The SEC regular season is over. It's bowl season again, and it's time to review my predictions and the SEC season as a whole. First, my predictions:
1. Ole Miss will be good this year, and perhaps beat a team they shouldn't, but they will not go to the SEC Championship Game.
Ole Miss was good by Ole Miss standards (8-4 overall, 4-4 SEC) but finished third in the SEC West.
2. Vanderbilt will return to a bowl game.
No. Vanderbilt had a dismal season.
3. Of the three teams with a new coach (Auburn, Mississippi State and Tennessee), State will be the one that performs better than expected.
I think you could make a case that any of these teams was the best overall, but you could just as easily say that they failed to meet expectations. Auburn finished 7-5, which sounds good, unless you remember that they started off 5-0 - including losses to Kentucky and Georgia. Tennessee looked to have really righted the ship midseason, and they did finish 7-5 and second in the East. But then they tanked against Ole Miss, and second in the East was shared with four other teams. Mississippi State finished with a 5-7 record, which isn't great, but it is their second-best record since 2000, and given the fact that they wrapped the season with a blowout of hated rival Ole Miss, I will give the Bulldogs the nod.
4. Les Miles (LSU) will be on the coaching hot seat by the end of the year.
This didn't look likely to happen, until Miles shot both feet off in the Ole Miss game. After rectifying the clock management issues against Arkansas, Miles is safe for now, but the seat is definitely warmer than at mid-season.
5. Florida will beat Tennessee by at least 35 points.
Unfortunately, this didn't happen.
6. Alabama will win the SEC West.
Done.
7. Florida will win the SEC East.
Done.
8. Florida will win the SEC.
Wrong. Alabama crushed Florida 32-13 in the Championship Game.
9. Tim Tebow will win the Heisman Trophy.
Not likely. We'll find out Saturday. Expect the closest race we've seen in a while.
10. The national champion will come from outside the SEC this year.
We won't know this until January, obviously, but it will be either #1 Alabama or #2 Texas. Currently, I am picking the Tide.
Other observations:
Alabama (13-0, 8-0) - The Crimson Tide avenged last year's loss against the Gators in the SEC Championship game with a totally dominating performance. They have set themselves up to play for the team's 13th national championship against the Texas Longhorns as well as sweeping a number of postseason SEC accolades. My prediction: BCS Championship Game Result: BCS Championship Game vs. Texas
Arkansas (7-5, 3-5) - Arkansas has improved as a team over last year, but the overtime loss to LSU put a bit of a damper on things. The Hogs had an opportunity to tie for second in the West, but had to settle for fourth. My prediction: PapaJohns.com Bowl Result: Liberty Bowl vs. East Carolina
Auburn (7-5, 3-5) - Auburn started on a hot streak, winning five in a row, but finished the regular season with a 2-5 slide. Still, the Tigers' strong showing against Alabama has Auburn fans looking forward to the future under Gene Chizik. My prediction: Cotton Bowl Result: Outback Bowl vs. Northwestern
Florida (12-1, 8-0) - The Gators benefited from a weak schedule and honestly, a weak division. Florida is a good team, but missed an opportunity to be the greatest in school history. The only question remaining for the Gators is whether or not Tebow can bring them back from a devastating loss to the Tide. My prediction: Sugar Bowl Result: Sugar Bowl vs. Cincinnati
Georgia (7-5, 4-4) - The Bulldogs are an average team and finished with a disappointing record, but unlikely victories over Auburn and a top-10 Georgia Tech team helped ease the pain. Marc Richt has already cleaned house in an effort to keep himself off the hot seat, but next year may be make-or-break. My prediction: Chick-Fil-A Bowl Result: Independence Bowl vs. Texas A&M
Kentucky (7-5, 3-5) - Kentucky is a decent team, but missed an opportunity to make a good season a great one with an overtime loss to Tennessee. Still, historic victories over Auburn and Georgia, and the Wildcat's fourth consecutive bowl game, made 2009 a successful year for UK. My prediction: No bowl Result: Music City Bowl vs. Clemson
LSU (9-3, 5-3) - LSU's two losses to Alabama and Florida were not unexpected, but Les Miles' botching of the Ole Miss game was epic. Fortunately for Miles, he righted the ship against Arkansas. The Bayou Bengals still have an opportunity for a ten-win season, if they can take care of business against Penn State. My prediction: Capital One Bowl Result: Capital One Bowl vs. Penn State
Mississippi (8-4, 4-4)- Ole Miss is a split personality team, it seems. They tanked against South Carolina, Alabama, and Auburn, then seemed to be ready to turn things around by pummeling Tennessee and pulling out a miracle win over LSU. Then of course, they got dominated by MSU. Obviously, they did not win the West, and if anything, declined a bit compared to last year, although a big bowl win would help salvage the season somewhat. My prediction: Independence Bowl Result: Cotton Bowl vs. Oklahoma State
Mississippi State (5-7, 3-5) - State played a tough schedule out of conference (Houston, Georgia Tech) and in, and while they were unable to reach bowl eligibility, they go into the off-season feeling good about the program - especially the Egg Bowl win over Ole Miss. My prediction: Music City Bowl Result: No bowl
South Carolina (7-5, 3-5) - South Carolina didn't completely fall off the map at the end of the year, but close enough. Only a surprising victory over rival Clemson kept the season from a disastrous finish. Still, wrapping up 2009 in Birmingham is nothing to write home about. My prediction: Liberty Bowl Result: PapaJohns.com Bowl vs. Connecticut
Tennessee (7-5, 4-4) - Tennessee finished 2009 strong, despite laying an egg against Ole Miss (aka Dexter McCluster). The Vols got jobbed out of the Outback Bowl, but may have gotten a better game in the process. My prediction: Outback Bowl Result: Chick-Fil-A Bowl vs. Virginia Tech
Vanderbilt (2-10, 0-8) - Just horrible, or in other words, back to normal. My prediction: No bowl Result: No bowl
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Review: No. 2 Alabama 32, No. 1 Florida 13
In what many billed as the biggest college football game of the 21st century (if not all-time), the second-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (13-0) dominated the number-1 Florida Gators (12-1) in all phases of the game. Alabama's defense was stifling, as expected, and Mark Ingram was back to his usual impressive self, but 'Bama quarterback Greg McElroy surprised and upstaged the former Heisman trophy winner and "greatest college football player of all time" Tim Tebow.
The Tide crushed the Gators in convincing fashion, shutting them out in the second half. Alabama will now head to Pasadena, CA for the BCS National Chmapionship game versus (likely) either Texas or TCU.
My Seven Points:
1. This game was won by the Alabama offensive and defensive lines. Alabama O-line pushed Florida back, opened holes, and protected Greg McElroy all day long, giving him time to find receivers. The D-line contained Tebow, disallowed Florida's running game, and contained the Gators' offense. Credit to all the big uglies for getting it done.
2. Mark Ingram may not win the Heisman, but he certainly deserves consideration for his performance in the championship. Ingram carried the ball 28 times for 113 yards. He scored three touchdowns, tying the SEC Championship Game record. He broke Alabama's single-season rushing record, gaining 1,542 yards on the season. His biggest play, though, may have been a 69-yard reception immediately following a second-quarter Florida touchdown that made the score 12-10. That run set up an Ingram touchdown run before the half, and Florida never got any closer.
3. Tim Tebow is a great player - a firey competitor, a talented runner, and a true leader. But Greg McElroy showed him up tonight. Every pregame analysis of this matchup was about how Alabama and Florida were very similar teams, with the main difference being Tebow's obvious superiority at quarterback. Tebow is a great player with a great record and has a lot of class. Everyone knows that. But McElroy consistently made great throws tonight. He didn't make any mistakes. And surprisingly, he made several key plays running the ball. Tebow didn't do any of these things tonight, and he had to for Florida to win.
4. The coaching staff put together a great game plan. It is rumored that Alabama has been preparing for Florida ever since last spring, and today it was obvious that it paid off. It's no secret that the 2008 SEC Championship left a bitter taste in the mouths of Coach Saban and the team, and they had no intention of repeating that today. Jim McElwain deserves a lot of credit for calling good plays, keeping Florida off balance from the very start.
5. Nick Saban - worth every penny. Many sportswriters made a huge stink about Saban leaving the Miami Dolphins to come to Alabama. Many accosted Alabama for paying Saban what seemed an exorbitant amount to do so. But Saban immediately righted the ship, bringing 92,000 fans to the A-Day spring game, bringing enthusiam and an iron will to the team, attracting fantastic recruiting classes, and now, an SEC championship, with a national title in reach. No one would argue now that Saban was worth it.
6. The Crimson Tide returns to the Rose Bowl. While it isn't the actual Rose Bowl game, Alabama has a history with the Rose Bowl that goes back to January 1, 1926. Alabama defeated the Washington Huskies 20-19 then, winning the 1925 national championship and putting Southern football on the map. Now, Southern football, especially SEC Football, is widely recognized as the best in the country and Alabama is at the pinnacle of that success. Alabama has played in the Rose Bowl more than any other team not in the Big Ten or Pac-10 (and more than many of those as well), and it even figures in the fight song. So it seems entirely appropriate for the Tide to return there to play for the title.
7. Alabama wins its 22nd SEC Championship. The most storied program in SEC history, Alabama has won more SEC titles than any other team (Tennessee is second with 13). The Tide also kept alive a streak with tonight's win - it has won at least one SEC title in every decade since the league came into existence. It is the only program in the league to have accomplished this. Tonight's game was the last opportunity to win a title in the decade of the 2000s. Alabama has now also reached 13-0 for the second season in its history (1992) and has an opportunity to finish 14-0 for the first time ever. Only BYU (1996) and Ohio State (2002) have won 14 games in a season, with only Ohio State finishing undefeated.
The Tide crushed the Gators in convincing fashion, shutting them out in the second half. Alabama will now head to Pasadena, CA for the BCS National Chmapionship game versus (likely) either Texas or TCU.
My Seven Points:
1. This game was won by the Alabama offensive and defensive lines. Alabama O-line pushed Florida back, opened holes, and protected Greg McElroy all day long, giving him time to find receivers. The D-line contained Tebow, disallowed Florida's running game, and contained the Gators' offense. Credit to all the big uglies for getting it done.
2. Mark Ingram may not win the Heisman, but he certainly deserves consideration for his performance in the championship. Ingram carried the ball 28 times for 113 yards. He scored three touchdowns, tying the SEC Championship Game record. He broke Alabama's single-season rushing record, gaining 1,542 yards on the season. His biggest play, though, may have been a 69-yard reception immediately following a second-quarter Florida touchdown that made the score 12-10. That run set up an Ingram touchdown run before the half, and Florida never got any closer.
3. Tim Tebow is a great player - a firey competitor, a talented runner, and a true leader. But Greg McElroy showed him up tonight. Every pregame analysis of this matchup was about how Alabama and Florida were very similar teams, with the main difference being Tebow's obvious superiority at quarterback. Tebow is a great player with a great record and has a lot of class. Everyone knows that. But McElroy consistently made great throws tonight. He didn't make any mistakes. And surprisingly, he made several key plays running the ball. Tebow didn't do any of these things tonight, and he had to for Florida to win.
4. The coaching staff put together a great game plan. It is rumored that Alabama has been preparing for Florida ever since last spring, and today it was obvious that it paid off. It's no secret that the 2008 SEC Championship left a bitter taste in the mouths of Coach Saban and the team, and they had no intention of repeating that today. Jim McElwain deserves a lot of credit for calling good plays, keeping Florida off balance from the very start.
5. Nick Saban - worth every penny. Many sportswriters made a huge stink about Saban leaving the Miami Dolphins to come to Alabama. Many accosted Alabama for paying Saban what seemed an exorbitant amount to do so. But Saban immediately righted the ship, bringing 92,000 fans to the A-Day spring game, bringing enthusiam and an iron will to the team, attracting fantastic recruiting classes, and now, an SEC championship, with a national title in reach. No one would argue now that Saban was worth it.
6. The Crimson Tide returns to the Rose Bowl. While it isn't the actual Rose Bowl game, Alabama has a history with the Rose Bowl that goes back to January 1, 1926. Alabama defeated the Washington Huskies 20-19 then, winning the 1925 national championship and putting Southern football on the map. Now, Southern football, especially SEC Football, is widely recognized as the best in the country and Alabama is at the pinnacle of that success. Alabama has played in the Rose Bowl more than any other team not in the Big Ten or Pac-10 (and more than many of those as well), and it even figures in the fight song. So it seems entirely appropriate for the Tide to return there to play for the title.
7. Alabama wins its 22nd SEC Championship. The most storied program in SEC history, Alabama has won more SEC titles than any other team (Tennessee is second with 13). The Tide also kept alive a streak with tonight's win - it has won at least one SEC title in every decade since the league came into existence. It is the only program in the league to have accomplished this. Tonight's game was the last opportunity to win a title in the decade of the 2000s. Alabama has now also reached 13-0 for the second season in its history (1992) and has an opportunity to finish 14-0 for the first time ever. Only BYU (1996) and Ohio State (2002) have won 14 games in a season, with only Ohio State finishing undefeated.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Review: No. 2 Alabama 26, Auburn 21
Auburn came in to the Iron Bowl throwing everything that they had at Alabama and landed two early touchdowns against the Tide. Facing a 14-0 deficit - the largest of the season, Alabama fought back to tie it up at the half. In the second half of the game, Auburn again struck early, and looked to be poised for the upset. But the Tide fought back, scoring two field goals and then driving 79 yards for the game-winning touchdown with 1:24 remaining.
The Tide can now look forward to next week's SEC Championship Game. Alabama has 21 SEC championships throughout its history, more than any other school. Alabama won the first SEC title in 1933 as well as the first SEC Championship Game in 1992. The Tide is also the only program to win a conference championship in every decade since the inception of the conference, although that record is in jeopardy. Alabama has to defeat Florida on Saturday to win a title in the 2000s. The Tide won its last title in 1999.
My Seven Points:
1. Greg McElroy came into his own as the Alabama quarterback today. McElroy took the ball down 21-20 with 8:32 remaining in the game at the Tide 21-yard line. On the 15-play drive he completed 7 of 8 passes for 62 yards, including the go-ahead score - a four-yard play action to Roy Upchurch. Throughout the drive, McElroy, who has still never lost a game as a starting quarterback, appeared to be poised and confident, and took control of the game. Auburn's plan was to hold Mark Ingram in check and force McElroy to beat them, and to their chagrin, he did.
