Saban's best coaching job?

    That is a subjective statement. Considering the pre-season injuries and loss of Tua the Tide was still an elite team. The disrespect of Alabama was palpable and was ultimately proven to be incorrect. Pollsters were eager to dismiss the Tide. I predict another national championship for Alabama next season. Why do I say that?

1. Alabama is loaded with talent.

2. The Tide will just fine at Quarterback

3. Alabama's offensive line will be outstanding; and,

4. Running backs will be both pounding and explosive.

5. The Defensive line will be much better.

6. Dylan Moses will be back and the Tide defense will improve

7. Smith and Waddle keeps the Tide receivers at the top of the SEC.

    But the primary reason the Tide will win the national championship is that Nick Saban is the greatest coach in the nation. He was shown a lot of hatred by the national media. Saban is at his best when he is has been treated with irreverence. Saban has been written off by the media. Alabama has been treated like a yard-dog. I suspect that a lot of crows will be eaten by sportswriters next fall. 

The Good, the Bad, and the Obvious of the Iron Bowl....

     It's Monday following a horrible weekend. Like most of you, it pains me to see the Tide lose. This loss was more painful than most. I think we learned some things about this year's team. There are things we'd like to forget but a lot of things to remember.

THE GOOD: 

1. Mac Jones proved to me  he's a winner and a keeper. We all wondered whether Jones could weather the offensive questions surrounding him. One bad pass for pick sick, and another one of those Auburn miracles for another pick six. Sure, those hurt but Jones led Alabama to 34 points. That should have been enough to win the football game or any football game. Overall, I give him an A.  He performed far better than I thought he might. 

2. Is Jaylen Waddle human, or is he some being from another dimension?  Two outstanding touchdown grabs and two additional magnificent returns for touchdowns. And i thought David Palmer was great. I don't know what is beyond great but that's what Waddle is now. 

3. Najee Harris was shredded the "so-called" great AU defensive line. He ran for 146 yards. He literally ran over, around, and through the Auburn Tigers. He was the running back we thought he should be. Harris played to an A+ level in my opinion.

4. Jerry Judy, Henry Ruggs, and Devonta Smith keep the passing game intact and wide-open. These are the four greatest receivers on one team in college football history. It has been a pleasure and honor to watch them. Judy and Ruggs are sure first round NFL picks. Smith might be. I hope that Smith and Waddle will play on the field together in Tuscaloosa next season. I give them an A.

5. The offensive line played great. It was shame they couldn't play defense as well. The kept the Tiger defensive line on the heels most of the day. A.

THE BAD

1. The penalties killed the Tide. They have all year. Is that coaching, lack  of discipline, or something else. I would have loved to see Waddle get to return one more punt. I didn't understand why the Tide needed to substitute so many players for a punt. It wasn't the first time this season  this happened. F

2. Tackling has been abysmal this season. It didn't seem to get better as the games progressed. Auburn had far too many lanes to run in during the game. Very un-Bama like. Tackling is coaching. Period. Perhaps the Tide needs some new coaches on the defensive side of the ball. What do you think?  C-

3, Whenever we have a placekick or punt there is a feeling of dread wafting through the air. It is horrible. Bulavos improved during the season but missed the big one. our punter (Ty Perine) stabilized a bad situation. B

4. I thought Davis and Jennings had a good game. It was nice to finally see Davis live up to his hype. Barmore is getting better. And Xavier McKinney was stellar as always. I'd give them A

THE OBVIOUS

1. Alabama's need to play far too many freshman on the defensive line  of the ball hurt the Tide and cost any chance to reach the playoffs.

2. You would think a premiere program could have two outstanding kickers. Perhaps Perine will be one and Will Reichard the other. Perhaps. I'd be looking  for some walk-on players to find one. It is the same old same old each year it seems. 

