- Joined
- Sep 13, 2005
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No. Hurts.
He was eligible for last years draft I think. He's already graduated. He's not really considered a real b prospect at the NFL level though.
No. Hurts.
If you want to take one game where he threw a few picks and make it out like it's a consistent issue, be my guest.
Exactly. It was just as bad as Kirby Smart's fake punt.
Bottom line is, Alabama quit. I've never seen that before. I've never seen it.
They quit at the end of the 2nd quarter when they chose to run out the clock....
I was thinking the same thing. I've seen the Canes all but surrender when things aren't going well. I've seen it from my alma mater USC. Until tonight I don't remember a glaring example from Alabama. There were some lousy games in the late '90s. I remember having Virginia Tech -3.5 points in a bowl game and it turned into a rout. But that was more a flawed vulnerable team than a quit.
Nick Saban didn't seem to have the same intensity as typical. He wanted fixes but didn't seem to be demanding them.
Of course, I'll assign it partially if not largely to the switch in offensive style. I'm never in favor of cupcake offense because there is too much danger of it creating a grub worm effect...eating away at the foundational roots, a la the Marino Dolphins. Nobody will ever convince me that a Saban team from earlier this decade would have caved like that, even if the defenders were tonight's defenders. The team mindset was totally different.
Alabama has rotated away from its power heritage too much, IMO. I kept thinking that an updated Wisconsin philosophy would fit perfectly with this Alabama team. Still plenty of spread concepts but also more I formation and pro sets with creative shifting and play action via snaps from under center. McElwain had lots of that and he certainly didn't have anyone as talented as Tua to run it.
Such a waste of an offensive line that was pushing around Clemson's defensive front beyond what I thought was possible.
BTW, are we really going to give Kyler Murray such credit for how he played against Alabama, given the Fromm and Lawrence examples on either side of that? As I posted last week, I can read lots of praise about Murray but don't tell me he played great against Alabama. There was no reason to be so scared early in that game. Non-threatening comeback numbers should be multiplied by .75 at highest.
Clemson got all the closely contested plays, especially in critical situations. Bizarre final score given the relationship of those two teams. Nobody will want to accept it but Alabama would be favored again if the two teams lined up next week.
Saban's post-game presser was excellent. Likewise from Tua. He is extremely well spoken and level headed.
I still can't believe Alabama punted on 4th and 14 near midfield. Nor that they continued to allow the play clock to run down during the second half despite a 21 point deficit but plenty of time remaining. All you have to do is cut that gap to 14 points and suddenly the energy changes and almost anything is possible, as we've seen from Alabama recently and almost from the Ravens on Sunday.
I think it says a lot about Clemson that Bama was like a buzzsaw for 14 games and then got mowed down by the Tigers in this fashion. I know that Saban and Bama loyalists will first say that Bama just didn't play well, but I think the Tigers deserve a hell of a lot of credit. Extremely impressive performance.
Some folks were talking up this 2018 Bama team as maybe the best college football team ever a few weeks ago. Wonder if Clemson will get similar consideration?
Watching the highlights again this morning and I still can't get over a true freshman standing in there on the biggest stage getting the ball out quickly and throwing strikes while being hit.
Yeah, the Clemson OL had a hell of a game and Lawrence had all day sometimes but it's a huge help when your QB is getting the ball out quick and not flinching when there is pressure.
True freshman. Kid was playing HS ball last season. He's only going to improve.
@TedSlimmJr how would you you compare Clemson’s O line vs Bama D to Bama’s O line vs Clemson D. And what do you say about all this Tua Vs Trevor talk?
But you're absolutely right in regards to how Alabama has changed to a more finesse approach centered around the quarterback. That's just not who we are. We've never been that. We win championships at Alabama by being physical with a suffocating defense, dominant running game, and a game manager quarterback.
Oklahoma and Ohio St. and USC....let all them have the #1 pick and Heisman Trophy quarterbacks. That's not who we are. Furthermore, it's not how Saban is comfortable coaching.
Let's get back to being Alabama. And I'll guarantee you this - that's exactly what we'll do after Saban has had time to take all this in and re-evaluate himself and his coaches.
I wonder if that'll be the directive when Enos takes over at OC.