JessN: South Carolina wrap-up: Defense saves Tide's hide, but a misfiring offense hit its shot late

[JessN]

South Carolina wrap-up: Defense saves Tide’s hide, but a misfiring offense hit its shot late​

Jess Nicholas, TideFans.com Editor-In-Chief

As the famed Southern sportswriter Lewis Grizzard used to label his childhood friend Weyman C. Wannamaker Jr., my own good friend from many Alabama games, Jeff Trammell – “A Great American,” as Lewis would have put it – once passed along this nugget of wisdom about football games that are closer than you think they should be: “I’d rather almost lose than almost win.”

Indeed.

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TideFans.com | By the Fans, For the Fans. - South Carolina wrap-up: Defense saves Tide’s hide, but a misfiring offense hit its shot late

As the famed Southern sportswriter Lewis Grizzard used to label his childhood friend Weyman C. Wannamaker Jr., my own good friend from many Alabama games, Jeff Trammell – “A Great American,” as Lew…

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[Saint&Sinner]

I’m so glad to be here. Now to Rest and Lock In that championship attitude!

 

[Padreruf]

We looked like a tired team on offense until the last quarter...and the defense played well all game. USC has a losing record, but they have as much talent as Bama...

HOWEVER, we hung in there and found a way to win...something USC has not done this year.

Thanks Jess for an on-target summary once again.

 

[ROCKEE]

Thanks Jess.
You somehow always sum up my thoughts.
You da man!

 

[Toddrn]

So what do we need to do to improve our O-line? We can't continue with this horrible O-line play and expect to continue winning.

 

[Ledsteplin]

Thanks, Jess! You are spot on, as usual. I do worry about the OL. It is disheartening, when I see their defensive tackle easily push all 259 lbs of Proctor aside, and rush in to our quarterback. Ty sometimes just did not have a chance.

 

[December05]

Your statement about the OL moving laterally brought to mind an observation the sideline reporter made late in the game when he said Coach Cap challenged them to attack the gap while on the sidelines. I thought it was curious, because for one it would mean he knows what we’re doing poorly (or at least has an idea whether it’s right or not; I’m not qualified in OL blocking technique/strategy to make that call) and that also that seems to be something we should’ve learned as a unit over the Spring/Summer. It’s odd to think the line is possibly being trained correctly but no matter the combination won’t or can’t carry that out.

All I know is we cannot be that horrible upfront. Our probation-depleted rosters of the early 2000s, could open up better holes between the tackles. It’s fair to say they’re worn out, and I’m as guilty as any of harboring on the negative in the face of an unexpectedly tough win. I hope the week off will cure a lot of ills. However, if we can hold serve at home, we’ll get a carbon copy of that game plan at Auburn against a better defense and an unknown commodity at QB, and a repeat performance like that will bring it down to the wire or worse.

 

[GA Bamafan]

Great job Jess. I always look forward to your 5 points and summary of the games.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Im now on the keep Wommack train just get him better talent on the DL and LB position. I hate his zero blitz calls, we get burnt everytime, but overall the defense has done its job this season. He just needs more talent at DL and LB.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Thanks, Jess! You are spot on, as usual. I do worry about the OL. It is disheartening, when I see their defensive tackle easily push all 259 lbs of Proctor aside, and rush in to our quarterback. Ty sometimes just did not have a chance.

Size means nothing if the guy across from him is strong and powerful too but also quicker. Tjats the problem. When he runs into a guy who's big, strong AND quick, he's cooked. We need more linemen who are quick footed rather than lumbering and slow.

 

[December05]

Size means nothing if the guy across from him is strong and powerful too but also quicker. Tjats the problem. When he runs into a guy who's big, strong AND quick, he's cooked. We need more linemen who are quick footed rather than lumbering and slow.

In bringing up Proctor as an aside, I really wish we’d shelve this offensive weapon package for him unless we use him as a decoy one or two more times. There’s a fine line between cunning and novelty and running him out every game at some point negates its effect. Plus, getting his knee taken out trying to fight for a meaningless yard while met in the backfield would be a horrible turn of events given that he’ll be drafted to never touch a football again in a few months. If that is taking away his prep to do his actual job, can it.

 

[Tideflyer]

So what do we need to do to improve our O-line? We can't continue with this horrible O-line play and expect to continue winning.

I fear it’s too late? Maybe a training table issue, at least in the case of the LT? Looks to me like he needs to be playing at around 320. Just not quick enough/ doesn’t have the feet.

 

[78Alum]

Thanks once again, Jess. Whew!

 

[colbysullivan]

I think we need to give it a rest with the Proctor gadget plays. He was lined up in the backfield and everyone knew he was getting the ball.

 

[colbysullivan]

So what do we need to do to improve our O-line? We can't continue with this horrible O-line play and expect to continue winning.

The OL is what it is at this point

 

[HMM]

Great write up as usual. I just can;t understand the o line issues at this level, is it personnel or coaching?

 

[arthurdawg]

TL;DR is probably E) all of the above... I think all of ours guys are hard workers and good kids / young adults, but I think we have some deficiencies that have led to us seeing younger guys play a good bit.

Proctor - talented... But I'm in the group that thinks he should weigh < = to 350. Struggles with speed which destroys his footwork.
Dewberry - doesn't get the push you need from a guy his size and too slow for the pulling DeBoer uses in this offense.
Brailsford - heart and soul of the line with a super genius IQ for making the line calls, but smaller and simply isn't going to move that guy who is 30-50 lbs bigger. As Scotty notes... You canna change the laws of physics.
Vandermark - Plus 1 guy that can play any position. We need one of him every year... But I wonder where is overall talent level is. Seems like a hard worker who does whatever he is asked, and does it pretty well.
Roberts - Injured... ? Pass blocking.
Formby - Hard working dude, a step slow for an SEC tackle, but has quietly graded out very well last few weeks. Again, struggles with speed and that is a double whammy on both sides of the line.

We've played some solid freshmen. Carrol and the freshmen guard look solid. We have a number of guys in Ionata, Roq, and Alinen who are working hard in the background and have a good combo of size and power for the interior.

I think the other issue is that our running backs just have not evinced any vision even when there are holes, creases, and gaps for them... It isn't all on the OL. Again, I think we have a hard working group, there just isn't a Najee Harris amongst them.

I can't really weigh in on the coaching... past my skill level. The downside to playing so many combos is that the OL is really the one position where you need a starting 5 and you don't sub until the game is in hand. Another year in this offense with the current guys (plus a solid portal or two) should pay some dividends. Need to get better speed installed at the tackles, and a bigger center will offset the losses of Brailsford's leadership and IQ.


And... Kudos to SC's DL. Those guys played well and are very talented and took us to the woodshed. Have to give them lots of credit!

 

[BamaHoopsBoi]

If this was last year, we would have most certainly lost this game.

LOVE to see these critical takeaways by our defense. It's been a long time since we have been able to rely on our defense to bail us out. It wasn't always pretty but it was just enough to pull out the win.

 

[colbysullivan]

IMO most games are either won, or they're lost, but not both. This is one of those rare exceptions where it's both. We won this game...and USCe lost it.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

@JessN

Do you think our oline issues are due to a talent issue, a coaching issue or both? I'm just at a loss to understand why at this point in the season we're not seeing much improvement at all from them.