Jan 7 | BCS National Championship | Alabama

[Whiskeyjack]

Schematically wise its Georgia. Georgia DC also runs a version of the Bill Bellichek 3-4 which Saban and Diaco both run versions of as well.

Personnell wise its LSU. Both ND and LSU have great defensive lines. Although ND has better LBs and LSU has slightly more athletic DBs.

This.

The best defense 'Bama has faced was LSU's, which ranks 12th in DFEI. As chicago51 mentioned, UGA was the 'Bama opponent with the most schematically similar defense, but ND's is far superior. UGA ranks 23rd in DFEI to ND's 2nd, and based off the opponent-adjusted numbers, ND's defense is roughly twice as good.

 

[RuntheBall]

Was really bored, and I wanted to see how AM "beat" Bama's D early, so I did excel spread sheet. Hopefully copy and pasting it works (any other easy way to share?)

Quarter Time(Start) Down Yds for first Field Position Shotgun? Play: Result: Score No Huddle/ Hurry Up Defense Does: Notes:
1 13:24 1 10 27 Y QB Draw 5 yds 0-0
1 13:00 2 5 32 Y Quick Pass, Slot Curl 6 yds, FD
1 1 10 38 y Qb draw 1 yd +pen bama brings 4 DL makes tackle Penalty: Facemask (D)
12:30 1 10 46 Bama y Run, Middle 3 yds 2 back, WR in motion
2 7 43 B y Qb, draw 27 yds, FD AM quick tempo
1 10 14 B y Quick Pass, Slot 5 High snap
11:30 2 5 9 B y Run, Middle 5, FD Bama sub's; has to be quick
1 GOAL 4 B Y Direct snap to RB 4 AM quick snap, not really set
2 G 1 B N Power Run, mid Touchdown AM +7 AM has 1 wr out wide

After Mccarron Int
1 9:39 1 10 41 B Y Fake option, deep seam 32 , FD wr on safety(lester) Easy throw away from option isde
1 Goal 9 B Y Run, Mid 0 Yes
2 G 9B y Run, Sweep right 0 Shotgun, 3 backs
3 Goal 10 B Y Pass Touchdown AM +14 4 WR, JM looks to sideline for audible
Swope (slot) wide open; bring 4 JM avoids 4 man rush, scrambles right, wide open TD
After Bama 3 and out DB's lose Swope, very poor coverage after play breaks down
1 6:40 1 10 28 Y Quick pass, slot 4 yds Milliner (DB) out 5 wide
2 6 31 Y quick sideline route Yes Bama brings 3 5 wide
3 1 36 Y Yes-forced TO Bama TO- wrong personel
Youtube video doesn’t have 1st down run; off tackel
1 10 37 y Quick pass, slot 4 Really first time Bama brings pressure
2 6 41 Y Deep pass, incomp Incomplete Yes Rb motions out as WR, 5 wide: over throw by Jm, good coverage
5:02 3 6 41 Y Pass, JM scramble 31, FD Blitz, bring 6 Jm gets audible from sideline, Saban gets info to D
Doesn't count 1 10 27 B Y WR screen 9 Yes Too many men on field and illegal formation 6 Wr, Rb, 3 OL; double screen play (2 Ol line up as WR)
1 10 27 B Y Pass, JM scramble 7 Bring 4, get pressure 5 wide
2 3 20 B Y Wr screen 5, FD Missed tackle by CB 5 wide
1 10 15 B Y Run, Mid on blitz 9 Yes Blitz
2 2 7 B Y Wr screen -3
3 6 11 B Y Quick pass Blitz, Jm gets ride of bal quickly Big 3rddown, 5 wide
1 G 2 B N Run, mid TD AM +20 Missed xp

After Bama TD 20 -7
2 9:57 1 10 6 Y Quick slant 14 yes bama playing very tight coverage Fake bubble screen
1 10 20 Y run 4 yes
2 7 23 Y Pass, slight roll out 9, Fd
1 10 32 Y Quick pass, slot 5
(Middle of drive but I have got to go, so I had to stop).

Big take aways; AM passes alot. Bama doesnt have great DB's, but they seemed to play man alot. Also they didnt blitz at all early (until 2nd quarter), and didnt get much pressure until then either. AM 's o line is great. Bama's DB's lined up very close to LOS- alot of press coverage. AM only tested Bama deep once so far. AM rarely ran the ball except for 3rd and 1 or similar situations (not counting JM's runs). Does AM have a TE? I cant find him. JM was in the shotgun every pass play; every time he was under center is was a run.
( Did this from watching Youtube video)

What I think we can do:
Short routes (10-15 yards), mainly to Eifert and DD.
Real Short routes to Toma, Riddick.
Riddick. They done seem to have great coverage on the slot. (Though Swopes is good).
Golson scrambles.

