Game notes: Clemson vs Bama

Clemson vs Bama

First, congrats to the Bama coaches and players on a great season. This was a game where the Bama team didn’t help themselves and gave some help to the Clemson team. Clemson was well prepared and executed a game plan by making big plays when necessary. I don’t think Locksley called his best games. Before the 2nd interception, Bama was running the ball, helping the defense rest and then he calls a pass play. Because of a bad read by Tua the pass was intercepted. Also, the red zone production was horrible. I also didn’t like the double tight formations as it allowed Clemson a variety of ways to blitz. I didn’t like the fake field goal call with the personal that runs it. If I am going for it I am leaving my offense on the field.

OFFFENSE: Bama offense was only stopped by themselves most of the night. That had 443 yards of total offense which included 295 passing and 148 rushing. Bama totaled 255 yards in the first half after having about 220 in the first quarter. As far as negative plays, Bama had 7 tackles for losses, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions which led to 14 points, and 3 fumbles which they recovered. Bama had 2 three and outs and one of them was when they put Hurts in in a no-win situation. The other was when Tua threw the interception that was returned for a touchdown. For positive plays that covered 10+ yard, Bama had 11 pass plays and 7 running plays. He comes the killer, along with the interceptions. Bama got into the red zone 5 times and to the 22 once. Out of these drives, they got a touchdown and a field goal. They turned the ball over on downs on the other 3 drives. They did score once from outside the red zone. As I stated I think the play calling/execution here was horrible. I also want to mention the snap by the clap. It looks to me that after the clap the ball is snapped almost right after, so it is easily time by the defense. I would like him to clap telling the center he is ready and then the center go I, 2, or 3 counts and snap the ball. I think the center could call go where the other OL would know when the ball was snapped.

QB: Tua would have had a good game if they had been playing such tough competition. He completed 65% of his passes but missed a couple of open receivers, once while being flushed on the 4th and 4 where he scrambled and came up short. On the first interception it was a bad throw. I also think he misread the coverage. I will also say, I didn’t like the spacing of the receivers which allowed them to be covered by 1 man. The second interception, he just didn’t read the coverage correctly. The underneath route was wide-open and he probably would have gained 15+ yards if the ball had been thrown to him. The was the drive where Bama was running the ball and a short pass to control the clock and keep the defense off the field would have helped. One reason I think he misread the coverage is I think he looked right to move the safety and came back left to throw. The only thing I can say about Hurts is that he was put in a no-win situation.

RB: The running backs combined 163 yards on 31 carries. It looked like anytime they could break a long one. The problem was when they got into the red zone. I thought N Harris did a good job picking up the blitz as well as others.

Rec: Not counting running backs 6 different receivers had catches. D. Smith led with 6, Jeudy had 5, I Smith had 4, Waddle had 2, and Ruggs had 1. They also did a good job blocking since the running backs had some big runs. I do think there were a couple of penalties missed with a holding on Jeudy and a PI on I Smith. Both of these would have kept drives alive in the red zone where they didn’t score.

OL: The OL played like Jeykell and Hyde in my opinion. I say this because of the inability to score inside the red zone. I also think part of the problem was the snap I mentioned above allowing the defense to get off the ball. I wonder why Bama didn’t have a heavy offense this year like last where they use Payne. You can’t tell me there isn’t a back-up guard or tackle or back-up defensive player that could do that. The allowed Bama to run the ball, however at times the QB was hurried because of the rush especially when there was a blitz. One blitz came off the motion of a rec coming in toward the LOS on the short side of the field and led to a sack. Tua was looking away and never saw it. This wasn’t on the OL but I wanted to mention it here.

Def: The defense had a tough night. I do think that missing Miller was huge because there wasn’t much of an edge rush most of the night. As a matter of fact, there wasn’t much of any pass rush most of the night. With the absence of an edge rush it allowed Clemson to double team Williams most of the night and single block the rest. For negative plays, Bama had 6 tackles for losses and that is it. No sacks, interceptions or fumbles. They did have 3 three and outs. For plays that covered 10+ yards, they had 10 passing plays and 4 running plays. They had big catches on 3rd down, where they had: 3rd and 14 a 62 yard catch, 3rd and 12 a 37 yard catch, and 3rd and 9 a 17 yard catch. Clemson got into the red zone 5 times and scored 4 touchdowns and kicked one field goal. They scored one touchdown outside the red zone and had and interception for a TD. Without pressure the QB was able to push the ball down the field. I will say the Clemson receivers made some good catches to help their QB. Also, the defense looked confused at times and busted coverage a few times. I also think they underestimated the speed of the Clemson running back.

DL: I thought they played a tough game. As, I mentioned Williams was doubled teamed a lot of the night. This means someone else needed to step up. The lack of depth was also obvious as others didn’t step up and make plays. To Clemson’s credit they had a pretty good offensive line.

LB: They had a decent games as they had to play run and pass. As I said earlier, I think they underestimated the speed of the running back from Clemson. It was also difficult for them to get into the passing lane.

DB: They didn’t make the plays they needed to and busted some coverages. One of the bust was on third down and allowed an easy throw for a first down. On one touchdown, I think the safety was flatfooted and the ball was thrown over the top. There was a seam route and an outside route and the safety had eyes on the inside route and didn’t get depth. I think the linebacker should have been running with the inside receiver but was beat. On the 5 yard touchdown the safety stood still as the receiver came inside. He has to see that as a safety and at least hit him if he can’t get to the ball.

Special Teams: The special teams made some crucial mistakes. The first was the missed extra point. The second was when the kick off went out of bounds. This was after Bama scored and it gives Clemson the ball on the 35 instead of the 25.

Penalties: Bama had untimely and harmful penalties again this game. First, you have a false start on 2nd and 1 on the goal line which now becomes 2nd and 6 and Bama has to settle for a field goal. The next was a kickoff out of bounds which gives Clemson the ball on the 35. Right after the bad kickoff on the 1st play you have pass interference for 15-yards where now Clemson has the ball at the 50. Clemson goes on to score a touchdown. The next penalty was a 15-yard personal foul hitting out of bounds with 1:53 left in the half which helps Clemson move down and kick a field goal. The next was an offsides by Jennings on an incomplete pass which now allows Clemson to have a free play. The next penalty was lineman down field which negated a 12 reception. Finally, there was a late hit by Jennings which was assessed on the kick off. Clemson had 1 penalty for 12 yards and Bama had 6 for 60. Two no calls could have been big if Bama could have converted in the red zone.

Finally, Bama got as we call, a country butt whooping. Part of this was because of Bama’s inability to scored in the red zone and the mistakes that were made. There has to be some more depth at the DL position and the secondary. A lot of the secondary problems can be fixed with a better pass rush. We have gotten spoiled and expect a NC every year. That just isn’t going to happen. Parity in college football is getting closer. Also, I heard some people are calling for Saban to be fired. They need their head checked. How many other teams could do what Bama has done with the coaching turnover that Bama has had? Also, I hope Bama goes out and gets the best OL coach there is. I think this will really be a huge hire.

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