Game notes: UT vs Bama

[hscoach]

                                             UT vs Bama

When you lose a game that was in reach of winning it is extremely disappointing.  There are a couple of things you can do, you can work harder to get better, or you can allow 1 loss turn into multiple losses.  This was a game that could have been won by Bama even with the number of mistakes they made.  It would be interesting to be at practice this week to see if the players want to get to their goal or throw in the towel.  The goal is still in reach, but it isn’t going to be easy unless Bama makes a concerted effort to improve.  Also, all phases of the game, offense, defense, and special teams had a part in the loss.

OFFFENSE:  The offense put together 569 yards of total offense which included 114 rushing yards and 455 passing yards.  They were efficient on 3rd down converting over 46%. The biggest issue was the points left on the field which probably would have been enough to win the game.  They had to settle for a field goal in the red zone which is 3 instead of 7 points and they missed a field goal.

Negative plays:  5 tackles for losses, 1 sack, 1 fumble on a bad snap, and 1 fumble by special teams which was lost. 

3 and out: Bama had 1 three and out and it was the result of penalties on the plays.  What is huge is a 28-yard reception was negated and would have given Bama a first down and momentum.

10+ plays:  18 passing and 3 running plays. 

Red zone:  Bama had 6 trips into the red zone and scored 4 touchdowns and kicked 2 field goals.  Bama had one touchdown from outside the red zone and the other touchdown came from the defense.  Bama missed the huge field goal near the end of the game from outside the red zone.

QB: Young had a good game.  He took a beating on some questionable hits.  He completed 67% of his passes for 455 yards.  While under pressure he found secondary and third receivers to create positive plays. 

RB: Gibbs and McClellan both had good game.  They did make a couple of costly mistakes, a drop on a catchable ball by Gibbs on the last drive would have shortened the length of the field goal or maybe even scored with the coverage on him.  McClellan had a holding call that put Bama in bad field position.  I thought he might cut that rusher who was coming so hard, maybe that is a rule change I don’t know. With that being said, I think both played well overall.  I also want to mention how impressed I am with Gibbs feet and vision.

Rec:  Seven different receivers, not counting RB’s, had catches.  Latu and Brooks had 6 each while Prientice had 9.  There was a drop that may have saved the 3 and out. If not keeping from going three and out it would have at least allowed Bama to not have to punt from their own endzone. That would have helped with the field position given up by Bama.  I also want to say that the TE missed a few blocks on the wide receiver screen, however, they were well defended.

OL:  If it wasn’t for the 9 penalties, they would have had a very good game.  One thing I noticed was how hard the UT DL came off the ball.  I mean, I think 2 of the negative plays were on the wide rec screen or passes to the back while the others came on running plays.  The did give up one sack when I think, whoever makes the protection call made a mistake because of the offensive alignment.  Maybe they thought the TE was blocking instead of releasing.

Def: Bama gave up a total of 567 yards which included 385 passing and 152 rushing.  The pass rush was nonexistent most the game as was the deep coverage.  Early on, 3 drives, the defense had to defend short fields.  Three TD drives started at the UT 43, but the next 2 started on the Bama 40 and Bama 35.  Bama lost contain on the QB at least 4 times and rushed, when they did get a pass rush, too far up the field and allowed the running lane to be exposed.   There were a few missed tackles, and some were huge.  On one of the touchdowns there was a chance for the LB to hit the receiver going down the field and knocking him off his timing which may have helped the safety in coverage.

Negative plays:  I have Bama for 3 tackles for losses, 1 sack, an interception, and a fumble returned for a touchdown.  After the interception, Bama had good field position and didn’t do anything with it.

3 and outs:  2 three and outs but they were different types.  First, the defense stopped them and there was a fumble on the punt return.  This set UT up in great field position. The 2nd 3 and out was because of the fumble returned for a touchdown.

10+ plays:  18 passing and 4 running plays.  I think 2 of the runs were on QB scrambles where contain was lost.

Red zone:  got into the red zone 4 times and scored 4 touchdowns.  They scored 3 touchdowns from outside the red zone and kicked a field goal from outside the red zone.

DL:  They didn’t get much of a pass rush for the day and I don’t know if stunts were on or what, but the loss of contain hurt.

LB:  This was a tough game for LB with the way UT spread the field with their receivers.  There were times when they looked good, but others when they took bad angles as well as reaching for tackles.

DB: They had a bad day.  I going to be honest here, I don’t know what techniques are taught.  I know we taught to jam and then stay in phase with the receiver in man coverage. I don’t understand the hand fighting all the way down the field.  I do know they are taught to put the near arm on the back, but not to grab them, which all teams do.  The safeties, I don’t know why they allow the receivers to get on their feet before they start moving.  It seems to me they are flat footed and then try to play catchup when the receiver has a running start.   

Special teams: Bama left 3 points on the field and had penalties which hurt field position.  There was also the bad decision on the punt which set up UT for a touchdown after a defensive stop.

Penalties: This was a record setting day.  I have said a good team could beat us if we don’t clean this up and the day has come.  I have Bama with 17 total penalties for 130 yards.  The offense led the way with 9 penalties, the defense had 6, and special teams had 2.  Seven penalties were in the first quarter alone, there were 2 in the second quarter, 5 in the third quarter, and 3 in the fourth quarter.  The bad part is that on one drive where field position was hurt by the first penalty of the series on the kickoff.  This was followed by holding which negated a 28-yard catch, false start, and delay of game which resulted in punting from our own endzone and giving UT a 35-yard field.  The second bad was the 2-pass interference calls on their last touchdown drive.  One of them negated an interception.

