Link: Three Departing Players Explain What Went Wrong in 2013

[theBIGyowski]

The kids who are in high school now understand the importance of the rivalry with Auburn...given that since 2008 the winner of the IB has been one of the top teams in America. The only other programs that had something similar in the modern era were FSU and Miami back in the 90s...but not to the championship level we're seeing in the state of Alabama right now.

 

[gtgilbert]

Could it be that the players (or at least a number of them) are not as emotionally invested in the rivalry ? That might be particularly true for someone who`s more into "Me" than they are into the team, school and what the game means to the fans and the state.

sure, and honestly lsu has been a bigger rival since Saban arrived than the barn has been, and traditionally tenn is a bigger rival anyway.m meanly I like keeping the barn as a thirdmtiermrival anyway, just to keep them in their proper place.

 

[bigjue24]

I have to be honest that Vinnie is the only underclassman that I am sad to see go. I haven't felt good about CK or Hubbard all year. They made some nice plays at times, but I was shaking my head in a lot of games.

 

[TLIT]

Given that the talk is that those who didn't truly buy in will be playing elsewhere in the fall, is it reasonable at all that Vinnie was one of those who wasn't necessarily pulling in the right direction? I know we all loved the way he was playing, and you certainly can't fault his effort on the field, but maybe there was something else going on off the field?

No implications being made here... just honest questions.

 

[jps1983]

In 2012 Mosely wasn't a vocal leader at all, but he stepped up this year, as did Vinnie. I can see Depreist doing similar on the defense, as well as perhaps Collins.

Trey had an off-field issue I hope he learned from because he is extremely talented and has the potential to lead.

Landon is a FOCUSED individual. I think he can bring leadership because he is a worker and doesn't seem to get distracted with the "clutter". I think he's going to be an abolsute monster next year.

 

[FitToBeTide]

In 2012 Mosely wasn't a vocal leader at all, but he stepped up this year, as did Vinnie. I can see Depreist doing similar on the defense, as well as perhaps Collins.

On offense, we have any number of skill players coming back that tasted the sweetness of the NC in 2012 - I suspect several will step forward to become leaders. We had a great leader in AJ this year and we still couldn't get it done, so it's not just about the leadership.

I'm most interested in seeing what kind of OL we put on the field next year - if we get back to attacking and mauling, we'll have a very good year.

I think that's going to be the linchpin of our success next year. New QB is going to need all the protection he can get until he can get his sea legs. Without it, the wheels will likely come off the team right quick. Those 3 and outs need to go away, and not beat the D down having to stay on the field forever.

 

[tidefanbeezer]

I think this is the only time I've ever seen this phrase: "disappointing 11-2 season".

We've come a long way since I was in school (the Dubose years).

 

[Bamaro]

I think this is the only time I've ever seen this phrase: "disappointing 11-2 season".

We've come a long way since I was in school (the Dubose years).

Everything is relative

 

[tusks_n_raider]

A

I think this is the only time I've ever seen this phrase: "disappointing 11-2 season".

We've come a long way since I was in school (the Dubose years).

Yeah but it's dissappointing not because the record is 11-2. It's because we were 11-0 and got embarrassed the final 2 games with 80 points dropped on the defense. We also won NOTHING. It would be different if we were 9-2 and then won the last 2 or 3 games to finish 11-2 or 12-2 with an SEC and or BCS Bowl Win.

Also on topic if they are not getting up for AU then some hate needs to be manufactured internally for them because losing to inferior barner teams just doesn't cut it. We SHOULD have a 6 game winning streak right now instead of 4-2 in the last 6 and 6-1 instead of 4-3 in the CNS era. It's beyond frustrating.

 

[92tide]

For the guys playing today, anything that happened before 2000 is just ancient history... like building pyramids or circumventing the globe.

they don't know what they are missing out on, i very fondly remember the great circumvention of 1998

 

[uaintn]

I agree that it appeared that at least some players mailed it in against API. IMHO part of the problem is that ever since last January, a lot of people (guilty as charged) considered this a two game season -- beat A&M and LSU and the rest was just window dressing. The second half of the LSU game was the best football the team played all season, again in my opinion. After that point, they really didn't seem particularly interested and/or like they were just entitled to win. That's an ugly generalization, of course. Henry, for example, played the bowl game like his life depended on it.

