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TerryP
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 Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 5:55 am Post subject: Tulane Notebook: Odds and Ends looking back at Saturday. |
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This is a morning musing that could probably go on until the afternoon. I won't try to be short, or sweet, but offer some observations on a few different fronts about Alabama's win last night over the Green Wave.
- There was a key word mentioned in that introduction. Win.
To be honest, seeing the fans reactions over the last 12 hours aren't shocking to me. Some of those reactions I understand. Some of those reactions are knee-jerk reactions, at best. Some asinine.
Those voicing disappointment fall into that "understandable" category. Those voicing anger? Not so much...
- Reactions from last night aren't unexpected and that has nothing to do with the game or what happened during it. It was pretty evident that sections of the fan base were going to quickly become frantic, anxious might be a better word, when they started calling for changes in play calling in preparation for week two.
- It took UCLA a change in their coaching position to learn and hopefully after 2000, 2001 and 2008 Alabama fans won't be as obtuse. Coach Bob Toledo is a fantastic coach.
I see the terms "dink and dunk" used this morning to refer to his offensive approach. They are used in almost a derogatory manner. Seemingly what is lost in today's age of college football is just because an offense doesn't "wow" those observing it doesn't mean it isn't successful. Which, by the way, should be the measure all offenses are judged.
- The same nod goes, deservedly, to new Defensive Coordinator for Tulane, O'Neill Gilbert. Gilbert took over the DC job just before spring and changed 7 different players positions between spring and fall camp. Despite that, he put the right players in the right positions to make the right plays against Alabama.
- Speaking of defense, there are good and bad points to take away from the game last night. Lost in the mighty "anxiety shuffle" this morning is the fact our defense did its job and deserves a large portion of the credit for last nights win.
- Much like Tulane's Gilbert deserves accolades for his game plan last night, Coach Steele, Thompson and Smart deserve the same. The second half adjustments made to take away the openings that Tulane's offense had exploited in the first half demonstrates their ability to observe, adapt and overcome.
- There are still many areas of improvement that need to be made on the defensive side of the ball. McClain, one of our most experienced starters, was caught out of position continually in the first half when the Green Wave slid their running backs and half-backs out of the backfield into the flat.
- It was something we knew going into Saban's tenure here at Alabama, but something demonstrated in dramatic fashion last night, that the linebacking corps is the key to our defensive production. Rolondo ended up grading out ok considering his team leading 15 tackes, 9 of which were solo-tackes and two of those 15 for a loss of yards.
- Brandon Fanney continues to show improvement manning the JACK linebacker position. Last night, he was involved in 8 tackles with two of in Tulane's backfield. His improvement bodes well for Alabama as we enter the SEC schedule in two weeks. With strong play out of the JACK position the defense as a whole will be better.
- Other linebackers with great efforts last night include Don't'a Hightower with 10 tackles, Rashad Johnson with 9, Cory Reamer with 7, and Kareem Jackson and Terrance Cody each having 5 tackles.
- There is good and bad to be taken away from observations of our special teams units in kick coverage. Out punt coverage teams haven't lost a beat from their play in '07 but the kick coverage remains a work in progress.
- Special teams were the difference in this game. Javy put his name in the record books last night by breaking a record held for over six decades with 141 yards in punt returns. Javy had 212 all-purpose yards for the game.
After a jarring hit Javy left the game with a head injury. Early speculation is he has a mild concussion but it will be Monday before we know the extent of the injury and how long he'll be out of action, if he is at all.
His injury was the result of a blown assignement. This time falling on a true freshman when Julio Jones missed his blocking assignment.
- The missed blocking assignment isn't the only area Julio is struggling with. As reported during the summer, Julio is still having problems getting off of blocks when he is being jammed on the line. Along with that difficulty Saban has commented that he hasn't been playing at his full speed in games this fall.
One can only hope to attribute that to "growing pains" that all freshman deal with when they enter SEC play.
- In the last two games we've had two situations where Julio has ran a post route and JPW's throw fell incomplete. It's easy to assign blame on JP for the over-thrown ball but it bears noting that his pass was in the same place both times and Julio was in the same position on the field both times. I have to question if the route that Julio is running is as crisp as it should be considering he's on the outside of the route versus the way that play is drawn up.
That's a subject for debate, no doubt.