Finally, Bama, as bad as they played still had a chance to win this game.  They didn’t get the job done.  A few things to think about.  First, Bama controls their own destiny, but they are going to have to do some serious soul searching.  Two, they better learn how to play a stack receiver group and play coverage.  I can see MSU and OM using the stack after seeing the success of UT. Third, Bama had to call a timeout once in the red zone.  I don’t know if you notice, but UT had 12 men on the field.  Bama has got to stop wasting field position.  Fourth, I know people are wondering why Bama didn’t run the ball when they got into field goal range on their last drive.  I don’t know if they had a pass run call according to what UT had in the box.  I do know that if Gibbs had made the catch and put the ball closer Bama probably would have been closer for the field goal and been able to run out the clock with the field goal attempt.

Feel free to comment:

18 and Counting

[lstephen]

Thanks for the analysis coach.  Spot on as always.

I'm not one to blame officials for our loss.  I will now drop the other shoe and point out the disparity in penalties between the two teams.  Anderson never got close to Hooker and it appeared to me that he was regularly held.  And the confusion on the downs was just ludicrous.  That doesn't even happen in middle school.  Then it seemed to take an eternity to get the call right.

Having said that, there is something different about this team and penalties.  It is miraculous that they came as close to a win as they did with 17 flags against them.  Are the penalties coaching, discipline, what?  I guess what I'm asking is  "How do they get cleaned up"?

Thanks again and ROLL TIDE!!!

[hscoach]

Thanks for the analysis coach.  Spot on as always.

I'm not one to blame officials for our loss.  I will now drop the other shoe and point out the disparity in penalties between the two teams.  Anderson never got close to Hooker and it appeared to me that he was regularly held.  And the confusion on the downs was just ludicrous.  That doesn't even happen in middle school.  Then it seemed to take an eternity to get the call right.

Having said that, there is something different about this team and penalties.  It is miraculous that they came as close to a win as they did with 17 flags against them.  Are the penalties coaching, discipline, what?  I guess what I'm asking is  "How do they get cleaned up"?

Thanks again and ROLL TIDE!!!

Penalties have been a problem.  I do agree there were some questionable calls, but we still had a chance to win.  May have if some of the calls had been made.  To clean them up, I guess it is time for what is called a come to Jesus meeting.  A lot of it is on the player himself.  Many times, penalties are committed because of lack of focus.  Maybe, the loss will get that focus back.  That or there needs to be some consequences for those who continue to make penalties.

[Chechem]

Thanks much, Coach.  Good analysis.

Blaming the refs sounds so Aub to me, so I won't do it.  There were plenty of penalties that were clearly mistakes by us.

Instead, congrats to those lowdown snitches.  May it be another 16 years before they win again.   

[Chechem]

One more thing.  Reichard's missed field goal was hit pretty well.  If you look, there was a breeze from right to left.  He kicked slightly right, but the ball never came left (much).  It wasn't a terrible kick, and maybe (as Coach said) if we'd been just a few yards closer...

We would have broken their hearts.

[2Stater]

Thanks Coach. You could have saved yourself some time by just posting this.....



 

[Chechem]

Thanks Coach. You could have saved yourself some time by just posting this.....



 

Ahhhhh, the Vietnam War days.  How I miss them.   

[carl childers]

Extremely frustrating team to watch, considering the amount of talent available. I continue to marvel how Golding keeps his job - that was as poor of a performance and calling of a game as I've seen. You're telling me that with the OLBs Bama has that different stunts couldn't be used to free someone up? Also, the deep balls from UT were mismatches with safeties - was this a case of smart play calling by UT with creating matchups or Bama not making adjustments in the back to counter? I'm sure Bama was in nickel quite a bit - could going to more of a dime package heve helped?
Also, the penalties have become laughingly ridiculous. Sure,  there were questionable calls and non-calls, but the great majority were much deserved. Extremely undisciplined. Great teams don't let calls affect games - they overcome them. Save the whining about officials to the Aubs - they're experts. Bama need to get things turned around or they will lose to Miss St and Ole Miss.

[Marshal Dillon]

Extremely frustrating team to watch, considering the amount of talent available. I continue to marvel how Golding keeps his job - that was as poor of a performance and calling of a game as I've seen. You're telling me that with the OLBs Bama has that different stunts couldn't be used to free someone up? Also, the deep balls from UT were mismatches with safeties - was this a case of smart play calling by UT with creating matchups or Bama not making adjustments in the back to counter? I'm sure Bama was in nickel quite a bit - could going to more of a dime package heve helped?
Also, the penalties have become laughingly ridiculous. Sure,  there were questionable calls and non-calls, but the great majority were much deserved. Extremely undisciplined. Great teams don't let calls affect games - they overcome them. Save the whining about officials to the Aubs - they're experts. Bama need to get things turned around or they will lose to Miss St and Ole Miss.

Will Pete Golding still be the DC? Forgot to mention, but Golding in his FIFTH year at Bama. Unacceptable.




 

[Marshal Dillon]

Very astute observation from Terrell Lewis, former Tide OLB.




https://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/former_alabama_lb_terrell_lewis_criticizes_pete_goldings_use_of_pass_rushers/s1_17086_38002370





 

[ricky023]

Well I sat and thought about it before I even wanted to read this post. I don't know what the problem is but I know for the last 3 years I have been screming my head at penalties. It is time to start taking some money away for penalties or something or change coaches. RTR!

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