Jan 7 | BCS National Championship | Alabama

[Who'saWildManNow]

Bama's and ND's SOS is about the same this season, as WhiskeyJack pointed out yesterday - both in the mid 30's.

Against Michigan, Lacy and Yeldon averaged 7.3 ypc.

Against LSU they averaged 7.3 ypc.

Against Texas A&M they averaged 4.7 ypc.

Against Georgia they averaged 7.4 ypc.

Against weaker teams, they were both usually on the bench by the third quarter instead of padding their stats.

What stands out to me here is that aTm is by far the smallest d-line of them all..

 

[Bishop2b5]

What stands out to me here is that aTm is by far the smallest d-line of them all..

They were quick and in our backfield all day. Also, since we had to pass more than usual and weren't able to just grind them down and wear their D out, they were still fresh late in the game. I'll tip my hat to A&M - they came in with a great gameplan and believed they could win. They just outplayed us and outcoached us that day.

 

[gcashwell]

SIAP:

30% chance of rain Monday night. Dear God stay away until the game is over.....

Don't even check the weather down there until
The fourth. Confidence in a forecast is very low this many days out.

 

[Rocky2820]

Like to see this: Some Notre Dame and Alabama alumni and fans are joining forces for a joint service project in Miami.

Notre Dame and Alabama to join forces for Miami service project // News // Notre Dame News // University of Notre Dame

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Like to see this: Some Notre Dame and Alabama alumni and fans are joining forces for a joint service project in Miami.

Notre Dame and Alabama to join forces for Miami service project // News // Notre Dame News // University of Notre Dame

That's great!

 

[Bishop2b5]

Like to see this: Some Notre Dame and Alabama alumni and fans are joining forces for a joint service project in Miami.

Notre Dame and Alabama to join forces for Miami service project // News // Notre Dame News // University of Notre Dame

Good stuff. In the big picture, it's more important than the game.

 

[Ogretoes]

Don't try to read too much into the A&M game.It came after a Slobberknocker with LSU.Remember the scare ND had with Pitt following the game at OU. These guys are not machines and you can't just push a few buttons and send them out on the field and say go get em.As far as a lay off goes how long is the lay off between seasons? They are more ready now then on opening day

 

[phork]

They were quick and in our backfield all day. Also, since we had to pass more than usual and weren't able to just grind them down and wear their D out, they were still fresh late in the game. I'll tip my hat to A&M - they came in with a great gameplan and believed they could win. They just outplayed us and outcoached us that day.

You didn't start strictly passing until the 4th quarter. Until then it was fairly balanced.

 

[Irish#1]

It especially sucks that I have an evening meeting that night at work that I just cannot get out of. Trust me I have tried. I'm being told that it could go until midnight. Like many of you I'm sure, I plan my fall Saturdays around the ND game, regardless of who they are playing. So, for this to happen for this game... UGH! Not checking my phone for updates may be my biggest test of willpower ever. My plan is to DVR it and watch it start to finish as soon as I get home. I'm hoping to be able to go without checking for score updates along the way.

They would be suspicious if you called in sick, so you better call in "dead" instead.

 

[Bishop2b5]

You didn't start strictly passing until the 4th quarter. Until then it was fairly balanced.

True, but we couldn't pound the run from the beginning like we usually do. We threw a lot early on to try and get back in the game instead of being able to run until their D was gassed. In the end, their D was still fresh late in the game and we couldn't just run at will on them in the 4th like we did UGA. Give them all the credit. They took us out of our gameplan and beat us.

 

[returnofthemack]

Hey guys, sorry if this was already discussed but I couldn't find it: I'll be in Miami the day of the game and don't have tickets. I was planning on tailgating most of the day then posting up at a bar to watch the game. However, I got an email from the school offering me a chance to buy "Fan Zone" tickets (which were sold out by the time I clicked on it). Can you only tailgate outside the stadium if you have one of these passes?

 

[phgreek]

You said their stats were meaningless because we played a weak schedule. I pointed out that they didn't play much against weaker opponents. You asked what they did against the better teams on our schedule and I gave you their ypc against the 4 teams you asked about. As for whether they got 5 yds before contact against those teams, it looks like they may have. Their average ypc against 3 of those 4 teams was significantly higher than their season average of 6.6, so it's likely they did. It's looks as if they ran as well or better against the top defenses they faced as against everyone else. Now, will ND shut them down? Who knows. They're good backs and you have a good D. We'll see in a week.

I can see where you'd think I was speaking generally...wasn't trying to be too dismissive...but was in a hurry to get to where I was going to watch skins/cowboys. I was talking about those stats in particular, (5 yds before contact)...it alludes to Bama o-line blowing everyone off the ball, and that wasn't true in the three games I saw (LSU, UGA, Ta&m)...although thanks for the average yards per carry stat...I'm glad you found a way to work those in...albeit not really relevant.

I don't know where whisky got his numbers...but as relates to overall SoS...I think thats a giant "so what" in this particular conversation.

What I can say is Bama played 3 defenses that ranked in the top 25 overall, and maybe 2 in the top 25 against the run...Soooo there's that to consider.

Point is...I don't think your Oline is blowing ND off the ball (which is what the 5 yard stat is getting at) where 1/3 of your runs result in 5 yards before contact. If you think that...does that mean Saban thinks that...hope so.

I think Yeldon and Lacey are as talented a tandem in College football. I don't know how it will go...I just doubt they proceed regularly unmolested.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

Just rewatched SEC CG. Georgia LB's were pathetic as a unit. And NO WAY Bama consistently gets a guy to block on our second level. NO WAY.

