Crimson Red Sports

Congrats to the Bama players and coaches for coming back and getting a big win.  This is a time they could have felt sorry for themselves and played a lack luster game.  They played hard, both offensively and defensively.  MSU has a better team than most people give them credit for.  

Offense:  The offense had a quiet 386 yards of total offense.  This could have been more with better passing and catching.  There were also a few missed blocks.

1.    I think AJ was too quick to pull the trigger on the early two drives.  I think he expected the players to be open and went there instead of reading and had some happy feet.
2.   Finally Bama hit a hot route off of the corner blitz and it resulted into a first down.
3.   It didn’t seem that the MSU DB’s were scared of Bama’s recs running past them.
4.   A couple of drops hurt the offense.
5.   I don’t know why on the goal line Bama doesn’t check out of runs when they have a press man cover.  I loved the flag cut by the inside rec when teams were playing man on the goal line because they would take the inside route, easier throw, away leaving all the outside room to work.  I guess Bama is just very confident and knows if TR or EL can get by the initial surge it will be a big gain or TD in this case.
6.   On the fade route the rec may want to give himself a little more room, in other words line up more inside.
7.   Bama has seen it so much they need to be ready for more short side corner blitzes.  They got it this game.
8.   On the int, the corner read AJ and allowed his rec to run free, that should have been the throw.
9.   Two passes were overthrown in the medium to deep route area.  Bama has got to start taking advantage of these situations.  One was to Maze and I think the other to Norwood.
10.   Again, Bama made plays on the crossing routes.  One was missed as mentioned above.
11.   On the screen where TR picked up 19, CW made a great read to pick the defender off behind.
12.   On 4th and 3 inches the OL has to get a better push, they know the snap count.  We use to have a goose play where the QB would just give pressure and make no calls.
13.   Probably the best throw of the night was the ball to Maze where he was out of the end zone.
14.   The wide rec covered up the TE and cost Bama a 1st down.  The WR has to be aware of who is inside of him.
15.   In the red zone, a running play was stopped for no gain or a loss.  The LT did not take the proper angle to cut off the DL which would have allowed CW to pull.  
16.   When AJ threw left a couple where high, the slant and stop to Maze.  


QB:   AJ played OK.  As I mentioned above he seemed not to be reading the routes early.  The interception was all on him.  If he hits a couple more throws it may have loosened the D up earlier.  I believe he was thinking about LSU and how quickly they could put pressure on you.  I think footwork needs to improve on throws to the left as a couple were thrown high.

RB:  Both TR and EL ran well. TR carried the ball 13 times for 39 yards in the first half and 19 for 88 in the second half(127).   If not for the negative plays TR probably would have had 145 yards rushing.  It amazes me each week watching these guys make cuts.  Each ran well against a tough MSU D.

REC:  Someone needs to step up and be a go to guy beside MM.  Six different rec caught the ball as did one running back.  There were a couple of balls that should have been caught, especially the drop by KB or DW.  I forgot to put down which number it was.  He may have scored if he catches the ball and gets up field.  

OL:  The OL played pretty well.   The box was loaded a lot of the night.  There were a couple of bust, but MSU played them hard.  I was upset that the OL could not get 3 inches for a first down, I don’t care who the ball carrier is.  I don’t know if the D relaxes when EL is in or the OL doesn’t think they have to block as hard when TR is in the game.  It seems EL has better holes to run thru at times.

Defense:  The D was not effected one bit by the loss.
1.   If my count is correct they had 5 three and outs and 3 four and outs.  Also, if my count is correct, MSU had 12 offensive possessions in the game.  
2.   They also came up with 10 negative plays while holding MSU to 150 total yards.  Five of the negative plays were in the first quarter.  
3.   I put the TD on the O because of the int.
4.   The longest play of the night was 16 yards.  The second longest was a 15 yard penalty.
5.   Thanks to MSU coaches for taking a hot QB out when he was driving the team.
6.   If RL gets more depth on the TD throw he takes away the throwing lane and may have prevented the TD.
7.   Another good goal line stand by the D and it led to a missed FG.
8.   There were a couple of missed tackles going for the big hit.

DL:  The D line played well.  Many players are quietly having good years.   I like the way #92 played last night.  I am not saying others didn’t play well, I just noticed him more.

LB:  Again good job playing both the pass and run.  The biggest mistake I saw was when CU did not play assignment football and allowed the option to get outside.

