Monday, December 2, 2013

Iron Bowl: The Report From The Tire Store

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Sadly, that is an excellent edition of The Grades, Commissioner.  In all probability we should stop there, move on, and hope our beloved Crimson Tide will be better prepared, better coached, and have a better night in the bowl game.  We. Just. Can't.

You just sort of knew that sometime, someday, somewhere there would be a game where Alabama did not show up for a game.  During the Saban tenure there have been games where a unit just did not seem to be in synch, for whatever reason.  For example, the offense just wasn't there in the 2009 LSU game, the defense was mostly AWOL against Texas A&M this year, the special teams, more consistent this year than ever before, has a laundry list of games that make you shake your head.  But always previously, if one unit was down, others rallied to the cause -- the offense struggled and gave the ball away time after time against Mississippi State just last month, but the defense just clamped down and the Tide got the victory.  When Johnny  Football was having every prayer he threw in the air answered in College Station the offense put up 40-something.  Sometimes all three units did themselves proud and the result was a beat down of legendary proportion (this past January is a good example, as is the bowl game against Michigan State). 

So some cosmic law of football had to make you wonder just what would happen if all three units showed up tight, uninspired, careless, disinterested, whatever.  Now we know.   But if it had to happen (and the Universe being what it is, we suppose it did), why did it have to happen against the trailer-dwelling, toilet-paper tossing troglodytes of Lee County Polytechnic?

As the Commissioner so cogently points out, despite poor performances in all three phases of the game and a team that just did not seem well-prepared or motivated for the game, Alabama was basically in control of the game at least three times late in the fourth quarter, once when only a couple of hundred seconds stood between Alabama and victory, the ball in its possession, with the lead, deep in Auburn territory, poised for victory. Despite all the goof ups, miscues, bad decisions and general dreck, the answer is that Alabama still was in a good position to win the game.  However, a team that had made "Finish" its watchword couldn't close the deal.

We have said all season that the only team on the schedule that could beat Alabama was Alabama.  The Crimson Tide proved it last night.   Let the University of West Georgia say what they may, Alabama contributed to its undoing in an endless stream.

We see nothing to add to the excellent unit analysis you have provided.  Frankly, our leftover turkey sandwiches tend not to sit so well when we revisit it.   AJ made poor decisions with the ball and a few uncharacteristically bad throws.  Sure handed receivers played the ball like second string defensive backs.  Our defensive backs left assignments and yelled at each other about it.  The defensive line got blown off the ball.  Linebackers made weak efforts at tackles.  Our punter....  We've never seen anything like that in all our years.

The game had a season's worth of head-scratching coaching decisions -- continuing to try to pound the middle late in the game when the defense had abandoned defending the edge, field goal choices, the absence of productive Kenyan Drake (except on special teams), play-calling to end the first half as well as the second,, not returning to tight end play that seemed to be effective, etc.

You correctly point out that Alabama is in no position to blame the officials for last night's outcome.  Regular readers are aware, however, that the sorry state of SEC officiating is a recurring theme down here between the hydraulic lifts.  Matt Austin's crew is generally regarded as one of the best, if not the best "crews" in the SEC.  Admittedly, that's like setting the high jump bar at about sea level, but supposedly they are the A Team.  Schools from LSU to Georgia to Florida consistently raise questions about what officials see and don't see at the War Eagle 40 yard line on Pat Dye Field, at Jordan Hare Stadium in Lowder Pasture near YellaWood Forest.  The call on what was to us an imperceptible false start on the only decent place kick of the night was a game-changer.  So was calling holding on OJ Howard (who most certainly had his man by the shoulder pads, though needlessly and without influencing whether the run went for a first down or not).  As far as we recall that was the only time holding was called on the O line all night, and both sides had apparently realized that rule had been suspended and were holding with abandon play after play.  Much as we saw in College Station, the officials became mesmerized watching the game instead of doing their job, otherwise there is no way to explain the fact that at least three offensive linemen were ineligibly downfield on the tying touchdown throw.   We don't actually think it matters.  The Defense had gone rat trap on the drive and the penalty probably wouldn't have mattered, but this SEC has to get a handle on this.

