SEC championship game notes: UG vs Bama

[hscoach]

                                             UG vs Bama

First, congrats to the Bama players and coaches the victory and SEC Championship.  This was a different team than we have seen this year.  We have seen signs of this team during the year, but not to this extent.

OFFFENSE:  The offense scored of 5 straight drives after two punts on the first two drives.  They put together a total of 536 yards which included 421 passing and 115 rushing.  Georgia was only giving up an average of 231 yards per game.  As for negative plays, Bama had 4 tackles for losses, ZERO sacks, and a fumble they didn’t lose. Bama only had one three and out.  For plays that covered 10+ yards, I have Bama with 12 pass plays and 6 running plays.  Bama got into the red zone 3 times and scored 2 touchdowns and kicked a field goal.  From outside the red zone, they scored 2 touchdowns and kicked a field goal. The final touchdown came form the defense on a 42-yard interception return by Battle.

QB:  Young had a very good game. He completed 59% of his passes and was 26 for 44.  Young threw many balls downfield that were right on the money.  He did a good job running the ball as he had to scramble a few times and ended up rushing for 40 yards on 3 carries.  On one impressive play he turned a scramble into an option play, and it led to one of the 10+ yard runs mentioned above.  He also had a block on that play.  I will say I thought he had a little bit of happy feet, as they say, in the early goings. On one of his incompletions, it looked like Williams may have misjudged the ball with a little help from the defender. A couple of other things I want to point out about Young is his ability to throw the ball before the cut by the receiver and he makes big throws when necessary.

RB: In my opinion, Robinson had a hell of a game since he was playing hurt.  He ran hard as well as picking up the blitz.  I didn’t know if he would even be able to play after I saw him reach for his hamstring in his last game.  Sanders had a couple of good runs also. I don’t know what his injury was, but I really hope he is fine as Bama needs him, but also because of all he has been through.

Rec:  Williams and Metchie were the main targets in the game.  Williams had 7 catches for 184 yards while Metchie had 97 on 6 catches.  However, Metchie was lost during the game.  Bolden had one of his best days with 5 catches for 54 yards.  After Metchie was hurt, Holden came in and had 2 catches and last weeks hero, Brooks had 1 catch. Billingsley had 2 catches, but they seem to come at big times and Latu added 1 catch.

OL:  This as I have said before had to improve for Bama to be successful the rest of the year.  They stepped up in a big way.  I don’t know what the change was during the week of practice, but they looked like a completely different group.  They picked up stunts, they got some push at time, and they gave up ZERO sacks.  I really with I knew what caused the change, but it clicked this week.  Their technique looked better as well as looking more aggressive.  I’m not saying it was perfect, but it was a completely different look.  This game couldn’t have been won without this improvement.  The question is can they keep it up?

Def: The defense played well but made a few mistakes.  One they missed some tackles especially on one touchdown.  They had too many penalties which aided touchdown drives.  They had a hard time covering the tight end.  Bama gave up a total of 449 yards which included 340 passing and 109 rushing.  For negative plays, I have the Bama defense with 3 tackles for losses, 3 sacks, and 2 interceptions, one which was returned for a touchdown.  I credit Bama with 2 three an outs.  For plays that covered 10+ yards, I have Georgia with 13 passing plays and 4 running plays.  Of the 4 running plays, a couple of them were scrambles by the QB when the pass rush got to far up field.  UG got into the red zone 5 times and they scored 2 touchdowns, kicked a field goal, threw an interception, and turned the ball over on downs.  The scored one touchdown from outside the red zone. The bad part is Bama missed a few tackles that aided the touchdowns by UG.  Sometimes the first one there goes for the tackle instead of wrapping up.  Fortunately, this didn’t happen numerous times, but they were at important points in the game.

DL: They played well and the tackles by this group were divided up.  Their main job is to allow the LB’s and safeties to make tackles and this is what happened if you look at the leading tacklers.  They didn’t get many sacks, but they put enough pressure on the QB to affect him.

LB: The only knock I have here, and it may be unwarranted since I don’t know the defensive scheme, is the numerous receptions by an uncontested tight end.  I know the safety had coverage on them most of the time, but they seem to run thru the zones uncontested.  I know To’oTo’o was in coverage on one tight end touchdown.  It was 6’7” vs a 6’ LB.  The receiver highpoints the ball, so the defender has to go for the arms to rip them away from the catch.