- Blame for WR play can't just be placed at the feet of Julio. Mike McCoy also had problems getting off of the line of scrimmage when he was jammed as well.
Using very layman's terms, our starting wide receiver corps are playing weak right now.
- The same can be said for our running back rotation. Out of the 4 sacks our offense gave up in the first half of last nights game, 3 of those came as a result of mistakes from our backfield. In two situations our running backs failed to pick up the blitz and another John Parker didn't throw the ball away when given the opportunity.
- The reasons for the lack of production in our running game last night is no different than the reasons we had trouble running the ball last year. The lack of continuity and rhythm is very easily understood when one takes into account that only two of our five starting offensive lineman were in their primary positions last night.
- On the other hand, our reserves getting game reps is only going to help when we start preparations for the 2009 season.
- PJ Fitzgerald bears receiving accolades last night for his performance. Even though he had two punts that were kicked into the end-zone resulting in touch-backs, he averaged 40 yards per punt last night.
- On a few personal notes...
I never thought I'd see the day wishing for the defense to get rest when we were up by two touchdowns in the first half.
I can't begin to voice my displeasure with CTSN, specifically Chris Stewart, when our own play by play announcers can not pronounce the names of our players correctly.
It's one thing when a color analyst or a national play-by-play guy make a mistake, but one of our own?
Inexcusable.
When Barnhart and company pronouce Julio, Jewlio, that is one thing. When Stewart pronounce Marquis' name, "Markwii," instead of the way it is supposed to be pronounced, "Markeese," it is a serious blight on his ability to replace Eli when time for that move comes.
While some of our fans seem to have a problem with the concept of cheering a team on, those same fans certainly don't have a problem booing or pointing out mistakes during the game vociferously.
There comes a moment in any fans life when they need to find out whether they are a fan or they aren't. One week, it's all rosy with a impressive win against Clemson. The next, there is a resounding question if they believe in Saban's mantra of "Be a Champion in everything you do."
- Marlon Davis status (reported hamstring injury) is something we won't know until Monday as well.
Lee Tiffin, after getting knocked for a loop much like Javy, has been said to also have a head injury. We'll need him back for next week and especially SEC play if Cory Smith's results last night are any indication of his progression on this level.
- Jerrell Harris and Courtney Upshaw both saw action as true freshman for the first time in their career likely burning any possibility of a red-shirt for either player.
- Last, but most certainly not least...
Alabama is in the process of building a program. This morning, ask yourself this question.
"Did I forget that?"
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laurajmoss
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| Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 9:31 am Post subject: |
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I haven't forgotten; no anger here.
ROLL TIDE ROLL 
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--The Bear
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rick4bama
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rick
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| Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 9:58 am Post subject: |
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| Good read TerryP. He also call JWP, Watts a couple of time too.
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bamatommy
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| Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 11:21 am Post subject: |
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| laurajmoss wrote: | I haven't forgotten; no anger here.
ROLL TIDE ROLL |
Ditto.
Hey, at least we didn't lose like last year against La Monroe.
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"When you play for Coach Saban, there's no such thing as looking into the future. The future is your next practice or your next game."
Andre Smith
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TerryP
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| Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:29 pm Post subject: |
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| rick4bama wrote: | | Good read TerryP. He also call JWP, Watts a couple of time too. |
I didn't catch that...although I had turned down the volume somewhat.
Legit mistake or just got Tyler and JP confused since Tyler was in the booth?
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RunTheFootballJimMcElwain
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| Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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| am i the only one who questions why we did NOT run the football more on first and 10? only 26 carries for 99 yards, for some reason they wanted to pass the ball more unlike what saban said in his post game press conference
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Porter
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| Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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I'm almost 100% positive that Eli was also calling him Markwiis Maze last night. So lets call it was wash, and replace Eli with Stewart anyway. 
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"He was a leader, patriotic to the core, devoted to his players, and inspired by a winning spirit that wouldn't quit. And that's how he made legends out of ordinary people. He was a true American hero, and he was Alabama's own."
-President Ronald Reagan speaking about Coach Bryant in 1984.
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TerryP
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| Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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| RunTheFootballJimMcElwain wrote: | | am i the only one who questions why we did NOT run the football more on first and 10? only 26 carries for 99 yards, for some reason they wanted to pass the ball more unlike what saban said in his post game press conference |
No, you are one of a few that have said that but haven't looked to see how many times we ran the ball on first and ten.