2. Julio Jones had possibly the best performance of his Alabama career. While the yardage (9 receptions for 83 yards) wasn't his best, Jones made one clutch reception after another on the final drive, securing yardage and first downs to keep the drive alive. Jones also made several crucial blocks in the running game as well. He appears to be all the way back from his early season issues.
3. Javier Arenas probably made the difference in the game. Clutch returns from Arenas gave Alabama excellent field position in several key situations. Arenas returned one kickoff for 46 yards and two punts for a total of 67 yards., including a long of 56. Arenas now holds the SEC record for career punt return yardage (1,723) and is only 38 yards away for the all-time NCAA record. Not bad for a guy who nearly walked away from football three years ago.
4. Mark Ingram, on the other hand, was clearly not himself today. I'm not sure if Ingram is out of the Heisman race or not. It's certainly possible. But Ingram had 16 carries for 30 yards and appeared to be injured late in the game. He did not appear in the final drive.
5. In many ways, the Alabama defense struggled against Auburn's offense. Alabama held Auburn well below their season averages in total yardage and points, but did allow the Tigers 332 yards of offense, including 151 on the ground. Auburn achieved a lot of its yardage on big plays as well - a 67-yard TD run by Terrell Zachery and the 72-yard TD pass from Chris Todd to Darvin Adams. The key to the game, however, may have been the two turnovers that the defense forced, as well as the the last defensive stop before the Tide's final drive.
6. The Tide has completed something that had never been accomplished in SEC history. In 2008, Alabama became the first team in SEC history to complete an 12-0 undefeated regular season. Now the Tide has done it two years in a row. Not bad for only three years in to the Nick Saban era.
7. The Crimson Tide did its part to set up what may be the biggest SEC Championship game in conference history. Last year Alabama came into Atlanta ranked #1 and Florida came in #2. This year the roles are reversed, but the difference is that both teams have a chance to be undefeated as well. Alabama took care of business today, but Florida will need to knock off Florida State tomorrow to make it happen. Assuming that they do, one of the two teams will be in the BCS National Championship Game.
The Tide can now look forward to next week's SEC Championship Game. Alabama has 21 SEC championships throughout its history, more than any other school. Alabama won the first SEC title in 1933 as well as the first SEC Championship Game in 1992. The Tide is also the only program to win a conference championship in every decade since the inception of the conference, although that record is in jeopardy. Alabama has to defeat Florida on Saturday to win a title in the 2000s. The Tide won its last title in 1999.
My Seven Points:
1. Greg McElroy came into his own as the Alabama quarterback today. McElroy took the ball down 21-20 with 8:32 remaining in the game at the Tide 21-yard line. On the 15-play drive he completed 7 of 8 passes for 62 yards, including the go-ahead score - a four-yard play action to Roy Upchurch. Throughout the drive, McElroy, who has still never lost a game as a starting quarterback, appeared to be poised and confident, and took control of the game. Auburn's plan was to hold Mark Ingram in check and force McElroy to beat them, and to their chagrin, he did.
2. Julio Jones had possibly the best performance of his Alabama career. While the yardage (9 receptions for 83 yards) wasn't his best, Jones made one clutch reception after another on the final drive, securing yardage and first downs to keep the drive alive. Jones also made several crucial blocks in the running game as well. He appears to be all the way back from his early season issues.
3. Javier Arenas probably made the difference in the game. Clutch returns from Arenas gave Alabama excellent field position in several key situations. Arenas returned one kickoff for 46 yards and two punts for a total of 67 yards., including a long of 56. Arenas now holds the SEC record for career punt return yardage (1,723) and is only 38 yards away for the all-time NCAA record. Not bad for a guy who nearly walked away from football three years ago.
4. Mark Ingram, on the other hand, was clearly not himself today. I'm not sure if Ingram is out of the Heisman race or not. It's certainly possible. But Ingram had 16 carries for 30 yards and appeared to be injured late in the game. He did not appear in the final drive.
5. In many ways, the Alabama defense struggled against Auburn's offense. Alabama held Auburn well below their season averages in total yardage and points, but did allow the Tigers 332 yards of offense, including 151 on the ground. Auburn achieved a lot of its yardage on big plays as well - a 67-yard TD run by Terrell Zachery and the 72-yard TD pass from Chris Todd to Darvin Adams. The key to the game, however, may have been the two turnovers that the defense forced, as well as the the last defensive stop before the Tide's final drive.
6. The Tide has completed something that had never been accomplished in SEC history. In 2008, Alabama became the first team in SEC history to complete an 12-0 undefeated regular season. Now the Tide has done it two years in a row. Not bad for only three years in to the Nick Saban era.
7. The Crimson Tide did its part to set up what may be the biggest SEC Championship game in conference history. Last year Alabama came into Atlanta ranked #1 and Florida came in #2. This year the roles are reversed, but the difference is that both teams have a chance to be undefeated as well. Alabama took care of business today, but Florida will need to knock off Florida State tomorrow to make it happen. Assuming that they do, one of the two teams will be in the BCS National Championship Game.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Review: No. 2 Alabama 45, UT-Chattanooga 0
Well, the only unknowns for this week's game were 1) How long would Mark Ingram play? (a half), 2) would the Mocs score on Alabama? (an emphatic "No"), and 3) could the Tide escape without an significant injuries? (thankfully, "Yes"). Alabama was never seriously threatened by a Chattanooga team that finished with fewer than 100 yards of offense. The offense and special teams scored early and often and left ample time to get the second and third team players some time on the field in the last home game of the season. All-in-all, the best possible scenario for the second-ranked Tide.
My seven points:
1. Mark Ingram's day was perfect. Many wondered, and even asked Coach Saban, if Mark Ingram would play most of the game to pad his stats to impress Heisman voters. But Coach Saban's priorities are to do what's best for the team, and he explained that he wasn't going to play Ingram any longer than necessary. He finished with 102 yards, two big-play touchdowns, and a 9+ yard per carry average, all in the first half. Ingram's Heisman campaign will hinge on performances against Auburn and Florida. This game was relevant only in the sense that he looked good and didn't get hurt. Mission accomplished.
2. Javier Arenas set an SEC punt return record. Javier Arenas has already secured his position as the greatest Alabama punt returner of all time, but he is tantalizingly close to the best overall. Arenas returned a punt 66 yards for a touchdown against UTC, setting the SEC record for career punt return touchdowns with seven. He is only 39 yards away from the all-time SEC record for punt return yards (held by Vanderbilt's Lee Nalley) and 105 yards away from Wes Welker's (Texas Tech) NCAA record of 1,761. Arenas has three more games to achieve that career milestone, and I believe he will get it. Congratulations to him.
3. Speaking of milestones, Mark Ingram is approaching another one. Ingram's 1,399 yards this season put him well within reach of Bobby Humphey's single season record of 1,471. Ingram, of course, will play 14 games in 2009, including the bowl game, which did not count in season stats until the 1990s. But longtime fans may remember that the 1986 season did feature 13 games for the Tide, including the Kickoff Classic against Ohio State. Regardless, Ingram currently trails Humphrey by less than 100 yards with three games to go, and eclipses single-season marks by former greats Shaun Alexander, Glen Coffee, and Shaud Williams.
4. Superlative defense is again the theme of the day. Even in the second half, the the starters safely ensconced on the sideline, the Tide defense continued to dominate. The Tide allowed just 48 yards rushing and 36 yards passing to the Mocs, a total of 84 yards of offense. The Mocs had only five first downs and three turnovers, all interceptions.
5. The Tide has a short week to prepare for Auburn. The other good part about being able to pull the starters early today is that Alabama has a limited amount of time to prepare for Auburn next Friday. The Tide will most likely travel on Thursday, which means basically three days of work before the game. Auburn, of course, has had almost two weeks to get ready for the Crimson Tide. On the other hand, Alabama will get to watch Florida play Florida State next Saturday, and will have an extra day of rest before the SEC Championship.
6. Speaking of off weeks, have you ever noticed that Alabama's opponents have a bye before playing the Tide an awful lot? I've commented on it many times in the past, but the contrast in bye weeks between Alabama and the other teams in the SEC is even more striking when it is examined statistically. RollBamaRoll has featured a couple of detailed articles on this phenomenon, but this is an eye opener:
Total SEC opponents coming off bye weeks, 2007-2010
Alabama - 17
LSU - 5
Tennessee - 4
Florida - 4
Vanderbilt - 3
Georgia - 3
Auburn - 3
Kentucky - 2
Mississippi State - 1
Mississippi - 1
South Carolina - 0
Arkansas - 0
This means that in the 32 SEC games that Alabama has during this four-year period, the opponent has a bye week before the game over 50% of the time! The most anyone else has is five. Part of this is controlled by the school, part by the SEC office, but it's a pretty amazing statistic. So when you hear someone say, "They may not be a great team, but they always play Alabama hard" you'll know why. Chances are that they had a week off.
7. Pause a moment in honor of 2009's senior class. The seniors of 2009 were the last full class recruited by Mike Shula, and had to endure the Tide's last losing season, in 2006. A few have been major contributors (especially on defense), a few have been relegated to the background, and one or two considered leaving altogether (including Arenas). But this senior class has accomplished something that has not been done at Alabama in decades, winning ten or more games in consecutive years, and still has every team goal in its sights.
My seven points:
1. Mark Ingram's day was perfect. Many wondered, and even asked Coach Saban, if Mark Ingram would play most of the game to pad his stats to impress Heisman voters. But Coach Saban's priorities are to do what's best for the team, and he explained that he wasn't going to play Ingram any longer than necessary. He finished with 102 yards, two big-play touchdowns, and a 9+ yard per carry average, all in the first half. Ingram's Heisman campaign will hinge on performances against Auburn and Florida. This game was relevant only in the sense that he looked good and didn't get hurt. Mission accomplished.
2. Javier Arenas set an SEC punt return record. Javier Arenas has already secured his position as the greatest Alabama punt returner of all time, but he is tantalizingly close to the best overall. Arenas returned a punt 66 yards for a touchdown against UTC, setting the SEC record for career punt return touchdowns with seven. He is only 39 yards away from the all-time SEC record for punt return yards (held by Vanderbilt's Lee Nalley) and 105 yards away from Wes Welker's (Texas Tech) NCAA record of 1,761. Arenas has three more games to achieve that career milestone, and I believe he will get it. Congratulations to him.
3. Speaking of milestones, Mark Ingram is approaching another one. Ingram's 1,399 yards this season put him well within reach of Bobby Humphey's single season record of 1,471. Ingram, of course, will play 14 games in 2009, including the bowl game, which did not count in season stats until the 1990s. But longtime fans may remember that the 1986 season did feature 13 games for the Tide, including the Kickoff Classic against Ohio State. Regardless, Ingram currently trails Humphrey by less than 100 yards with three games to go, and eclipses single-season marks by former greats Shaun Alexander, Glen Coffee, and Shaud Williams.
4. Superlative defense is again the theme of the day. Even in the second half, the the starters safely ensconced on the sideline, the Tide defense continued to dominate. The Tide allowed just 48 yards rushing and 36 yards passing to the Mocs, a total of 84 yards of offense. The Mocs had only five first downs and three turnovers, all interceptions.
5. The Tide has a short week to prepare for Auburn. The other good part about being able to pull the starters early today is that Alabama has a limited amount of time to prepare for Auburn next Friday. The Tide will most likely travel on Thursday, which means basically three days of work before the game. Auburn, of course, has had almost two weeks to get ready for the Crimson Tide. On the other hand, Alabama will get to watch Florida play Florida State next Saturday, and will have an extra day of rest before the SEC Championship.
6. Speaking of off weeks, have you ever noticed that Alabama's opponents have a bye before playing the Tide an awful lot? I've commented on it many times in the past, but the contrast in bye weeks between Alabama and the other teams in the SEC is even more striking when it is examined statistically. RollBamaRoll has featured a couple of detailed articles on this phenomenon, but this is an eye opener:
Total SEC opponents coming off bye weeks, 2007-2010
Alabama - 17
LSU - 5
Tennessee - 4
Florida - 4
Vanderbilt - 3
Georgia - 3
Auburn - 3
Kentucky - 2
Mississippi State - 1
Mississippi - 1
South Carolina - 0
Arkansas - 0
This means that in the 32 SEC games that Alabama has during this four-year period, the opponent has a bye week before the game over 50% of the time! The most anyone else has is five. Part of this is controlled by the school, part by the SEC office, but it's a pretty amazing statistic. So when you hear someone say, "They may not be a great team, but they always play Alabama hard" you'll know why. Chances are that they had a week off.
7. Pause a moment in honor of 2009's senior class. The seniors of 2009 were the last full class recruited by Mike Shula, and had to endure the Tide's last losing season, in 2006. A few have been major contributors (especially on defense), a few have been relegated to the background, and one or two considered leaving altogether (including Arenas). But this senior class has accomplished something that has not been done at Alabama in decades, winning ten or more games in consecutive years, and still has every team goal in its sights.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Review: No. 2 Alabama 31, Mississippi State 3
Mississippi State used every possible morale builder in their arsenal - including black jerseys, a record-crowd boosted by extra seating and standing room only tickets, even a smoke machine-aided entrance - but it wasn't enough to lift the Bulldogs past the second-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide Saturday.
'Bama turned in a strong offensive performance, knocking the Bulldogs out with big plays, especially in the fourth quarter. State was able to move the ball on the Tide at times. The Bulldogs had 113 yards rushing as a team, just the second time this year that Alabama has given up more than 100, but missed opportunities and stingy defense kept MSU out of the end zone, and the Tide rolled to 10-0 (7-0 SEC) on the season.
My seven points:
1. The Tide took care of business in a difficult test tonight. Mississippi State has played one of the toughest schedules in the country this year, and their record (4-6, 2-4 SEC) shows it. But this team was down by three to Florida with ten minutes left in the game, led Houston going in the the fourth quarter of that game, and came within a yard of defeating LSU. After a physical, emotional game against LSU, Alabama figured to be vulnerable to an upset. Mississippi State did everything that they could to fire up the fans, and the team played hard, but Alabama's superior speed, talent and strength wore the Bulldogs down. The Tide did what they had to do and looked pretty good doing it. (By the way, can we all agree now that putting on black jerseys, or helmets, etc., doesn't make you a better team? I have never been more proud of Alabama's ultra-traditional uniforms.)
