bamawriter
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I just got back from New Orleans, and I'm too tired to go thru every thread at the moment. I'm sure I will eventually. So I figured I'd create a little space for everyone to rub last nite in.
My thoughts:
-Ohio State outplayed, outcoached, and outclassed Alabama. There is no other way to say it. The game was not as close as the score. OSU quite easily could have won by three scores.
-I'm officially off the Kirby Smart bandwagon. It's Saban's scheme, so Nick shoulders some of the blame, but Kirby is calling the plays, and it's become comically bad. Midway thru the third quarter, OSU was 1 of 4 on 3rd & 3 or less, but 7 of 7 on 3rd & 6 or more. That is pathetic.
But this problem didn't begin last nite. Beginning with the Arkansas game (and not including 1AA Western Carolina), Bama's defense has allowed 3rd down conversions roughly 35% of the time. That's certainly not bad. But the truly insane statistic is that Bama has given up 3rd & 6 or longer at a clip of 42%, and a 3rd & 8 or longer at a baffling rate of 45%. Somehow, Bama's defense has been at a disadvantage the longer the YTG on 3rd down.
-Bama's CBs have been mediocre all year. For the life of me, I cannot figure out how it is that Bama doesn't have better players than 2 converted WRs and Eddie "Burnt Toast" Jackson. Bama has two of the top four CBs from the class of '14 on the roster, and they've combined for about 20 garbage time snaps this year. The word is always that the defensive scheme is too complicated for younger players to pick up. Well, if the scheme is causing you to keep your best talent on the bench, then you might want to simplify the scheme.
-It wasn't Kiffin's best game, but he isn't the reason Bama lost. Sims was awful, as he was against LSU and the first half against Auburn. Just like those games, Kiffin tried to let him throw his way out of the slump. Sims couldn't do that last nite. Kiffin should have run the ball more, but I understand what he was trying to do. A bunch of media folks were questioning the decision to throw after the 21 yard punt in the 4th, but the fact is that Howard's route was going to be open. He was headed to the back of the endzone, and if Sims had put air under the ball, it's a likely TD. Instead, Sims threw it on a rope, and even if Bell hadn't stepped in front, Howard would have had to stop and reach behind himself to make the catch. That's not on Kiffin, that's on Sims. Not seeing a 300 lb man standing in front of Cooper is not on Kiffin, that's on Sims.
In the end, Bama scored 35 points. That should be enough to win any game. So again, that's not on Kiffin. He was far from perfect, but he had a better nite than Saban and Smart.
-JK Scott is a freaking machine. But for him having one of the best punting performances I've ever seen, Bama wouldn't have even been in the game late. When your punter is far-and-away your MVP, you had a bad nite.
-I hope Nick Saban coaches for several years to come, but I hope Bama never plays in another Sugar Bowl while he's our coach. Under Saban, Bama is 5-0 in all bowls other than the Sugar, where they are 0-3. If Bama gets another invite, I hope we'll politely decline.
My thoughts:
-Ohio State outplayed, outcoached, and outclassed Alabama. There is no other way to say it. The game was not as close as the score. OSU quite easily could have won by three scores.
-I'm officially off the Kirby Smart bandwagon. It's Saban's scheme, so Nick shoulders some of the blame, but Kirby is calling the plays, and it's become comically bad. Midway thru the third quarter, OSU was 1 of 4 on 3rd & 3 or less, but 7 of 7 on 3rd & 6 or more. That is pathetic.
But this problem didn't begin last nite. Beginning with the Arkansas game (and not including 1AA Western Carolina), Bama's defense has allowed 3rd down conversions roughly 35% of the time. That's certainly not bad. But the truly insane statistic is that Bama has given up 3rd & 6 or longer at a clip of 42%, and a 3rd & 8 or longer at a baffling rate of 45%. Somehow, Bama's defense has been at a disadvantage the longer the YTG on 3rd down.
-Bama's CBs have been mediocre all year. For the life of me, I cannot figure out how it is that Bama doesn't have better players than 2 converted WRs and Eddie "Burnt Toast" Jackson. Bama has two of the top four CBs from the class of '14 on the roster, and they've combined for about 20 garbage time snaps this year. The word is always that the defensive scheme is too complicated for younger players to pick up. Well, if the scheme is causing you to keep your best talent on the bench, then you might want to simplify the scheme.
-It wasn't Kiffin's best game, but he isn't the reason Bama lost. Sims was awful, as he was against LSU and the first half against Auburn. Just like those games, Kiffin tried to let him throw his way out of the slump. Sims couldn't do that last nite. Kiffin should have run the ball more, but I understand what he was trying to do. A bunch of media folks were questioning the decision to throw after the 21 yard punt in the 4th, but the fact is that Howard's route was going to be open. He was headed to the back of the endzone, and if Sims had put air under the ball, it's a likely TD. Instead, Sims threw it on a rope, and even if Bell hadn't stepped in front, Howard would have had to stop and reach behind himself to make the catch. That's not on Kiffin, that's on Sims. Not seeing a 300 lb man standing in front of Cooper is not on Kiffin, that's on Sims.
In the end, Bama scored 35 points. That should be enough to win any game. So again, that's not on Kiffin. He was far from perfect, but he had a better nite than Saban and Smart.
-JK Scott is a freaking machine. But for him having one of the best punting performances I've ever seen, Bama wouldn't have even been in the game late. When your punter is far-and-away your MVP, you had a bad nite.
-I hope Nick Saban coaches for several years to come, but I hope Bama never plays in another Sugar Bowl while he's our coach. Under Saban, Bama is 5-0 in all bowls other than the Sugar, where they are 0-3. If Bama gets another invite, I hope we'll politely decline.
