SEC OPINIONS - COACHING SHAKEUPS IN SEC AND WEST COAST.

       First and foremost, I’d like to thank Steve Spurrier for his contribution to o SEC football. The old ball coach, as he is known, is one heck of a coach. I’ve put a a few tees in the ground with the man. He probably could have been a professional golfer had he chosen. He made Florida football a dominant force in the SEC, and while he admittedly fell short of his goals at South Carolina, his presence brought new excitement to Gamecock fans. I know that he rubbed a lot of Alabama fans the wrong way. Why? He had the audacity to beat Alabama. In his tenure at Florida, the Alabama game became one of the most anticipated and exciting games in college football. 

     Not only did he have the audacity to beat Alabama, he thought he could do it each time the teams played. You might not have liked Coach Spurrier, but you had to respect him. I think it is interesting to note that he has not retired. He resigned, leaving the door open to coach again. Whether he does or not remains to be seen; however, don’t rule it out for the former Heisman Trophy winner. Spurrier has been a fixture in SEC football for what seems forever. He’ll be missed. He is still a heck of a coach. USCe is going to have a monstrous problem in replacing him with a coach of the same ability.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FIRES THEIR COACH...

USCw athletic director Pat Haden the decisions to fire Steve Sarkisian. Haden characterized the it as one of the hardest decisions he has ever made. He acknowledge that Sarkisian was in bad health but failed to elaborate. Many reports have said the USC Coach was suffering from an inability to cope with an alcohol addiction. Haden would not confirm those reports. Information about Sarkisian has attended booster functions and appeared before his team intoxicated. 

Hayden had originally given the coach an indefinably leave of absence with strict conditions regarding his behavior. The next day he terminated the coach after receiving additional information about Sarkisian’s public behavior. 

Hmm...

TIDE LOOKED PRETTY BAD IN WIN OVER 'HOGS...

     

Ridley ups his game to help 'Bama win ...

        Time for a little honesty.  The Tide beat Arkansas 27-14, but looked pretty bad in doing so. The offense stumbled and bumbled its way to a win. It took a great defensive effort and couple of questionable coaching decisions by the Arkansas Head Coach to open the door for Alabama. First, let's give Arkansas kudos for a tremendous effort away from home. The 'Hogs gave 'Bama all they wanted or needed. It's hard to believe that Arkansas has lost so many games this year. Once again it was Jack Coker to Calvin Ridley that changed momentum in a game. This time it was an 81 yard bomb. It was the longest play from scrimmage for Alabama this season, and it came at a great time. Before that play, Alabama looked pretty pedestrian against a mediocre defense. Once again, the Tide defense came to the rescue with hard nosed play that left little doubt about who has the best defense in the SEC.  

Alabama offensive line not playing well...

   

  There is simply no way to delude yourself in thinking that Alabama has a good offensive line. They might be average. Derrick Henry was limited to 95 yards on 27 carries. Ouch. Coker was hit hard and often by Arkansas pass rushers. I know that Coker threw a couple of interceptions but it's hard to blame him when things get mighty quiet in the pocket. Both his interceptions were caused by the offensive line's inability to give him time to throw. Too many penalties were a problem. It seemed that it took forever for Coker to get plays started. What's the purpose of a no huddle offense when the clock runs down to almost zero.  A lot of Tide fans can't quite figure out what's wrong if the offense. Here's a new theory. They simply can't win the line of scrimmage with enough consistency. Coker may not be the best quarterback, but it's hard to develop skills running for your life. The story of this season may be how good the offensive line can become. Right now, whether that will happen is up in the air. When one of the best running backs can't break the hundred yard mark on 27 carries you have some problems. Thank you Reggie Ragland and company.

RAGLAND IS AN ALL-AMERICAN...

   

          Want to know where Reggie Ragland is on any given play?  Just follow the ball. Somewhere around the line of scrimmage he always finds the ball. In the history of Alabama football there have been some great linebackers. Reggie Ragland is in that select group. Ragland simply dominates the game. The down lineman seem unbeatable. Once again, a defensive back gave up a long touchdown pass, but it took a great effort by Allen to do so. He dodged a number of sack attempts, ducked his head and rolled out. Once again the question of will he run or not made the defense back consider his options. It was a great play by the Arkansas QB. Opposing teams are picking on Marlon Humphrey. He's gotten better and will be fine before the end of the season. The defensive backfield is going to have plenty of opportunities to prove themselves before the last game.