2. The offensive game plan showed much improvement over LSU. I was not a fan of the pass-first plan last week, and I think the win had more to do with committing to the run in the second half than it did with "loosening up" the corners by passing the ball. The offensive plan for Mississippi State on the other hand, was largely successful, mixing the run and pass within drives and getting the ball to the playmakers. Julio Jones, Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks all saw multiple receptions, and Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson continued to pound the rock. The only person I missed in the gameplan was tight end Colin Peek, who I assume is still feeling the effects of his knee sprain, although he did see more game action today.
3. The one player I expected us to miss this year in the defense was Rashad Johnson. The fact that we have not missed the All-American significantly is due in large part to Mark Barron, who should be SEC Defensive player of the week after tonight's game. Barron intercepted two passes, one of which was a spectacular diving catch, and would have caught another if Marquis Johnson has not taken it from his hands. Barron also broke up what appeared to be a sure touchdown with what looked like a 40-inch leap. The sophomore safety is getting better every week. I expect that we'll see him playing on Sunday in a year or two.
4. Speaking of Marquis Johnson, have you ever seen a player who improved on the field as much as he has over his four years at the University? Saban has helped turn this young man into an NFL-caliber cornerback. Proving that his performance against South Carolina (where he broke up one fade route after another to the corner of the end zone) was no fluke, Johnson again made several acrobatic plays to stop sure touchdown passes from the Bulldogs late in the game, without resorting to interfering with the receiver. Although Johnson did get burned on an interference call early on the first MSU drive, he recovered nicely, keeping the Bulldogs off the board on at least three different occasions, and picking off the last gasp throw just for good measure.
5. ESPN's primetime college team is good. Like most 'Bama fans, I don't care much for CBS's main play-by-play team of Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson (CBS's second team is much worse, by the way). It is always a breath of fresh air when we have a game that is called by Brad Nessler and Todd Blackledge of ESPN. Not only do they do a better job with the human interest stuff (Taste of the Town is a always interesting and often good for a laugh), but they just don't get in the way of the game. They also made two really prescient calls tonight. First, Blackledge was talking about how Alabama HAD to get the ball to Julio Jones to win a national championship mere seconds before Greg McElroy dropped back and hit a wide-open Jones on a 48-yard touchdown. On the next possession, it was Nessler's turn, commenting that this was the time in the game that Alabama would just hand the ball to Mark Ingram a split second before McElroy handed him the ball for a 70-yard touchdown. It was like they knew what was coming before it happened, and it takes a lot of research to make things look that effortless.
6. Alabama and Florida really are two sides of the same coin. The similarities between the Tide and the Gators this year really are striking. From the defensive stats, to the points per game, to the red zone woes, to the fairly lackluster quarterback stats, there is not a whole lot of difference on paper between the two teams. Both will finish the season up with a tuneup game, and then a big rival, and meet in three weeks at the SEC Championship. Given the way that the two teams are playing right now, I'd give the edge to Alabama. The Tide is showing more consistency on offense the last couple of weeks, while Florida has continued to struggle. However, I don't expect anything but a hard-fought, closely-contested game between two of the best teams in the country. It doesn't get much better than that.
7. One more record in the books. Alabama reached the 10-0 mark for the 17th time in the program's 115-year history, an NCAA record. Alabama has had 30 ten-win seasons, which is second in the NCAA behind Oklahoma (31). It is the first time that Alabama has had consecutive 10-0 starts since the 1973-74 seasons, and the first time in Coach Nick Saban's career that he has had consecutive ten-win seasons.
'Bama turned in a strong offensive performance, knocking the Bulldogs out with big plays, especially in the fourth quarter. State was able to move the ball on the Tide at times. The Bulldogs had 113 yards rushing as a team, just the second time this year that Alabama has given up more than 100, but missed opportunities and stingy defense kept MSU out of the end zone, and the Tide rolled to 10-0 (7-0 SEC) on the season.
My seven points:
1. The Tide took care of business in a difficult test tonight. Mississippi State has played one of the toughest schedules in the country this year, and their record (4-6, 2-4 SEC) shows it. But this team was down by three to Florida with ten minutes left in the game, led Houston going in the the fourth quarter of that game, and came within a yard of defeating LSU. After a physical, emotional game against LSU, Alabama figured to be vulnerable to an upset. Mississippi State did everything that they could to fire up the fans, and the team played hard, but Alabama's superior speed, talent and strength wore the Bulldogs down. The Tide did what they had to do and looked pretty good doing it. (By the way, can we all agree now that putting on black jerseys, or helmets, etc., doesn't make you a better team? I have never been more proud of Alabama's ultra-traditional uniforms.)
2. The offensive game plan showed much improvement over LSU. I was not a fan of the pass-first plan last week, and I think the win had more to do with committing to the run in the second half than it did with "loosening up" the corners by passing the ball. The offensive plan for Mississippi State on the other hand, was largely successful, mixing the run and pass within drives and getting the ball to the playmakers. Julio Jones, Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks all saw multiple receptions, and Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson continued to pound the rock. The only person I missed in the gameplan was tight end Colin Peek, who I assume is still feeling the effects of his knee sprain, although he did see more game action today.
3. The one player I expected us to miss this year in the defense was Rashad Johnson. The fact that we have not missed the All-American significantly is due in large part to Mark Barron, who should be SEC Defensive player of the week after tonight's game. Barron intercepted two passes, one of which was a spectacular diving catch, and would have caught another if Marquis Johnson has not taken it from his hands. Barron also broke up what appeared to be a sure touchdown with what looked like a 40-inch leap. The sophomore safety is getting better every week. I expect that we'll see him playing on Sunday in a year or two.
4. Speaking of Marquis Johnson, have you ever seen a player who improved on the field as much as he has over his four years at the University? Saban has helped turn this young man into an NFL-caliber cornerback. Proving that his performance against South Carolina (where he broke up one fade route after another to the corner of the end zone) was no fluke, Johnson again made several acrobatic plays to stop sure touchdown passes from the Bulldogs late in the game, without resorting to interfering with the receiver. Although Johnson did get burned on an interference call early on the first MSU drive, he recovered nicely, keeping the Bulldogs off the board on at least three different occasions, and picking off the last gasp throw just for good measure.
5. ESPN's primetime college team is good. Like most 'Bama fans, I don't care much for CBS's main play-by-play team of Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson (CBS's second team is much worse, by the way). It is always a breath of fresh air when we have a game that is called by Brad Nessler and Todd Blackledge of ESPN. Not only do they do a better job with the human interest stuff (Taste of the Town is a always interesting and often good for a laugh), but they just don't get in the way of the game. They also made two really prescient calls tonight. First, Blackledge was talking about how Alabama HAD to get the ball to Julio Jones to win a national championship mere seconds before Greg McElroy dropped back and hit a wide-open Jones on a 48-yard touchdown. On the next possession, it was Nessler's turn, commenting that this was the time in the game that Alabama would just hand the ball to Mark Ingram a split second before McElroy handed him the ball for a 70-yard touchdown. It was like they knew what was coming before it happened, and it takes a lot of research to make things look that effortless.
6. Alabama and Florida really are two sides of the same coin. The similarities between the Tide and the Gators this year really are striking. From the defensive stats, to the points per game, to the red zone woes, to the fairly lackluster quarterback stats, there is not a whole lot of difference on paper between the two teams. Both will finish the season up with a tuneup game, and then a big rival, and meet in three weeks at the SEC Championship. Given the way that the two teams are playing right now, I'd give the edge to Alabama. The Tide is showing more consistency on offense the last couple of weeks, while Florida has continued to struggle. However, I don't expect anything but a hard-fought, closely-contested game between two of the best teams in the country. It doesn't get much better than that.
7. One more record in the books. Alabama reached the 10-0 mark for the 17th time in the program's 115-year history, an NCAA record. Alabama has had 30 ten-win seasons, which is second in the NCAA behind Oklahoma (31). It is the first time that Alabama has had consecutive 10-0 starts since the 1973-74 seasons, and the first time in Coach Nick Saban's career that he has had consecutive ten-win seasons.
Saturday, November 07, 2009
SEC in Review: Week Nine
The SEC season is three-fourths over and winding down. The title game participants have already been decided. Let's review my preseason predictions, and where we stand in the best conference in college football.
1. Ole Miss will be good this year, and perhaps beat a team they shouldn't, but they will not go to the SEC Championship Game.
Ole Miss has turned out to be a pretty average team. They could still surprise me, by winning against Tennessee and/or LSU, but I honestly doubt it.
2. Vanderbilt will return to a bowl game.
No. Vanderbilt has regressed considerably.
3. Of the three teams with a new coach (Auburn, Mississippi State and Tennessee), State will be the one that performs better than expected.
Early on this looked like Auburn running away, but the Tigers (7-3) have fallen back to earth. Tennessee (4-4) has played well recently, but has dropped three winnable games. Mississippi State is 4-5 and has improved along the way while facing a brutal schedule. If State could pull out wins against Arkansas and Ole Miss and get a bowl bid, then i will be totally vindicated.
4. Les Miles (LSU) will be on the coaching hot seat by the end of the year.
Not likely. LSU has improved over last year, especially defensively. Their two losses have come to Florida and Alabama, and they could legitimately finish 11-2.
5. Florida will beat Tennessee by at least 35 points.
Unfortunately, this didn't happen.
6. Alabama will win the SEC West.
Done.
7. Florida will win the SEC East.
Done.
8. Florida will win the SEC.
This one is still undecided and will be until December 5. Florida hasn't looked incredibly impressive this year, but they do know how to win. If both teams make it to the game undefeated... wow, it's going to be a slugfest.
9. Tim Tebow will win the Heisman Trophy.
If he does it will be based on his body of work rather than this year. Surprisingly, the front-runner appears to be Mark Ingram.
10. The national champion will come from outside the SEC this year.
We won't know this until January, obviously, but with Florida at #1 and Alabama at #3, an SEC representative is relatively likely to make it to Pasadena. I just don't see anyone else knocking the SEC champ off at this point, although Texas is the odds-on favorite to face them.
Other observations:
Alabama - The Tide will play Florida again in the title game for all the marbles, assuming they take care of business the next three weeks. Winning 21 of the last 23 games has probably given the Tide more confidence this time around and Florida looks vulnerable. This could be one for the ages. My prediction: Alabama plays in the BCS National Championship Game
Arkansas - Arkansas has improved as a team over last year, but may have missed an opportunity to take the next step against Ole Miss. Still, the Hogs should make a bowl game. The missing piece for this team is defense. My prediction: PapaJohns.com Bowl
Auburn - Auburn has been streaky this year, winning five in a row, then losing three straight, now winning the last two. Now an 8-4 finish looks achievable, which is quite an accomplishment given the situation Chizik inherited. My prediction: Cotton Bowl
Florida - The Gators have benefited from a weak schedule and honestly, a weak division. Florida is a good team, but are they a great one? The only question remaining for the Gators is whether or not Tebow can will them to another championship. My prediction: Sugar Bowl
Georgia - The Bulldogs are an average team. They could salvage this season by winning out, but it won't be easy. Auburn, Kentucky and Georgia Tech are all capable of beating the 'Dawgs, and the difference between 5-7 and 8-4 is huge for Mark Richt. At the very least, look for defensive coordinator Willie Martinez to get the boot at the end of the season. My prediction: Chick-Fil-A Bowl
Kentucky - Kentucky is a decent team, but not a great one. Next weekend's game at Vandy is their best chance to get bowl-eligible, but a win over either Georgia or Tennessee would cement it. My prediction: Bowl eligible, but nowhere to go.
LSU - LSU has seemed to hit its stride over the last few weeks, despite the setback at Alabama. The offense has gotten steadily better and the defense has kept the Bayou Bengals in every game. After receiving a number of injuries during the 'Bama game, it remains to be seen how the Tigers will be affected. My prediction: Capital One Bowl
Mississippi - Ole Miss has played one good game this year (Arkansas) and three bad ones (South Carolina, Alabama, and Auburn). The Rebs are bowl eligible now at 6-3, but they could conceivably lose the last three on the schedule. Not what Colonel Reb was expecting with the SEC championship hype. I predict that Ole Miss will finish 7-5, and go to the Independence Bowl, which is where they should expect to hang out for a while. My prediction: Independence Bowl
Mississippi State - State has played a tough schedule out of conference (Houston, Georgia Tech) and in, but last week's win against Kentucky could have been a turning point. Expect them to give Alabama all they can handle next weekend. Still, the road to bowl eligibility will be difficult. State will have to pick up wins against both Arkansas and Ole Miss to get there. My prediction: Music City Bowl
South Carolina - South Carolina looked like a player at mid-season, but with two consecutive losses and Florida coming up next week, the Gamecocks look to be on another patented late-season slide. If the 'Cocks lose to the Gators and to Clemson in two weeks, finishing 6-6, don't be surprised to hear for calls for Spurrier to retire (or be fired). How the mighty have fallen. My prediction: Liberty Bowl
Tennessee - The Vols have looked mighty strong since losing to Auburn in early October, and they seem to have finally found out how to play offense in Knoxville. I wouldn't be surprised to see Tennessee finish 8-4. My prediction: Outback Bowl
Vanderbilt - Just horrible, or in other words, back to normal. My prediction: No bowl game
1. Ole Miss will be good this year, and perhaps beat a team they shouldn't, but they will not go to the SEC Championship Game.
Ole Miss has turned out to be a pretty average team. They could still surprise me, by winning against Tennessee and/or LSU, but I honestly doubt it.
2. Vanderbilt will return to a bowl game.
No. Vanderbilt has regressed considerably.
3. Of the three teams with a new coach (Auburn, Mississippi State and Tennessee), State will be the one that performs better than expected.
Early on this looked like Auburn running away, but the Tigers (7-3) have fallen back to earth. Tennessee (4-4) has played well recently, but has dropped three winnable games. Mississippi State is 4-5 and has improved along the way while facing a brutal schedule. If State could pull out wins against Arkansas and Ole Miss and get a bowl bid, then i will be totally vindicated.
4. Les Miles (LSU) will be on the coaching hot seat by the end of the year.
Not likely. LSU has improved over last year, especially defensively. Their two losses have come to Florida and Alabama, and they could legitimately finish 11-2.
5. Florida will beat Tennessee by at least 35 points.
Unfortunately, this didn't happen.
6. Alabama will win the SEC West.
Done.
7. Florida will win the SEC East.
Done.
8. Florida will win the SEC.
This one is still undecided and will be until December 5. Florida hasn't looked incredibly impressive this year, but they do know how to win. If both teams make it to the game undefeated... wow, it's going to be a slugfest.