3. Someone to teach tackling. Just plain old tackling. You know just a fundamental part of the football. How did this happen

4. And it is clear that Auburn has to use trick plays and manipulate the rules to win. It is the only way to compete with the Tide and they know it.  Here's a little treat.The AU win will save Gus Malzhan's job. I love that.

Post season game: word on the street is Bama vs. Virginia in the Orange Bowl. Some writers think it could be Bama at  Memphis in the Cotton Bowl. I understand that Bama does not want to be part of the Hurts vs.Bama hype. That match up would be unfair to both Jalen and Alabama. It would be fun to see two teams score over a hundred each.

FINAL THOUGHT - Alabama  football is well. This was a season where injuries and early departures hurt the Tide. All is well. 

 TUA IS INJURED AND HIS SEASON IS OVER... 

      Excuse me if words come hard today.  Tua is likely through at Alabama forever. We may never see his smiling face in a Tide uniform again. Alabama is a lesser team today. I’m not talking football skills, but rather about a young man whose heart exceeds his game. Tua was much more than a football player. In an age where anger seems to prevail, his personality made you feel good. Tua also made you want to be a better person. He will never be forgotten. He will always be admired and love. Tua will serve a guide to how all people should behave in a bitter world.

College football word hates ‘Bama…

    Let’s get straight to the obvious part.  The college football world hates the University of Alabama. It really isn’t ‘Bama fatigue. It is pure and unadulterated hatred. If you listened to LSU fans you probably get my drift. They were not just fanatical. They were more like a gumbo Klan rally. How can you blame the LSU fans for being happy. The Tigers played a good game. But the hatred spewed by their head coach was surprising. Orgeron's post game comments exemplify my belief. What can you expect from your fan base when your head coach spews such non-sense? Those poorly chosen words says a lot about the Orgeron. It also says a lot about Nick Saban.  Saban would never stoop to such lack of character. It seems as if we now live in a country where the people who we should respect give us no reason to respect them. Of course, having that type of reaction shows just how successful Alabama has become under Nick Saban. LSU isn't Alabama. Ed Orgeron and LSU will never be more than the antagonist in this gridiron drama. We all know that, and deep inside the LSU fans know that as well.  The Tigers deserve their jubilation. Let's give that to them with class. Who knows? Alabama might play them again this season. 

   There are not four teams better than Alabama this year. If Alabama wins their remaining games they deserve to be in the CFP. They lost to the #1 team in the NCAA by five points. It took an almost perfect night from LSU and a horrible night game by Alabama to see the Tigers win. No excuses for our Defense. They are full of outstanding young men but collectively they just aren't there yet.  I doubt they will be this season. The Selection Committee won't forget that, but they also can't forget the performance of the Tide offense can they? Or will they? Will the Selection Committee select the best four teams or will politics rear its ugly head. I'm picking the latter and not the former. There will be a lot of pressure to pick a West Coast team. Utah and Oregon will  make a strong case even if the entire world knows they are not one of best four. Baylor might go undefeated. Oklahoma will only probably only have one loss at the end of the season. I'd crown either the champion of enhanced flag football immediately.

   Alabama needs to score as many points as they can. The defense needs  to improve at least some. The Committee would notice that. So what do Tide fans hope for?

1. LSU needs to win the SEC Championship which would ...

2. Give Georgia its second loss.

3. If Oregon and Utah lose that would be Crimson Crazy,

4  but if they meet in the PAC 12 championship game a loss either is inevitable. 

5. Baylor is going to lose to Oklahoma or someone else...

6 And that leaves Minnesota who will lose at least  two more games. 

Alabama's main problem would be if the winner of the PAC 12 Conference only has one loss. I think there is going to be a lot of pressure on the Selection Committee to pick the winner. Is Alabama better than a one loss Oregon or Utah. Yeah, about three touchdowns better.