DB: This was a hit or miss area.  First, they came up with two interception and one was a pick 6.  There could have easily been another pick 6 but just missed.  They didn’t cover the tight end very well.  On one big pass play the ball was underthrown and the defended overran the route and the receiver made the catch.  The PI calls were instrumental in helping keep touchdown drives alive. 

Special teams: The special teams were solid.  I will point out here that Williams, who was ejected last game for targeting, had 2 solo tackles and 1 help on a tackle. 

Penalties:  I have Bama with 7 penalties for 85 yards during the game.  The is less than last week.  The problem is there were several penalties that aided the touchdown drives of Georgia. On one drive Bama had a defensive holding, and 2 pass interference calls.  On another touchdown drive they had another pass interference. The 7 penalties are broken down into 5 defensive penalties and 2 offensive penalties.

Finally, this was a completely different offensive line than we have seen in the past and this change led to the victory in my opinion.   Hopefully they won’t be satisfied and will continue to improve.  On defense, they have to clean up the tackling again and the DB’s have to start making plays.
Feel free to comment:

18 and Counting

[ricky023]

Thanks hscoach. You are so good on these write ups. Have a Merry Christmas. RTR!

[hscoach]

Thanks hscoach. You are so good on these write ups. Have a Merry Christmas. RTR!

Thank you Ricky and I hope you have a Merry Christmas.

[hscoach]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxbt-kYrSZk" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxbt-kYrSZk</a>

[ricky023]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxbt-kYrSZk" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxbt-kYrSZk</a>

  Like some Will. RTR!

[lstephen]

Thanks coach.  On to the Cotton Bowl.  ROLL TIDE!!!!

[carl childers]

Good job as usual. I was pleasantly shocked with the OL. Completely different play than we have seen lately. To me their feet were much quicker so they were not getting beat on the edge and did a great job picking up stunts. They helped Bryce Young look marvelous. BTW, if BY doesn't win the Heisman after this year and that game in particular, they need to stop giving it.

[hscoach]

Good job as usual. I was pleasantly shocked with the OL. Completely different play than we have seen lately. To me their feet were much quicker so they were not getting beat on the edge and did a great job picking up stunts. They helped Bryce Young look marvelous. BTW, if BY doesn't win the Heisman after this year and that game in particular, they need to stop giving it.

As well as their feet, did you notice their arm extension keeping the defender off their body?

[2Stater]

Thanks Coach. Another great job. Yeah, everybody is talking about the vast inprovement of the O line. Absolutely no doubt that was the difference in the game. Now on to the Cotton Bowl and Cincinnati.

Roll Tide and Merry Christmas!

[carl childers]

Good job as usual. I was pleasantly shocked with the OL. Completely different play than we have seen lately. To me their feet were much quicker so they were not getting beat on the edge and did a great job picking up stunts. They helped Bryce Young look marvelous. BTW, if BY doesn't win the Heisman after this year and that game in particular, they need to stop giving it.

As well as their feet, did you notice their arm extension keeping the defender off their body?

I did. I kept asking myself, where has this been all year?

[Chechem]

Thanks, coach.  Not sure what miracle changed the O-line, but it seemed they went back to the clap signal instead of the silent count.  Last week they just weren't in sync.  The silent count certainly was a problem much of the game.  Maybe Auburn's loud stadium was worse than the Georgia Dome.
 

Appreciate your work on these assessments.   

[hscoach]

A couple of things I left off.  First, on the sack by Turner, it looked like a stunt where he was supposed to go inside and the down lineman was supposed to go outside.  The down line men went inside or got pushed inside and Turner had to redirect and still got there for the sack.  I think he is a little quicker and stronger than Sanders.  Second, up until the Championship game, Ga had given up 83 total points, Bama scored 41.

[ricky023]

Thanks, coach.  Not sure what miracle changed the O-line, but it seemed they went back to the clap signal instead of the silent count.  Last week they just weren't in sync.  The silent count certainly was a problem much of the game.  Maybe Auburn's loud stadium was worse than the Georgia Dome.
 

Appreciate your work on these assessments.   

  wow did I read the Word miracle?  RTR!

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