9. Tim Tebow will win the Heisman Trophy.
If he does it will be based on his body of work rather than this year. Surprisingly, the front-runner appears to be Mark Ingram.
10. The national champion will come from outside the SEC this year.
We won't know this until January, obviously, but with Florida at #1 and Alabama at #3, an SEC representative is relatively likely to make it to Pasadena. I just don't see anyone else knocking the SEC champ off at this point, although Texas is the odds-on favorite to face them.
Other observations:
Alabama - The Tide will play Florida again in the title game for all the marbles, assuming they take care of business the next three weeks. Winning 21 of the last 23 games has probably given the Tide more confidence this time around and Florida looks vulnerable. This could be one for the ages. My prediction: Alabama plays in the BCS National Championship Game
Arkansas - Arkansas has improved as a team over last year, but may have missed an opportunity to take the next step against Ole Miss. Still, the Hogs should make a bowl game. The missing piece for this team is defense. My prediction: PapaJohns.com Bowl
Auburn - Auburn has been streaky this year, winning five in a row, then losing three straight, now winning the last two. Now an 8-4 finish looks achievable, which is quite an accomplishment given the situation Chizik inherited. My prediction: Cotton Bowl
Florida - The Gators have benefited from a weak schedule and honestly, a weak division. Florida is a good team, but are they a great one? The only question remaining for the Gators is whether or not Tebow can will them to another championship. My prediction: Sugar Bowl
Georgia - The Bulldogs are an average team. They could salvage this season by winning out, but it won't be easy. Auburn, Kentucky and Georgia Tech are all capable of beating the 'Dawgs, and the difference between 5-7 and 8-4 is huge for Mark Richt. At the very least, look for defensive coordinator Willie Martinez to get the boot at the end of the season. My prediction: Chick-Fil-A Bowl
Kentucky - Kentucky is a decent team, but not a great one. Next weekend's game at Vandy is their best chance to get bowl-eligible, but a win over either Georgia or Tennessee would cement it. My prediction: Bowl eligible, but nowhere to go.
LSU - LSU has seemed to hit its stride over the last few weeks, despite the setback at Alabama. The offense has gotten steadily better and the defense has kept the Bayou Bengals in every game. After receiving a number of injuries during the 'Bama game, it remains to be seen how the Tigers will be affected. My prediction: Capital One Bowl
Mississippi - Ole Miss has played one good game this year (Arkansas) and three bad ones (South Carolina, Alabama, and Auburn). The Rebs are bowl eligible now at 6-3, but they could conceivably lose the last three on the schedule. Not what Colonel Reb was expecting with the SEC championship hype. I predict that Ole Miss will finish 7-5, and go to the Independence Bowl, which is where they should expect to hang out for a while. My prediction: Independence Bowl
Mississippi State - State has played a tough schedule out of conference (Houston, Georgia Tech) and in, but last week's win against Kentucky could have been a turning point. Expect them to give Alabama all they can handle next weekend. Still, the road to bowl eligibility will be difficult. State will have to pick up wins against both Arkansas and Ole Miss to get there. My prediction: Music City Bowl
South Carolina - South Carolina looked like a player at mid-season, but with two consecutive losses and Florida coming up next week, the Gamecocks look to be on another patented late-season slide. If the 'Cocks lose to the Gators and to Clemson in two weeks, finishing 6-6, don't be surprised to hear for calls for Spurrier to retire (or be fired). How the mighty have fallen. My prediction: Liberty Bowl
Tennessee - The Vols have looked mighty strong since losing to Auburn in early October, and they seem to have finally found out how to play offense in Knoxville. I wouldn't be surprised to see Tennessee finish 8-4. My prediction: Outback Bowl
Vanderbilt - Just horrible, or in other words, back to normal. My prediction: No bowl game
Review: No. 2 Alabama 24, No. 9 LSU 15
Alabama's biggest game of the year (so far) saw the Tide offense break out of a mid-season slump. Amassing 267 yards passing, Greg McElroy had easily his best performance since September, hitting Darius Hanks and Julio Jones for touchdowns. Mark Ingram had another stellar performance as well, gaining 144 yards on 22 carries, over 100 of which came in the second half.
Alabama and LSU played for control of the SEC West, as they have for the last two years, and the game played out as many experts predicted - a close battle for three quarters that the Tide would eventually pull away from. The win sets up an Alabama-Florida matchup in the SEC Championship game on December 5.
My seven points:
1. The monkey is off Greg McElroy's back. Underwhelming statistics and lack of red zone success for McElroy over the last month have led to a lot of questioning from fans and pundits about what is wrong and even some . The source of McElroy's problems has been pretty obvious, as was the source of his success tonight. Pressure. Unlike Ole Miss, South Carolina and Tennessee, LSU was unable to put sustained pressure on McElroy. Therefore he was able to stand in the pocket and make throws. McElroy finished 19-of-34 with two TDs and a pick against a quality defense.
2. Ditto for Julio Jones. Jones has been hampered by injuries all year, and while he still hasn't regained his form from last year, he did turn in the biggest play of the game - a 73-yard touchdown reception that put the Tide ahead for good. Jones wasn't perfect - a dropped pass deep in Alabama territory helped set up the safety LSU got on the next play. But a hundred-yard receiving day can heal many wounds.
3. Mark Ingram for Heisman is looking like more than just talk. Most Alabama fans are unconcerned about Heisman talk. After all, SEC and national championships are within the Tide's reach, and no Alabama player has ever finished higher than third in the Heisman balloting anyway. But Mark Ingram was a tentative midseason favorite to win the Trophy coming into the game, and he soldified his reputation today for playing big in big games, which is one of the most important things that a candidate can do. Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen probably killed his chances today with a three turnover showing in a loss to Navy. Colt McCoy (Texas) and Tim Tebow (Florida) are both in the race by virtue of leading undefeated teams (as is Ingram) but both quarterbacks are suffering somewhat due to comparisons to their previous seasons. Right now, the Heisman Trophy looks like it is Ingram's to win.
4. SEC Officiating didn't do itself any favors tonight. The big story in SEC football over the past month has been blown calls by officials in critical moments, and the aftermath thereof. Conspiracy theorists have accused the SEC of propping up Florida and Alabama in order to keep them undefeated, and to be fair, bad calls did impact the LSU-Georgia and Florida-Arkansas games. (The Alabama-Tennessee helmet controversy, by contrast, was mostly a creation of CBS color analyst Gary Danielson). Bad calls have always been a part of college football, but there is intense scrutiny on the SEC right now. That's why I wouldn't be surprised to see the Greg McElroy interception no-call become a big topic of conversation this week. The video evidence was not 100% conclusive, but it looked like Patrick Peterson may have gotten his foot down before going out of bounds. Danielson, of course, had already ruled it an interception from his perspective, and disgruntled (read, L-O-S-E-R) fans will probably point to the call as further evidence that the SEC helped Alabama win.
5. Strength and conditioning appeared to be a huge advantage for Alabama in this game. It seemed to me that as the game went along, LSU seemed to have an injured player on the turf virtually every other play. One lineman, running back, quarterback, cornerback, etc. after another went down for the Tigers while I only remember one player for Alabama going out of the game at all (Arenas) and he made it back in a few plays later. It's a credit LSU's talent level that they were able to stay in the game with so many players leaving the field, but it did seem a little odd to me that the injuries seemed to be so weighted to their side. Flukey injuries can happen to anyone, but a 8- or 10-1 injury margin is hugely significant in a close game, and may point to a difference between the conditioning of the two teams.
6. Leigh Tiffin is the all-time leading scorer for Alabama. Tiffin has not only recovered completely from being the goat for Alabama's loss to Arkansas in 2006 (he missed two field goals and an extra point in overtime), but has become perhaps the best kicker in the country and the Crimson Tide's all-time leading scorer. Tiffin hit three field goals and an extra point to stand alone above three other legendary Tide kickers - Philip Doyle, Michael Proctor, and his father, Van Tiffin. If Alabama is to reach its championship dreams, Tiffin will continue to play a critical part.
7. Mississippi State won't be a cakewalk. State is in a perfect position to spoil the party for Alabama next week in Starkville. The Bulldogs have improved steadily throughout the year, and while the talent is still thin, overconfidence can be fatal to the Tide's hopes. Just ask anyone on the 1980 Alabama team, who went into Starkville ranked number 1, riding a 28-game winning streak and heavily favored over the unranked Bulldogs. State went on to win that day 6-3, causing a fumble on what would might have been Alabama's go-ahead touchdown play. Saban is not going to take any opponent lightly. Let's hope the team follows his lead.
Alabama and LSU played for control of the SEC West, as they have for the last two years, and the game played out as many experts predicted - a close battle for three quarters that the Tide would eventually pull away from. The win sets up an Alabama-Florida matchup in the SEC Championship game on December 5.
My seven points:
1. The monkey is off Greg McElroy's back. Underwhelming statistics and lack of red zone success for McElroy over the last month have led to a lot of questioning from fans and pundits about what is wrong and even some . The source of McElroy's problems has been pretty obvious, as was the source of his success tonight. Pressure. Unlike Ole Miss, South Carolina and Tennessee, LSU was unable to put sustained pressure on McElroy. Therefore he was able to stand in the pocket and make throws. McElroy finished 19-of-34 with two TDs and a pick against a quality defense.
2. Ditto for Julio Jones. Jones has been hampered by injuries all year, and while he still hasn't regained his form from last year, he did turn in the biggest play of the game - a 73-yard touchdown reception that put the Tide ahead for good. Jones wasn't perfect - a dropped pass deep in Alabama territory helped set up the safety LSU got on the next play. But a hundred-yard receiving day can heal many wounds.
3. Mark Ingram for Heisman is looking like more than just talk. Most Alabama fans are unconcerned about Heisman talk. After all, SEC and national championships are within the Tide's reach, and no Alabama player has ever finished higher than third in the Heisman balloting anyway. But Mark Ingram was a tentative midseason favorite to win the Trophy coming into the game, and he soldified his reputation today for playing big in big games, which is one of the most important things that a candidate can do. Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen probably killed his chances today with a three turnover showing in a loss to Navy. Colt McCoy (Texas) and Tim Tebow (Florida) are both in the race by virtue of leading undefeated teams (as is Ingram) but both quarterbacks are suffering somewhat due to comparisons to their previous seasons. Right now, the Heisman Trophy looks like it is Ingram's to win.
4. SEC Officiating didn't do itself any favors tonight. The big story in SEC football over the past month has been blown calls by officials in critical moments, and the aftermath thereof. Conspiracy theorists have accused the SEC of propping up Florida and Alabama in order to keep them undefeated, and to be fair, bad calls did impact the LSU-Georgia and Florida-Arkansas games. (The Alabama-Tennessee helmet controversy, by contrast, was mostly a creation of CBS color analyst Gary Danielson). Bad calls have always been a part of college football, but there is intense scrutiny on the SEC right now. That's why I wouldn't be surprised to see the Greg McElroy interception no-call become a big topic of conversation this week. The video evidence was not 100% conclusive, but it looked like Patrick Peterson may have gotten his foot down before going out of bounds. Danielson, of course, had already ruled it an interception from his perspective, and disgruntled (read, L-O-S-E-R) fans will probably point to the call as further evidence that the SEC helped Alabama win.
5. Strength and conditioning appeared to be a huge advantage for Alabama in this game. It seemed to me that as the game went along, LSU seemed to have an injured player on the turf virtually every other play. One lineman, running back, quarterback, cornerback, etc. after another went down for the Tigers while I only remember one player for Alabama going out of the game at all (Arenas) and he made it back in a few plays later. It's a credit LSU's talent level that they were able to stay in the game with so many players leaving the field, but it did seem a little odd to me that the injuries seemed to be so weighted to their side. Flukey injuries can happen to anyone, but a 8- or 10-1 injury margin is hugely significant in a close game, and may point to a difference between the conditioning of the two teams.
6. Leigh Tiffin is the all-time leading scorer for Alabama. Tiffin has not only recovered completely from being the goat for Alabama's loss to Arkansas in 2006 (he missed two field goals and an extra point in overtime), but has become perhaps the best kicker in the country and the Crimson Tide's all-time leading scorer. Tiffin hit three field goals and an extra point to stand alone above three other legendary Tide kickers - Philip Doyle, Michael Proctor, and his father, Van Tiffin. If Alabama is to reach its championship dreams, Tiffin will continue to play a critical part.
7. Mississippi State won't be a cakewalk. State is in a perfect position to spoil the party for Alabama next week in Starkville. The Bulldogs have improved steadily throughout the year, and while the talent is still thin, overconfidence can be fatal to the Tide's hopes. Just ask anyone on the 1980 Alabama team, who went into Starkville ranked number 1, riding a 28-game winning streak and heavily favored over the unranked Bulldogs. State went on to win that day 6-3, causing a fumble on what would might have been Alabama's go-ahead touchdown play. Saban is not going to take any opponent lightly. Let's hope the team follows his lead.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Review: No. 2 Alabama 12, Tennessee 10
Alabama snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in a classic matchup with rival Tennessee, blocking two field goals in a fourth quarter that saw almost everything else go wrong for the Tide.
Alabama nursed a 9-3 halftime lead through the third quarter while the Volunteers began to find success moving the ball on the Tide. But Tennessee's Daniel Lincoln, who had missed a 49-yard field goal earlier in the game, had a 47-yarder blocked by Terrence Cody, and Leigh Tiffin pushed the score to 12-3 with a field goal with 6:31 left. After a short Tennessee possession, Alabama's Mark Ingram, who had never lost a fumble in his career, had the ball stripped from his hands as he struggled for yardage at the Alabama 43. Tennessee quickly converted the turnover into points, scoring a touchdown with 1:19 remaining.
The Vols then converted an onside kick and drove the ball into scoring position, lining up for a 43-yard field goal on third down with 4 seconds left in the game. But Mount Cody broke through the line again and blocked Lincoln's kick to seal the victory and keep the national title hopes alive.
Now for my seven points:
1. In a championship season, you have to win the close games. Thinking back to 1992, Alabama played several close games, but the closest may have been the SEC Championship game against Florida, which the Tide won on a late interception by Antonio Langham. But few remember that the Tide also had to come from behind to beat Mississippi State that year as well. Regardless, Tennessee brought their "A" game today, and the Tide still pulled out the win.
2. Terrence Cody solidifed his position today as a Tide player for the ages. The gargantuan nose tackle, who made an immediate impact for Alabama from his first game (last year against Clemson), is already one of the most popular players on the team, but plays like the two blocked field goals he had today, especially against one of your biggest rivals, are what makes legends. 'Bama fans will remember Cody's game-saving block today long after his NFL playing days are over.