BAMA ESCAPES BUT THERE IS WORK TO BE DONE...

      
      Next up is Texas A&M. The Aggies had the week off. Another open date before playing the Tide is getting pretty old. The SEC needs to be fair in scheduling. This has been going on for so long it seems impossible to be coincidence. This will be, in my opinion, the first real test for TAM. It will also be a game where we'll find out just how good our defense really is. The Aggies can throw the ball, and Kevin Sumlin will not let his team forget 52-0. Anyone who thinks this is going to be easy is wrong. Our offensive line better find themselves in practice this week or it could be a long day next Saturday.

THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY AND IN BETWEEN...

  Every game seems to give us the good, the bad, and the ugly. With a developing team you seem to get something in between.
  

The Good:  Jake Coker to Calvin Ridley is turning into something special. The Alabama     defense is pretty darn spiffy. At least on ESPN talking head has proclaimed them as the best defense in America. The only other defense I've seen that is close to Bama is Michigan but they haven't had real test except for Utah. The defensive front is the best I've seen going all the way back to 1992. Kept in mind that offenses are much more sophisticated now.

The Good:  Alabama's running backs  are very good. Now if the offensive line can develop to give a few wide open spaces, they might be the best pair in the SEC. I was very happy with the way our receivers played. They are going to be a potent bunch. Add Foster to the mix and you've got more than a defense can handle.

The Good:  Alabama's punter, J.K. Scott had a couple of boomers. His contribution to the team cannot be minimized. I thought last season he was our MVP.

The Bad: The offensive line just isn't there yet.

The Ugly: Field goals have become a roll of the dice for the Tide. I don't know if we really have anyone behind Griff. He needs to pick it up or Saban needs to consider another option. With the offensive line Griff is going to get a lot of opportunities.

IN BETWEEN: The offense is struggling but has good moments. The also have some bad minutes. They struggle in the red zone, and I'm suggesting that Lane Kiffin needs to help Coker  by getting the plays into him soon. Coker clearly has trouble with the hurry up no huddle offense.

 

 

 

       

YOU HAVE TO LOVE FOOTBALL IN DIXIE...

     To live in the Deep South is to love Saturdays in the Fall. However; you have to live through those anxiety wrought Friday nights. For a lot of us we can go watch high school football. That doesn't always always work. You might be entangled in those games as well. I graduated from Cleveland High School in 1965. That was half a century ago. I still love my old high school. The Panthers who have had a lot of bad seasons of late are currently undefeated. Tonight they play their final regional game against Section High School. The 7-0 Panthers should be 8-0 in a couple of hours. 

          I vividly remember homecoming my senior year. At halftime the Queen was crowned. The football team gave our coach a shotgun and a recliner. I always thought that an odd combination but it sums up the Deep South in so many ways. Our coach was the late Hugh "Pea Soup" O'Shields. He was an excellent coach. To be honest, I hated playing football. It was my fear that I'd get hurt and ruin my chances at getting to play college basketball. My family was poor. That was about average for everyone in Cleveland. Blount County, Alabama isn't now, and wasn't then a very wealthy area. I needed a scholarship in order to go to school. Around my area I was known as a basketball man. That meant I knew the rules, and loved the game.The truth is that track and field stole my heart.

        The other thing I remember was the class of 1915 was recognized. The class of '15 finished high school 50 years prior to that cool October night. A dozen or so souls stood up to the applause of the "crowd". Maybe 500 hundred were in attendance. After the game I made a point of going to talk to a couple of the men in that class. They had fathers who fought in the Civil War. They missed WWI, but were prime conscripts for WWII. They seemed so old. Now I am that old, but I don't feel old. Well, maybe near the end of a long day of golf I feel old. My mind doesn't feel old at all. I realized what one of them told me that night was true, "with a little luck you may live to go to your 50th High School reunion." At the time that felt preposterous.  I was 18 years old and bullet proof. Of course, I'd live that long, but it seemed so far away. It wasn't. The man told me the truth. If you are lucky enough. I have been lucky. Others in my class weren't so lucky. 