Alabama will still be highly ranked.  It still has its pride for which to play.  No reason Alabama cannot end up ranked in the top three at the end of this season.  The question is whether Alabama will bother to show up and play hard in a bowl game.   We already mentioned the bowl appearance that resulted in a total dismantling of Michigan State after the 2010 season.  However, we also remember the no-show Sugar Bowl against Utah.  Alabama can still hand itself another loss.  Just like Saturday night,  whomever the opponent is, you can be confident that team will be motivated and ready to play.  Alabama must be as well -- nothing more is expected, nothing less is required.
The Correspondent From The Tire Store

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Auburn Grades

It is the little things that matter. That was the point that Benjamin Franklin was making with his poem about how a missing horseshoe nail led to the loss of a kingdom. Great enterprises can come to naught because of the neglect of seemingly small details. 

The same is true in sports. The biggest of big games can turn on players and coaches paying attention to the little things.  Little things; like finishing a catch that would be a first down, false starting on a place kick, committing personal fouls, avoiding blocked kicks, playing your assignment.....or not.

At one time or another, Alabama neglected all of these little things in the 2013 Iron Bowl. Because of little things, Alabama failed to convert a 4th and one in the Auburn red-zone, nullified what would have been a first and goal,  allowed Auburn runners to gash the defense, and left receivers open for easy touchdowns.

Coach Saban always says that results follow how well the team performs. That is why The Process focuses on performance. Playing to a standard. If each player plays to a standard, then the team as a whole plays to a standard. Results will take care of themselves. 

By this measure, the final score of Auburn 34 - Alabama 28, was the justly deserved result of how Alabama played on Saturday. Luck was not a factor. Neither was officiating. Alabama deserved to lose the game because of the way it played.

Even so, with just over 10 minutes to play in the game it looked as if Alabama had finally found itself. Throwing out of his own end zone, AJ completed the longest touchdown pass in all of Tide history to Amari Cooper. But neglect of little things took its inexorable toll.

On the ensuing possession, the Defense stuffed the Auburn rushing game and forced a turnover on downs at the Auburn 35. TJ Yeldon picked up a first down on a 13 yard run, but the following three plays earned 9 yards and on 4th and 1 from the Auburn 13, a missed block on the line of scrimmage allowed Auburn's Carl Lawson to stop Yeldon for no gain.

Again, the Defense responded. Nick Marshall was sacked for 9 yards on first down. Two incomplete passes later Auburn's outstanding punter, Stephen Clark, kicked to Christion Jones who returned the ball to Auburn's 25. But a run run by TJ Yeldon for what would have been a first and goal at the AU 5 was nullified by a holding call, and a field goal try was blocked.

A late hit gave Auburn 15 extra yards of field position and a coverage mistake by Cyrus Jones gave a wide open receiver an unchallenged catch-and-run for a game-tying touchdown with :32 seconds to play. 

The game's final play, a 100+ yard return of a missed 57 yard field goal attempt, is the sort of highlight that will be endlessly replayed.  The Auburn football "tradition" has now been expanded  to two national championships, two blocked punts, a Hail-Mary pass and a kick return. But Tide fans know deep down that when busted coverage allowed Auburn to tie the game, a Tiger victory was inevitable. Does anyone really think that Alabama could have won in overtime? I don't. 

The stack of too many neglected little things had, by game's end, become an insurmountable psychological obstacle. By that time, Alabama had made enough little mistakes to lose three games. So it is somewhat fitting that in a metaphorical way it did. Not only did we lose the Iron Bowl, we also lost the SEC and BCS Championship Games by foreclosing the chance to even play in them.  Unlike the 2011 and 2012 seasons, no amount of BCS bracket-busting can put a one loss Alabama into the title game. On Saturday night, down in the Village, the 2013 Crimson Tide was left wanting too many horseshoe nails. 