ALABAMA WILL BE ONLY AS GOOD AS TUA'S HEALTH   

Hindsight is always 20/20 according to the old saying In reading the comments on the TiderInsider board, it seems there are dozens of reasons Alabama lost to LSU. Here’s my take. Alabama lost their composure early on and dug a hole so deep they couldn’t climb out. It is easy to say Tua’s fumble on the first drive shook Alabama. That might be true. Or perhaps it was another failure in the kicking game. This time, the punter dropped a snap. Or Tua's interception late in the first half. What the heck was that about?  Alabama’s defense has been shaky all season long and it finally beat them. You can only sustain so many early departures to the NFL and injuries. I think the Tide missed on a couple of recruits that might have helped them. Those three things are so significant this season that even Nick Saban can't fix them. A lot of fans will blame the defensive coordinator. That might be convenient, but it’s missing the real point. Alabama’s defensive collapses are not brand new. This is becoming a trend, and the reason for that is not simple. It is a combination of things. It is also becoming a trend all over college football, and it' isn't unique to Alabama. LSU's defense collapsed also. 


The Tide didn't quit

      Despite everything that LSU brought, the Tide didn’t quit. The only way you beat Alabama is to have a quarterback who has a great day. LSU had Joe Burrow, and he had a career-defining day. You have to admire the gritty performance of Tua. He passed for over 400 yards and kept Alabama’s hope to win alive. He did this on one leg and twenty days after having surgery. Yesterday, Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy and Tua once again lost it because of an injury. Alabama lost to LSU because the defense is average at best and Tua was hurt. It’s that simple.

Has trickery replaced manhood in college football?

    Another thought crossed my mind in watching the game. The SEC is looking more like the Big 12 every game. The sophisticated passing offense has changed college football. Players leaving early to play in the NFL has changed college football. The fans will still attend the games and schools will make millions of dollars. But, the fundamental nature of the sport is gone. Has trickery replaced manhood? Rules allow offensive linemen to hold the defense on every play. Holding must rise to the level of an outright tackle to draw a flag. I’m sorry but Mike Leach got the last laugh on college football after all.


Tua did all he could do

      I couldn’t help but wonder if everything Tua endured to play yesterday was worth it. The young man was limping much worse than when initially hurt three weeks ago. Tua deserves a red badge of courage for his performance yesterday, and that is my 20/20 hindsight regarding the game. If Tua had been healthy I believe Alabama would have beaten LSU by two touchdowns or more even with our current defensive problems.  Tua wasn’t healthy and Joe Burrow was, and that made all the difference.  Alabama will be only as good as Tua is healthy.

   

• Najee Harris showed that he can be Heisman Candidate next season
• Jerry Jeudy is a first-round pick and a First Team All-America
• Devonta Smith has emerged as a home run hitter. 
• Jalon Waddle had the greatest punt return I've seen. Move over Billy Cannon
• Deonte Brown seems to have made the Tide's O-line much better

SEC OPINIONS PLAYER OF THE GAME: Tua Tagovailoa

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: BAMA CAN STILL WIN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IF A FEW THINGS FALL INTO PLACE. 

1. Tua needs to stay well

2. Some defensive improvement would be appreciated

3. LSU must remain undefeated

4. Is Bama the best one lost team remaining?

   

   

THE GAME IS NOT JUST ABOUT TUA...

  Granted, whether Tua plays or is even effective should he compete are vital questions. They might even be the most important questions which keep Alabama from winning. There are other areas which are important as well. There are other areas of the game which could keep either team from winning. Let's consider a few of those:

1. The kicking game: Joseph Bulovos is going to get the nod due to Reichard's lingering injury. Bulovas is pretty dependable, but he has problems which were a reason why he lost his starting position  The kicker cannot afford any misses on extra points or short field goals. It's hard to blame anyone for missing a long one though. I won't do that. Remember the Kick Six? Adam made as good a kick as anyone could possibly hit.  He just couldn't kick it that far. 

