minute still to play.}

The problem all year was that JM rarely hit the receiver on time or in stride. We have been spoiled by quarterbacks who could do this and allow the receiver to gain several yards or score after the reception. "Maybe" we will see this again next year, but the lack of that ability cost us dearly in several games this year.

 

[Scobaman]

We were broken at every level. I said it way back after the Texas game. JM is getting the lion's share of the criticism but that OL was atrocious in that game.

No leverage. Just getting shoved out of the way like they were children facing giants. THAT, more than anything else, must change or it will not matter who is behind center.

When this situation occurs, the responsibility is on the quarterback to make the defense pay with quick short passes like Gary Hollingsworth did in a game against Ole Miss several years ago when the Joe Lee Dunn defense was blitzing on every play. Now ask yourself if JM has the ability to do that.

 

[BamaInCummingGA]

We were broken at every level. I said it way back after the Texas game. JM is getting the lion's share of the criticism but that OL was atrocious in that game.

No leverage. Just getting shoved out of the way like they were children facing giants. THAT, more than anything else, must change or it will not matter who is behind center.

Well, to be fair, when a qb cannot throw slants and screens or over the middle it makes it MUCH easier for a defense to game plan and blitz because there is no short or middle threat. we had this issue all season long and UM just played our offense perfectly.

People can talk about play calling all they want but you can only call the plays a limited qb can make at least 50% of the time.

We had to greatly simplify our offense which only made it easier for defenses to defend.

Yeah, we had some issues on oline but our qb couldn't make the throws that would have alleviated a good bit of the pressure.

 

[pastorbt]

I haven't watched his breakdowns this year. But this one is without a doubt, spot on! I have said all year long, that #4 may be a great athlete, but he is not a great QB. Just wondering, does the UAC guy have the same take on #4 all year?

 

[BamaInCummingGA]

There's a third question: Does he have the ability to improve as much as is apparently needed?
If he doesn't and he starts next season it's going to go really bad.

 

[Scobaman]

There's a third question: Does he have the ability to improve as much as is apparently needed?
If he doesn't and he starts next season it's going to go really bad.

Without Nick Saban on the sideline, this year would have been a disaster.

 

[RammerJammer14]

Sad thing is we have invested a year's worth of starts in JM and played the other QBs only sparingly, so the player who obviously has his limitations will have a leg up on the competition in spring and in August. If we had started one of the other QBs, who it would seem have higher ceilings, they would have that year's worth of experience. As it is, we are generally exactly where we were one year ago. Yes, JM has become better, but he is still not on the verge of becoming Tua, Mac, or Bryce or even AJ McCarron (who was competent but not stunningly talented).

Microcosm = "micro" meaning very small and "cosmos" meaning world.

I loved Tua, Mac, Hurts, and Bryce. But just give me an AJ or Jake Coker or 2008 JPW and I will be extremely happy all day.

 

[BamaMoon]

Unfortunately, coaching philosophies have changed regarding how QB's are treated. We have zero issues rotating other positional players to ensure they get quality game reps. But that isn't the case with quarterbacks anymore. There was a time when a team had two very talented quarterbacks or there truly wasn't a clear-cut QB1, coaches ensured that both got "X" amount of series during each game. You just don't see that much anymore and it isn't just unique to Saban.

So case in point: Roydell is coming back for year 5.

But whatya bet CNS is going to tell him he'll be sharing a lot of playing time with Justice and Jam?

He may even tell him they will be the featured backs because my untrained eye sees them as much more talented.

I guess there is a reason why it's often said, "If you have 2 QBs you don't have one" but it is frustrating we don't know see these younger guys play more.

 

[BamaMoon]

There's a third question: Does he have the ability to improve as much as is apparently needed?
If he doesn't and he starts next season it's going to go really bad.

I think we can forget that he can become this all-around polished drop back passer who can (in 7 months time) do all the things he can't do now.

I'm not sure we'd expect him to be able to do it all. But he for sure has to show evidence of progress or else you get the same kind of results this year: domination against inferior defenses but struggles aginst those who can scheme his shortcomings.

The other question now might be does Jalen improve but get passed up by a younger guy (who already has a head start on a lot of JM's weaknesses) improving at an even greater speed?

 

[Cruloc]

I haven't watched his breakdowns this year. But this one is without a doubt, spot on! I have said all year long, that #4 may be a great athlete, but he is not a great QB. Just wondering, does the UAC guy have the same take on #4 all year?

Yes, UAC had the same take on Jalen all year. He wasn't quiet about it.

 

[RammerJammer14]

Quoted from above: (the more egregious error is he fails to hit KP on time when he's literally wide open. Kirk Herbsteit comments about how the ball should have come out earlier. If this pass is on time, KP has his man beat and he catches around midfield and likely advances the ball to the UM 35-40 yard line which gets us into FG range with over a minute still to play.}

The problem all year was that JM rarely hit the receiver on time or in stride. We have been spoiled by quarterbacks who could do this and allow the receiver to gain several yards or score after the reception. "Maybe" we will see this again next year, but the lack of that ability cost us dearly in several games this year.

I don’t know if “spoiled” is the right term. I don’t think it is “spoiled” to expect a D1 SEC starting quarterback to hit a receiver off his break. At least some of the time. Milroe waits longer to throw to a receiver than a guy playing intramural flag football after class sometimes.

 

[GrayTide]

Yeah, I noticed that later. I'm a bad speller.

Don't let it happen again..

 

[gtgilbert]

Yes, UAC had the same take on Jalen all year. He wasn't quiet about it.

I haven't watched all his stuff this year since a lot of it is now on his patreon account v just on youtube, but from what I saw, to say UAC isn't a fan of where JM right now would be a massive, massive understatement.

 

[colbysullivan]

So case in point: Roydell is coming back for year 5.

But whatya bet CNS is going to tell him he'll be sharing a lot of playing time with Justice and Jam?

He may even tell him they will be the featured backs because my untrained eye sees them as much more talented.

I guess there is a reason why it's often said, "If you have 2 QBs you don't have one" but it is frustrating we don't know see these younger guys play more.

I like Roydell, but I really hope Saban plays the best player, regardless of age or experience. Jam and Justice are on a different level from Roydell IMO. Again, love Roydell, but his returning might end up being an issue down the road.

 

[CB4]

In regard to why the Oline played so much better versus UGA in the SECCG and so poorly versus Michigan:

Cole Cubelic on WJOX he felt that UGA gave Alabama the “looks” (both offensively and defensively) they truly expected to see. The o line appeared to be very well schooled on assignments/pick ups based on what Georgia was showing.

Against Michigan, they showed a bunch of looks defensively (ghost biltzers/ delayed biltz, stunts) that completely confused them. Evidently some of the stuff wasn’t “looks” they had seen from other teams during the season or on tape from Michigan games this year

Cole made a lot of sense.

 

[SkullDuckery]

This offense reminds me a lot of Malzahn’s offenses, boom or bust. We are good for about 20-30 points a game but it will disappear for long stretches durning games.