Here's how I grade the game:

Offense: F     The offense achieved 19 first downs on 495 yards of total offense; number which in most other contexts would be indicative of victory. But here again the little things plagued the Tide. Alabama converted only 4 of 13 third downs; only 1 in the first half. Although TJ Yeldon gained 141 net yards rushing, he was called upon 26 times compared to Kenyan Drake's 33 yards on 4 carries, and was the Tide's only consistent running threat. At this writing, I do not know whether Drake was injured during the game. If not, his absence from the game is baffling (see coaching grade to follow).

AJ completed 17 of 29 pass attempts for 277 yards and 3 TDs. Amari Cooper (6 catches for 178 yards) was his favorite target, and their 4th quarter throw and catch from inside the Tide 1 yard line will set a mark that might one day be equalled but never topped. Kevin Norwood caught 3 passes for 45 yards and a TD. His best catch of the game was a deflected pass that he snagged and turned up field for a key first down. 

The Offense put together only 5 drives that gained more than 40 yards [49, 67, 56, 83, 99] which netted three TDs and two missed field goals [another one of those little things].

Defense: F      Some of the defensive statistics are impressive: 7 tackles for lost yards, 2 forced fumbles, 3 sacks, 4 hurries, a recovered fumble.  Others, however, indicate a lack of consistency and failure of attention to little things: AU earned 22 first downs, rushed for 296 yards, had two backs rush for more than 100 yards each, and converted 8 of 15 third downs.

CJ Mosley was the leading tackler with 14 total stops [10 solo]. Trey DePriest recorded 11 tackles and Landon Collins was credited with 9.

Special Teams:

Punting: C      Cody Mandel dropped the snap on his first punt attempt. The ball was partially blocked. For this reason, his otherwise excellent average of 51 yards per kick is subject to a material downgrade.  Christion Jones had an excellent 19 yard punt return-only the fifth return allowed by Auburn's punting unit all season.

Kickoffs: B      Cade Foster averaged 63.6 gross yards per kick and the coverage unit contained Auburn's big-play return game achieving a net average of 40.6 per kick.

Place Kicking: F       Alabama missed 3 and had a 4th attempt blocked.  This was the worst display of place kicking by an Alabama team since the 5 missed kicks against Arkansas when Mike Shula was the head coach. It surpassed the dreadful performance in the 2011 LSU game.

Coaching: F     The players were not ready for what Auburn did, and what Auburn did was no different than what Auburn has been doing offensively all year. The number of players listed in the participation report is surprisingly small [47] and Alabama was penalized 6 times for 45 yards. Auburn was only flagged 3 times for 21. The decision to go for the first down on 4th and 1 is debatable, but certainly within the realm of reason. The decision to send Cade Foster out to attempt his third FG attempt [second from 44 yards] is less so. Although Saban's post-game remarks have been criticized in some circles, I find no fault in them. He knows the psyche of his team better than anyone and I will not second guess him here.

I wrote in last week's edition that you could close the book on the 2013 graduating class and they would have a record of achievement hard to match. The same thing is true today. There is only one more chapter for AJ, CJ, Kevin,Kenny, Cade, Cody, Anthony, Deion, Ed, Tana, John, Nick and Kellen to write. We won't know for another week the setting for that final chapter. Some observers predict that a one-loss Alabama is likely to receive an at-large bid to play in the Orange Bowl. There are far worse ways to end a championship run; just ask the Auburn seniors about that.

Right now, however, the pain of losing to Auburn, and the concurrent loss of the opportunity to make history, is too sharp. The knowledge that the team and its coaches allowed victory and history to slip through their fingers like so much beach sand, is hard to absorb. Some people, have taken to social media-that scourge or modern life-to savage individual players, especially Foster. Shame is too little to wish upon such people, but banishment is impossible and shunning is impractical.       

For the last several years, I have been getting a new hat at the beginning of every season. Most years, it has been one of those white hats with the Shirt Shop elephant logo embroidered on the front. This year, I was given a red one embroidered with the outline of the State of Alabama and the number 15 in the middle. It is still in good shape, and there will be no need to replace it come August in order to update the number.