3. This is a team in need of an off week. It's become a cliche to say "this off week comes at a good time," but in all seriousness, the Tide looked tired versus a Tennessee team with an extra week to prepare. The defense has been especially tested the last three weeks, and should expect to be tested again when LSU comes to town. A week to rest the legs and heal the bruises will be welcome.
4. Alabama needs to continue to work on red zone offense. The offense's inability to punch the ball into the end zone nearly cost the Tide the game today, and the red zone should continue to be a point of emphasis in practice. In fairness, the offense seemed to be hampered by poor play calling, especially on the last scoring drive of the first half. Why lean on the beleagured passing game for points when Tennessee seemed unable to stop the run?
5. Leigh Tiffin has quietly become one of the best kickers in the country. In my opinion, Tiffin has always suffered from the burden of his father's name. After all, Van Tiffin made the best-known kick in Alabama football history. But Leigh Tiffin today moved into second place in scoring all time in the Alabama record books, and is leading the country in field goals made. The knock on Tiffin has been consistency, but keep in mind if he had missed one kick today, Alabama would have lost.
6. Greg McElroy needs to step it up another notch. McElroy was excoriated, and rightly so, for his performance in the last two games. The quarterback did improve his accruacy this week, but the undemanding game plan may have nearly cost 'Bama the game. McElroy's protection has improved since the breakdown at Ole Miss, and he needs to get his confidence back with the downfield pass. Two and three-yard dump passes are not going to fill the bill against LSU and (possibly) Florida.
7. All of Alabama's goals are still in sight. Even a one-point loss to the Vols today would not have eliminated the Tide from national title contention, but Alabama has to remember that every game from now on, with the possible exception of Chattanooga, is going to be difficult. That's not the say that 'Bama won't be favored against LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn, but they will get the best shot from each of those teams. Taking a week off will still get you beat.
Alabama nursed a 9-3 halftime lead through the third quarter while the Volunteers began to find success moving the ball on the Tide. But Tennessee's Daniel Lincoln, who had missed a 49-yard field goal earlier in the game, had a 47-yarder blocked by Terrence Cody, and Leigh Tiffin pushed the score to 12-3 with a field goal with 6:31 left. After a short Tennessee possession, Alabama's Mark Ingram, who had never lost a fumble in his career, had the ball stripped from his hands as he struggled for yardage at the Alabama 43. Tennessee quickly converted the turnover into points, scoring a touchdown with 1:19 remaining.
The Vols then converted an onside kick and drove the ball into scoring position, lining up for a 43-yard field goal on third down with 4 seconds left in the game. But Mount Cody broke through the line again and blocked Lincoln's kick to seal the victory and keep the national title hopes alive.
Now for my seven points:
1. In a championship season, you have to win the close games. Thinking back to 1992, Alabama played several close games, but the closest may have been the SEC Championship game against Florida, which the Tide won on a late interception by Antonio Langham. But few remember that the Tide also had to come from behind to beat Mississippi State that year as well. Regardless, Tennessee brought their "A" game today, and the Tide still pulled out the win.
2. Terrence Cody solidifed his position today as a Tide player for the ages. The gargantuan nose tackle, who made an immediate impact for Alabama from his first game (last year against Clemson), is already one of the most popular players on the team, but plays like the two blocked field goals he had today, especially against one of your biggest rivals, are what makes legends. 'Bama fans will remember Cody's game-saving block today long after his NFL playing days are over.
3. This is a team in need of an off week. It's become a cliche to say "this off week comes at a good time," but in all seriousness, the Tide looked tired versus a Tennessee team with an extra week to prepare. The defense has been especially tested the last three weeks, and should expect to be tested again when LSU comes to town. A week to rest the legs and heal the bruises will be welcome.
4. Alabama needs to continue to work on red zone offense. The offense's inability to punch the ball into the end zone nearly cost the Tide the game today, and the red zone should continue to be a point of emphasis in practice. In fairness, the offense seemed to be hampered by poor play calling, especially on the last scoring drive of the first half. Why lean on the beleagured passing game for points when Tennessee seemed unable to stop the run?
5. Leigh Tiffin has quietly become one of the best kickers in the country. In my opinion, Tiffin has always suffered from the burden of his father's name. After all, Van Tiffin made the best-known kick in Alabama football history. But Leigh Tiffin today moved into second place in scoring all time in the Alabama record books, and is leading the country in field goals made. The knock on Tiffin has been consistency, but keep in mind if he had missed one kick today, Alabama would have lost.
6. Greg McElroy needs to step it up another notch. McElroy was excoriated, and rightly so, for his performance in the last two games. The quarterback did improve his accruacy this week, but the undemanding game plan may have nearly cost 'Bama the game. McElroy's protection has improved since the breakdown at Ole Miss, and he needs to get his confidence back with the downfield pass. Two and three-yard dump passes are not going to fill the bill against LSU and (possibly) Florida.
7. All of Alabama's goals are still in sight. Even a one-point loss to the Vols today would not have eliminated the Tide from national title contention, but Alabama has to remember that every game from now on, with the possible exception of Chattanooga, is going to be difficult. That's not the say that 'Bama won't be favored against LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn, but they will get the best shot from each of those teams. Taking a week off will still get you beat.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Review: No. 2 Alabama 20, No. 22 South Carolina 6
In another weekend filled with upsets and near misses, Alabama continued to do what it does best - dominate with defense and a pounding running game. The Tide played sloppily, garnering 113 yards in penalties and turning the ball over four times, but for the second straight game, the defense kept a top 25 opponent from reaching the end zone. Alabama's Mark Ingram had his second consecutive career game, rushing for 246 yards on 24 carries - a whopping 10.3 yards per carry.
Now here are my seven points:
1. Ingram for Heisman? Chris Low, ESPN.com's SEC blogger, claims that Ingram ran into the frontrunner spot in the Heisman race Saturday, and the case can certainly be made. Ingram ran the ball for every one of the plays in the game-clinching final touchdown drive, gaining 68 yards in six carries, five of them from the direct-snap "Wildcat" formation. Ingram also seems to be getting better as the competition gets tougher, gaining 150 against Virginia Tech, 140 against Kentucky, 172 versus Ole Miss, and 246 Saturday. And the majority of Ingram's yardage this year has come after contact, a fact not lost on NFL scouts. However, the Heisman is a quarterback's award generally, and Ingram isn't even the leading rusher in the country (he's third). Ingram is helped by injuries and lackluster performances from the early season frontrunners, but he will have to continue to have high-yardage, game-winning performances to have a realistic shot.
2. McElroy needs to get his game back on track. Alabama QB Greg McElroy saw some fleeting Heisman hype earlier this season, but as Ingram's game has improved, McElroy's has seemed to regress. Following up on the abysmal performance at Ole Miss, McElroy may have actually improved slightly, although the game plan seemed to move away from passing the ball at an earlier point than last week. This last few weeks shouldn't have been totally unexpected for an inexperienced quarterback against SEC competition, but it has looked worse compared to McElory's early season performances. The offensive line did look better against South Carolina than Ole Miss, but Tennessee's defense is pretty good too, and boasts arguably the better defensive back in the country in Eric Berry. The time to get back to basics is now.
3. The defense is getting better. Despite injuries, Alabama's defense really has been stingy in the last two games, particularly in the red zone - giving up only three field goals. Alabama's Marquis Johnson, who was filling in for Javier Arenas (bruised ribs), must have successfully defended the same fade route to the corner of the end zone six times. Performances like that boost a man's confidence and (hopefully) continue to drive improvement.
4. The weak point for this team is clearly special teams. Not every aspect of the special teams is bad - Leigh Tiffin has kicked well and consistently, although he did miss a field goal against South Carolina. P.J. Fitzgerald has punted fairly well. But kick/punt coverage is still an issue, and several lengthy returns by 'Bama players have been negated by penalties. So far, it hasn't cost us a game, but several scoring opportunities have likely been squandered by undisciplined return blocking.
5. South Carolina could give Florida problems. Florida and Alabama have very similar defenses. Florida, however, has been hampered by a lack of offensive firepower, especially since Tim Tebow's injury. Therefore, I expect South Carolina to challenge Florida similar to the way Arkansas did Saturday.
6. Get used to games like this one. Tennessee and LSU, Alabama's next two opponents, are teams with good defenses and weak offenses, you know, kind of like the last three opponents. Expect closely contested games that Alabama should be able to salt away in the fourth quarter.
7. 'Bama has made the best case to be Number One. It doesn't really matter whether Florida, Texas or Alabama are ranked number 1. As long as the three teams stay undefeated, they will all have a shot at the national championship. But Alabama has played the toughest competition of the three, and has looked the most consistent doing it.
Now here are my seven points:
1. Ingram for Heisman? Chris Low, ESPN.com's SEC blogger, claims that Ingram ran into the frontrunner spot in the Heisman race Saturday, and the case can certainly be made. Ingram ran the ball for every one of the plays in the game-clinching final touchdown drive, gaining 68 yards in six carries, five of them from the direct-snap "Wildcat" formation. Ingram also seems to be getting better as the competition gets tougher, gaining 150 against Virginia Tech, 140 against Kentucky, 172 versus Ole Miss, and 246 Saturday. And the majority of Ingram's yardage this year has come after contact, a fact not lost on NFL scouts. However, the Heisman is a quarterback's award generally, and Ingram isn't even the leading rusher in the country (he's third). Ingram is helped by injuries and lackluster performances from the early season frontrunners, but he will have to continue to have high-yardage, game-winning performances to have a realistic shot.
2. McElroy needs to get his game back on track. Alabama QB Greg McElroy saw some fleeting Heisman hype earlier this season, but as Ingram's game has improved, McElroy's has seemed to regress. Following up on the abysmal performance at Ole Miss, McElroy may have actually improved slightly, although the game plan seemed to move away from passing the ball at an earlier point than last week. This last few weeks shouldn't have been totally unexpected for an inexperienced quarterback against SEC competition, but it has looked worse compared to McElory's early season performances. The offensive line did look better against South Carolina than Ole Miss, but Tennessee's defense is pretty good too, and boasts arguably the better defensive back in the country in Eric Berry. The time to get back to basics is now.
3. The defense is getting better. Despite injuries, Alabama's defense really has been stingy in the last two games, particularly in the red zone - giving up only three field goals. Alabama's Marquis Johnson, who was filling in for Javier Arenas (bruised ribs), must have successfully defended the same fade route to the corner of the end zone six times. Performances like that boost a man's confidence and (hopefully) continue to drive improvement.
4. The weak point for this team is clearly special teams. Not every aspect of the special teams is bad - Leigh Tiffin has kicked well and consistently, although he did miss a field goal against South Carolina. P.J. Fitzgerald has punted fairly well. But kick/punt coverage is still an issue, and several lengthy returns by 'Bama players have been negated by penalties. So far, it hasn't cost us a game, but several scoring opportunities have likely been squandered by undisciplined return blocking.
5. South Carolina could give Florida problems. Florida and Alabama have very similar defenses. Florida, however, has been hampered by a lack of offensive firepower, especially since Tim Tebow's injury. Therefore, I expect South Carolina to challenge Florida similar to the way Arkansas did Saturday.
6. Get used to games like this one. Tennessee and LSU, Alabama's next two opponents, are teams with good defenses and weak offenses, you know, kind of like the last three opponents. Expect closely contested games that Alabama should be able to salt away in the fourth quarter.
7. 'Bama has made the best case to be Number One. It doesn't really matter whether Florida, Texas or Alabama are ranked number 1. As long as the three teams stay undefeated, they will all have a shot at the national championship. But Alabama has played the toughest competition of the three, and has looked the most consistent doing it.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Review: Kentucky/Ole Miss - Two for the price of one!
I missed last week's post due to a camping trip, so I decided to review the Kentucky and Ole Miss games together. This might seem odd, since Kentucky was an unranked opponent with low expectations and Ole Miss was a preseason favorite to win the West, but there were many parallels between the two games for Alabama. So to honor the two-game format, I will make fourteen points rather than my usual seven.
First, seven parallels:
First, seven parallels:
- Both opponents came into the game having suffered a devastating loss prior to the Alabama game. Kentucky's came the previous week against Florida 41-7. Ole Miss's was two weeks ago, on a Thursday night versus South Carolina 16-10.
- Both opponents featured stingy defenses and offenses that struggled to score against 'Bama.
- Both games were decided by Alabama's defense and the turnovers that it created. The Tide caused NINE turnovers in the two games, many of them spectacular plays.
- The Alabama passing game appeared ineffective at times. After a hot start of the season, Greg McElroy passed for only 148 yards against UK, and 147 against UM.
- On the other hand, Mark Ingram has had two consecutive career games. Ingram rushed for 140 yards on 22 carries with two TDs against the Wildcats, then followed up with 28 rushes for 172 yards and a TD versus the Rebels.
- Although more points were scored in the Kentucky game than against Ole Miss, the margin of victory was almost identical: 18 points against UK and 19 against UM.
- The killing blow in both games occurred just before the half. Against Kentucky, Alabama held a 7-6 lead before driving 97 yards to score a touchdown with 40 second left in the half. Nineteen seconds later, Courtney Upshaw returned a fumble 45 yards for a TD to take a 21-6 lead into halftime. Versus Ole Miss, the Tide led 9-0 after three trips to the red zone were blunted by the Rebels' defense, forcing field goals. Then, following another turnover, Alabama went for it on fourth and one, and Ingram ran for a 36-yard score with 55 seconds remaining.
- Alabama is starting to look more like the team everyone expected before the year began: great defense, somewhat inconsistent offense, although that is probably more a measure of the level of competition rather than deterioration. No one is seriously talking about a Heisman for McElroy now, although he is certainly not making mistakes that cost Alabama.
- Alabama now stands alone atop the SEC West. At the beginning of the day, there were three undefeated teams in the West, and Ole Miss was still conceivably in the race as well, with one loss and games to come against the top 3. Alabama's defeat of Ole Miss, coupled with Auburn's loss to Arkansas and LSU's to Florida puts the Tide in the driver's seat.
- The defense is just full of playmakers. Every starter and contributer on the defense seemed to make a big play today. Rolando McClain is clearly the star athlete (and future NFL pick), but it seems like from Woodall to Green to Cody to Dareus to Arenas to Upshaw and so on, everyone has stepped up their game since losing Hightower.