         Here is one thing that age brings - in sports you live long enough and you'll see the greats. You can compare players. Your brain becomes a storage file of sports knowledge. You never get so old that what you know regardless of how little younger people believe you know. Anyone who thinks that older people are past your prime about sports is a myth. I've seen Bear Bryant coach football and I've seen Nick Saban coach. One is not above the other. Both are great coaches. Older fans think Bryant is the best. Younger fans think Saban is the best. Both are wrong in my opinion. Could Bryant's best teams beat Saban's best? I doubt it. The real point is whether each coach be as good a coach in the others era? They could. There is no back in the day. We only think that is true. Each of us grew up in different times of American life. So, on a Friday night full of recollections I thought I'd pass that on.

THINGS GOING SOUTH FOR AU...

Hard to believe what's going on with Auburn...

   

Malzhan's got problems

     With no disrespect to my Auburn friends, what the hell is going on with your football program? The Tigers were a preseason favorite to win the SEC West. That's not going to happen. Plus, the Tiger fans and media believed that Jeremy Johnson was going to win the Heisman Trophy. He's no longer the starting quarterback. I never really understood how a player who couldn't win the starting job last season could win the Heisman the next season.  That shows just how unrealistic Auburn fans can be. The problem that AU cannot escape, and it is not their fault, is that they are competing against the University of Alabama. That's a tough task. In the long run it is a task you just can't win regardless of how hard you try, and how much you love your team. Give credit to Auburn fans - they love Auburn. 

      It seems to me that even when the Tigers win it comes tainted in some way. The Cam Newton title was rife with allegations that Auburn had bought the best quarterback money could buy. For most people, who aren't Auburn fans, it seemed like the Tigers got away with one. The rationale he had no personal knowledge of what is father was doing seems pretty flimsy to me on several levels.  That's all over, but I bet anytime an Alabama hears about that national championship they all thought about cheating. Privately, a number of Auburn fans have told me that's what they think as well. Beyond what Auburn may or may not have done, it left a stain on a great season. Don't get me started about the hypocrisy of the NCAA enforcement division. 

     I think that Gus Malzhan is a pretty good coach. I don't like all the trick plays. In my opinion the best teams just line and knock you silly. Auburn spent a ton of money to get Boom, and his defense prove my point. If you can't man up to your opponent you can never be a great team. You might win some, you might trick people for a while, but in the long run the line of scrimmage will always catch up with you. One thing that I've always thought was that Auburn teams played tough. Last season and through to season this year you can see Auburn players actually avoid contact. That's not what Auburn has been. Heck, that's not even real football. It seems that the only licks passed by an Auburn player occurred in a bar fight. 

     Auburn is in for a long season in my opinion. The unsettled question at quarterback doesn't set the stage for success. The defense isn't playing gut check football. Finally, there seems to be a lot of stuff going on off-field as well. Duke Williams was given his walking papers. Rumors of lack of team unity are coming to light. I have no idea of exactly what is happening. One thing seem obvious. Auburn just isn't very good. They are not even close to good. That's not to say that the Tigers won't win a few more games. They could do that. But being a dominant SEC Western division program just isn't on the menu this year. We all know that AU should be in the Eastern Division, from a geographical view point,  anyway. 

TIDE FACES ARKANSAS IN BIG SEC WEST MATCHUP

HOW WILL TIDE PLAY COMING OFF THEIR HUGE WIN OVER GEORGIA?

      The last time Arkansas played in Tuscaloosa it was an fashioned beat down. The Hogs got slaughtered 52-0. It wasn't that close. On Saturday the Hogs coming calling hoping to avoid fifty two 2.0. Luckily for Bret's bunch they are more balanced and coming off a big win over Tennessee in Knoxville. Las Vegas money says Bama is a big 17 point favorite. I think it was become pretty clear that running on Bama isn't gong to work. Expect Alabama's defensive backfield  to have a busy day.  Don't expect Arkansas to have a lot of luck with their passing game either. In fact, don't expect Arkansas to have a lot of luck on offense period.  I'm not discounting that Collins is the most underrated back in the SEC.