Alabama's journey on the Road To 16 just got at least 12 months longer. I don't know about you, but I would not want to take that trip with anyone in the driver's seat other than Nick Saban. And that, my friends, is a rather big thing.

The Grades will return after the bowl game. In a week or so, look for The Commissioners MVP's for 2013.

Roll Tide y'all.

The Commissioner  

        

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Chattanooga Grades

In 121 years of Alabama football, there has never been a group like them. No other class of players has won more games, claimed more championships and sent more opposing coaches to the unemployment line. If you closed the book today on AJ McCarron, Kevin Norwood, CJ Mosley, Cody Mandel, Cade Foster, Deion Bellue, Ed Stinson, Tana Patrick, John Fulton, Kenny Bell, Nick Perry, Anthony Steen and Kellen Williams, you would have a story of success that is unrivaled in the annals of the college game.

Numbers tell the outlines of their story: 3 BCS Championships; 2 SEC Championships; 3 Western Division Championships; 5-0 records against Tennessee, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Arkansas; 4-0 record in post-season bowls with victories over Texas, Michigan State, LSU and Notre Dame. Yet this senior class still has one or two more chapters to write. 

Three more wins, and the players who arrived on campus as freshmen in 2009 and 2010, will depart Tuscaloosa with a record of achievement that might never be surpassed. 

Shortly before 1:00 pm Saturday afternoon, those seniors were honored in the traditional pre-game ceremony with Coach Saban and their families. Less than three hours later, they were honored again with a sustained standing ovation from the fans. AJ, Kevin Norwood, Bellue and Fulton made a victory lap slapping hands with appreciative fans. 



Others, not ready to go into the tunnel leading to the dressing room, stood on the playing field and waived to the cheering crowd. CJ Mosley,who chose to delay his pro career in order to return for his senior season, was perhaps the most reluctant player to leave Bryant Denny Stadium. According to the Tuscaloosa News, after getting dressed, Mosley returned to the field and walked out to the fifty yard line where he stood with his family and his thoughts.

The seniors, and their teammates, gave the fans a demonstration of Alabama football fitting for Senior Day. Not only did they thoroughly dominate Chattanooga 49-0, they did so in a display of depth that bodes well for next season when so many of this year's seniors are playing on Sundays. 

Here's how I grade the game:

Offense: B- Readers of The Grades know that a one grade reduction is made as an adjustment for the quality of the opponent. 

Alabama gained 435 yards of total offense [251 rushing], earned 22 first downs, and faced only 7 third downs the entire game, converting on 4 of the 7. The Tide had six drives that gained in excess of 40 yards [83, 80, 42, 62, 63, 70] producing five touchdowns and a turnover on downs. The minus was earned when the Offense failed to finish a 32 yard drive in the first quarter and turned the ball over on downs at the Mocs' 44 yard line.

AJ was ruthlessly efficient, completing 13 of 16 pass attempts for 172 yards and 2 TDs. His longest pass went across the middle to Kevin Norwood whose catch and run gained 50 yards. Norwood led all receivers with 84 yards and a TD on 4 receptions. Amari Cooper caught 3 passes for 42 yards and a TD. Christion Jones and Kenny Bell each caught 2 passes. Eight different receivers caught passes including Black & White and McCarron. Coach Saban told reporters after the game that at the half he told OC Doug Nussmeyer to come up with a play where AJ could throw to his brother, Cody. The younger McCarron told reporters that he really concentrated on making that catch because he knew if he dropped it AJ would "yell at him in front of a lot of people."    

Seven different players gained yards rushing. Kenyan Drake gained 77 yards on 11 runs. Derrick Henry carried the ball 6 times for 68 yards, and Dee Hart ran 5 times for 25 yards. Altee Tenpenny and Blake Sims each ran the ball 4 times and the longest run from scrimmage was turned in by wide receiver Chris Black who scored a touchdown on a reverse that gained 31 yards. 