- The offseason work on defense has really paid off. The biggest strike against the Tide's defense in 2008 was inability to pressure the quarterback. This was especially borne out in the two season-ending losses. Coach Saban made it a point in the offseason to work on the pass rush. In 2009, Alabama is leading the league in sacks, and Jevan Snead was harrassed pretty consistently all day today.
- Can everybody get off Julio Jones' back now? Before the Arkansas game, the knock on Jones was that he hadn't gotten a touchdown in 12 games (he promptly caught one that week). This week, the talk was about how Jones hadn't been as productive as he was last year. It seemed to me that McElroy overcompensated, passing to Jones several times in double and triple coverage. Let's all keep in mind that passing to nine or ten different guys in a game you win by three scores is a good thing. Julio is a great player, but we've got a lot of really good receivers. If they're wide open, it's okay to throw to them!
- South Carolina is shaping up to be a much tougher game than it looked to be a few weeks ago. Alabama has struggled somewhat against stronger SEC defenses (relatively speaking), and South Carolina may have the best defense 'Bama has played so far. The Gamecocks came within a play of being undefeated, and has improved steadily since that game with Georgia. Let's hope that they aren't offended by playing us for Homecoming. You don't think that Spurrier will make a big deal about that do you?
- Could two SEC schools play for the national championship? CBS's Gary Danielson predicted before the season that two SEC teams (Florida and LSU) would play for the national championship in Pasadena. This prompted much scoffing from critics, but imagine this scenario: The AP top 5 Monday are likely to be Florida, Texas, Alabama, Virginia Tech and Boise State. If Texas loses at some point (next week at Oklahoma is a possibility), and Florida and Alabama continue undefeated, they will be ranked number 1 and 2. Assuming that either team lost a close game in the SEC championship, it seems pretty conceivable that the BCS would pair up Florida and Alabama again rather than a Virginia Tech team from a weak ACC (that Alabama already defeated by the way) or a non-BCS conference Boise State. We've got a long way to go yet, but would anything establish the SEC's dominance of college football more? I mean, other than winning the last three championships and four of the last six?
Saturday, September 26, 2009
SEC in Review: Week Four
So we're basically one-third of the way through the SEC season, and although we're just getting in to the meat of the conference schedule, I think it's time to review. First, let's look back at my preseason predictions for the season and see where I stand.
1. Ole Miss will be good this year, and perhaps beat a team they shouldn't, but they will not go to the SEC Championship Game.
The only thing wrong with this one is that Ole Miss may not be that good. They definitely don't look like a team on its way to Atlanta.
2. Vanderbilt will return to a bowl game.
The jury is still out on this one, but it doesn't look good for the Commodores.
3. Of the three teams with a new coach (Auburn, Mississippi State and Tennessee), State will be the one that performs better than expected.
This one is still debatable, but I would have to give the nod to Auburn. Although they haven't really played anyone that should have threatened them, the offensive improvement over last year cannot be overstated. Mississippi State might have made a better case if they could have punched it in against LSU.
4. Les Miles (LSU) will be on the coaching hot seat by the end of the year.
He got pretty darn close to being there Saturday.
5. Florida will beat Tennessee by at least 35 points.
Unfortunately, this didn't happen.
6. Alabama will win the SEC West.
Looking pretty likely right now.
7. Florida will win the SEC East.
Almost a certainty.
8. Florida will win the SEC.
Not so sure about this after watching 'Bama and Florida so far.
9. Tim Tebow will win the Heisman Trophy.
He won't win it on statistics even assuming that the concussion doesn't keep him out for any significant time. However, Sam Bradford (Oklahoma) and Jevan Snead (Ole Miss) have already more or less been eliminated. It remains to be seen whether Cal's loss to Oregon hurts Jahvid Best. So far though, I would call Colt McCoy the front-runner.
10. The national champion will come from outside the SEC this year.
We won't know this until January, obviously, but with Florida at #1 and Alabama at #3, an SEC representative is relatively likely to make it to Pasadena.
Other observations:
Alabama - The big questions coming in to the season were about the quarterback position and the offensive line. So far, Greg McElroy and the O-line have performed surprisingly well, and Alabama's offense has been much more multidimensional than in 2008. The SEC West is Alabama's to lose.
Arkansas - The Razorbacks have improved significantly with former Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett calling the signals. Unfortunately, their defense is still suspect. One can begin to see the progress under Bobby Petrino's system, but it will be another year or two before Arkansas is a contender.
Auburn - New coach Gene Chizik has the Tigers winning and has Auburn fans thinking championship. Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn deserves loads of credit for nearly tripling the points per game that Auburn scores on average versus last year. The Tigers are awfully thin though, and with Kodi Burns, Onterio McCalebb and Ben Tate all getting banged up this weekend, the wheels could come off pretty quickly.
Florida - The Gators may not be quite as good as last year's squad, but the conference schedule is almost ludicrously weak. The only question right now is Tim Tebow. How hurt is he, and when will he be back?
Georgia - Surprise, surprise! Losing two offensive stars in the first round of the NFL draft has an impact on your team. The problem for Georgia though is that their defense is still porous as a sieve. The Bulldogs have enough talent to be competitive, but the next four weeks is brutal, with games versus LSU, at Tennessee, at Vandy, and versus Florida. Georgia will be lucky to come out of that stretch with less than two losses.
Kentucky - Kentucky is Kentucky - decent team, not world beaters. Capable of pulling off an upset, the goal this year is going to be getting back to a bowl game. They have a good chance, if they can win one against either MSU, Vandy, or South Carolina.
LSU - Former Tennessee defensive coordinator was supposed to fix LSU's defensive woes. The Fighting Tigers gave up 374 yards Saturday to Mississippi State (over 100 yards more than they had), and staved off a disaster by less than one yard. Given the losses by Ole Miss, California and Penn State, the Tigers might move up to #4 in the polls, but I expect them to be exposed in the next two weeks.
Mississippi - Ole Miss may have fallen victim to their own hype, as some would have you believe, but this team has looked lethargic and out of sync in its first three games. I'm not sure that the Rebels were ever serious contenders for the West title, but they need to tune up next Saturday against Vanderbilt (the Commodores have won the last two meetings) if they want to have a chance against the Crimson Tide in two weeks.
Mississippi State - Coach Dan Mullen was one yard away from a big-time "signature" win Saturday, and he already has brought improvement to the Bulldogs. Unfortunately, it may be hard to tell from the record, as the Bulldogs have a conference schedule that includes Florida, and a nonconference schedule featuring #17 Houston and soon-to-be-ranked Georgia Tech.
South Carolina - Sure, the Gamecocks did defeat a top five team at home for the first time EVER (wrap your head around that), but unfortunately, it was Ole Miss - a team that had no business being ranked there to start with. Still, South Carolina is one play away from being 4-0, and has a decent defense that should keep them in any game. Spurrier's biggest problem the last couple of years has been his team falling apart at the end of the season, so we may not really know about this team until December.
Tennessee - Tennessee got more credit for losing a game than any team ever after last week's 23-13 defeat at Florida, but followed it up with an underwhelming performance against Ohio Saturday. It might be unfair to call the Vols' offense abysmal (that would be reserved for last year's team), but any blue chip senior high school quarterback recruit out there should expect to be able to start next year for Tennessee. A bowl game would be an accomplishment.
Vanderbilt - The Commodores went to their first bowl game in 50 years last season. Given the schedule, it's going to be an uphill climb to repeat that accomplishment. The Dores blew their best opportunity for an SEC win against Mississippi State, and they will probably not be favored in any other conference game.
1. Ole Miss will be good this year, and perhaps beat a team they shouldn't, but they will not go to the SEC Championship Game.
The only thing wrong with this one is that Ole Miss may not be that good. They definitely don't look like a team on its way to Atlanta.
2. Vanderbilt will return to a bowl game.
The jury is still out on this one, but it doesn't look good for the Commodores.
3. Of the three teams with a new coach (Auburn, Mississippi State and Tennessee), State will be the one that performs better than expected.
This one is still debatable, but I would have to give the nod to Auburn. Although they haven't really played anyone that should have threatened them, the offensive improvement over last year cannot be overstated. Mississippi State might have made a better case if they could have punched it in against LSU.
4. Les Miles (LSU) will be on the coaching hot seat by the end of the year.
He got pretty darn close to being there Saturday.
5. Florida will beat Tennessee by at least 35 points.
Unfortunately, this didn't happen.
6. Alabama will win the SEC West.
Looking pretty likely right now.
7. Florida will win the SEC East.
Almost a certainty.
8. Florida will win the SEC.
Not so sure about this after watching 'Bama and Florida so far.
9. Tim Tebow will win the Heisman Trophy.
He won't win it on statistics even assuming that the concussion doesn't keep him out for any significant time. However, Sam Bradford (Oklahoma) and Jevan Snead (Ole Miss) have already more or less been eliminated. It remains to be seen whether Cal's loss to Oregon hurts Jahvid Best. So far though, I would call Colt McCoy the front-runner.
10. The national champion will come from outside the SEC this year.
We won't know this until January, obviously, but with Florida at #1 and Alabama at #3, an SEC representative is relatively likely to make it to Pasadena.
Other observations:
Alabama - The big questions coming in to the season were about the quarterback position and the offensive line. So far, Greg McElroy and the O-line have performed surprisingly well, and Alabama's offense has been much more multidimensional than in 2008. The SEC West is Alabama's to lose.
Arkansas - The Razorbacks have improved significantly with former Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett calling the signals. Unfortunately, their defense is still suspect. One can begin to see the progress under Bobby Petrino's system, but it will be another year or two before Arkansas is a contender.
Auburn - New coach Gene Chizik has the Tigers winning and has Auburn fans thinking championship. Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn deserves loads of credit for nearly tripling the points per game that Auburn scores on average versus last year. The Tigers are awfully thin though, and with Kodi Burns, Onterio McCalebb and Ben Tate all getting banged up this weekend, the wheels could come off pretty quickly.
Florida - The Gators may not be quite as good as last year's squad, but the conference schedule is almost ludicrously weak. The only question right now is Tim Tebow. How hurt is he, and when will he be back?
Georgia - Surprise, surprise! Losing two offensive stars in the first round of the NFL draft has an impact on your team. The problem for Georgia though is that their defense is still porous as a sieve. The Bulldogs have enough talent to be competitive, but the next four weeks is brutal, with games versus LSU, at Tennessee, at Vandy, and versus Florida. Georgia will be lucky to come out of that stretch with less than two losses.
Kentucky - Kentucky is Kentucky - decent team, not world beaters. Capable of pulling off an upset, the goal this year is going to be getting back to a bowl game. They have a good chance, if they can win one against either MSU, Vandy, or South Carolina.
LSU - Former Tennessee defensive coordinator was supposed to fix LSU's defensive woes. The Fighting Tigers gave up 374 yards Saturday to Mississippi State (over 100 yards more than they had), and staved off a disaster by less than one yard. Given the losses by Ole Miss, California and Penn State, the Tigers might move up to #4 in the polls, but I expect them to be exposed in the next two weeks.
Mississippi - Ole Miss may have fallen victim to their own hype, as some would have you believe, but this team has looked lethargic and out of sync in its first three games. I'm not sure that the Rebels were ever serious contenders for the West title, but they need to tune up next Saturday against Vanderbilt (the Commodores have won the last two meetings) if they want to have a chance against the Crimson Tide in two weeks.
Mississippi State - Coach Dan Mullen was one yard away from a big-time "signature" win Saturday, and he already has brought improvement to the Bulldogs. Unfortunately, it may be hard to tell from the record, as the Bulldogs have a conference schedule that includes Florida, and a nonconference schedule featuring #17 Houston and soon-to-be-ranked Georgia Tech.
South Carolina - Sure, the Gamecocks did defeat a top five team at home for the first time EVER (wrap your head around that), but unfortunately, it was Ole Miss - a team that had no business being ranked there to start with. Still, South Carolina is one play away from being 4-0, and has a decent defense that should keep them in any game. Spurrier's biggest problem the last couple of years has been his team falling apart at the end of the season, so we may not really know about this team until December.
Tennessee - Tennessee got more credit for losing a game than any team ever after last week's 23-13 defeat at Florida, but followed it up with an underwhelming performance against Ohio Saturday. It might be unfair to call the Vols' offense abysmal (that would be reserved for last year's team), but any blue chip senior high school quarterback recruit out there should expect to be able to start next year for Tennessee. A bowl game would be an accomplishment.
Vanderbilt - The Commodores went to their first bowl game in 50 years last season. Given the schedule, it's going to be an uphill climb to repeat that accomplishment. The Dores blew their best opportunity for an SEC win against Mississippi State, and they will probably not be favored in any other conference game.
Review: No. 3 Alabama 35, Arkansas 7
In a game that some people were pointing to as Alabama's first real test, the Crimson Tide (4-0, 1-0 SEC) crushed the Arkansas Razorbacks (1-2, 0-2) 35-7, in a game that wasn't even as close as the final score indicated.
Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett, who led the nation in passing efficiency and the SEC in passing yardage coming into the game, was badgered and beaten by 'Bama's defense all day. Mallett, who finished just 12-of-35 for 161 yards, threw his first interception of the season late in the the game, was sacked three times, and seemed out of sync with his receivers most of the day.
Arkansas came into the game with the nation's 2nd-ranked offense, and had scored 41 points the previous weekend in a losing effort at Georgia. But Alabama's defense, ranked 3rd in the country, stifled the Hogs, holding them nearly 200 yards below their average. The Tide dominated with big plays, scoring touchdowns on plays of 52, 50, 80, 14 and 2 yards.
My Seven Points for this game:
1. We're learning more about the kind of team Alabama has. It goes without saying that the system of preseason rankings can be significantly flawed; witness Clemson last year, Alabama in 2000, and any one of a hundred other examples. Two things happened today that served to confirm Alabama's ranking. First, Alabama has been in a position to score additional points late in every game so far this season and has run the clock out instead, not needing additional points to win. It happened again today against a team that was averaging 45 points a game. Second, No. 11 Virginia Tech, who Alabama beat 34-24 to start the season, delivered a crushing 31-7 defeat to No. 9 Miami. Unlike Clemson, who completely fell apart last year after losing to Alabama, Tech has now defeated two ranked teams since losing to the Tide.
2. The most costly play of the game for Alabama came in the first quarter. It was the one that took out Dont'a Hightower. Hightower left the game late in the first quarter with a knee injury, and while there were no official indications of the severity, all observable signs were bad. Hightower is one of the best players on the Alabama defense and the loss of #30 will be significant.
