Official Post Game Thread - Everything Here, Please...

[BEATtutorsee]

Last I checked, 50-yard field goals are exactly considered "gimmes" for the PK. Agree with you normally on his consistency but not his fault tonight... victim of poor distances. This game, more than anything else, shows how much we have depended upon a dominant LT this year to reach many of our accomplishments. It's not just the player himself, but the fact each OL was able to do what they do best in the positions they play the best. JPW, criticism and all, has enjoyed a very productive year. However, as pointed out many times in the past, he's not a guy who brings you from behind to win the game very often. Tonight, he reverted back to where he was in the previous two years... but much of that was because of the OL.

If you're looking for the "how" we got beat tonight, look at the clock. Utah had almost a whole month to perfect and improvise on Florida's game plan against us. How many times did you see our second-tier cover guys pitted against their top two WR's? How many times did you see their QB throw a ball where only his guy could catch it? How often did you see them run the no-huddle to keep our tired personnel on the field? While it's true Utah was better than us tonight, part of that resulted from the fact they had a perfect blueprint for beating us from the UF game... and their coaches realized it. BTW, Clemson had all the opportunity in the world to do the same thing given the time they had to prepare for us... but their coaches didn't quite get it.

Oh... did I mention the fact our gameplan was out the window when Mike Johnson went down? Maybe more than anything else tonight, our fans will realize how much Nick Saban did with this team. I appreciate them and I have all the respect in the world for them... but there's a reason why most picked us middle-of-the-pack in the West. We have great-hearted kids... and they overachieved all season and we ought to appreciate the run. RTR

Agreed. I'm as disappointed as anyone with the outcome tonight but to say that brighter days are in our future is a vast understatement. This was a team built on over-achievers, in the very near future we won't have to rely on that. Congrats to Utah they earned it tonight, but we'll be back and better than ever pretty soon. I'm very much looking forward to the coming years.

 

[bayoutider]

Can Andre Smith come back?

Not will he, because at this point, I don't care either way


but if he comes back, would it be a violation?

Dude if it would be a violation Alabama wouldn't allow him to come back.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Andre' can certainly come back, but he would have to go through reinstatement. One condition of that would be that all the money received by his family would have to be refunded to the agent...

 

[bayoutider]

When it seemed UT completed every 3rd and long against us it reminded me of how Florida seemed to complete every critical 3rd and long as well. I did notice some of those low passes reminded me of the passes Tebow threw in the SECCG.

If Andre leaves for the NFL I hope we get a freshman comparable to fill his shoes. There's alot of time to practice but seeing what our OL was like without Andre and we lose our Center and QB I forsee some growing pains in the early part of next year. We'll have the talent just got to get teh experience.


RTR

There is a thread down the board telling the likely suspects to take Andre's place if he jumps to the NFL.

 

[BamaMoon]

I'll be honest here.... I have coached football for many years and here are my two cents. Did AS hurt us? yes.... BUT, after the Florida game I stated to many friends to take Utah in this one. Not to win but with the point spread. That is why I havent posted. What did Florida teach us? Frankly our secondary is weak as water. Honestly, two short and easily get out muscled on jump balls and can't hang in routs against disciplined recievers (How many times did we fall down or out of position to make a tackle?). I know what you are thinking...LSU game, well honestly the QB was slightly better than me. Utah never had to run until the score was in hand to run clock. Secondly, our qb was hounded all night, but he was so afraid to make a mistake, once again, he didn't make key throws. My opinion is this and I hate to say it. We played flat and the whole team did not overcome the losses that occured... I just pray in the future that we get a QB that has touch on deep routes. JPW is a great conservative QB and I appreciate all he has done, but our offense had many key opportunities with wide open recievers. Not one mans fault but if you have to pin disappointment I would say the overall inability to cover recievers. Too tired to hit spell check and hope this doesn't offend anyone. Just being honest. This being said I never expected a twelve win season, great year in my opinion.

Turned out that Julio made the best defensive play of the game when he broke up a would be interception. Um, could JJ play both ways?

 

[teamplayer]

Well it didn't end the way I expected or wanted, but Utah wanted it more tonight. This loss doesn't undo a terrific season.

In a way, I disagree. We are Alabama. Great seasons are ones in which we win championships. We were close, but we got whipped by the two best teams we played this season. I am going to refrain from discussing QB play because I know there are many who think JPW is great. This sounds bitter, and it is, but I thought we were better than we played the last five quarters of the season. We still have a lot of work to do.

 

[RazedRite]

I saw a lot of mistakes in this game, as I have in almost every game this season. This team is a work in progress and hit a huge growth spurt this year, but there is still a ways to go. A solid pass-rush on defense, developing some depth on the o-line, a little more consistent down-field threat at QB and some receivers (besides Julio) that can get open with sharp routes are some needs to fill.

