Week 3 Alabama @ Wisconsin (Weekly Game Discussion)

[JDCrimson]

If we are going to lean on our defense, which can be very good, we need to manage our possessions on offense better.

 

[GrayTide]

We can win, but I have little confidence in Milroe and our OL. Wisconsin isn’t tOSU and we aren’t UGA.

 

[PA Tide Fan]

I wonder if anyone has looked into this, but have we actually had a conventional 70-80 yard, 10-15 play drive where we had to convert 2 or 3 third downs to keep the drive alive???

I honestly can't think of one time we've driven the field with the 1's and scored a TD like this in the first two games.

You're right and this is something that must change. When we score quickly our defense must go right back out on the field. Against a team like Tennessee that could be fatal because our defense will run out of gas.

 

[81usaf92]

We can win, but I have little confidence in Milroe and our OL. Wisconsin isn’t tOSU and we aren’t UGA.

I think the biggest things that many Bama fans are dismissing about Wisconsin is that:

1) Wisconsin has the defense that is used to playing close to the line like Michigan did last year. They just dont have the DBs that are going to be able cover our explosive WRs. I doubt Fickle is going to spy Milroe and is probably going gamble all game on him not being able to find a slant or quick throw.

2) Van Dyke is still a legit quarterback. Yes his stats are down this year, but you have to accept the fact that he is still the best by far that we have faced all season by a country mile. If he ever finds his rhythm we could be in for a Prilosec game.

3) Winning on the road in P5 venues early in the season is still tough. I dont care what anyone says about Milroe going to Auburn, Starkville, or College Station that place in Madison can get insane too. When they do Jump Around it feels like the stadium is going to collapse, and if we give them anything to cheer about it is going to feel like playing in a major SEC venue. So its imperative that we knock them out early.

I think we will win but it is probably going to be uncomfortable for a good portion of the game. I think it will be mostly because I dont think we are fully in sync and Wisconsin is going to be playing loose.

 

[colbysullivan]

I think the biggest things that many Bama fans are dismissing about Wisconsin is that:

1) Wisconsin has the defense that is used to playing close to the line like Michigan did last year. They just dont have the DBs that are going to be able cover our explosive WRs. I doubt Fickle is going to spy Milroe and is probably going gamble all game on him not being able to find a slant or quick throw.

2) Van Dyke is still a legit quarterback. Yes his stats are down this year, but you have to accept the fact that he is still the best by far that we have faced all season by a country mile. If he ever finds his rhythm we could be in for a Prilosec game.

3) Winning on the road in P5 venues early in the season is still tough. I dont care what anyone says about Milroe going to Auburn, Starkville, or College Station that place in Madison can get insane too. When they do Jump Around it feels like the stadium is going to collapse, and if we give them anything to cheer about it is going to feel like playing in a major SEC venue. So its imperative that we knock them out early.

I think we will win but it is probably going to be uncomfortable for a good portion of the game. I think it will be mostly because I dont think we are fully in sync and Wisconsin is going to be playing loose.

I think everyone learned spying Milroe is a waste of resources, and they saw how Michigan pressured him constantly. I don’t know if Wisconsin has the athletes to do it, but I imagine they’ll try to do exactly what Michigan and USF did.

 

[CB4]

I wonder if anyone has looked into this, but have we actually had a conventional 70-80 yard, 10-15 play drive where we had to convert 2 or 3 third downs to keep the drive alive???

I honestly can't think of one time we've driven the field with the 1's and scored a TD like this in the first two games.

IMO, Wisky playing a bend but don't break defense might be their best approach because this offense hasn't proven it can consistently move the ball without the help of big, explosive plays.

Had pretty much the same thought earlier today so I pulled the box scores from first two games.

Drive Chart versus Western Kentucky

Alabama vs Western Ky. - Football - 8/31/2024 - Box Score - Conference USA

The official Football box score of Alabama vs Western Ky. on 8/31/2024

conferenceusa.com

Drive Chart versus South Florida

Alabama vs South Fla. - Football - 9/7/2024 - Box Score

The official Football box score of Alabama vs South Fla. on 9/7/2024

theamerican.org

 

[JustNeedMe81]

This week we will have most of our OL back. The offense should be much better this weekend. no need to feel gloom or anything like that. we will be fine.

I expect this game to be won in a decisive way.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

You're right and this is something that must change. When we score quickly our defense must go right back out on the field. Against a team like Tennessee that could be fatal because our defense will run out of gas.

USF's offense ran faster than what Tennessee's offense runs and I've got to give our dudes credit. Though they weren't perfect, they made plays when they had to. USF was running plays within 25 seconds of each other. That is insanely fast and I think it also was a lot of the reason their quarterback missed on several wide open receivers. They were rushing to get plays off so fast their QB rushed his mechanics and over shot several wide open wr's, to our benefit.

 

[BamaMoon]

If we are going to lean on our defense, which can be very good, we need to manage our possessions on offense better.

See the post on offensive drives this year. Yeah, I agree we need to learn how to keep the ball longer and sustain drives that end with points.