     This will be, in all likelihood, a substantial Bama win.  What will be keys to a Bama win. 

1.  Continued good play from Jake Coker. That means good decisions, making his proper reads, and playing with confidence. After the Georgia game he seems to have made progress in each of those areas

2   Better play from the offensive line. I think that the tight end needs to improve the blocking. You have to wonder if Alabama isn't going to throw to the tight end why not just plug Brandon Green in place of O.J. Howard? 

3.  Keep the killing machine known as the Bama front seven in gear. I think that Arkansas is going to give the Alabama secondary a run for their money.  Arkansas wants to the ball first and foremost. Expect Arkie to open up with some vertical passes to try to open up their run game. I don't think it will work. Arkansas seems to have enough talent to move the ball some. It wouldn't surprise me if they can score a couple of touchdown. They just won't be able to score enough.

4.  Limit turnovers by the offensive.  Bama had another early game turnover and dodged the momentum bullet. Hopefully, pick up a couple of turnovers on the defensive end of the game.

5. Bama really needs to see J.K. Scott return to the long ball. I have no idea why he is in a slump. He's probably having some technical problem most of us can't see.

6. Keep pumping sunshine and Kudos to Adam with his place kicking. Let's see if the young receivers can have an encore performance.


I LIKE BAMA 31-14.

TIDES RISES IN STORMY WEATHER...

ALABAMA RULES THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE IN BLOW-OUT WIN...

COKER PLAYS HIS BEST GAME
HENRY RUNS FOR 148
TIDE BLOCKS PUNT AND INTERCEPTS 2 PASSES
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Henry wears down the 'Dawgs

     In a torrential downpour,  the Alabama Crimson Tide may have righted their ship in the 2015 season. Georgia was a 2 point favorite to hand Alabama football team its second loss of the season. The 'Dawgs had everything  in their favor. They were at home, they had a red hot quarterback, and a running back who couldn't be stopped. Sportswriters all over America was ready to write some slick article about the death of the Alabama football program. Someone forgot to tell the Crimson Tide about their impending death. The final score was 38-10, and once again we all learned the basic rule of SEC truth - In the end there will always be Alabama. In the rain, mud, and all the adversity in the world, Nick Saban and his Crimson Warriors embarrassed the number 8 ranked team in America. It wasn't even close.

Alabama  wasn't perfect, but they were relentless. The defense completely shut down the high powered Georgia running game except for one play. The young corner-backs showed they can play. The down linemen, all of them, dominated the line of scrimmage. It was the as good as it could get if you love Alabama. The Alabama offensive line showed obvious improvement giving room for Tide backs to scamper for 202 yards.On a rainy night in Georgia the Alabama Crimson Tide gave the SEC a message. The Tide is back. I'm not sure they ever went anywhere. Maybe they were merely licking there wounds after the Ole MIss game. Whatever the Tide coaching staff put together it worked. 



   

Two interceptions and blocked punt for DBs

    After Jacob Coker ran his bootleg to get the Tide points total to 37, the entire Georgia  fan base voted with their feet about how they felt about their program. Mark Richt looked like part of the walking dead in his press conference. Georgia is a good football program. They are not Alabama. When talking about SEC football the conversation starts with Alabama. From time to time another school has a couple of hot seasons, but in the end  we all know the Crimson Tide is waiting like the grim reaper. It is not will Alabama eventually kill you, but just a matter of when. Georgia was all dressed up but had no where to go except back to the drawing board. Alabama rolled up their sleeves and went to work. We've seen this a hundred times before. 

The Alabama win didn't seem like an upset did it? The Florida win over Ole Miss didn't seem to be an upset. Arkansas contributed to the continued collapse of Tennessee football. The Razorbacks ran the 'Vols into the ground in the last three quarters. Arkansas now turns to Tuscaloosa for the next game. I'd bet the Tide front seven is smiling. Arkansas won't beat Alabama on the ground. They'll have to pass the ball, and the game might prove to be the young defensive backfields biggest test to date. That defensive backfield intercepted two passes and saw one of their own block a punt for a TD.

