Sark - most important game for an OC since...?

[TIDE-HSV]

The question is not whether or not both can - it is whether or not Alabama will. Saban simply will not take what the officials are giving his players in a game.

The unknown right now is how Auburn will defend Alabama. With Tua they would likely use the same strategy that they used against LSU - keep 10 men within 10 yards of the LOS on every snap, rush 3, and force the QB to make fast decisions because the rush gets there so quickly. They did this because LSU's offense was a pass-first offense, and very good at converting 5 yard passes into 20 yard gains. Sound familiar?

The question - will they see Mac as the same threat as they would have seen Tua, or will they play Alabama straight up? If they play you straight up then the slant routes will be open. If they play you the way that they played LSU, those lanes will be clogged and MAC will be forced to look elsewhere - to the edge of the defense.

We just have to wait and see how Auburn plays defensively. Also, Alabama's o-line is much better than LSU's. Can a 3 man rush from Auburn get to Mac?

I look for Steele to attempt the LSU plan first, at least. Brown is a beast. We'll have to prove we can block him. OTOH, They haven't let Mac throw the slant that much, so why start out in an anti-slant defense? That said, I think they clog the box to begin with and Sark hits the edges. I look for a bunch of reverses...

 

[GrayTide]

B1G, i believe they will use the same defensive setup on us that they used against LSU. The slant for Mac is a quick hitter and fairly safe pass, they know that Sark will use this extensively. If they focus too much on the slant route then that should open up the swing passes and out routes. Mac is going to have to protect the ball and himself and understand that a toss out of bounds is preferable to a sack or interception.

 

[UAH]

I look for Steele to attempt the LSU plan first, at least. Brown is a beast. We'll have to prove we can block him. OTOH, They haven't let Mac throw the slant that much, so why start out in an anti-slant defense? That said, I think they clog the box to begin with and Sark hits the edges. I look for a bunch of reverses...

The question here becomes have they seen the type of speed that Bama has on the edges and can they tackle in space consistently. Some success there opens up a lot of things provided Mac has a bit of time in the pocket or rolling out. We remember Brodie Croyle and definitely don't want a repeat of that!

 

[TIDE-HSV]

B1G, i believe they will use the same defensive setup on us that they used against LSU. The slant for Mac is a quick hitter and fairly safe pass, they know that Sark will use this extensively. If they focus too much on the slant route then that should open up the swing passes and out routes. Mac is going to have to protect the ball and himself and understand that a toss out of bounds is preferable to a sack or interception.

I'm not as afraid that Mac won't throw it away as I was with Tua. I saw an interview with D. Smith the other day. (It looked as if he would rather have teeth pulled.) He of course expressed full confidence in Mac, which you'd expect, and he added that what people didn't know, was that Mac has a decent set of wheels. He then grinned and said that Mac was "going to stay in that pocket, though"...

 

[B1GTide]

The question here becomes have they seen the type of speed that Bama has on the edges and can they tackle in space consistently.

LSU's receivers are very good, but not nearly as fast or quick as Alabama's receivers. Still, Auburn's plan will be to make sure that those receivers never touch the ball in space. They would rather get called for PI or defensive holding than let Smith touch the ball in space.

Auburn tackles very well. Auburn grabs and holds receivers all the way down the field. Your receivers have to get separation, and quickly, on plays because their d-line will not give Mac 3-4 seconds to allow plays to develop. As important as it is to contain their pass rush - your receivers cannot let themselves be held. They have to play physical at the LOS and get early separation. LSU's receivers couldn't, and that is why LSU only scored 24 points.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

The question here becomes have they seen the type of speed that Bama has on the edges and can they tackle in space consistently. Some success there opens up a lot of things provided Mac has a bit of time in the pocket or rolling out. We remember Brodie Croyle and definitely don't want a repeat of that!

I believe that, if Mac had the same deformity that Brodie had, it would likely already shown up with an ACL injury already. It's called a "keystone arch" in the femur, where the ACL passes through. Viewed posteriorly, the arch has a "keystone" profile, rather than a nice Roman arch. This predisposes the ligament to getting pinched and is the cause of many non-contact ACL injuries. I had it, although it didn't cause my injury, which was caused by another player falling on me. As my orthopedist explained it to me, I asked him if it would predispose me to rupture the graft. He just chuckled and told me that my left knee no longer had it. As part of the procedure, he'd reamed out the arch to a rounded Roman profile. Still have it in the right, though...

 

[BamaMoon]

I look for Steele to attempt the LSU plan first, at least. Brown is a beast. We'll have to prove we can block him. OTOH, They haven't let Mac throw the slant that much, so why start out in an anti-slant defense? That said, I think they clog the box to begin with and Sark hits the edges. I look for a bunch of reverses...

Yeah there's a reason for that. Tua's quick release and accuracy (and our great receivers hands) almost made that play like a handoff.