One area where the Tide might win the game is kick-returning. Jaylan Waddle is the man on punts. He is the best in the SEC and probably the nation. Ruggs can bust one on kickoffs. I'd bet LSU holds its breath when they punt to Waddle. The Tigers should. Henry Ruggs is a death threat on kick-off returns. Ty Perine, a walk-on is averaging 47 yards a kick which is 14th best in the nation. This is a tremendous improvement. Alabama was 129th before Perine took the field.

2. The secondary:  Alabama has a great secondary. They might be the best in the SEC. Offenses have been given so much of an advantage over the defense in rules and officiating it really isn't fair at times. What is pass interference calls has gotten out of hand.  The NCAA needs to make amends but that's another story. If Alabama can put some real pressure on Burrow the secondary will make some plays. Note, I said will make some plays,  and not could make some plays. Play as hard as they are allowed to play, and Hope the refs are fair.

3. Penalties: Alabama is a good football team, but great football teams eliminate mental errors. The Tide has been penalized far too much for his season. They must minimize mistakes.  No doubt, some penalties are hard to avoid, but lining up in the neutral zone and illegal procedure penalties are mental mistakes for the most part. 'Bama's man on man defense with the corners can bring some pass interference calls. At times pass interference might the last resort in keeping someone from scoring. Again, this is an age where a sneeze can draw a flag.

4. Run Defense: You will be mad but our run defense is bad. Period. The two young linebackers have improved (I guess, frankly I cannot really tell) but the Alabama defensive line hasn't played well. It isn't like any singular player on the line is bad. They just don't play well as a unit. Jennings has played well, and with Terrell Lewis coming on the line is better. Davis has been a disappointment. Dale has his moments in the sun, but overall we just aren't there. This worries me and it should worry you as well. I have these nightmares about LSU tailbacks ripping off huge gains. The depth is not where we'd like it. Can Alabama's porous run defense shine for the big game. I have my doubts but I see some hope as well. 

Part two tomorrow.

SABAN HAS A REMARKABLE OPPORTUNITY NOW...

       Alabama has some problems. They have had them since before game one this season. I suspect they had them before Dylan Moses went down with an injury. The defense has been fair to middling as we like to say in this state. Flame me if you like, but it’s true. Now, our defense has a job to do. The newly baptized have had to improve. The experienced could lead the way, and the coaches can find ways to manipulate the x’s and o’s to win each game.

     The offense, was as one-legged, as is Tua is now, from the start of the season. The running game wasn’t up to Alabama standards. Average opposing defenses far too often knocked Tide backs down for losses behind the line of scrimmages. Penalties rained down on the Alabama team like summer rain. And still, the Alabama Crimson Tide was undefeated and ranked # 1 in the nation. I never thought we were that good, it was a kind of lifetime achievement award for Nick Saban, and perhaps the belief he would cure all the faults that glared like headlights on a dark night.

    The competition has been poor. It will be poor again this weekend. After this game, the competition will be tough. It will tough enough to make each and every weakness this team has. Some of those weaknesses are too apparent to hide or cover even with a stunning quarterback who will not be a 100%. But Nick Saban has an opportunity here. He can continue to prove that he is the greatest coach in the history of American football. Saban can prove all the nay-sayers and talking heads wrong. If Saban wins a 7^th national championship he will have done his greatest coaching job. Even without the injury to Tua winning the national championship would have been his greatest job in my opinion.

   This team is far from perfect. They are getting better. The defense seems more like an Alabama defense of older days.  The running game is starting to come around. Can Mack be Tua? Of course not. But he can be good enough if every other player plays his best. Make no doubt that after today the Tide will be the underdog to beat LSU and Auburn. The Bama haters will celebrate, and other coaches will say Saban is through. Bama or Saban isn’t through. I believe this team of young men, who at times seems confused, can become better than perhaps they have believed themselves. Get ready, the ride is going to bumpy, but the championship at the end will be even sweeter.