We ran the ball 13 times on first and 10, passed the ball 5 times on first and ten, and JP was sacked 2 times on first and ten.
And, FWIW, out of those 5 passes two were complete, and the the other three were to Julio which were incomplete.
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imalive1459
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| Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:55 pm Post subject: |
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| TerryP wrote: | | rick4bama wrote: | | Good read TerryP. He also call JWP, Watts a couple of time too. |
I didn't catch that...although I had turned down the volume somewhat.
Legit mistake or just got Tyler and JP confused since Tyler was in the booth? |
I believe that was the case. That's what it sounded like anyways.
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| Porter wrote: | | They are not there walking into the stadium to pass out lollipops. They are walking into the stadium to pass out an ass whipping. |
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runswithscissors
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| Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 3:00 pm Post subject: |
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i think alot of people are getting caught up in numbers as well. the offense didn't perform nearly as well as i would have liked to see, however we did consistantly start out with a short field possession after possession. i'm not incredibly concerned at this point, as it is only the second game of the season and we saw the potential of the offense the first game. i think what is important is that our defense stays strong, which i believe it will. as long as the defense can keep the other team from scoring as much, then that will prop the offense up somewhat. but we can't live or die by that philosophy, otherwise there will be problems.
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rammerjammer
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| Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Porter wrote: | | I'm almost 100% positive that Eli was also calling him Markwiis Maze last night. So lets call it was wash, and replace Eli with Stewart anyway. |
You are 100% sure, because I listened to the game while I was there and thought it odd that his name was pronounced that way. Also how about Tom and Eli keep referring to Tulane as Clemson? I did like Shultz as the color guy. He is very good/natural on the radio. I hope they have him for another game. This week it is Prince Wimbley.
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Kc
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| Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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Man I get tired of hearing about how it was when Bear was around. I am an 'Bama fan through and through and that crap gets old. The Bear is not here nor will he ever be again. Saban has got the program on the right track. "IT IS ONE GAME." Sound familiar? 2-0 and people are BGMing. It is a long season, there will be ups and downs. Some people tend to forget these are 19-21 year old guys playing a game. Times are different...life is different.
Saban is doing one heck of a job, and I did not see players giving up on the field. I just saw mistakes. Those can be corrected.
To the people that booed....stick where the sun don't shine or go be an Auburn fan.
Terry, I for one haven't forgotten this program is being rebuilt. It is a work in progress. The team looks much improved over last year (how soon people forget how crappy we have been) but I see the changes. Although I was not pleased with the numbers and execution of the O, a win is a win. Learn from it, and move on.
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TXTIDER
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| Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:03 am Post subject: |
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His injury was the result of a blown assignement. This time falling on a true freshman when Julio Jones missed his blocking assignment.
How long is a player suppose to hold a block?. javie danced around for awhile trying to get up the sideline . sometimes you have to get what you can get or ya goin to get popped !
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BamaDelta
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| Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:07 am Post subject: Re: Tulane Notebook: Odds and Ends looking back at Saturday |
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| TerryP wrote: | Last, but most certainly not least...
Alabama is in the process of building a program. This morning, ask yourself this question.
"Did I forget that?"
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Ummm, just for a minute I kinda did.
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aMAZEnFan
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| Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:15 am Post subject: |
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| Kc wrote: | Man I get tired of hearing about how it was when Bear was around. I am an 'Bama fan through and through and that crap gets old. The Bear is not here nor will he ever be again. Saban has got the program on the right track. "IT IS ONE GAME." Sound familiar? 2-0 and people are BGMing. It is a long season, there will be ups and downs. Some people tend to forget these are 19-21 year old guys playing a game. Times are different...life is different.
Saban is doing one heck of a job, and I did not see players giving up on the field. I just saw mistakes. Those can be corrected.
To the people that booed....stick where the sun don't shine or go be an Auburn fan.
Terry, I for one haven't forgotten this program is being rebuilt. It is a work in progress. The team looks much improved over last year (how soon people forget how crappy we have been) but I see the changes. Although I was not pleased with the numbers and execution of the O, a win is a win. Learn from it, and move on. |
Excellent Post!!!
I am ready to tear some Hilltoppers' heads off!!!
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