 

[RuntheBall]

This.

The best defense 'Bama has faced was LSU's, which ranks 12th in DFEI. As chicago51 mentioned, UGA was the 'Bama opponent with the most schematically similar defense, but ND's is far superior. UGA ranks 23rd in DFEI to ND's 2nd, and based off the opponent-adjusted numbers, ND's defense is roughly twice as good.

Thanks for the responses Chicago and Whiskey; those were the two teams I was thinking about, though I think are more like LSU- but your points make a lot of sense.

 

[chicago51]

Also they didnt blitz at all early (until 2nd quarter), and didnt get much pressure until then either[/B]. AM 's o line is great. Bama's DB's lined up very close to LOS- alot of press coverage. AM only tested Bama deep once so far. AM rarely ran the ball except for 3rd and 1 or similar situations (not counting JM's runs). Does AM have a TE? I cant find him.
( Did this from watching Youtube video)

What I think we can do:
Short routes (10-15 yards), mainly to Eifert and DD.
Real Short routes to Toma, Riddick.
Riddick. They done seem to have great coverage on the slot. (Though Swopes is good).
Golson scrambles.

That was one of the problems. Is that Bama in the 2nd half did cause problems by blitzing but damage was done early when they sat back.

With A&M not having a running threat Bama played most of the game with their Dime (6 DB) defense and usually had pass situation MLB CJ Mosely not run situation MLB Nico Johnson on the field.

ND should be able to throw on Bama's base personel. If Bama goes Nickel or Dime ND should be able to run against them.

Also with Golson. The key for him is not to get flustered. Saban going to throw some exotic blitz packages at him and try to mess with his brain.

 

[Irish#1]

Just got listening to all the interviews from coaches and players and they blow me away. Players are studs always seem to be on the same page. Then you have the coaches and IMO this is the best staff since I started really following ND football (95). Top to bottom, from Alford to diaco I wish I could play for these guys. We have great players but our coaches might be better

I heard Martin and Te'o on the local news today. Just a quiet confidence. Man do they make me feel good about this game.

ND gear is everywhere in the Indy area and selling like crazy. Bandwagon fan or not, welcome aboard.

My wife and I got all five kids and their spouses the same matching t-shirts and hoodies for Xmas. I'll have to have them put them on and take a pic Xmas day.

 

[Irish#1]

Bama does have one very good DB, but the others are suspect. If Bama tries to protect them by blitzing I would expect a lot of quick throws. If they try to protect them by adding a DB or dropping an LB, we'll run more.

 

[chicago51]

I heard Martin and Te'o on the local news today. Just a quiet confidence. Man do they make me feel good about this game.

ND gear is everywhere in the Indy area and selling like crazy. Bandwagon fan or not, welcome aboard.

My wife and I got all five kids and their spouses the same matching t-shirts and hoodies for Xmas. I'll have to have them put them on and take a pic Xmas day.

My family's Christmas is going to be something else this year. Although I was born and raised in Chicago, a large portion of my family is from and still lives in South Bend. Several family members both living deceased worked for or went to school at ND. Christmas is always great with our family but because of ND's importance to our family there is a buzz that really has not been there since say December of 93 when I was 6 years old.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Saban going to throw some exotic blitz packages at him and try to mess with his brain.

Blitzing against a mobile QB is riskier than normal. There's a good chance he'll just run away from it, extend the play, and then hit someone down field for a huge gain.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

Remember last season when Diaco lined Nix up about a yard off the ball and had him plow into the opposing offensive line?

I know we didnt see much of that this season as we werent as green and could just dominate at the point of attack, but Alabama's Oline is a force. Anyone think we'll see that allignment mixed in against Bama? Or some different stunts up front?

 

[woolybug25]

Remember last season when Diaco lined Nix up about a yard off the ball and had him plow into the opposing offensive line?

I know we didnt see much of that this season as we werent as green and could just dominate at the point of attack, but Alabama's Oline is a force. Anyone think we'll see that allignment mixed in against Bama? Or some different stunts up front?

I would love to see this on Bama's first offensive play. Let Big Lou send Barrett a message from the get-go.

 

[chicago51]

Remember last season when Diaco lined Nix up about a yard off the ball and had him plow into the opposing offensive line?

I know we didnt see much of that this season as we werent as green and could just dominate at the point of attack, but Alabama's Oline is a force. Anyone think we'll see that allignment mixed in against Bama? Or some different stunts up front?

