First play of the game?

[NDTH91]

Tommy must've put a rocket launcher on his Christmas List...

Hahaha I cracked up when I saw this. Well done.

 

[IrishCat]

Play action across the middle (short pass)

EG to TE basically telling Bama, "If you want to beat us, you're going to need to stop this from happening all day."

FTW

 

[RDU Irish]

I had to vote for the only option that put six on the board. In reality, how do you start Brown the first snap of the NCG? Safe play is to run the ball first series to work out the nerves, protect the ball and let them know they are in for a smash mouth affair.

 

[Black Irish]

Field goal on first down. Keep 'Bama guessing.

 

[koonja]

I think the safest play is a roll out pass. Worst case scenario? Throw it out of bounds or Golson runs for a few. Bama's going to be fresh and totally jacked for the first play. I'd rather roll out, than get a TFL for -2 or something like that.

 

[military_irish]

I first play will be a kick return, but after Atkinson returns it to the 23 yard line. Kelly will go with what got him here, run Theo to the right for about a 5 yard gain.

 

[GaryMcLain'sSkiLodge]

Something out of the shotgun, most likely run. Kelly won't want his young QB making a mistake on the 1st play of the game. I can't see Saban giving up the deep ball either. Too predictable. There will be a few pass attempts on the first drive though.

 

[Chris P. Bacon]

It's pretty funny to see the Poll Results, picks are fairly even across the board. I think this is good though, with all of us avid ND fans watching every single game this year, even we don't have an overwhelming consensus on what the first play will be, let alone Bama. Now granted, the 1st play of the game unless it's a deep pass to C.Brown, isn't going to have a major impact on the game, but it very well may tell us the game plan for the game and what direction Kelly is trying to head towards, run heavy and test our luck on that, or try short passes up and down the field. If Golson can be cool, calm and collective, I think we can wear down this defense, aren't we atop of the leader boards on longest drives and time of possession this year? Which means, if we can establish that running game, it can open up endless opportunities for us on offense.

 

[Chris P. Bacon]

I think the safest play is a roll out pass. Worst case scenario? Throw it out of bounds or Golson runs for a few. Bama's going to be fresh and totally jacked for the first play. I'd rather roll out, than get a TFL for -2 or something like that.

The same can be said for us, I think our players will probably be even more jacked and excited than Bama will be. This is another game for Bama, we haven't been here for years, I just hope our emotions don't get the better of us early on and have to wait until the 2nd half to adjust.

 

[Irish#1]

First, I hope Alabama receives the opening kickoff. I would like EG to sit out the VERY first football series and try to get a little settled before taking the field.

Second, I think the shotgun run/pass option. Alabama hasn't seen what ND can do in person and despite watching tape, BK might want to give EG the option to throw or handoff or pull it down to run.

I wonder if 'Bama will try to bring heat to start the game.

If Bama wins the toss you can be sure they will defer. Not sure what Kelly will do if we win the toss, but think he might defer as well.

To me, I think the second play of the game may be more important. If you have a decent gain on 1st down, can you back it up with another solid play? If 1st down gets you three yards or less, can you counter that with a good gain for a first down? We don't want to go three and out on the first series.

 

[chicago51]

If Bama wins the toss you can be sure they will defer. Not sure what Kelly will do if we win the toss, but think he might defer as well.

To me, I think the second play of the game may be more important. If you have a decent gain on 1st down, can you back it up with another solid play? If 1st down gets you three yards or less, can you counter that with a good gain for a first down? We don't want to go three and out on the first series.

ND does not necessarily need score on the opening drive but I think getting at least on first down is important. A 3 and out would set the wrong tone. I think throughout the game 1st downs are important to give the ND defense a rest from the Bama OL and allow Diaco to stick with the bend but don't break strategy that got ND to #1 in scoring defense.

 

[IrishinTN]

Play action left with Golson rolling right. Takes a look downfield. If its not there, he hits Jones or Tomo for a 9-12 yard gain.

Bama starts by trying to impose their will and hit the d in the mouth for sure.

 

[phgreek]

Bama starts by trying to impose their will and hit the d in the mouth for sure.

...Agreed. But if Lou is 100%, it won't happen between the guards...

...I think they'd be wiser to throw at Russel a few times and run off tackle...but I got a feeling they'll try to go over Lou ...

 

[chicago51]

I think Bama opens up with WR bubble screen tries to see if Armari Cooper can break one in space.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I think Bama opens up with WR bubble screen tries to see if Armari Cooper can break one in space.

I seriously doubt Saban is going to open the game with a constraint play. Bubble screens are designed to punish OLBs who are cheating inside to stop the run. We'll very likely be in our base 3-4 to start off, so the schematic conditions that favor a bubble screen won't be there yet.

 

[Kingbish01]

Shotgun draw for a loss of 2

 

[ulukinatme]

First play will be a bobbled snap or a false start, no way we can hold it together against an SEC SEC SEC defense.

Na, I went with Shotgun option, I like the playaction call though.

 

[Crimson streak]

I think bama will expect a roll out so I'd like to see the roll out draw to cierre with theo in the slot.

 

[rikkitikki08]

Short screen pass to toma for a gain of touchdown

 

[007depthchart]

How does Bama start out against ND? Do they throw it often like did against LSU in the title game? Or is there a certain amount of pride and perhaps stubborness that they want to establish the dominance of their OL right away and they try stuff it down NDs throat?

Bama almost always comes out throwing if they respect the front 7 of opposing team, the few teams like LSU who have great talent in front 7. I thought they gave the GA front 7 way too much respect early in the game and came out passing. Once they decided to just dominate the line of scrimmage the passing game then came off a downhill running game and they moved the ball. I think Bama will be very balanced coming out vs ND. If they had struggled against GA running the ball then I think they would come out passing but since they came off a dominant run game, and think they'll come out balanced.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

1st play = FG. They'll never know what hit them.