3. Bama's defense is for-real. Not that many people will be surprised with the quality of the Tide defense, but they completely dominated a high-powered, productive offense that was by far the best one that they have faced this season. Even observers who predicted an easy win for Alabama assumed that the Hogs would have a few big plays and score several times. Many pundits expected a shootout like Arkansas's 52-41 loss to Georgia. This defense is much better than Georgia's.
4. Greg McElroy continues to improve. McElroy didn't have a perfect day - there were a few too many missed connections and dropped balls. He did, however, have a career day, passing 24 times and completing 17 of them for 291 yards and 3 touchdowns. Oh, and as a starter, he has never lost a game. McElroy started for his high school team his senior year and won the 5A state championship, finishing 16-0. He is 4-0 as the Alabama signal caller.
5. Julio got his touchdown. A few statisticians with too much time on their hands observed this week that wide receiver Julio Jones had not scored a touchdown in 11 games, dating back to last season. Gary Danielson, the CBS television color analyst, observed this immediately before Alabama executed a gadget play from the "Wildcat" formation, snapping the ball to Mark Ingram, who handed off to Terry Grant, who flipped it back to Greg McElroy, who threw it to a wide open Jones. Julio then completed the 50-yard play by breaking free of a tackle and scoring a touchdown.
6. Trent Richardson is a full-grown man. Richardson's 52-yard touchdown run to start the game was a thing of beauty. He broke through at least four tackles before speeding past the secondary and scoring. For anyone who has watched any of his high school highlights, the run looked awfully familiar. He also took an Arkansas safety head on along the left sideline later in the game and knocked him on his tail with a punishing hit, gaining a few extra yards after the play. It's a pleasure to watch him carry the rock.
7. This team enjoys playing the game. You call tell that these guys are having a good time. Every big play, they are jumping, chest-bumping, and slapping each other on the back. McElroy even had a mini celebration after drawing the Hogs offside facing first-and-ten from nearly his own goal line. After watching teams like Ole Miss, USC, Cal, BYU and Miami fall apart in the last two weeks after reading about how good they were, it's nice to see the Tide playing loose and not letting the pressure of being #3 in the country get to them. Credit for that goes to the Nick Saban and the coaching staff.
Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett, who led the nation in passing efficiency and the SEC in passing yardage coming into the game, was badgered and beaten by 'Bama's defense all day. Mallett, who finished just 12-of-35 for 161 yards, threw his first interception of the season late in the the game, was sacked three times, and seemed out of sync with his receivers most of the day.
Arkansas came into the game with the nation's 2nd-ranked offense, and had scored 41 points the previous weekend in a losing effort at Georgia. But Alabama's defense, ranked 3rd in the country, stifled the Hogs, holding them nearly 200 yards below their average. The Tide dominated with big plays, scoring touchdowns on plays of 52, 50, 80, 14 and 2 yards.
My Seven Points for this game:
1. We're learning more about the kind of team Alabama has. It goes without saying that the system of preseason rankings can be significantly flawed; witness Clemson last year, Alabama in 2000, and any one of a hundred other examples. Two things happened today that served to confirm Alabama's ranking. First, Alabama has been in a position to score additional points late in every game so far this season and has run the clock out instead, not needing additional points to win. It happened again today against a team that was averaging 45 points a game. Second, No. 11 Virginia Tech, who Alabama beat 34-24 to start the season, delivered a crushing 31-7 defeat to No. 9 Miami. Unlike Clemson, who completely fell apart last year after losing to Alabama, Tech has now defeated two ranked teams since losing to the Tide.
2. The most costly play of the game for Alabama came in the first quarter. It was the one that took out Dont'a Hightower. Hightower left the game late in the first quarter with a knee injury, and while there were no official indications of the severity, all observable signs were bad. Hightower is one of the best players on the Alabama defense and the loss of #30 will be significant.
3. Bama's defense is for-real. Not that many people will be surprised with the quality of the Tide defense, but they completely dominated a high-powered, productive offense that was by far the best one that they have faced this season. Even observers who predicted an easy win for Alabama assumed that the Hogs would have a few big plays and score several times. Many pundits expected a shootout like Arkansas's 52-41 loss to Georgia. This defense is much better than Georgia's.
4. Greg McElroy continues to improve. McElroy didn't have a perfect day - there were a few too many missed connections and dropped balls. He did, however, have a career day, passing 24 times and completing 17 of them for 291 yards and 3 touchdowns. Oh, and as a starter, he has never lost a game. McElroy started for his high school team his senior year and won the 5A state championship, finishing 16-0. He is 4-0 as the Alabama signal caller.
5. Julio got his touchdown. A few statisticians with too much time on their hands observed this week that wide receiver Julio Jones had not scored a touchdown in 11 games, dating back to last season. Gary Danielson, the CBS television color analyst, observed this immediately before Alabama executed a gadget play from the "Wildcat" formation, snapping the ball to Mark Ingram, who handed off to Terry Grant, who flipped it back to Greg McElroy, who threw it to a wide open Jones. Julio then completed the 50-yard play by breaking free of a tackle and scoring a touchdown.
6. Trent Richardson is a full-grown man. Richardson's 52-yard touchdown run to start the game was a thing of beauty. He broke through at least four tackles before speeding past the secondary and scoring. For anyone who has watched any of his high school highlights, the run looked awfully familiar. He also took an Arkansas safety head on along the left sideline later in the game and knocked him on his tail with a punishing hit, gaining a few extra yards after the play. It's a pleasure to watch him carry the rock.
7. This team enjoys playing the game. You call tell that these guys are having a good time. Every big play, they are jumping, chest-bumping, and slapping each other on the back. McElroy even had a mini celebration after drawing the Hogs offside facing first-and-ten from nearly his own goal line. After watching teams like Ole Miss, USC, Cal, BYU and Miami fall apart in the last two weeks after reading about how good they were, it's nice to see the Tide playing loose and not letting the pressure of being #3 in the country get to them. Credit for that goes to the Nick Saban and the coaching staff.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Review: No. 4 Alabama 53, North Texas 7
On the first play from scrimmage, Alabama's Greg McElroy fumbled as he went back to pass and turned the ball over to North Texas. Other than that play, Alabama was nearly perfect, scoring two touchdowns in each of the first three quarters and holding North Texas under 200 yards of offense and a late touchdown against the second and third teamers. Shaking off the inconsistency and lack of focus that characterized the first two games, Alabama (3-0, 0-0 SEC) was able to put together a complete game, and give some less experienced players meaningful time on the field, unlike the previous week against FIU.
Alabama is 19-1 all-time against teams in the Sun Belt conference, the lone scourge on that record the loss against Louisiana-Monroe barely two seasons ago. This 'Bama team bears scant resemblance to that one, putting together its largest point total in a game since Dennis Francione's first season (2001). Given USC's upset loss to Washington, the Tide can expect to rise to at least number 3 in both polls on Monday, setting up an important game with an improved Arkansas team to start SEC play next weekend. If the Tide continues to play like they did today, this season could be something special.
My Seven Points:
1. How in the world did Greg McElroy ever sit on the bench behind John Parker Wilson? Sure, Wilson ended his career as Alabama's statistical leader in passing, but savvy 'Bama fans realize that Wilson's inconsistency and poor decision-making cost the Tide as many victories as he brought on his own. McElroy on the other hand, after a shaky first half against Virginia Tech, has been almost as efficicient as it is possible to be. McElroy finished 13 of 15 with 176 yards and two TDs (he had another one rushing) and his touchdown pass to Marquis Maze was a thing of beauty - the kind of pass Wilson could never seem to complete. Most important though, McElroy mastered the offense to such an extent that backup QB Star Jackson played the majority of the second half, after the Tide amassed 37 points.
2. Who would have thought that 'Bama could go two games without Julio Jones and hardly notice? Jones (WR) and Roy Upchurch (RB) sat for the game, although Jones could probably have played. Interestingly enough, Alabama didn't need him. McElroy continued to find McCoy, Hanks, and Peek as well as Ingram out of the backfield. Jones is a special player, but it's really nice to see these other guys stepping up their games in his absence.
3. Mark Ingram's dark horse Heisman candidacy is a fading memory. Not that Ingram couldn't carry the load if he had to, but he doesn't have to. Ingram had 91 yards rushing and a TD on eight carries, but Trent Richardson had 87 yards and Terry Grant had 79 and two TDs. Even without Upchurch, 'Bama has more running back depth and talent at one time since probably the mid-eighties, when Bobby Humphrey, Kerry Goode and Gene Jelks all wore crimson.
4. Kickoff coverage was better, but not perfect. While the Tide didn't give up a score this week, and there were no long returns that held up, North Texas did get a return of nearly seventy yards called back on a penalty. This is a weak spot that must be corrected if Alabama wants to make a championship run.
5. Javier Arenas. What else can you say about one of the best return men in the country? Arenas set up three scores with punt returns of 33 and 36 yards and a kick return of 61, and fought through one hit and tackle after another. Then, of course, he goes on to provide smothering coverage in the defensive secondary.
6. PATs are not optional. Leigh Tiffin continued to display some inconsistency, missing two extra points. Over his career, Tiffin has shown an ability to hit long, clutch kicks, but then miss what could be considered easy, much shorter ones. Against SEC competition, 'Bama cannot leave points on the field.
7. Offensive and defensive productivity are remarkably consistent. Alabama had 523 yards of offense against North Texas (516 against FIU, 498 against Va. Tech) for a 512 yards per game average. The Tide offense was again very balanced between rushing (260 yards) and passing (263 yards). The offense averages 268 ypg rushing and 245 ypg passing. Defensively, 'Bama held North Texas below 100 yards rushing (61 yds), as it did FIU (1 yard) and Va. Tech (64). The defense allowed 187 total yards to the Mean Green, slightly above its 185 ypg average.
Alabama is 19-1 all-time against teams in the Sun Belt conference, the lone scourge on that record the loss against Louisiana-Monroe barely two seasons ago. This 'Bama team bears scant resemblance to that one, putting together its largest point total in a game since Dennis Francione's first season (2001). Given USC's upset loss to Washington, the Tide can expect to rise to at least number 3 in both polls on Monday, setting up an important game with an improved Arkansas team to start SEC play next weekend. If the Tide continues to play like they did today, this season could be something special.
My Seven Points:
1. How in the world did Greg McElroy ever sit on the bench behind John Parker Wilson? Sure, Wilson ended his career as Alabama's statistical leader in passing, but savvy 'Bama fans realize that Wilson's inconsistency and poor decision-making cost the Tide as many victories as he brought on his own. McElroy on the other hand, after a shaky first half against Virginia Tech, has been almost as efficicient as it is possible to be. McElroy finished 13 of 15 with 176 yards and two TDs (he had another one rushing) and his touchdown pass to Marquis Maze was a thing of beauty - the kind of pass Wilson could never seem to complete. Most important though, McElroy mastered the offense to such an extent that backup QB Star Jackson played the majority of the second half, after the Tide amassed 37 points.
2. Who would have thought that 'Bama could go two games without Julio Jones and hardly notice? Jones (WR) and Roy Upchurch (RB) sat for the game, although Jones could probably have played. Interestingly enough, Alabama didn't need him. McElroy continued to find McCoy, Hanks, and Peek as well as Ingram out of the backfield. Jones is a special player, but it's really nice to see these other guys stepping up their games in his absence.
3. Mark Ingram's dark horse Heisman candidacy is a fading memory. Not that Ingram couldn't carry the load if he had to, but he doesn't have to. Ingram had 91 yards rushing and a TD on eight carries, but Trent Richardson had 87 yards and Terry Grant had 79 and two TDs. Even without Upchurch, 'Bama has more running back depth and talent at one time since probably the mid-eighties, when Bobby Humphrey, Kerry Goode and Gene Jelks all wore crimson.
4. Kickoff coverage was better, but not perfect. While the Tide didn't give up a score this week, and there were no long returns that held up, North Texas did get a return of nearly seventy yards called back on a penalty. This is a weak spot that must be corrected if Alabama wants to make a championship run.
5. Javier Arenas. What else can you say about one of the best return men in the country? Arenas set up three scores with punt returns of 33 and 36 yards and a kick return of 61, and fought through one hit and tackle after another. Then, of course, he goes on to provide smothering coverage in the defensive secondary.
6. PATs are not optional. Leigh Tiffin continued to display some inconsistency, missing two extra points. Over his career, Tiffin has shown an ability to hit long, clutch kicks, but then miss what could be considered easy, much shorter ones. Against SEC competition, 'Bama cannot leave points on the field.
7. Offensive and defensive productivity are remarkably consistent. Alabama had 523 yards of offense against North Texas (516 against FIU, 498 against Va. Tech) for a 512 yards per game average. The Tide offense was again very balanced between rushing (260 yards) and passing (263 yards). The offense averages 268 ypg rushing and 245 ypg passing. Defensively, 'Bama held North Texas below 100 yards rushing (61 yds), as it did FIU (1 yard) and Va. Tech (64). The defense allowed 187 total yards to the Mean Green, slightly above its 185 ypg average.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Review: No. 4 Alabama 40, Florida International 14
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban harangued the media in his press conference this week for questioning him about a "letdown" this week after last Saturday's victory over then seventh-ranked Virginia Tech. Well, surprise, surprise! There might have been a little bit of a letdown.
To be fair, unlike last year, when 'Bama followed up the season-opening win over a top-ten Clemson team with a sub-par performance against Tulane, 'Bama's offense appeared to be firing on nearly all cylinders for most of the night. Quarterback Greg McElroy was on fire in the first half, hitting nearly every pass early on and completing 14 in a row - a new school record. He finished 18 of 24 for 241 yards and a TD. Despite sparing play from star wideout Julio Jones (who hurt his knee early in the game) and running back Mark Ingram (who had been hospitalized for the flu earlier this week), the Tide moved the ball up and down the field, although the team had to settle for short field goals from Leigh Tiffin instead of touchdowns on two occasions and missed a third.
In this game, however, the Tide gave up another kickoff return for a touchdown, and then allowed FIU to drive the field and score on a second quarter pass that put the Golden Panthers up 14-13 briefly. FIU's pass-happy offense was somewhat effective, at least until halftime.
Here are my seven points:
1. This year's team appears to be the polar opposite of last year's. The M.O. of the 2008 Tide was to hammer you with the running game, clobber you early and hold on to win. They went to the LSU game before they even trailed anyone. The 2009 Tide starts slow but is much more balanced on offense (averaging 271.5 yards rushing and 235.5 passing), and has destroyed its first two opponents in the fourth quarter, outscoring them 32-7.
