Red-zone Blues

[pmull]

The University of Alabama had long, quick-strike touchdown runs of 43, 58, 71 and 67 yards against North Texas last weekend. When it came to punching in touchdowns from closer range, however, the Crimson Tide was lacking. Alabama got two field goals, a touchdown and two missed field goals in five trips into the red zone.

UA goes into Saturday's showdown with No. 14 Arkansas ranked 44th nationally in red-zone offense, with eight touchdowns and six field goals in 16 trips inside its opponents' 25-yard line. Against the Razorbacks, who average 47 points per game and are tied for first nationally in red-zone offense, points will be at a premium for Alabama.

"We stopped ourselves in the red zone by not executing what we were supposed to do, so it's not a systematic problem," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "It was a lack-of-execution problem in terms of what we did, and we have to correct that so we execute better.

"I know that's hard for everybody to kind of understand, it's just too simple. It is what it is. I can't make it something that it isn't. Block the right guys, it works out right."

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[SUPERCOACH]

There is good news and bad news there.  Apparently we are missing some of our blocking assignments, which explains why the RBs are hit in the backfield so many times per game.  The good news is that we have the talent and we just need to learn the playbook better so that we block the right guys.  The bad news is that we are in the 4th week of the season with a mostly veteran line and we still don't know the playbook.

[pmull]

I think all the O-line experiments are over. The only changes you will see from here on out will be for injuries or somebody winning the job. Arkansas will have our full attention. I expect the line to play well.

[Coach Hank Crisp]

GMAC was on PF last week and someone asked him a question about game plans. GMAC indicated in the week like before games like NT, they worked on many different plays and when the game came they didn't use any of them. Then the next week against a SEC team they used plays they had worked on the 2 weeks before. So last week before the NT game they were learning and running plays on offense and defense for this weeks game against Arkansas.

[SUPERCOACH]

Which means Arkansas has probably been practicing plays they want to use on Bama for 3 weeks now plus all of fall camp.  Their looking toward this game like our 2009 team looked toward the Florida game.  We will get their best shot and they have nothing to lose.  Expect to see all of the trick plays that CBP can come up with.  We better be ready for them.

[Coach Hank Crisp]

Which means Arkansas has probably been practicing plays they want to use on Bama for 3 weeks now plus all of fall camp.  Their looking toward this game like our 2009 team looked toward the Florida game.  We will get their best shot and they have nothing to lose.  Expect to see all of the trick plays that CBP can come up with.  We better be ready for them.

PETRINO HAS BEEN WORKING ON GAME PLAN FOR ALABAMA SINCE THE GAME ENDED LAST SEPTEMBER. 24-20!

[Chechem]

Which means Arkansas has probably been practicing plays they want to use on Bama for 3 weeks now plus all of fall camp.  Their looking toward this game like our 2009 team looked toward the Florida game.  We will get their best shot and they have nothing to lose.  Expect to see all of the trick plays that CBP can come up with.  We better be ready for them.

PETRINO HAS BEEN WORKING ON GAME PLAN FOR ALABAMA SINCE THE GAME ENDED LAST SEPTEMBER. 24-20!

We usually don't get panicky here until Tuesday.  What's up, guys?

I think we'll be okay with Arky, even if their star receiver, Jarius Wright, heals in time (knee).  We just need to play hard and protect the football.  I think we'll be able to run on these guys, and I'm confidant that our D can stop their run.

Arky may try some hurry-up offense to limit our substitutions and D adjustments, but we've seen that.  We play enough man-to-man that the trick stuff shouldn't be too much of a worry.  Have a beer.

[SUPERCOACH]

Oh, we still win AND cover the points. 

[2Stater]

Oh, we still win AND cover the points. 

^This. I don't know why, but my gut tells me we win by 20. Maybe 34-14 or something close to that. My predicter is off, but my gut is usually right.

[#1Tidefan]

Oh, we still win AND cover the points. 

^This. I don't know why, but my gut tells me we win by 20. Maybe 34-14 or something close to that. My predicter is off, but my gut is usually right.

^^^...Exactly, on both accounts. My prediction is 34-17 Bama.

[bamaphil]

I think Saban could have the team score 60-70 points Saturday if he wanted them to.  As others have said, he moved players around and tried some different things to see what the team is capable of and what needs to be worked on.  All the moving guys around on the O-line will be invaluable if there's an injury later in the season because he already has an idea of who is best suited for a move if it's needed. 

We've scored plenty of points in the first three games and given up one offensive touchdown in garbage time against Penn St.  Yes, Arkansas will have a much better defense than we've seen but we have a MUCH better defense than anything they've seen in their three practice games.  They have a new QB making a road start in front of 102,000 people against two of the best defensive minds in the game in Saban and Smart.

There's never a guarantee that we'll win, but I don't think we have to lose sleep this week.

[Old Tider]

This is the Arkansas team that only beat Troy by 10 points. We worry every year about the Hogs but are now going for five straight over them. When they face Bama they become piglets.

[Chechem]

This is the Arkansas team that only beat Troy by 10 points. We worry every year about the Hogs but are now going for five straight over them. When they face Bama they become piglets.

  I don't know, OT.  Last year they kicked our butts in the first half.  They always seem to get up for us.  We're a better team, and I picked us to cover, but I don't expect it to be easy during the first half. 

[Old Tider]

This is the Arkansas team that only beat Troy by 10 points. We worry every year about the Hogs but are now going for five straight over them. When they face Bama they become piglets.

  I don't know, OT.  Last year they kicked our butts in the first half.  They always seem to get up for us.  We're a better team, and I picked us to cover, but I don't expect it to be easy during the first half. 

Well okay, Chechem, they are big, dangerous piglets facing bigger elephants.

[Chechem]

This is the Arkansas team that only beat Troy by 10 points. We worry every year about the Hogs but are now going for five straight over them. When they face Bama they become piglets.

 I don't know, OT.  Last year they kicked our butts in the first half.  They always seem to get up for us.  We're a better team, and I picked us to cover, but I don't expect it to be easy during the first half.  

Well okay, Chechem, they are big, dangerous piglets facing bigger elephants.

You are the king of wit and reality.

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