Here's one of the most noticeable differences in Tua and MJ. Mac's accuracy is good; maybe even above average (compared to most college QBs) but Tua's skill set in accuracy was off the charts.

To loosely quote Daball from a couples of years ago: "Tua doesn't just hit the handle of the door; he hits the keyhole."

 

[UAH]

I believe that, if Mac had the same deformity that Brodie had, it would likely already shown up with an ACL injury already. It's called a "keystone arch" in the femur, where the ACL passes through. Viewed posteriorly, the arch has a "keystone" profile, rather than a nice Roman arch. This predisposes the ligament to getting pinched and is the cause of many non-contact ACL injuries. I had it, although it didn't cause my injury, which was caused by another player falling on me. As my orthopedist explained it to me, I asked him if it would predispose me to rupture the graft. He just chuckled and told me that my left knee no longer had it. As part of the procedure, he'd reamed out the arch to a rounded Roman profile. Still have it in the right, though...

Sorry for leaving my comment so unclear. What I was referring to is the 11 sack day that AU put on Brodie Croyle.

 

[TideEngineer08]

Yeah there's a reason for that. Tua's quick release and accuracy (and our great receivers hands) almost made that play like a handoff.

Here's one of the most noticeable differences in Tua and MJ. Mac's accuracy is good; maybe even above average (compared to most college QBs) but Tua's skill set in accuracy was off the charts.

To loosely quote Daball from a couples of years ago: "Tua doesn't just hit the handle of the door; he hits the keyhole."

What I've seen so far from Mac though, is that he can at least hit the handle of the door. Most can't even say that...

 

[BamaMoon]

What I've seen so far from Mac though, is that he can at least hit the handle of the door. Most can't even say that...

Yeah...but if I'm basing it off of what I've seen this year, the better comparison is he hits the door. I mean it's no shame you can't measure up to Tua (who can?) but he's missed some throws that weren't close to "the handle."

But as I said...he's probably more accurate than most. We are just kinda spoiled having watched Tua hit the key hole for two years.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Yeah there's a reason for that. Tua's quick release and accuracy (and our great receivers hands) almost made that play like a handoff.

Here's one of the most noticeable differences in Tua and MJ. Mac's accuracy is good; maybe even above average (compared to most college QBs) but Tua's skill set in accuracy was off the charts.

To loosely quote Daball from a couples of years ago: "Tua doesn't just hit the handle of the door; he hits the keyhole."

I'm thinking you're referring to the slant and no one can really throw it like Tua. On the reverse, it calls for the QB to "float" the ball up so that the reversing receiver takes it in securely in stride. Mac runs it so well, that I had the thought that we don't really know how many reps with the 1s he got before Tua went down. I think maybe more than I thought. That's not really an easy hand-off...

 

[BamaMoon]

I'm thinking you're referring to the slant and no one can really throw it like Tua. On the reverse, it calls for the QB to "float" the ball up so that the reversing receiver takes it in securely in stride. Mac runs it so well, that I had the thought that we don't really know how many reps with the 1s he got before Tua went down. I think maybe more than I thought. That's not really an easy hand-off...

Yes, I was specifically referring to the slant. I should have specified.

 

[TideEngineer08]

Yeah...but if I'm basing it off of what I've seen this year, the better comparison is he hits the door. I mean it's no shame you can't measure up to Tua (who can?) but he's missed some throws that weren't close to "the handle."

But as I said...he's probably more accurate than most. We are just kinda spoiled having watched Tua hit the key hole for two years.

It seems after he settles into the game, his accuracy improves dramatically.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

It seems after he settles into the game, his accuracy improves dramatically.

Yes. Saban has referred to Sark's method for relaxing him and getting him into rhythm for the game...

 

[BamaMoon]

It seems after he settles into the game, his accuracy improves dramatically.

agreed...probably nerves or adrenaline....probably common to mere humans not named Tua.

It's why on the first play thread I said it might be good to roll him out and, unless there's a wide open receiver, let him run and get a lick and that may actually be good to calm him down. That's what Doball did with Tua on his first play in the NC game against Georgia.

 

[Bubbaloo]

He’s under pressure. He’s got to get a backup QB to beat a good team on the road. That’s never happened under Saban. He’s got to figure out how to put Mac in situations he can succeed. He’s not Tua. He doesn’t process things nearly as quickly.

In the championship game Sark didn’t call 3 straight runs after Bo went out despite having a lead and a good running game. If he had ponded the ball Baka likely wins that game.

SIAP, late to the party. Saban has won 1 national championship with a freshman quarterback and a play off game with another. Give Mac a chance to shine and prove himself. He could probably start for any SEC team with the exception of LSU or maybe Ga, our next opponent included. Roll Tide Roll !

 

[CoachJeff]

Well, Sark called the best half an OC for Bama has called in my memory.