2. 'Bama has talent at wide receiver. With Julio out, Mike McCoy stepped up his game, catching 5 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown. But McElroy spread the ball around to a number of wide open receivers, and completed 75% of them.
3. Trent Richardson is going to be special. It wasn't as amazing a debut as Shaun Alexander's breakout game against LSU in 1996, but in Richardson's first significant work, he had 118 yards on 15 carries and two TDs.
4. Congrats to Terry Grant. The fact that Terry Grant was once the starting running back for Alabama may say more about the level of talent under Saban compared to that under Mike Shula. But Grant, who is fourth or fifth on the depth chart now as a senior got a carry in relief and made the most of it, scrambling 42 yards for a touchdown in the final quarter. He has worked hard for four years while seeing less and less playing time, so I'm glad he got a little taste of the glory tonight.
5. McElroy is gaining confidence. After a shaky start, McElroy is 27-36 passing in the last six quarters of play. That's a 75% average, which seems about 25% better than John Parker Wilson averaged.
6. This is probably the last pay-per-view game until November. Given that the SEC Network picked up next week's matchup with North Texas, and the fact that the Tide will begin the meat of the schedule the following week, the next questionable television game is against Chattanooga on the next-to-last week of the regular season.
7. On a crazy second week of college football, a 26-point win is acceptable. The Tide may have underperformed as a 33-point favorite, but considering the upsets suffered today by Oklahoma State, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Michigan State - and near misses for Georgia, Florida State and Missouri - 40-14 doesn't seem so bad.
To be fair, unlike last year, when 'Bama followed up the season-opening win over a top-ten Clemson team with a sub-par performance against Tulane, 'Bama's offense appeared to be firing on nearly all cylinders for most of the night. Quarterback Greg McElroy was on fire in the first half, hitting nearly every pass early on and completing 14 in a row - a new school record. He finished 18 of 24 for 241 yards and a TD. Despite sparing play from star wideout Julio Jones (who hurt his knee early in the game) and running back Mark Ingram (who had been hospitalized for the flu earlier this week), the Tide moved the ball up and down the field, although the team had to settle for short field goals from Leigh Tiffin instead of touchdowns on two occasions and missed a third.
In this game, however, the Tide gave up another kickoff return for a touchdown, and then allowed FIU to drive the field and score on a second quarter pass that put the Golden Panthers up 14-13 briefly. FIU's pass-happy offense was somewhat effective, at least until halftime.
Here are my seven points:
1. This year's team appears to be the polar opposite of last year's. The M.O. of the 2008 Tide was to hammer you with the running game, clobber you early and hold on to win. They went to the LSU game before they even trailed anyone. The 2009 Tide starts slow but is much more balanced on offense (averaging 271.5 yards rushing and 235.5 passing), and has destroyed its first two opponents in the fourth quarter, outscoring them 32-7.
2. 'Bama has talent at wide receiver. With Julio out, Mike McCoy stepped up his game, catching 5 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown. But McElroy spread the ball around to a number of wide open receivers, and completed 75% of them.
3. Trent Richardson is going to be special. It wasn't as amazing a debut as Shaun Alexander's breakout game against LSU in 1996, but in Richardson's first significant work, he had 118 yards on 15 carries and two TDs.
4. Congrats to Terry Grant. The fact that Terry Grant was once the starting running back for Alabama may say more about the level of talent under Saban compared to that under Mike Shula. But Grant, who is fourth or fifth on the depth chart now as a senior got a carry in relief and made the most of it, scrambling 42 yards for a touchdown in the final quarter. He has worked hard for four years while seeing less and less playing time, so I'm glad he got a little taste of the glory tonight.
5. McElroy is gaining confidence. After a shaky start, McElroy is 27-36 passing in the last six quarters of play. That's a 75% average, which seems about 25% better than John Parker Wilson averaged.
6. This is probably the last pay-per-view game until November. Given that the SEC Network picked up next week's matchup with North Texas, and the fact that the Tide will begin the meat of the schedule the following week, the next questionable television game is against Chattanooga on the next-to-last week of the regular season.
7. On a crazy second week of college football, a 26-point win is acceptable. The Tide may have underperformed as a 33-point favorite, but considering the upsets suffered today by Oklahoma State, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Michigan State - and near misses for Georgia, Florida State and Missouri - 40-14 doesn't seem so bad.
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Review: No. 5 Alabama 34, No. 7 Virginia Tech 24
For three quarters, the seventh-ranked Hokies stood toe-to-toe with #5 Alabama and actually led them 17-16. Virginia Tech had taken advantage of numerous mistakes by the Tide - fumbles, blown kickoff return coverage, penalties - and made them count on the scoreboard. But, much like Alabama versus Florida in the SEC Championship last year, the best team asserted itself in the final quarter.
'Bama began to gel as an offensive unit tonight, and showed signs of dominance in the running game against a stingy Virginia Tech defense. By the end, Mark Ingram had 150 yards rushing, the Tide had nearly 500 yards of offense, and Alabama walked away from the Georgia Dome a winner again over the Hokies.
So what did we learn tonight?
1. Greg McElroy can make plays when he has to. McElroy started shakily, beginning 2 for 8 in the first half. By the end, however, he was back at 50% (15 of 30) and had made perhaps the most important play in the game - a 48-yard bomb to Marquis Maze that set up the go-ahead touchdown.
2. Alabama's defense is as good as advertised. The Hokies were held to 155 total yards of offense, and 'Bama's defense really dominated the game more than the score indicated.
3. Tyrod Taylor may be ready to be a passer, but it didn't show tonight. Taylor did not make any significant plays in the passing game and finished 9 of 20 for 91 yards.
4. There are other 'Bama receivers besides Julio Jones. Jones was double-teamed most of the game, but Maze and Darius Hanks made several big plays. And most gratifying to Tide fans, several big catches were made by the tight end, Colin Peek.
5. The "Wildcat" appears to be a significant part of the Tide offense. Ingram received several direct snaps in the Wildcat formation, and Upchurch even got in on the action. The results were mixed, but the Tide ran it often enough that it looks to be more than just a passing fancy.
6. Virginia Tech may contend for a title, but it won't be a national title. The Hokies are good in two phases of the game - defense and special teams - but the offense was lethargic. The one bright spot was running back Ryan Williams, whose TD run in the fourth quarter was something special.
7. Bama likely will be undefeated through October. There isn't another significant challenge to the Tide until they travel to Ole Miss on Oct. 10, and, after Oklahoma's upset defeat today, Alabama should be be ranked no lower than 4th in the country by then.
'Bama began to gel as an offensive unit tonight, and showed signs of dominance in the running game against a stingy Virginia Tech defense. By the end, Mark Ingram had 150 yards rushing, the Tide had nearly 500 yards of offense, and Alabama walked away from the Georgia Dome a winner again over the Hokies.
So what did we learn tonight?
1. Greg McElroy can make plays when he has to. McElroy started shakily, beginning 2 for 8 in the first half. By the end, however, he was back at 50% (15 of 30) and had made perhaps the most important play in the game - a 48-yard bomb to Marquis Maze that set up the go-ahead touchdown.
2. Alabama's defense is as good as advertised. The Hokies were held to 155 total yards of offense, and 'Bama's defense really dominated the game more than the score indicated.
3. Tyrod Taylor may be ready to be a passer, but it didn't show tonight. Taylor did not make any significant plays in the passing game and finished 9 of 20 for 91 yards.
4. There are other 'Bama receivers besides Julio Jones. Jones was double-teamed most of the game, but Maze and Darius Hanks made several big plays. And most gratifying to Tide fans, several big catches were made by the tight end, Colin Peek.
5. The "Wildcat" appears to be a significant part of the Tide offense. Ingram received several direct snaps in the Wildcat formation, and Upchurch even got in on the action. The results were mixed, but the Tide ran it often enough that it looks to be more than just a passing fancy.
6. Virginia Tech may contend for a title, but it won't be a national title. The Hokies are good in two phases of the game - defense and special teams - but the offense was lethargic. The one bright spot was running back Ryan Williams, whose TD run in the fourth quarter was something special.
7. Bama likely will be undefeated through October. There isn't another significant challenge to the Tide until they travel to Ole Miss on Oct. 10, and, after Oklahoma's upset defeat today, Alabama should be be ranked no lower than 4th in the country by then.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Blast from the Past
I got an update on FaceBook a day or two ago that the Tallassee High football games were going to be streamed live on the internet by the local radio station. Pretty sophisticated, I thought - not like the Tallassee I remembered at all. I missed the game broadcast watching TV with the kids, but tuned in to the audio stream afterwards for a little bit of the postgame show. I also watched a part of a video on the web site. I was struck by something really odd.
I've been back to Tallassee many times since I left for college - I went back "home" for many weekends and breaks from school. Even when my brother and sister graduated and my parents moved (briefly) to Ohio, I still went to Tallassee every once in while for a wedding or funeral or to visit relatives who, ironically, moved there after I left. But from the summer of 1992 onward, Tuscaloosa gradually replaced Tallassee as my home, and the friendships and memories that I have from those days have largely faded over time. So what was odd about tonight?
First, in the snippet of video I watched, I saw five or six people who I knew from high school all hanging out together and having a good time. Then on the audio stream of the postgame show I heard other familiar names and voices, both in the studio and on the phone. The hosts were asking callers to answer a trivia question, and the names of coaches I remembered from years back - some still around and some who have passed on - were mentioned. And I thought about the two types of people I knew from those days. First, there were those, like me, who couldn't wait to leave town after we graduated. Maybe some thought they were bigger or wanted more than small-town life. A few probably wanted to escape memories, or who they were back there. Leaving allowed them to start over. Some appreciated the opportunity to be nurtured in a warm, close-knit community, but needed to spread their wings toward new horizons. Some were transplants to begin with, and never really felt like they fit in. Whatever the reason, many former classmates and Tallasseeans have moved on without looking back.
But there was another type of person. Many of these grew up in Tallassee - maybe their parents and grandparents did too. They enjoyed the small-town life and the close-knit community. And for whatever reason, they stayed. Some even went off to college and came back to make their life there. Tallassee will always be home to them.
I used to think this type of person - the kind who either grew up and never left or left briefly and came back - as inferior in a way. "Why would you want to live in Tallassee the rest of your life?" As I've gotten older and become a parent, I've begun to see the inherent value in a place where a kid could ride his bicycle to the library or play in someone else's field without fear; where our neighbors didn't even lock their doors when they went out; where life was slow and simple, even if it wasn't always easy.
This phenomenon of course isn't limited to my hometown. Everyone has a similar story - "I couldn't wait to leave" or "I wanted to live the rest of my life there." I have never regretted leaving my former hometown. Ours was always a love-hate relationship. But for a little while tonight I did find myself wondering what might have made that group of old friends live out their lives there, and, I admit, pondered wistfully what might have been.
I've been back to Tallassee many times since I left for college - I went back "home" for many weekends and breaks from school. Even when my brother and sister graduated and my parents moved (briefly) to Ohio, I still went to Tallassee every once in while for a wedding or funeral or to visit relatives who, ironically, moved there after I left. But from the summer of 1992 onward, Tuscaloosa gradually replaced Tallassee as my home, and the friendships and memories that I have from those days have largely faded over time. So what was odd about tonight?
First, in the snippet of video I watched, I saw five or six people who I knew from high school all hanging out together and having a good time. Then on the audio stream of the postgame show I heard other familiar names and voices, both in the studio and on the phone. The hosts were asking callers to answer a trivia question, and the names of coaches I remembered from years back - some still around and some who have passed on - were mentioned. And I thought about the two types of people I knew from those days. First, there were those, like me, who couldn't wait to leave town after we graduated. Maybe some thought they were bigger or wanted more than small-town life. A few probably wanted to escape memories, or who they were back there. Leaving allowed them to start over. Some appreciated the opportunity to be nurtured in a warm, close-knit community, but needed to spread their wings toward new horizons. Some were transplants to begin with, and never really felt like they fit in. Whatever the reason, many former classmates and Tallasseeans have moved on without looking back.
But there was another type of person. Many of these grew up in Tallassee - maybe their parents and grandparents did too. They enjoyed the small-town life and the close-knit community. And for whatever reason, they stayed. Some even went off to college and came back to make their life there. Tallassee will always be home to them.
I used to think this type of person - the kind who either grew up and never left or left briefly and came back - as inferior in a way. "Why would you want to live in Tallassee the rest of your life?" As I've gotten older and become a parent, I've begun to see the inherent value in a place where a kid could ride his bicycle to the library or play in someone else's field without fear; where our neighbors didn't even lock their doors when they went out; where life was slow and simple, even if it wasn't always easy.
This phenomenon of course isn't limited to my hometown. Everyone has a similar story - "I couldn't wait to leave" or "I wanted to live the rest of my life there." I have never regretted leaving my former hometown. Ours was always a love-hate relationship. But for a little while tonight I did find myself wondering what might have made that group of old friends live out their lives there, and, I admit, pondered wistfully what might have been.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Ten Predictions for the 2009 SEC Football Season
1. Ole Miss will be good this year, and perhaps beat a team they shouldn't, but they will not go to the SEC Championship Game.
2. Vanderbilt will return to a bowl game.
3. Of the three teams with a new coach (Auburn, Mississippi State and Tennessee), State will be the one that performs better than expected.
4. Les Miles (LSU) will be on the coaching hot seat by the end of the year.
5. Florida will beat Tennessee by at least 35 points.
6. Alabama will win the SEC West.
7. Florida will win the SEC East.
8. Florida will win the SEC.
9. Tim Tebow will win the Heisman Trophy.
10. The national champion will come from outside the SEC this year.
2. Vanderbilt will return to a bowl game.
3. Of the three teams with a new coach (Auburn, Mississippi State and Tennessee), State will be the one that performs better than expected.
4. Les Miles (LSU) will be on the coaching hot seat by the end of the year.
5. Florida will beat Tennessee by at least 35 points.
6. Alabama will win the SEC West.
7. Florida will win the SEC East.
8. Florida will win the SEC.
9. Tim Tebow will win the Heisman Trophy.
10. The national champion will come from outside the SEC this year.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Arrrrggghhh! Painting!!
Painting the den this week. You'd think with all the practice I've had at this now I'd be better at it. Guess not.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Alabama Bloggers column
So, I may write a column covering Alabama football games for Alabama Bloggers. We'll see if that comes to fruition.
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