SEC OPINIONS - THE BIG ONE

TIDE FACES THE BIG ONE...
Tide faces it's biggest game of the season...    

 Remember Michigan State?

  I'd like to be able to write that the Tide faces another big game.  The one on Saturday is a little more than that isn't it? Saturday, Alabama faces a game which will define what this Crimson Tide team is all about. Will the Tide put their noses to the grindstone and come away with a win which will validate the season?  Or, will the Tide mush it around on offense and look like some sort of used car? I have no idea, but it's going to be one or the other. It's not going to be anything in between in my opinion. This is going to be big boy football. This isn't going to be San Jose State. I feel pretty good about our chances, but it would be a lie to say I'm full of confidence. I really feel like a cat on a hot tin roof. Tomorrow will never come, and my anxiety level is just hit ten.  

The Running backs and Quarterbacks...

Lambert has put us some impressive stats...

      In the SEC you will find a some great match-ups.  You won't find one any better than Derrick Henry vs. Nick Chubb. What two outstanding running backs to see on the field in the same game. I can't say which one is better. It is enough to say they are top shelf backs. Chubb seems to be the heart and soul of the Georgia offense. I don't know exactly what Alabama is going to do on defense, but it starts with trying to stop Chubb. I believe Georgia will do the exact thing with Henry. Both teams will try to get the opposing quarterback to beat them. That's where things get a a little dicey for the Tide. Despite the gaudy numbers put up by Greyson Lambert a lot of people aren't sold on him yet. The 6-5 junior transfer recently set an NCAA record for percentage of completed passes in one game. The competition has been less than stellar.  Don't think for a minute that Jake Coker is lighting up the affection of Tide fans, however. Coker has shown a few good things, a few bad things, and a lot of "what the hell" was he doing type things. He is, for better or worse, the Tide quarterback. If Coker can find a little Blake Sims magic this team could be a great one. Otherwise, it's like living paycheck to paycheck.

   

         

Henry is the Bell Cow of the Tide offense

I'd give the nod in the running back department to Georgia but only begrudgingly. You can't overlook the two backups either. Michael and Drake would start for a lot of teams. That pair is very similar in makeup. I'd give the quarterback edge to the Dawgs as well. Lambert seems more composed and he is playing at home. Coker is the wild card. For the Tide to have any hope of winning it will be if Coker can play well. That is going to be problematical for 'Bama. For whatever reason Coker seems to put so much pressure on himself he is not able to use his considerable ability. Lambert, on the other hand, has less talent but seems to fit in well with his offense, and has confidence. I think that the opposition has allowed Lambert to play well. Whether or not his offensive line is a great one will be answered on Saturday as well. Alabama's inability to find steady play at right tackle has hurt the cohesiveness of the line. In the L.Monroe game it was clear that the defense would stack the box on Bama's left side with an extra defender.  Georgia is going to be a lot better in the box than LM. Size vs. Speed on defense is going to be interesting.

 

     I believe the Tide has the strong edge on the defensive front. Look for Georgia to try to run it outside. Alabama's safeties and corner-backs better be solid.  Georgia is going to pass because of the stout run defense of Bama. I think our linebackers and secondary are on the verge of being very good. The punter JK Scott needs to come out of his slump. This is going to be a field position game,and given the weather forecast the sophomore punter needs to be spot on. It looks like Adam  Griffith seems to be healthy for the first time in a year. We'll need him. So do we win? Can Alabama put together a great offensive game despite what has happened in the past. Numbers wise the Tide has put us some 500 yard games in spite off turnovers, dropped passes, and iffy quarterback play. The weather could dictate a lot of what happens this weekend. Will the Tide be ready? I think so. Will they win? That's a different question. No turnovers will help. Hanging on to passes from Coker will help. Smart play from Coker will be key. I heart says 'Bama while my head says Georgia. I love Alabama.