Defense: B+ For the third time this season, the Tide held an opponent scoreless. Since  the second game of the season in College Station, the Tide Defense has allowed all opponents to score only 5 touchdowns and leads the nation in scoring defense at 9.3 points per game.

The Mocs were held to 173 yards of total offense [93 rushing] and 8 first downs.

Landon Collins and CJ Mosley each made 7 tackles. Collins was credited with 5 solo stops while Mosley made 2 tackles for lost yardage. Reuben Foster and Trey DePriest each made 4 tackles.  Foster had a  tackle for lost yardage and DePriest made an interception. Tide defenders accounted for 8 tackles for lost yardage, a forced fumble [Jonathan Allen] that was returned 35 yards [Eddie Jackson]. 2 pass breakups and a blocked field goal attempt [A'Shawn Robinson].

The Mocs with their run-oriented offense were hopefully a good tune-up opponent for Auburn.

Special Teams;

Punting: C+ Cody Mandell's picture would have been on milk cartons around Tuscaloosa this morning if he had not come into the game to hold on place kicks after AJ was finished for the day. The middling punting grade is the average for Christion Jones who fumbled one punt (a knuckle-ball that he overran and tried to catch one-handed) and returned another for a touchdown. 

Place Kicking: A Tide kickers were perfect on all seven PATs.

Kickoffs: B Alabama averaged only 58.9 gross yards per kick and the coverage unit occasionally struggled, allowing one return for 24 yards and achieving an average net yards per kick of only 43 yards.

Coaching: B The Tide did what it had to do against the Mocs. Alabama gained 527 all-purpose yards and was only penalized twice. By early in the 4th quarter, the quick reference guide in the program was utterly useless. The participation report lists 74 players who saw action Saturday afternoon. 

After Saturday's game, AJ McCarron has won more games than any other Alabama quarterback, and the 2013 season still has one game to play. And what a game it will be. In 1992, the SEC adopted the two-division format and instituted a post-season game to determine the conference champion. This marks the first year that whoever wins the Iron Bowl will also be the winner of the SEC West.

The stakes for Alabama could not be higher. Win in the Village and play for the SEC Championship. Win the SEC and play for the BCS title for the third consecutive year. The opportunity for Auburn could not be sweeter. Beat the nation's number 1 team, earn the right to play for the conference crown, and have 365 days to crow about how Auburn crushed Alabama's championship hopes and dreams.

With Baylor falling ignominiously to Oklahoma State, and Oregon getting hammered by Arizona, Auburn finds itself in the improbable position of being two wins, and an indictment away from playing Ohio State for the BCS Championship. Or the Tigers could face FSU if Michigan State beats the Buckeye's for the Big 10 Championship. There are a lot of if's and but's that Auburn needs in order to play for the Big Crystal Football. Alabama, on the other hand, is the master of its own destiny. And Alabama has a huge advantage in its favor: a senior class that knows how to win. 

The 2013 seniors may have played their final game at Bryant Denny Stadium, but their season, and indeed their quest for unmatched greatness, are far from over.  Those Auburn fans who last week were chanting "We want Bama", are about to get more Bama than they can handle.

The Commissioner   



 

Monday, November 18, 2013

MSU Grades: The Report From The Tire Store

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We liked the grades better than the game, Commissioner.  We've mentioned before that things have changed mightily.  We have reached the point where beating a division opponent by two touchdowns, holding it to a single score, more or less doubling its yardage gained, and doing all that despite four (try not to think about it) turnovers.

Alabama is ranked #1 in the country, is undefeated, controls its own destiny for the SEC Championship, and is putting together yet another top recruiting class.  In such circumstances, we'll take an ugly win in Starkville any day.  We expect plenty of Oregon fans who were solidly #2 in the polls two weeks ago or last week's #4 Stanford Cardinal would trade places with us today.  The bottom line, though, is that Alabama didn't play to its standard.  The Grades correctly reflect that fact.