Utah hit us with a quick-tempo and quick-slants across the middle which have been easy yards against the Bama D all season. Their D took advantage of the personnel losses on the o-line and executed about as well as a team can. They earned it, but Bama is in good position to continue rising as a program.

Congrats to all our guys but a special thank you to all our seniors for a great season!!

Roll Tide!!

 

[bamastarvin]

+

If Andre leaves for the NFL I hope we get a freshman comparable to fill his shoes.


RTR

I forsee more Andre's and Julio's and Cody's etc. This is just the beginning my friends.

 

[WAR]

I was fortunate enough to go to the game tonight.

I developed a strong dislike for the Utes when, prior to the game, their entire fan base started doing the chomp and chanting Ur-ban My-er . . . .

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I will also inject that the lack of a speed rusher off the end greatly benefits the other qb and how he sees the field.

 

[ghickok234]

Turned out that Julio made the best defensive play of the game when he broke up a would be interception. Um, could JJ play both ways?

Would we want him to? From what I've seen we need all the wide receivers we can get!:conf2:

 

[BAMARICH]

I am depressed and feeling self-destructive. This is my 2143rd post and I am proud of it! All of you with less posts can eat it!! Bwahahahahahaha! 2143! 2143! 2143!!!!

That's the best you could do "feeling self destructive"?

 

[BamaSC]

Just a poor performance tonight. Utah was motivated and took it to us and we had no answer. Poor preparation, poor execution, poor result. Very disappointing.

 

[Tide n True]

The only thing I'll congratulate Utah on is having really cute cheerleaders.

That no huddle hurry up offense is a cheap, lousy way to win a football game, just like all that smack-talk is a cheap, lousy way to act.

No, it's not. If it works and its legal, we should be doing it.

 

[NYBamaFan]

When it seemed UT completed every 3rd and long against us it reminded me of how Florida seemed to complete every critical 3rd and long as well...

In both of those games we blitzed to get pressure on the QB to get them into 3rd and long, then only rushed 4 on 3rd down - giving the QB too much time on 3rd and long. Not sure why we did that in these two games when we have been completely unable to pressure a QB with only 3 or 4 rushers all season...

 

[bonehouse81]

My thoughts:

1. Utah flat-out has a good, physical team. This was far from an embarrassing team to get beat by.

2. This was not a good matchup for us — short, precise passing game on offense with a speedy group of pass rushers on defense.

3. The matchup problem was made that much worse by their quick start, as well as our offensive line deficiencies. They got us out of our game on offense and forced us way out of our comfort zone.

4. I don't think our guys weren't trying, but Utah had a hunger that we didn't have, and it showed. Particularly with tackling. We've tackled well all season, but tonight was a very different story.

5. Despite the 12-2 record, Bama isn't "back" yet, but it will be soon. The coaching was superb this season, and the staff got 100% out of the talent they had. That talent was not elite. Plus, we had a lot of good injury luck, and this was not a great year for the SEC.

Congratulations, Bama, on a very nice season. It was the most enjoyable for me in a long time.

 

[Tidetwin]

You're dead to rights on #4 and 5. Keep in mind the slim remainder of Shula holdovers are being flushed out now that we are at the conclusion of this season, with only a very few remaining. We are only going to get better...

Those Shula holdovers were part of one of the greatest Alabama teams in history . . . Can we not keep referring to them like they are some kind of disease?

 

[russtang]

My observations on the game:

We did not play with any intensity.

The penalties hurt us.

The INT hurt us.

When we did get time to throw, the overthrown wide receivers hurt us. That was two probable TD's missed.

We were physically dominated on both sides of the ball.

I dont know what to say about the "D" in the first quarter. It's not like it was a secret that they run no-huddle sometime.

We did have a very good year. Better than expected.

Another great recruiting class will help.

ALL of the SHULA influenced players will be gone.

We need another good off season of S&C for sure.

I hope we have some leaders step up NOW, and help get this team ready for VT and next year.

I am excited about the future of BAMA Football!

 

[Tide n True]

QUESTION: Did Urban Meyer help his old team? And, how much trouble will he get in if he did?

 

[VirginiaTider22]

Turned out that Julio made the best defensive play of the game when he broke up a would be interception. Um, could JJ play both ways?

I believe the kid could join the NHL or PGA and be one of the greats. He could only be so fortunate. I like him right where he is, but that was a unbelievable pass break up on a sure int.. He is unbelievable.

Seriously though, Utah never had to run all night. The offense was one dimensional until the end of the game and we had no one to stop the pass. No pressure and serious lack of coverage. Very dissapointed