DB:  Again MB does a good job filling the lane and coming up and making plays.  As I stated above it looks that if RL drops deeper, then he is in the throwing lane.   No real big plays by the MSU rec and Bama may have gotten away with a couple of pass interferences.
Penalties:  There were a couple of penalties, but none that Bama didn’t overcome.  A couple were avoidable, the one with CU off sides and when the WR covered up the tight end.

Special teams:  Bama left 6 points on the field with missed FG’s, as did MSU.  What I did like was the long FG had the distance and it looked like he is getting back to his old kicking style.  If you happen to read it, I posted where CF form was different now than what it was in high school.  I still think he need to go thru the football more on his kick offs.
  
Please feel free to comment.

Good Luck and Roll Tide Roll

Thanks HSC!

Great notes coach.

I saw that too.  That may have been a TD if he had thrown to him.

I wondered about that play.  Did we have an illegal formation and the refs just missed it?  If not then that means that someone else messed up too I think.  If that WR was supposed to be off the line, then someone else was off the line when they should have been on the line.  Otherwise it would have been an illegal formation with not enough men on the line of scrimmage, right?

I would have to look again, but what I saw was the outside rec on the los, he should have been off with the TE there.  I wil have to double check and see if others were on or off the los.

There was a break down on coverage on special teams, too. Thanks, hsc!

4th qtr--I think Fulton made the tackle.

I noticed the difference too.  It has been like that most of the year.  This also happened a lot last year when MI was in the game.  TR would come in and get the big runs, but MI would be hit in the backfield.

My theory is that the D is always on red alert when they see TR in there (or MI last year).  They are expecting the run and focus on him.  When the #2 guy comes in there, they are not keying on him as much and are playing more of a balanced D.  Not necessarily in the play call by the D, but at least in their mind they are not thinking exclusively about the #1 guy.  :dunno:

I commented on that during the in game thread.  I don't know why the guys don't wrap up when they make the big hit.  It does not lessen the impact at all, and it keeps the guy from getting more yards if he manages to keep his balance.  Make that same hit, except wrap up and drive him into the ground and land on top of him.  Do that and Daniel Moore might turn it into a painting, like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUoi8r32CE8

You are right.  I forgot to mention that.  Also, the guys who were making tackles earlier this year like #33, I guess teams are assigning someone to them.  I don't think #3 wasn't in the game at that time because of the block on the punt return.

Are you sure?  BTW, that is what CNS had them working on the first week preparing for LSU.

:dunno:  Ask Steve Beuerlein.

OL was minus an All-American. Steen back in his regular spot. McCollough playing LT.

The rest of the country needs to know how well Miss State played on "D". They also play USCe, UGA, and LSU (19-6?) tough. Cowbell U. should be in the top 15. So for them to "load the box" on MFBATR and he still gets 100+ says a lot about how well the OL played. Anything particular to watch for on the replay? DJF?

Good job, Coach. I have a question you may be able to answer. When AJ attempted the QB sneak the OL was packed in tight. Why don't more teams spread out the formation in a short yardage situation like that? The D would have to adjust and it seems it would make it easier for the QB. Thoughts?

I think many times it is a philosophy that we can get this with you packing the box.  I like the idea of speading out, however, 95 percent of the time the D knows you are not going to throw in that situation.  Also, most people believe with the O knowing the snap count they get a jump on the D and can get the short yardage.

One point I left off, I do think the punter's knee was down when he had control of the ball costing Bama a great scoring opportunity.

Thanks, Coach!  As always, good notes.

I was on the phone after the game. We were discussing whether CNS tries to talk to officials (line judge?) about NOT blowing plays dead (quick whistle), before BATR is down. Not just every now and then, you think he is stopped, then the whole pile starts moving downfield (LOL). The other side of that is while TR may move the pile, it gives the "D" longer to try and strip the ball (but they haven't had much luck). Coach?

MFBATR can move the pile like a D11 Caterpillar. He carried the ball 33 times last night and was still standing at the end of half the plays.

