Run the ball more in 2nd half - When?

[BayouBama75]

For all the coaches out there that think we should have run the ball more in the 2nd half... below is the play by play for Alabama in the 2nd half... I can't really see anywhere that I think we should have run the ball when we passed.
The only 3 and out all passing was from our own 3 yard line when they were stacking the line.... but I would be interested in other opinions.....

Use to everyone complained that we didn't open it up enough....


1st-10, ALA20 9:53 B. Croyle rushed up the middle for no gain. B. Croyle fumbled
2nd-12, ALA18 9:00 K. Darby rushed up the middle for 1 yard gain
3rd-11, ALA19 8:10 B. Croyle sacked by L. Landry
4th-21, ALA9 7:30 J. Schatz punt, no return


Alabama - 5:37
1st-10, ALA25 5:37 K. Darby rushed up the middle for 3 yard gain
2nd-7, ALA28 5:00 B. Croyle sacked by C. Jackson and K. Williams
3rd-14, ALA21 5:00 B. Croyle passed to K. Brown to the left for 6 yard gain
4th-8, ALA27 3:17 LSU committed 10 yard penalty
1st-10, ALA37 3:15 B. Croyle rushed to the left for 9 yard gain
2nd-1, ALA46 2:40 K. Darby rushed up the middle for 7 yard gain
1st-10, LSU47 2:00 K. Darby rushed up the middle for 3 yard gain
2nd-7, LSU44 1:10 K. Darby rushed up the middle for 1 yard gain
3rd-6, LSU43 0:17 B. Croyle sacked by M. Oliver


Alabama - 10:35
1st-10, ALA29 10:35 K. Darby rushed to the left for 1 yard loss
2nd-11, ALA30 9:50 B. Croyle incomplete pass to the left
3rd-11, ALA30 9:47 B. Croyle incomplete pass to the left
4th-11, ALA30 9:42 J. Schatz punt, no return


Alabama - 8:29
1st-10, ALA9 8:29 B. Croyle incomplete pass to the left
2nd-10, ALA9 8:23 K. Darby rushed up the middle for 4 yard gain
3rd-6, ALA13 7:30 B. Croyle fumbled. B. Croyle recovered fumble
3rd-6, ALA13 7:30 B. Croyle sacked by K. Williams
4th-14, ALA5 6:50 J. Schatz punt, no return

Alabama - 4:49
1st-10, ALA3 4:49 B. Croyle incomplete pass to the left
2nd-10, ALA3 4:41 B. Croyle passed to K. Brown to the right for 6 yard gain
3rd-4, ALA10 3:50 B. Croyle incomplete pass to the right
4th-4, ALA10 3:47 J. Schatz punt. S. Green returned punt for 1 yard


Alabama - 0:54
1st-10, ALA32 0:54 B. Croyle passed to K. Darby down the middle for 4 yard gain
2nd-6, ALA36 0:35 B. Croyle passed to D. Hall to the right for 4 yard gain
3rd-2, ALA40 0:24 K. Darby rushed to the right for 8 yard gain
1st-10, ALA48 0:15 B. Croyle passed to K. Darby to the right for 3 yard gain
2nd-7, LSU49 0:09 B. Croyle incomplete pass to the right
3rd-7, LSU49 0:01 B. Croyle passed to G. Coffee to the right for 40 yard gain


Alabama
1st-10, LSU25 ALA committed 5 yard penalty
1st-15, LSU30 B. Croyle passed to D. Hall to the right for 9 yard gain
2nd-6, LSU21 K. Darby rushed to the right for 4 yard gain
3rd-2, LSU17 B. Croyle incomplete pass to the right
4th-2, LSU17 J. Christensen kicked a 34-yard field goal

 

[alatider]

Very nice post. I do agree with you. Perhaps if we had given KD the ball on that 3rd and 2 in overtime, the outcome might have been different.

There again it might not have made a difference.

KD is unhappy that he wasn't given the ball a few more times.

 

[Bama-94-00]

Ok

For all the coaches out there that think we should have run the ball more in the 2nd half... below is the play by play for Alabama in the 2nd half... I can't really see anywhere that I think we should have run the ball when we passed. ..

Most people have complained that Bama did not run to OUTSIDE enough in the 2nd half. Bama had about 200 yrds offense and over 100 yds rushing in the first half thanks to those plays.

 

[TiderInTally]

Most people have complained that Bama did not run to OUTSIDE enough in the 2nd half. Bama had about 200 yrds offense and over 100 yds rushing in the first half thanks to those plays.

Agreed. Most of our big yards in the first half involved getting the offensive linemen out in space with the toss, sweep, screen and swing plays. KD is not a power runner. Not that he isn't powerful, but his greatness flows from his elusiveness. He is absolutely brilliant at making cuts and picking his way through traffic. Once he gets going upfield, defensive players just cannot hit him squarely. Getting KD the ball on the outside gives him more space to work his magic. Why we got away from what got us 200+ yards of offense in the first half, I have no idea.

Obviously, rushing up the middle, even with little or no success, is necessary to keep the defense honest. However, with a replacement center who is rightfully a defensive lineman . . .

 

[BayouBama75]

I agree that I love to see Darby run the ball... However, throwing on first down was about the only time Brody had a chance and it didn't seem like we had the ball that much in the 2nd half.....

 

[bamabake]

I thought that in the second q when Darby was hot we should have run that train a bit longer. It seemed like we had em on their heels for a bit and then for some reason passed it and the drive stalled. I love this team but I just wonder why it seems we lack imagination sometimes against the blitz in particular. In the second half they put 7 up front and forced us to throw the ball, really. So why no screen passes. Was it because they wouldnt have worked against LSU? I dont know. I am not a coach but it seems that something besides a draw to offset a blitz might get tried. Cant brodie move well enough to roll out to throw? I mean once or twice?

 

[Really Big Bama Fan]

I thought that in the second q when Darby was hot we should have run that train a bit longer. It seemed like we had em on their heels for a bit and then for some reason passed it and the drive stalled. I love this team but I just wonder why it seems we lack imagination sometimes against the blitz in particular. In the second half they put 7 up front and forced us to throw the ball, really. So why no screen passes. Was it because they wouldnt have worked against LSU? I dont know. I am not a coach but it seems that something besides a draw to offset a blitz might get tried. Cant brodie move well enough to roll out to throw? I mean once or twice?

I was expecting to see Jimmy Johns make another apperance at quarterback and hit them with a roll out pass.

 

[TexasTideFan]

I was expecting to see Jimmy Johns make another apperance at quarterback and hit them with a roll out pass.

I wouldn't be suprised to see him take a few more snaps at QB especially if Auburn is getting pressure the way LSU did with their blitz and the roll out pass play would be a deadly play because I guarantee Auburn would bite all the way on the run.

 

[Bama-94-00]

.. it didn't seem like we had the ball that much in the 2nd half.....

Cause the offense didn't get enough 1st downs. The D was out there a lot and hung in well.