Crimson Red Sports

What a trying day at the stadium today. The game started with Bama looking like a team that would never ever lose another game. They caused some turnovers and did what championship teams do, get a score off of the miscues. But as the game moved on Bama started making mistakes of their own and Western Kentucky didn't have the guns to take advantage of them.

There were at least three things decided in the game today. AJ is not superman, the offensive line had better wait on taking on the New York Giants line, and Cade Foster can actually kick the ball into the endzone. There were some issues exposed of the Bama team that should help this team in their games ahead. The offense was on and off the whole game, at times they looked great and then there were times they looked terrible. The defense had trouble all day with the short quick patterns and I'm sure some future Bama opponents will want to look at this game film.

In all reality though, Bama probably needed a game like this to bring them back down to earth after the big win against Michigan. There has been so much media hype it was driving CNS crazy and rightfully so. I'm pretty sure there won't be many of the players grade very high this week, but again it was a game that should wake up the players and remind them of what it takes to win championships.

My player of the game was Christion Jones, I thought his two TD catches were a thing of beauty. I said earlier this year, ADay, that he will be their go to guy and I think today was an indication of this. The kickers did a great job today, I think they are the most improved aspect of Bama's team. It was sad to see Fowler go down with an injury and hopefully it isn't as serious as it lookek to be. As sad as it was to see Fowler go down it was equally exciting to see Kenyan Drake get his touchdown at the end of the game.

It's off to "hog world" next week and the Tide will face a stiff challenge in playing Arkansas, especially since the game is played there. When the players look at today's game film, they shouldn't have any problems with finding what they need to work on this next week. Roll Tide!!

Good report J.  #+

Great job, J. You are dead on. The only thing that I would add is that a lot of reserve players got PT which can only help the team, but their lack of experience showed from time to time and cost us a bigger game. Not that some of the starters, both on "O" and "D", didn't show chinks in the armor, particularly the "O" line.

nice report J  :clap:

just read this ...

I would add this: at least  of the sacks were not really the fault of the OL. WKU showed heavy blitz and AJ should have checked out of the play or thrown a hot route. For example, one time a PA roll out was called, and WKU had clearly stacked the line from that side and was coming on a blitz. AJ should have checked out of that. And at least 2 sacks were because of AJ holding the ball too long. But I agree the OL did not look good today.

Jamos , think we have seen the last of the I formation for awhile ?

Very good analysis.

I would like to add that I was very impressed with our special teams play today.

Our guys corralled them nicely when they decided to run it on kick offs and punts.

Our O line has to improve for AR next week.

I would think so, Yeldon and Lacy. I wish they had sent in Blake Sims sooner, he was doing well with his offense.

"regardless" for a 35-0 win?

without Fowler , you think they will be able to do as good without him as a blocker ?
Trent and Mark didn't need him so much ya' know ...   :dunno:

When you are playing a cupcake that has won 9 games the last two years combined, 35-0 is not something to be fired up about, especially when you are the #1 team in the country.



 :dog:

Arky is in a dog fight with LA Monroe, USC had their hands full with Syracuse, Oregon State beat Wisconsin, Michigan had to stop a 4th Quarter drive to beat Air Force, and Notre Dame squeaked out a win at Purdue. 

(WKU also were 8-2 since October 2011.)

I'll take 35-0 any day.

The mark of a great team is one that can play poorly and still win big. We just showed that we're a great team.

Yeah, 8-2 against Fla Atlantic, Troy, North Texas, Middle Tennessee, etc. I'm still not impressed.


 :dog:

AMEN!

It will be interesting to see what they do. I sure hated to Fowler go down, he had worked so hard to earn his playing time.

I'm really glad our passing game is working  ;)

I was concerned too until Chech pointed out that we were intentionally playing to our weaknesses in order to make some improvements in those areas.

I read a report that he probably has a PCL injury. If true, he could be back this season.

LOL!! Okay, I guess I can buy that sunshine pumping.     


 :clap:

The only thing I worried about this game was any injuries against such a secondary team. I'm surprised coach kept the starters in the entire game, and losing Fowler is the result.

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Great observations CRTUNEMAN.  This post sums up my concerns for this team going into SEC play.  6 SACKS ALLOWED BY WESTERN KENTUCKY???   This is a real concern.  I know Chec indicated that we were playing to our weaknesses, but we were really exposed today by a much lesser team (I know Coach Saban would disagree with me about the lesser team part   :tinfoil:).  Considering that the drop-off between AJ and the rest of our QBs is VAST, we better be able to protect him or we will not survive the SEC.  AJ also better make better decisions with the ball if he wants to finish this season on the field rather than on the sidelines.  I was hoping that Coach Saban would have allowed Ely to get some playing time in this game for just this reason.  It would be a way for him to see game pressure in a game that was already decided and one in which we were not in danger of losing.  I would hate for him to be thrust into the middle of the Arky game or God forbid the LSWho game for his first live action.  Even with the loss by Arky to ULM (actually BECAUSE OF the loss to ULM) I am more nervous about this game now than I was before. 

Also, I agree with everyone else, the loss of JF is big.  He is a well rounded player and plays multiple positions well.  I was pleased to see the run by KD and to see the CJ make some big plays.  I was also glad that they were able to hold out Jesse and Dee M. to make sure that they were good to go before we hit the meat of the schedule. We are definitely gonna need Jesse next week against Niles Davis.

Anyway these are my thoughts about the game. Glad we got a dose of reality.

I am smoking 2 Boston Butts for the game next week. Nothing like smoked PIG on Arky day!!