Interesting read Coaches, I would like something else to “choose” from on the seemly better holes to run thru?
HSC I enjoy the notes and the "wealth" of football knowledge you and SC bring. :clap: I cannot fathom the OL having a light bulb go off and thinking I will not block as hard for an MI and block harder for TR or I will not block as hard for a TR and block harder for EL. So I completely rule that out. Now I am left with a good theory from SC, yet it will not compute in this fan's brain. To back up my sometimes faulty computation, I am linking an article with some quotes from before LSU game. I have read most all the pre game notes from other teams before our games for a long time and I just have not seen "players" concerned with who is #1 or #2 when it comes to game film and how they prepare for our Awesome Backs. Even with EL hurt and limping other D's see him in film study just as they saw TR last year when he was #2. They all have been scared of these 3 backs when they watch film. I will give an example with some of the LSU players'" minds" before the game when they" knew" EL had been very limited because of injury and they were still preparing for him in their mind. Link with quotes from players.
http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2011/11/lsus_football_team_is_wary_of.html
Maybe some other reason?  :popcorn2:     
 

                                     :lol:

LOL. Louisiana newspapers have learned it sells more papers to put a local slant on their news. That is a lot of thinking for bunch of coonasses. Chances are the team had the videos mixed up and were watching Crowell (both in red). HTH

Did not help much! But I did  :lol:

Maybe we need to self scout and see if there is something we are doing when Trent is in the game that helps them know when it is going to be a run.  Maybe Trent has a "tell" that we don't know about.  Or it could be one of the lineman.  Maybe the guard lines up with one foot slightly back when he is going to pull.  :dunno:

It certainly seems like they know the play we are going to run some of those times though.  It happens too often for it to be a coincidence.

WOW!   Thanks for answer. I can grab hold of this in my mind.

I think when you have a featured back like we do the defense looks for run first on every play. When the backup comes in the defense looks for something other than the run with the "star" on the sidelines. This happened when Coffee was backed up by Ingram, When Ingram was backed up by TR (twice) and now with TR backed up by Lacy.

I think this is most likely it.  The D may not even be doing it intentionally.

Glad you enjoy the notes.  I don't think it is a situation where the OL purposely don't block as hard.  Probably the best case is the D lets up a little when TR is not in the game.  Maybe that is why they are able to get to the second level.  I do believe the D relaxes a little when TR is not in the game.  I am sure it is pounded in their heads all week that you can't let TR dominate this game.   Now, why the D has not seen the effectiveness of EL is beyond me. 

I really don't know if he talks to them or not.  I worry more about an injury in those piles than him losing the football.  I know he takes pride in his strength and ability to make yards after contact, but sometime go down and save the body.  Easier said than done.

Watching film has changed.  It is now specialized.   The D will break it down into favorite running plays, favorite passing play, formations, etc.  I would just about bet most of the running plays featured have TR in the backfield.    Bama, TR, or the OL may be tipping off where the ball is going.

This could be a great incentive for recruits and our continuing to land the cream of the crop knowing one does not have to be the "star" on a team that has a featured back.  Playing behind GC, MI 2008 SEC All-Freshman Team had a school record with touchdowns as the back-up.  Everyone in the football world knew about our TR when he was the back-up.  I could rave about him for hours.  The defense has missed the boat IMO when planning for our back-up running backs over the years and I am happy about it. Thank you so much.

Thank you, HSC
Keep the notes coming every week.

I was watching the game again and noticed a couple of things.
1.  Bama ran into overloaded side more than once.  They could not account for all the defensive players.
2.  Near the end of the third quarter, TR made a great block on the wide receiver screeen.
3.  At times, MSU just called the right blitz or D for the play.

1. As usual  ???   Overloaded before Bama broke the huddle?   

Bama had a TE and wing look and the safety was walked up.

Just watched the replay of the MSU game. I didn't realize what a great game Mark Barron had. He was everywhere making plays the whole game.

I meant to point this out the other day. Maybe some of you have not watched the replay yet. I noticed the way ESPN can easily get a fanbase fired up about something.

The opening series' for both teams turned out to be 3 and outs. The whole time Blackledge and whoever talked about Bama losing the field position game. They made a BIG deal out of it.

Bama started from the 20 yd line---3 and out
MSU rec'd--ball down on 40yd line-- 3 and out
Bama rec'd--ball down on 21 yd line-- 3 and out
MSU rec'd--ball down on 33 yd line

Anyone else see my point? hsc?

That has been an issue.  The Bama punter can't flip the field.  Look at the LSU game.  The good thing is Bama has a D that can save them.

It could have been worse. As you recall, Bama got a "big time" roll on their 1st punt. Maybe a 6-7 yard roll on the 2nd.