Offense:  So we have a running back run for over 150 yards (and go past 1000 on the season), give up a single sack, score 20, average over 5 yards a carry, over 7 yards a reception, give up one sack (on a drive where we scored), win the game and end up with an offense with a grade of "F"?  Dadgum right.  We tried really hard to say that all that added up to a D- and passing (sort of like when Mr. Walden gave us points on our Algebra II final in high school) but we just can't do it.  AJ was off all night.  We are highly suspicious that one of the two interceptions really wasn't one, but apparently ESPN didn't have a camera angle that would have helped.  But he was just not himself, either on his decision-making or his throws.  Coach has alluded to some lingering shoulder problems from the Tennessee game.  Both running backs put the ball on the ground and it's no use calling these isolated instances or "great plays" by the defense.  "Once is a mistake, twice is a habit" is the rule around here when a guy forgets to balance a customer's new set of radials.  Yeldon and Drake now both have fumbling habit .  Perhaps this is good, given that it will keep the team from getting the big head and give the coaches specific points to work on for the tail end of the season.  We hope so.

Defense:  The Defense was on the field a lot of the game, especially in the first half.  But they held the Bulldogs down pretty well.  A rushing total of 52 yards on 29 attempts will not win a lot of football games.  Picking up a loose ball in the end zone probably would have preserved a shut out.  Somehow Clinton-Dix not only intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned it, he managed to knock MSU's quarterback out of the game on the same play.   The defense clearly misses Vinnie Sunseri.  The Stop Troops were consistently put in bad positions by the generous attitudes of their offensive counterparts (pun intended).   It seemed like the defense was having trouble getting off the field, but the statistics show that was an illusion.  A good grade is warranted.

Special Teams.  Hats off to our punter.  We know it is a team game, perhaps the ultimate team game, but kickers are the biggest (loneliest) individual element.  On Saturday night Cody Mandell earned a gold star.  His punts averaged over 55 yards and two of them were downed inside the 20.  He is a weapon.  Kick off coverage was far improved over the last two games.

Broadcast:  F.  You know, we don't really mind the ESPN night time crew, but whatever bonehead made the decision to stay with the post-race interview portion of the second string car race championship and to move the Alabama Mississippi State football game to ESPNews, and then move it back to ESPN in the middle of a drive with practically no warning, needs some priority lessons.  I'm not saying college football is better than car racing necessarily, but the race was over a good 30 minutes before the game was to kick off.  I am saying that a live SEC football game is better sports programming than watching people talk about a second-level car race that has been over for half an hour.  Wouldn't interviews with race car owners sound like programming for ESPNews?  Down here at the Tire Store, we have to pay attention to what the customers think -- apparently ESPN doesn't.   It didn't help any that as soon as they switched the game back to ESPN the talking heads on ESPNews started gushing about how great Alabama Polytechnic University was for blowing a three-score lead in the fourth quarter.

In addition to the more recent past, it is a good thing to remember the not-so-recent past.   In 1980 Alabama was undefeated, ranked number 1, on a 28-game winning streak, and was trying to win its third straight national title.  Alabama fumbled inside the five on the last play of the game to lose to Mississippi State in Jackson, 6-3.  Last night may not have been the best Alabama performance of the year, but because I go back past 1980, I'll take this one, I surely will.

On to Senior Day, for a group that is entitled to as much adulation as any we can remember.

The Correspondent From The Tire Store

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Mississippi State Grades

Beauty, they say, is in the eye of the beholder. Meaning that what is aesthetically pleasing, is inherently subjective. In other words, if it looks good to you, then it is good as far as you are concerned. 

I think that the opposite must also be true. If something looks ugly to you, then as far as you are concerned it is ugly.

Applying that logic to Saturday night's game between Alabama and Mississippi State leads me to conclude that what the Tide displayed in Starkville is about as ugly as it could be and still result in a win. In fact, what the Offense coughed up-literally as well as figuratively-was awful enough to lose two games. The redeeming feature was excellent play by the Defense which had to respond to four turnovers; three in the second half, two of which were committed in the fourth quarter. 