Don't know if we will see that but Diaco could have a new stunt(s) or blitz(es) for this game. ND defenses have come out on fire in the bowl games under this staff particular in the first half. They dominated Miami in the Sun Bowl until garbage time in a blow out. Also people forget because we lost the game but they kicked FSUs butt for most of the game in the champs bowl. They had like 5 sacks in the first half. Other than our corners giving up some jump balls in the 4th quarter they we where great. (Note: Gary Gray and Robert Blanton did almost everything great but they could not make a play on the ball in the air to save their lives.)

If you want to disregarded all this jibberish I just wrote I'll sum it up in short. Diaco will have a great plan and all the assistant coaches will make sure their position group is ready to play.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

I would love to see this on Bama's first offensive play. Let Big Lou send Barrett a message from the get-go.

I agree. I wonder how that would work late in the game when Saban likes to devour the clock and pound the ball? I feel like it would cause a lot of confusion on Bama's Oline and with their RB's. The holes would shut and the line be knocked out of position.

 

[Cackalacky]

Just watched an interview with Diaco.

Question: Is Alabama the best team you have had to scheme for?
Diaco: Its the best 11 he has had to scheme for, not necessarily the best players in particular but the best 11 as a collective.

Question: Any part of this bowl prep been fun?
Diaco: No.... No...

Diaco has awesome hair.

 

[chicago51]

Just watched an interview with Diaco.

Question: Is Alabama the best team you have had to scheme for?
Diaco: Its the best 11 he has had to scheme for, not necessarily the best players in particular but the best 11 as a collective.

Question: Any part of this bowl prep been fun?
Diaco: No.... No...

Diaco has awesome hair.

Diaco also said "If you let them (reffering to Bama) run on you at will and let them throw it over your head you are going to lose"

I was like yea no kidding.

 

[95NDAlumNM]

New "Turning Point" video from ND. Sounds like they will be doing a series of these leading up to the NCG.

FIDM ‏@NDfidm
Our first of several 'Turning Points' to debut leading up to the Champ. Game - Goodman at MSU - Turning Points - Goodman TD vs MSU - YouTube #NDFB

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VHKj-O9sC5M?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Ironman8]

@BrittonLynn

Barrett Jones seen in hallway today in cast and on crutches.

 

[woolybug25]

@BrittonLynn

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!!

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- With his left foot in a cast, Alabama senior center Barrett Jones is pedaling a stationary bike Tuesday while wearing a black non-contact jersey.
Nose guard Jesse Williams is practicing with a brace on the knee that he injured in the SEC Championship Game.
Look for more in the upcoming practice report, and look for videos and photos from Alabama's first postseason practice.

 

[Emcee77]

you never want to root for an injury but wow ... what a break this could be

 

[Whiskeyjack]

 

[RallySonsOfND]

I'm dying here...Lmao

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

No mercy.

 

[woolybug25]

No mercy.

 

[phork]

No No No No NO. We want their best shot. Because if we win now it will be all about how their best players were hurt. I want no excuses.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

No No No No NO. We want their best shot. Because if we win now it will be all about how their best players were hurt. I want no excuses.

There will be excuses regardless. And unless Nix blows up their backup C on every play, they're going to have a hard time arguing that Jones would have been the difference between a win and a loss for 'Bama.

And besides, this is the Ess Eee See. Their 3rd string could beat the Cleveland Browns, remember? There's surely a 6 JuCo waiting to step right in.

 

[NDPhilly]

Bama fans think he'll be ok by Jan 7. We'll see

 

[woolybug25]

Bama fans think he'll be ok by Jan 7. We'll see

Of course they do. I want to know what the injury is, because there is a big difference between being able to play and being ready to face the best NT in college football.

 

[koonja]

I was wondering if those injuries would be of the lagging sort. Especially the knees of big #54 (Williams?)

How does BAMA's DBs compare to Stanford's? I thought Stanford had very solid DBs.

 

[NDhoosier]

The DBs have been considered a weakness for Bama this entire year. They do have one pretty good DB in Dee Milliner, but their secondary has been questioned all year similar to how ours has been.

 

[gkIrish]

No No No No NO. We want their best shot. Because if we win now it will be all about how their best players were hurt. I want no excuses.

Why does it matter what excuses people make? R u going to party less? Will anyone talk about Barrett Jones playing or not in one year? Five years? Ten years? U think the players wont come back in twenty five years for an anniversary moment in the stadium because the Alabama center wasnt playing?


i know others share your sentiment but i really do not understand why winning sn't enough. Why do we have to overcome every obstacle to do it?

 

[NDPhilly]

A national championship is a national championship. Counts for the same thing even if we had toplay Bama's scout team.