I may even understand it a little bit against OU, given that not much was left to play for but pride. But against Lee County Tech? That has to get fixed.

 

[BigGunn]

they don't know what they are missing out on, i very fondly remember the great circumvention of 1998

I thought about circumventing once. Then said. nah. Not worth it.

 

[RollTide1224]

I thought that complacency was behind us with all the talent Coach Saban had stockpiled at virtually every position. I reasoned that the competition for PT would ensure that everyone would have to try to excel because if not, there's others right behind you that are just as talented and are hungry for your PT.

So much for that theory.

Bet that Coach Saban gets it fixed PDQ though.

It's really a shame though that this team didn't realize what they were on the edge of and stupidly let it slip away.

That's why the 1966 team will always be so special to me, they were in the same position and would not be denied. Unfortnately, a bunch of thieves posing as sportswriters took that away from them abd denied them their much deserved place in history.

Great post. The part about the competition is the part that gets me. To me at this point there are two options to explain some of our deficiencies at positions either the competition situation isn't like we thought it was or we have had some misses on the evaluation side. It's probably a combo of some of these things. I really hope next season with a new OC coming in and possibly a slightly altered defense to deal with the reality that 70% of our schedule is going to be some sort of spread or HUNH type attacks that all positions are open competition starting with a blank slate.

Oh yeah, it would also help to land Humphrey to help deal with some of those recruiting misses of past years.

 

[bamamoss2]

What you said is the God awful truth.
I just cannot imagine how one could be complacent for the IB!!!
How could you not want to roll out of bed that day and NOT want to knock the crap out of your rival, just because? That is something you should look forward to all year, like your birthday or Christmas or something.

My thoughts exactly. However, I believe the demographics of out team with a majority of the 2 deep roster NOT being from Alabama has something to do with the Auburn game being "just another game".. Heck, the coaches have said this and seem to be making it seem less and less of an importance each year, IMO.
I would truly love to see more emphasis placed on the IB than Bama admin is giving these days.

 

[CrimsonProf]

A

Yeah but it's dissappointing not because the record is 11-2. It's because we were 11-0 and got embarrassed the final 2 games with 80 points dropped on the defense. We also won NOTHING. It would be different if we were 9-2 and then won the last 2 or 3 games to finish 11-2 or 12-2 with an SEC and or BCS Bowl Win.

Also on topic if they are not getting up for AU then some hate needs to be manufactured internally for them because losing to inferior barner teams just doesn't cut it. We SHOULD have a 6 game winning streak right now instead of 4-2 in the last 6 and 6-1 instead of 4-3 in the CNS era. It's beyond frustrating.

Totes agree.

Two problems:

1. This coaching staff just doesn't put the emphasis on this game that we fans do. Now in fairness, they haven't need to, but now they do.
2. Out of state players unfamiliar with the SEC don't get the game. I've said it before - send Dr. Elko to Krispy Kreme and walk those boys through the Bryant Museum three or four times.

 

[dave12]

Almost sounds like they are saying some players became complacent to winning and "phoned it in" for the IB.

I agree with that, it looked like they were complacent in IB, and SB.

RTR:biga2:

 

[TommyMac]

If the non-Alabama kids don't realize the importance of the IB then the Alabama kids must not be doing a good job of conveying that message.

 

[CrimsonProf]

If the non-Alabama kids don't realize the importance of the IB then the Alabama kids must not be doing a good job of conveying that message.

They're not.

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

They're not.

Man, this argument keeps cropping up and with all due respect, it still doesn't make sense.

1. Once they sign with us, all these out-of-state kids stay year-round in Alabama. If they didn't know about the Auburn rivalry they learn about it soon enough.

2. Even if they could care less about the Iron Bowl, they had to know what was riding on this year's game.

3. If this is all about the ousiders, how come some of our best instate kids and leaders, including AJ, CJ and TJ, played so flat?

Sometimes, bad things happen and there aren't simple answers on why they do.

Then again, maybe there is one. Maybe we just choked.

 

[cuda.1973]

2. Out of state players unfamiliar with the SEC don't get the game. I've said it before - send Dr. Elko to Krispy Kreme and walk those boys through the Bryant Museum three or four times.

I wonder if any of that works on this latest generation. Dr. Elko is probably here because the latest generation needs.........shall we say.................handled in a more nurturing manner.