When a serious case can be made that Cody Mandel was the player of the game, you know you are dealing with the ugliest of ugly wins. 

Think about this: The Alabama drive chart contains as many lost fumbles as touchdowns, and as many interceptions as field goals.

The offensive line allowed 7 tackles for lost yardage, and 7 quarterback hurries. Alabama was only able to convert 4 of 12 third downs, and Cody Mandel punted as many times Saturday night as he did the entire month of October.  

To be sure, there were some noteworthy individual performances against MSU. TJ Yeldon ran for a career high 160 yards in the game and topped the 1,000 yard rushing mark for the second year in a row. Tight end, Brian Vogler caught his first career touchdown pass, and AJ secured his place in the Alabama record books with 8,146 career yards, surpassing John Parker Wilson as the record holder in that category. But these individual efforts do not make up for the turnovers, negative plays and penalties [5 for 41 yards] by the team as a whole.

Here's how I grade the game:

Offense: F A failing grade in a win over a conference opponent? I do not believe any other grade is justified. The Offense earned the failing grade notwithstanding the final score. I know State has big, strong defensive linemen who play a very physical game. So does LSU, Tennessee and Ole Miss. So also does Auburn, but more about theTigers later.

AJ went the distance. His second interception was the result of a throw made under duress and the first pick was not made in bounds. He threw 32 times and completed 18 for 187 yards and 2 TDs. 

Cyrus Jones was the leading receiver with 37 yards on 5 receptions. Amari Cooper gained 45 yards on 4 catches. DeAndrew White added 28 yards on 2 receptions and Kevin Norwood caught 2 passes for 23 yards and a TD. It seems like every time Norwood catches the ball it is a play fit for the highlight reel. Eight different players caught passes.

TJ Yeldon's 160 net rushing yards came on 24 carries [6.7  average] including a fabulous 50 yard run in the third quarter. Kenyan Drake carried the ball 4 times for 28 yards. Both running backs lost fumbles. Drake's miscue was the result of poor technique; he carried the ball too low and away from his body in traffic. 

The Offense managed only four drives that gained in excess of 40 yards [59, 78, 77, 75] each resulted in points. In the first half, the Tide's drives opened with a field goal and concluded with a touchdown. In between, the Offense produced three punts and an interception. The second half's drives opened with a lost fumble, but the Offense seemed to regain its footing with consecutive long scoring drives that earned 10 points. Then the wheels, as they say, came off with the final three meaningful possessions resulting in an interception, a lost fumble and a punt.

Defense: A- Some readers will no doubt criticize this grade as being too generous. After all, they will argue, State suffered a self-inflicted missed field goal at the end of a sustained second quarter drive that gained 73 yards on 10 plays. Nevertheless, MSU only converted 4 of 15 third downs during the game, gained only 197 yards of net offense and earned only 53 yards rushing in the game. 

CJ Mosley led all defenders with 8 tackles. Trey DePriest made 6 stops including 1 for lost yardage and broke up a pass. Jarrick Williams, Landon Collins and A'Shawn Robinson each were credited with 5 tackles. Jeffrey Pagan, Cyrus Jones and Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix each made 4. Collectively, the defensive unit made 5 tackles for lost yardage [2 sacks], forced 2 fumbles [no recoveries], broke up 4 passes and hurried the State QB once. Snuffing out a scoring threat, Clinton-Dix made an interception in the end zone which he returned 16 yards.

Special Teams:

Punting A+ Cody Mandel punted 4 times for an average of 54 yards per punt. He made one punt for a career high 63 yards and  kept State in disadvantageous field position.

Place Kicking: A Cade Foster was good from 33 and 35 yards. He made both PAT attempts.

Kickoffs: B+ Foster handled all of the kickoff duties and averaged only 59.2 yards gross per kick even with two touchbacks. With a net average of 41.8 yards, the coverage unit played a much better game than it did last week against LSU.      