 

[IrishEyesAreSmiling]

Am I the only one that thinks Shembo goes off in this game....?

 

[chicago51]

Just rewatched SEC CG. Georgia LB's were pathetic as a unit. And NO WAY Bama consistently gets a guy to block on our second level. NO WAY.

As jr high coach I don't claim to anywhere close to the knowlege of college football coaches in terms of Xs and Os. If do know one thing it is how tackle and propper technique and the tackling by Georgia in that game was some of the worst I saw all season. Georgia defensive staff ever heard wrapping up ball carrier and not just trying to ram the guy down NFL style? One thing ND defense does very well is tackle, which is why they tend to not get gashed for big plays. They do a great job of elminating RB YAC (yards after contact), and WR YAC (yards after catch).

An aside: If anyone on this board that still plays football, or has kids/grand kids that play football I have a word of advice. DO NOT WATCH THE NFL FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN ENTERTAINMENT. It is not always a great example of how to play to the game. It is more of freak athletes being freak athletes. Don't get me wrong the NFL player fundamentals are great in some aspects like in the passing game but they often lack at the basics like tackling.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

@KevinScarbinsky: Rex Jones on Smashmouth: Barrett expects to practice when Alabama gets to Miami. Has very high pain tolerance.

@KevinScarbinsky: Rex Jones on Smashmouth: I'm sworn to secrecy on Barrett's foot injury. But will take Old Testament flood to keep him out of BCS Ch Game.

@KevinScarbinsky: Rex Jones on Smashmouth: ND NG Louis Nix is a great player but no different from players Barrett has faced every week in the SEC.

 

[chicago51]

Still a week to go so obviously this could change. Early forecast calls for a 40% chance of showers Monday night.

Daily Weather Forecast for Miami - weather.com

 

[Buster Bluth]

@KevinScarbinsky: Rex Jones on Smashmouth: ND NG Louis Nix is a great player but no different from players Barrett has faced every week in the SEC.

lol

 

[tko]

[/IMG]

Bring it Bama.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Jones faced four outstanding DT teams during the season [hardly every week and with major schedule gaps except for MissState/LSU] and none as good as Lou and none on one injured leg. Amazing the delirium of unknowlegdeable bonehead fans.

 

[Black Irish]

Jones faced four outstanding DT teams during the season [hardly every week and with major schedule gaps except for MissState/LSU] and none as good as Lou and none on one injured leg. Amazing the delirium of unknowlegdeable bonehead fans.

Isn't that just a more verbose way of saying "average SEC fans?"

 

[clashmore_jon]

my favorite part of that press conference posted above is the "all hand on deck for ST". Kinda thought that would be the case, but i'm really excited that we might be able to return some punts.

 

[phork]

@KevinScarbinsky: Rex Jones on Smashmouth: ND NG Louis Nix is a great player but no different from players Barrett has faced every week in the SEC.

Oh God....

 

[Irish#1]

Bama fans will find out that this Irish D is as well conditioned as any team in the country and won't wear down. I also thought UG was one of the worst tackling teams I have seen in a long time. Our D is as good a tackling team as there is. Yardage after contact and YAC is hard to come by.

There never was a doubt about Jones playing.

 

[chicago51]

Anyone know if WR Bell is playing?

 

[Bishop2b5]

Anyone know if WR Bell is playing?

Nobody outside the Bama staff knows yet... and they probably don't know for sure. It's possible he plays, but I'm doubtful. He just broke his leg Thanksgiving weekend. That's not a long time to mend a bone and get back in playing condition. It would be nice to have him back. He has speed and good hands.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Jones faced four outstanding DT teams during the season [hardly every week and with major schedule gaps except for MissState/LSU] and none as good as Lou and none on one injured leg. Amazing the delirium of unknowlegdeable bonehead fans.

I totally agree with you Mike. Rex Jones is Barrett's father so he obviously will be biased regardless. I get your point though.

 

[Bishop2b5]

Bama fans will find out that this Irish D is as well conditioned as any team in the country and won't wear down. I also thought UG was one of the worst tackling teams I have seen in a long time. Our D is as good a tackling team as there is. Yardage after contact and YAC is hard to come by.

There never was a doubt about Jones playing.

Jones will play. I have no doubt about that either.

Your team is extremely well-conditioned, but you'll wear down. Our team is as well-conditioned as any team in the country and has more depth than probably anyone else and we still wear down late in the game against good opponents. Fatigue will be a factor for both sides. Nobody's in good enough shape to play this intense of a game for 60 minutes without it taking a toll on them.

You're right about UGA's tackling. It was horrible. Only Auburn was worse. That won't be an issue for either of us next week. Both ND and Bama are both very sound fundamentally and great tackling teams.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Jones will play. I have no doubt about that either.

Your team is extremely well-conditioned, but you'll wear down. Our team is as well-conditioned as any team in the country and has more depth than probably anyone else and we still wear down late in the game against good opponents. Fatigue will be a factor for both sides. Nobody's in good enough shape to play this intense of a game for 60 minutes without it taking a toll on them.

You're right about UGA's tackling. It was horrible. Only Auburn was worse. That won't be an issue for either of us next week. Both ND and Bama are both very sound fundamentally and great tackling teams.

Do you want Jones out there if he is less than 75%? It seems highly likely that he will not be 100% at this point.

 

[chicago51]

Do you want Jones out there if he is less than 75%? It seems highly likely that he will not be 100% at this point.

If I'm a Bama fan I think so. There is a reason Jones moved from Tackle to Center. Obviously going into this year the Center position was not as strong as the tackle position. I'm sure who ever would take Jones place at Center probably isn't that good or that polished yet.