We'll see how it all plays out. I guess we have a group that thinks the defense is not very good and another group that thinks they're really good. Sark's gameplan was awesome and Ewers had a night where he did not miss. They ran us sideline to sideline and threw passes so quick that it neutralized our pass rush. Even though TOP wasn't staggering there's a difference in making guys run the width of the field every play and running HB dives. We had both safeties, both MLBs and a couple of new guys on the DL playing in their first big game together against arguably the best OL, QB & WR core we'll see all season. I agree that the 4th quarter was very disappointing and it brought back Golding vibes, but I've seen improvement. I think the defense is really coming together and playing good ball. But we'll see.
I’m in the group of let’s wait and see, and I’m not sure if we will know anytime soon because we don’t play any elite offenses.
I mean there is noticeable improvement from last year but that doesn't make them great or even very good yet. Time will tell.
i didn’t point out those stats to place the blame solely on the defense or pretend that the offense wasn’t an issue, but the bolded part is a big hand-wave. we finally claw back the lead and you just give the D a pass for letting them score in 3 plays? how in the world is that not demoralizing? maybe jalen doesn’t throw that crucial int if he doesn’t have stay in comeback mode. UT’s deep passes would have been wide open all night, even if we played a 5th or 6th quarter. Sark had Downs’s number
it really was impressive how he was able to target Downs, a player who will be an all American in the next few seasons, and he just picked him apart. Biggest reason I handwave the Texas game is because it was early in the season. We were having issues getting calls in and I think Texas is pretty damn good. We won't see an offense like that again this year unless we make the playoffs.
So we’re basically UGA right? All kidding aside, I can agree that it’s too early to call the defense very good or elite but I also think it’s ok to say they played very good against Ole Miss. We may dismiss Ole Miss’s offense but the D played very good. It was as good a performance as I’ve seen in years.
that was so frustrating. The D had been awesome all night and our shitty offense finally clawed its way back to the lead and the defense immediately gave it right back to Texas. That was an opportunity for the defense to demonstrate how dominant it is and it folded and folded fast. However, I don’t think the defense will do that come November.
I agree with you, I think they did play good against OM. I just want to see them go prove it, before we start proclaiming we have some sort of great defense.
Agreed, but I’m not going to sit here and make excuses for them against Texas. Everything old Gregg pointed out was true.
obviously i wanted us to win but idk it was an OOC loss in week 3. those haven’t truly mattered in a long time.
I think it's reasonable at this point to say the defense is very good. The question is whether they are an elite defense that can frustrate a great offense (which we don't have any of in the league this year outside of maybe LSU). Texas is probably the 2nd best offense we'll see all year behind LSU (and LSU is pretty quirky). We consistently do small, fundamental stuff correctly, which is a massive baseline improvement over Deputy Dipshit and the Panic Brigade.
I also wonder if Kiffin's statement about TRob is true. Our defense has looked different since UT. I wonder if TRob is calling plays now. We're definitely playing more aggressive.
I mean the dynamic may work better in this situation. I believe T Rob seems to be a players coach kinda guy. Steele the veteran hard ass. I know Steele is in the booth, is TRob on the sidelines? I know the Tosh/Pete scenario sucked but these are very different coaches.
Am I the only one that was watching this in real time and was thinking "There's no way this defense is going to be able to keep doing this." Then we'd get a stop. And I'd think "My god how many stops are we going to get after a 3 and out from our own offense. This is not sustainable." And then finally Milroe throws the pick that gives them the ball out our own 5 yard line and our backs were broken and the game was over. This tells the story of the game. You get 5 possessions in the 1st half. 2 punts, an INT, and 2 FGs. You aren't doing shit to help your defense here. 2nd half: 3 punts, 1 absolutely soul crushing INT, 1 FG, 1 TD. Here are our offensive possessions from the start of the game until Mirloe throws the god awful soul crushing INT that gives them the ball at our 5 yard line: Interception Field Goal 6 plays punt 4 plays punt 8 plays FG HALFTIME 7 plays field goal 3 plays punt 1:34 used 3 plays , - 10 yards, punt . 1:27 used 5 plays TD 1 play INT give them ball on 5 yard line Starting with Texas having the ball with 2 minutes left in the 2nd through the beginning of the 4th quarter here are the Texas offensive possessions: UT: Punt UT Punt UT Missed FG UT Turn the ball over on downs That's nearly an entire half right there where the Texas offense didn't do shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Alabama defense was playing lights out during that stretch. During that same stretch the Alabama offense wasn't doing ANYTHING!
the next stage of his career is so obvious at this point: set up a home studio, occasionally show up on set, and let espn funnel him cash
I would watch the shit out of a multi hour recap show with him sitting in his home film room explaining what he saw in the weekend’s best college football games.
Gimme a show with Saban, Belechick and former players talking about big games, big plays, big moments etc across their careers.
Late Mississippi State coach Mike Leach wasn't known for having regular, boring old conversations. Case in point: When the Bulldogs played Alabama football a season ago, Leach surprised Nick Saban when they spoke on the field before the game. Most of the time during these pregame chats, coaches keep it simple and basic with a greeting, a handshake, maybe a "good luck" or a "hope everybody stays healthy," Saban said. Leach didn't have much interest in keeping it simple and basic, though. "He's asking me about, 'who do you use to invest in real estate?'" Saban recalled Thursday during his weekly radio show. "Like off the wall stuff. And really interested and say, 'Well I have these guys man and I just don't know if they're the right guys.' It was completely something you would never ever think of, and he was serious. It was always intelligent." This season, Alabama will face the Mississippi State for the first time without Leach since 2019 before he took the job in 2020. Leach died at 61 in December following complications from a heart condition. "Mike Leach was one of a kind from a personality standpoint," Saban said. "He was a very unique person and a very intelligent person and had a myriad of interests." As No. 11 Alabama (3-1, 1-0 SEC) prepares to face Mississippi State (2-2, 0-2) on Saturday (8 p.m., ESPN) at Davis Wade Stadium, Saban has been asked multiple times this week to reflect on Leach. Saban coached against him three times from 2020-2022. Saban usually succeeded in defending Leach's Air Raid offenses, but Saban showed admiration for Leach's creativity Thursday. "You go play him in the game and you're seeing stuff like, wow, where did he come up with this stuff?'" Saban said. "'And how are we going to defend that?' He was a very unique coach from a systematic standpoint."
I am with you on so much of what you posted. Immediately giving up the lead was like we had rehired WSP. But lol at this part. I think we’ve seen enough now to that nothing in the world will deter Jalen from throwing horrible INTs.
Definitely since I’ve been there. Hard to imagine a bigger regular season win in terms of what Thompson has been, especially on the road.
Great game. Bak is the man. Gotta be the fastest kid in the state. btw, gonna be at CC for a middle school basketball tournament over Christmas.