The GOOD:
THe Offensive line blocked well, Leron McClain blocked very well and Ken Darby is amazing. It's almost impossible to consistently stop Darby.
Aaron Johns looked pretty good for a true freshman in a big game on national tv. It's pretty obvious he needs more reps in practice to fully grasp the offense and needs some serious time in the weight room to put on about 20 lbs to be fully ready for SEC play next year. Still, he looked pretty good.
The defense (other than sleep walking in the first MSU drive) looked good. Blazing speed on that defense, pretty good pressure all nite and what, 3 or 4 sacks?
Kudos to CMS and CDR for having the guts to try Prothro at QB for that one play. It really made a difference. For the Tide to have a chance against LSU and Auburn, that's the type of resourcefulness it'll take to win.
The BAD:
Spencer Pennington is THE man at QB but it's pretty obvious he can't throw the deep ball. The pass to Keith Brown (I think that's right) in the first half was a fluke and badly thrown ball. That doesn't mean that Spencer can't be effective but it seems to me that he's most effective when his passes are the dink and dunk passes and maybe a few medium routes. He has GOT to stop visually locking on with his eyes to his intended receiver. That's a terrible mistake that will cost the Tide badly in the next 2 games if he keeps doing it.
As good as the Tide defense was, they were kind of sleeping out there in the MSU first drive and should have shut them down. Tackling was sloppy and I kind of got the impression from the body language that they thought they could just show up and MSU would roll over.
The staff did a good job with the game plan on both sides of the ball but I'd like to see the offense mix in 1-2 more unusual plays to throw the opposing D off balance a little.
Brandon Brooks for whatever reason doesn't seem to concentrate well enough to handle punts. I know he's got blazing speed but Jeez, you gotta hold onto that ball!! I hope Prothro or Caddell handle the punts from here on out.
The UGLY:
Could the refs have been any worse than they were? They were maybe the worst I've ever seen. MSU was flagrantly holding all night long and to my recollection, only one holding call all night. Brooks nearly getting his head ripped off on a flagrant facemask and no call. It was like the refs were doing everything in their power to keep MSU in the game.
ESPN's fawning over Sylvester Croom, like he was the love child of Coach Bryant or something. Don't get me wrong, I don't put that blame on SC. I admire him, he's a good man and I would have been pleased if he'd been hired at Alabama but the fact is, Mike Shula is our coach and the decision was made about a year and a half ago. Why go on questioning that in the media? I just got sick and tired of hearing about SC every 5 minutes in the game. I just wanted to scream, "SHUT UP!!!!!!". I hope Croom does well every game except for the Alabama game but the jury is still out on what kind of HC he is and I get tired of hearing ESPN implying he's great when no one knows yet.
ESPN's implying that Alabama is just a state full of racists by showing George Wallance and mentioning the Klan. Thanks, ESPN. Nothing like distorting the truth and implying that the reason Croom didn't get the job due solely to racism. I get so tired of hearing from folks that have never lived in Alabama, that because of the past naturally assuming that Alabama is still have way, that we're still a bunch of crackers that routinely burn crosses in yards, lynch black people, etc.
OK, flame away but that's the way I saw it.
THe Offensive line blocked well, Leron McClain blocked very well and Ken Darby is amazing. It's almost impossible to consistently stop Darby.
Aaron Johns looked pretty good for a true freshman in a big game on national tv. It's pretty obvious he needs more reps in practice to fully grasp the offense and needs some serious time in the weight room to put on about 20 lbs to be fully ready for SEC play next year. Still, he looked pretty good.
The defense (other than sleep walking in the first MSU drive) looked good. Blazing speed on that defense, pretty good pressure all nite and what, 3 or 4 sacks?
Kudos to CMS and CDR for having the guts to try Prothro at QB for that one play. It really made a difference. For the Tide to have a chance against LSU and Auburn, that's the type of resourcefulness it'll take to win.
The BAD:
Spencer Pennington is THE man at QB but it's pretty obvious he can't throw the deep ball. The pass to Keith Brown (I think that's right) in the first half was a fluke and badly thrown ball. That doesn't mean that Spencer can't be effective but it seems to me that he's most effective when his passes are the dink and dunk passes and maybe a few medium routes. He has GOT to stop visually locking on with his eyes to his intended receiver. That's a terrible mistake that will cost the Tide badly in the next 2 games if he keeps doing it.
As good as the Tide defense was, they were kind of sleeping out there in the MSU first drive and should have shut them down. Tackling was sloppy and I kind of got the impression from the body language that they thought they could just show up and MSU would roll over.
The staff did a good job with the game plan on both sides of the ball but I'd like to see the offense mix in 1-2 more unusual plays to throw the opposing D off balance a little.
Brandon Brooks for whatever reason doesn't seem to concentrate well enough to handle punts. I know he's got blazing speed but Jeez, you gotta hold onto that ball!! I hope Prothro or Caddell handle the punts from here on out.
The UGLY:
Could the refs have been any worse than they were? They were maybe the worst I've ever seen. MSU was flagrantly holding all night long and to my recollection, only one holding call all night. Brooks nearly getting his head ripped off on a flagrant facemask and no call. It was like the refs were doing everything in their power to keep MSU in the game.
ESPN's fawning over Sylvester Croom, like he was the love child of Coach Bryant or something. Don't get me wrong, I don't put that blame on SC. I admire him, he's a good man and I would have been pleased if he'd been hired at Alabama but the fact is, Mike Shula is our coach and the decision was made about a year and a half ago. Why go on questioning that in the media? I just got sick and tired of hearing about SC every 5 minutes in the game. I just wanted to scream, "SHUT UP!!!!!!". I hope Croom does well every game except for the Alabama game but the jury is still out on what kind of HC he is and I get tired of hearing ESPN implying he's great when no one knows yet.
ESPN's implying that Alabama is just a state full of racists by showing George Wallance and mentioning the Klan. Thanks, ESPN. Nothing like distorting the truth and implying that the reason Croom didn't get the job due solely to racism. I get so tired of hearing from folks that have never lived in Alabama, that because of the past naturally assuming that Alabama is still have way, that we're still a bunch of crackers that routinely burn crosses in yards, lynch black people, etc.
OK, flame away but that's the way I saw it.
Sounded like two Bighorn Sheep butting heads.