 

[BamaMoon]

Had pretty much the same thought earlier today so I pulled the box scores from first two games.

Drive Chart versus Western Kentucky

Alabama vs Western Ky. - Football - 8/31/2024 - Box Score - Conference USA

The official Football box score of Alabama vs Western Ky. on 8/31/2024

conferenceusa.com

Drive Chart versus South Florida

Alabama vs South Fla. - Football - 9/7/2024 - Box Score

The official Football box score of Alabama vs South Fla. on 9/7/2024

theamerican.org

I'm sorry I missed your post...after asking the question I posted the same in a new thread. But thank you!

 

[BamaMoon]

USF's offense ran faster than what Tennessee's offense runs and I've got to give our dudes credit. Though they weren't perfect, they made plays when they had to. USF was running plays within 25 seconds of each other. That is insanely fast and I think it also was a lot of the reason their quarterback missed on several wide open receivers. They were rushing to get plays off so fast their QB rushed his mechanics and over shot several wide open wr's, to our benefit.

I hate to say it, but I do not think CNS's 2023 defense would have held up as well as our new 2024 defense did.

Considering all the opportunities we gave USF in the second half, they did just fine.

 

[Ledsteplin]

From reading articles on The Badgers Wire USA Today, Wisconsin seems concerned with their rush defense. They're looking to improve in that area. They refered to Bama as one of the best rushing offenses in the country. They brought in transfers at both inside and outside linebacker positions to help, but it hasn't worked like they wanted. So we'll see what they do defensively.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

See the post on offensive drives this year. Yeah, I agree we need to learn how to keep the ball longer and sustain drives that end with points.

We keep the ball longer by blocking better at the OL and running the ball. I still say to help Milroe be a more effective passer we have to run the ball. It will open up passing lanes to throw for him and keep our defense rested. I'm not talking about three yards and a cloud of dust. I'm talking about establishing the run enough where we're not in obvious passing downs on most non first downs. If we can do that I think it cleans our passing game up.

 

[Joefus]

Always hard to beat a power 5 team at home. Especially how we looked against usf but Wisconsin has beaten a bad w mich team and a div 2 team by 2 touchdowns each soooooo I’m hoping we can keep our heads and play well. Not impressed with Wisconsin AT ALL

 

[BamaMoon]

From reading articles on The Badgers Wire USA Today, Wisconsin seems concerned with their rush defense. They're looking to improve in that area. They refered to Bama as one of the best rushing offenses in the country. They brought in transfers at both inside and outside linebacker positions to help, but it hasn't worked like they wanted. So we'll see what they do defensively.

Under normal circumstances, this sounds like the perfect scenario for airing it out if they are going to commit to stopping the run.

If our OL can hold up in protection, it may be the perfect storm for JM to shine, especially if they can't cover deep.

But we also have something to prove too. We need to be able to establish the run, make short/mid range completions and move the chains.

 

[BamaMoon]

We keep the ball longer by blocking better at the OL and running the ball. I still say to help Milroe be a more effective passer we have to run the ball. It will open up passing lanes to throw for him and keep our defense rested. I'm not talking about three yards and a cloud of dust. I'm talking about establishing the run enough where we're not in obvious passing downs on most non first downs. If we can do that I think it cleans our passing game up.

Maybe more stretch run plays? Maybe roll the pocket to the wide side of the field more?

IDK at this point, but try something different than we did against USF!

It disturbs me that we are once again talking about playing behind the chains. It was an off-season talking point and it seems we are there again.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Maybe more stretch run plays? Maybe roll the pocket to the wide side of the field more?

IDK at this point, but try something different than we did against USF!

It disturbs me that we are once again talking about playing behind the chains. It was an off-season talking point and it seems we are there again.

Yes, I agree, it is very disturbing that we're still having the same issues through the first two games that plagued us much of last season. All we can do is hope CKD and staff can fix it.

 

[mlh]

Yes, I agree, it is very disturbing that we're still having the same issues through the first two games that plagued us much of last season. All we can do is hope CKD and staff can fix it.

It's disappointing, but it shouldn't be surprising. We have a lot of the same guys returning from last year's team and we've only played 2 games in CKD's 1st season.

I think CKD is a very good coach, but he's not a magician. It takes time to break bad habits and install new habits, mindsets, thought processes, etc. At this point, I'm just looking for improvement each week as the team adjusts to the new coaching staff and new concepts...and win every game, of course.

 

[RammerJammer15]

I’ll say this, I’m aware that we’ve struggled on the road post-Covid but this game should not be close, and if it is, I’d pretty quite worried about this team. Wisconsin is not good.

 

[jjv0004]

I think everyone learned spying Milroe is a waste of resources, and they saw how Michigan pressured him constantly. I don’t know if Wisconsin has the athletes to do it, but I imagine they’ll try to do exactly what Michigan and USF did.

Any defensive coordinator that does not bring pressure against our o-line and Milroe should be fired. USF and Michigan both laid the groundwork for how to make our offense largely irrelevant.