Crimson Red Sports

I will start first.  One, Bama/Hurts has got to be able to throw the ball down the field.   Two, you have some of your best athletes at rec they must get the ball.  This ties directly into number 1.  Three, the OL has got to do a better/more consistent job from game to game.  Four, Bam has to do a better job with penalties.  Too many times they killed themselves with penalties at the wrong time. 

Everything you have mentioned I am 100% in agreement. It's called coaching. Something on the offensive side of the ball is missing or is off. I don't think Cristobal leaving is a coincidence. Has he been replaced, I'm drawing a blank? I am interested to see the impact Sarkisian has on the offense, especially in the area of execution and timing. I think Hurts has huge potential but he needs good coaching.


 :dog:

There should be great competition for the running back position.  Bama could be extremely deep here.  I would not be surprised if someone transferred.  You have Scarbrough, D. Harris, Jacobs, Emmons, N. Harris, and  Clark.

First of all Cristobal has been replaced by Coach Mike Locksley. I agree with hscoach and another thing we need to improve desperately is our DB's. We allowed way to many catches to a walk on WR in the last game we played. No way with just seconds left on the clock should a team we are playing walk down the field throwing the football that way. One other thing we must improve is our Field Goal kicking. We need those 3 points really bad in games where it counts just like Sunday when a nfl team won on a last second FG. RTR!

I think we need to mix up our coverages some and not play 2 high safeties with 5 man underneath and rushing 4 on just about every down like we did on that last drive with Clemson.  I think if we had mixed in some zone every now and then it makes it really difficult on the opposing QB since he has to read the coverage after the snap while the 4 monsters are breathing down his neck.  When it is the same coverage every time, he can figure out where to go with the ball pre-snap.  If we had mixed in a zone or two on that last drive I think the game would have ended with an interception.  Even if we don't get the interception we probably get a few more sacks and incompletions because the QB is not sure where to go with the ball and he has to get rid of it immediately.  I am not ready to watch it again yet but I don't remember us playing any zone on that last drive.

Coach -- First, I want to belatedly say thanks for all your great insights delivered all season after each game.  I have learned a lot from reading your comments.

The biggest question I have about Jalen is this: Can he "learn" to see the whole field? Can he learn to see the many open receivers he apparently did not see last season?   i.e. is this a skill that can be taught, or is it an ability that one QB has and another doesn't?

I read on another board that Jalen was hard at work studying tape of games.  But without someone talking him through it, how will he be able to 'see' what he missed in the games?  And even if he does see it on tape, will he be able to take it to the field next fall?  I am sorry to say I have my doubts.

I think Sark will be a better QB coach than Kiff was.  His skill as an OC is yet to be proven.  But I don't know if any coach can teach Jalen to see the field.

Thank you for the kind words.  I think he can learn.  I think part of the problem, even though some don't like to hear it, is that he is a freshman.  I would imagine, when in high school, his legs got him out of many problems and it is hard not to revert back to that.    I would love to see the route combinations to see what he is looking at.  It would help with a better job by the offensive line and a running game you can depend on.

Yeah, I think everyone forgets that Hurts was an 18 year old freshman starting on a huge stage, Alabama & the SEC.



 :wave:

I have to say after the season was over he never let his excitement of the moment get him in trouble. He was cool in every game. I think he will be better next year. Our offense didn't lose the NCG Clemson scored 35 points on what I thought was the best defense in the nation. RTR!

That defense had to play 99 plays, mostly in the second half because the offense couldn't sustain drives.

It is entirely possible that Hurts will be the back-up QB for Bama next year.  You heard it here first... 8)

I really don't expect to see that. That one year of experience for Hurts is huge. Plus, he's strong, runs well and can evade defenders, and pass if he is coached up.


 :dunno:

Tua has been mentioned as a dual-thread QB the same as Hurts.  However, a lot has been said about his ability to throw the ball that he is better at doing so.  He loves competition and has stated himself that this helps him to improve his game.  If he truly is a better passer than Hurts and can out-shine him in Spring and Fall camps then he very well may take the starting job...

Thanks hscoach. This is one of the problems I have not being able to watch the games but listen to Eli. I couldn't notice or see the actual players going on and off the field. I do agree when our RB's make runs of long yardage for scores it puts the defense back out there. Other than having 2 Defenses to throw on the field at the other team how would you resolve this problem? RTR!

It's not the problem of the long runs it is the problem on not being able to sustain other drives.  Most of the drives in the second half were 3 and outs.  That is the problem.

AMEN!!!  This can't be overstated.

So then we are back to the O-line need to be trained better. We have been weak on the O-line I thought, RTR!

I think the OL was part of the problem however the bigger problem was not making the defense honor the passing game.  I think I mentioned this in the game notes, but at one time Clemson had all 11 defensive players within 10 yards of the LOS.  If Bama had gotten 3 or 4 more first downs and used the time on the clock, Clemson would not have had time to make that final drive.

You know hscoach you said something that is the turning point in my opinion in every football game. It is the TIME/Clock. If you can control the time you usually win games. RTR!

It does happen a lot when controlling the clock, but with these fast scoring offenses it is not always necessary.