College Football

Agreed. Saban and Alabama evolved, to a point. More so with formations and the spread but at the same time he still pounded the ball. I think his big adjustment was big fast people up front and speed and people who could play in space.

I'm thinking Les Miles won with what Saban left behind. Or I am off in the years?

S

 

Agreed. I just see so much down there and they end up with a 17-10, 14-6 games. Games where a down field pass or two would blow games wide open.

Heck, I have even slammed on Saban for play calling as well. The year they lost to South Carolina, they fell behind early, then dominated the 2nd quarter and SC could not stop the run. In the 2nd half they threw the ball all over the place and lost.

So many teams run the ball from one end of the field to the other and then throw it three times and settle for a field goal. Or throw it from one end to the other and then run three times in the middle and kick a field goal.

All falls on play calling. Understanding few head coaches call plays but at some point some one has to be held accountable for the final call. Last year or the year before when Alabama was losing to Auburn and the camera flashed on Saban to Kiffin "Run the damn ball". After Henry had like 40 yards on six carries and Auburn had nothing for him. Kiffin in turn throws the ball three times in a row and they punt.

At some point Les Miles should have said, "Throw the damn ball so we can then run the damn ball".

It may not be all his fault but he cashed a bunch of checks saying he was accountable.

S

 

No doubt. With 7 or maybe 8 in the box he is last year's Heisman front runner. This year with 9 in the box and a sprained ankle he is not the same.

Saban ran Henry toward the too much end, but Kiffin always defaults to some long throws and some odd-ball formations that pulled a few out of the box.

Fournette needs the same.

It is not just Les Miles. Like technique and fundamentals play calling is at an all time low at every level. At Carolina, they call a backward swing pass on the 1 into their end zone to the short side of the field with a tight end on that side. It is 6 on 4 in that situation. The receiver has no chance. Then they did it again in the same game for an 7-8 yard loss on 4th and 1.

I'm really impressed with Jackson and Louisville but at this rate he will fade or get hurt by bowl season. He is still playing up by 40 in the 4th quarter. Not exactly brain surgery.

S

 

I was working and missed it. One of the guys had it up on his phone the last two minutes. The updates sounded like it was a good one.

S

 

Alabama and LSU. This is football. They are flat laying the wood to one another up front.

If Lane Kiffin calls some steady run plays up the middle I do not think LSU has enough upfront depth to play all night this way.

The only issue is now they only have to do it for a half.

LSU needs to take a couple deep shots just to keep the safeties honest.

This a great game.

S

 

I would say 12 together and at least 7 first rounders.

S

 

The Michigan lost hurts them but not all that much as the others. They still get a play in game with Ohio State in two weeks. Clemson takes the biggest hit because they have squeaked by a number of times. Washington takes an extra hit for two reasons, they are on the west coast and they are not Southern Cal.

When Ohio St. lost earlier I knew they would have date with Michigan. OSU pretty much controls their own destiny.

Louisville slides in the picture this week but I'm not a fan of someone playing for a National Title when they did not win their own conference.

I'm thinking Alabama then OSU, then Louisville and then Michigan. Clemson's best shot is an impressive showing over SC and then VT in the conference championship and then slipping by the loser of the Michigan-OSU game. It looks like Alabama and Louisville in game 1 and Clemson/Washington against the winner of the Michigan-OSU game.

It will be fun to see.

Louisville's QB with an arm and legs and speed will be interesting against Alabama.

S