FIU Grades

Metaphors can be tricky things.

Consider, for example, the problem with using the concept of a "tune up" as a metaphor for Alabama's game against FIU.  It's pretty easy to say that "the drive train" is in good shape, with GMac "firing on all cylinders" and Trent Richardson demonstrating that the "fuel injectors" are working properly as he rushes for over 100 yards as a substitutes for an injured Roy Upchurch.  The automotive metaphor even works for the defense, as Alabama's stop troops "put the brakes" on FIU's passing attack.  But the automotive tune up metaphor breaks down when one attempts to find a way to describe Bama's kick coverage.

The FIU game, as well as next week's contest with North Texas, were supposed to be opportunities for the Tide to work on areas of weakness exposed by the opening game against a very good Va. Tech. and get ready for a long stretch of conference play.  In some respects that plan seems to be working fine.  See, for example, GMac's passing efficiency.  But from this vantage point it doesn't appear that special teams have received nearly the attention they need; or if they have, that the attention has produced noticeable improvement.

Here's how I grade the game:

Offense:    B +    I'm sure I will hear from many that this grade is too low.  After all, the Tide gained 516 total yards [275 rushing] and earned 26 first downs [14 by rushing, 12 passing and none by penalty].  Bama's ball carriers averaged 6.5 yards per rush with Richardson leading the way with 118 yards on 15 carries [7.9 yd. average].  In the air, GMac completed 18 of 24 pass attempts and at one point in the game had completed 17 of 19.  For the night, GMac threw for 241 yards with 1 TD and no interceptions.  He was sacked once.  With Julio Jones sidelined with an ice bag on his right knee, Mike McCoy became GMac's favorite target.  McCoy caught 5 passes for 100 yards including one for 35 yards, GMac's longest of the night.

Nine different players caught passes and seven of those players made receptions earning more than 10 yards per catch.

Alabama's offense scored on each of its first four possessions in the game and punted only once in the first half.  From the 5:00 mark in the third quarter to the 8:00 mark in the fourth, Alabama had the ball four times.  The offense scored three TDs and punted once.   Bama's offense sustained 8 drives of 40 or more yards [55, 80, 50, 69, 50, 40, 54, 54].  These included the drives with the most plays [13] and the least [2], each of which ended in points.

The Tide earned 664 all purpose yards, and four players had 100 or more [Richardson - 141, Arenas - 126, Ingram - 103 and McCoy - 100].

So how do I justify not awarding an A to the offense?  Two reasons: quality of opposition, and mental errors in the form of costly penalties.  Alabama had to settle for field goals rather than TDs twice in the first half.  On the opening drive, Alabama had first and goal inside the 10 but failed to finish in the end zone.  The final drive of the first quarter - Alabama's third of the game - once again failed to finish when back-to-back penalties [false start, holding] forced a FG.

Defense:    A         Bama's defense held FIU to only 214 total yards of offense, including only 1 yard rushing on 26 attempts.  FIU's QBs, McCall and Younger, completed 18 passes on 38 attempts, scored a TD and had one intercepted.

The Tide pass rush picked up where it left off in the Va. Tech. game making 11 tackles for loss including 5 sacks.  Roland McClain led all tacklers with 10 stops [6 solo].  Mark Barron had 6 tackles [2 solo] and made the late interception which he returned for 17 yards.  But the man who no doubt haunted the nightmares of FIU's quarterbacks last night was Dont'a Hightower, who recorded 6 tackles [3 solo], 2.5 tackles for loss, including a sack, and accounted for 2 of Bama's 9 quarterback hurries.

Special Teams:

Kick offs:    F    It has been suggested to me that this grade ought actually to be W-F for "Withdrawn While Failing",  since after allowing another wire to wire kick return for a touchdown, Bama resorted to squibs, pooches, and knucklers out of bounds, rather than actually have to try to stop a return.  Surely this is an aspect of the game that has received attention from the coaching staff; but obviously not enough.
Punting:    A     Fitz punted the ball 3 times for an average of 43 yards.  Only one punt was returned and that return gained only 3 yards.  Javier Arenas gained 101 yards on 4 punt returns and his longest return was 46 yards.

Place Kicking:    B     Leigh Tiffin was good from 23 and 29 but missed from 39.

Coaching:    B    Alabama went deep into the roster as 61 individual players saw action.  We had fewer penalties [7] than last week, but that number is still too high and the point on the field where they transpired turned out to be drive killers.  The uncured deficiencies in the kicking game keep the grade from being higher.

But, your Commissioner does not want to leave the impression that he is pessimistic about this team.  Far from it.  I expect Alabama to win the West and to have a better shot at Florida in the SEC Championship than we had last year.  But there is till room for improvement.  The biggest difference between 2009 and any season between Coach Stallings and Coach Saban, is the sense of confidence that improvement will be made, that high expectations are realistic, and that everyone associated with this program, from the head coach, to the ushers, are committed to being champions.

That championship mentality is something else that defies description in a metaphor.  And I'm darned glad the program has it again.

The Commissioner