Coaching: C+ The coaching staff grade must reflect the poor performance of the Offense. Moreover, for Alabama to commit 5 penalties in a game where Mississippi State-a perennially undisciplined team-is flagged only once is inexcusable.  The participation report lists only 47 players who saw action against the Bulldogs.

As ugly as Alabama's win over the Bulldogs was, it was much more attractive than the Eastern Bulldogs' loss earlier in the day down in The Village. In case you were engrossed in last minute study of the Alabama game plan and missed the ending of The South's Oldest Football Rivalry, here is a summary: Georgia erased a 17 point deficit in the 4th quarter to take a one point lead, 38-37, over Auburn. With only seconds to play, and facing a 4th down and 18 deep in Auburn territory, the Tiger QB threw a Hail Mary pass deep down the middle of the field. The pass was under-thrown and the AU receiver was double-covered. Instead of simply knocking the ball to the turf-which would have given UGA the ball at the AU 22, both of the Georgia DBs tried to intercept. This resulted in the ball ricochetting into the air and into the hands of the dumb-founded Auburn receiver who took it unmolested into the end zone for the game-winning points. 

How bad is the quality of Georgia coaching? How much longer will the keepers of the football flame in Athens tolerate Mark Richt?

What does this mean for Alabama? Probably not much. Auburn will certainly be sky high. The Villagers were chanting "We want Bama," like that hasn't been done already this year. Let' s see: I remember TAMU and LSU doing it, as well as Oregon. The Aggies and Tigers got more of Bama than they could handle and the Ducks wanted Alabama so much they forgot about Stanford.

The Tide has two weeks to get ready to play the Iron Bowl. Saturday night's game against MSU will certainly provide many items for the Tide coaching staff to put on the To-Do list. Most of those will be allocated to the position coaches working with the Offense. 

While UT Chattanooga is next up, and while it is Tide doctrine to respect each opponent and not to look ahead, let's be candid with each other. Next week's game is a chance to iron out problems and work on fundamentals. The work done between now and Thanksgiving will determine the championship of the SEC West.

I would not trade the senior leadership of CJ and AJ for any pair of players in the game, and nobody in their right mind would want anyone other than Coach Saban at the helm of their football program. I am confident that they will get the job done, and no matter the "style-points" any win over Auburn is a thing of beauty. 

There is no such thing as an ugly win on the Plains. So, welcome the Moccasins to Tuscaloosa this coming Saturday. Pay tribute to the finest senior class ever to wear Crimson and White. And  help the 2013 Tide write their names in crimson flame. 

The Commissioner

Monday, November 11, 2013

LSU Grades: The Report From The Tire Store

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That was an outstanding edition of The Grades, Commissioner.  Glad you got to see that one in person, though given the breeze, rain, and chilly-looking conditions, we were happy to be snug in the Tire Store with plenty of replays, Golden Flake chips and icy cold Coca-Colas (uh, and a thermostat).

Coach Stallings used to say that to win the ball game you needed to: Run the ball; stop the run; not turn the football over.  Alabama out rushed LSU  for the game 193-53 (LSU had -9 yards in the fourth quarter) and won the turnover battle 2-0.  There are other simple things to do -- not commit penalties; win the kicking game; dominate time of possession....  Teams that are disciplined and talented enough to do the first three usually don't have any problem with the others.  Last night was just an outstanding display of football from a team that has gotten gradually better as the season has gone along.  Something to say when you got almost every first place vote in the initial national polls.  That is a tribute to the coaching staff, of course, but also to the young men who are the 2013 edition of the Crimson Tide.

 Defense:  It was no secret that LSU intended to try to take advantage of Alabama's injury-riddled cornerbacks.  Les Miles actually said so in his press conference early in the week.  In the first half, it seemed as if that strategy was working.  This morning we hoped to read about the important adjustments, inside-the-locker-room techniques, etc. that were applied to allow Alabama to basically reverse the situation for practically the entire second half.  We learned an interesting thing.  Nothing was different except the result of the plays.  Coach Saban said he told the defensive backs they weren't going to get any safety help; they just needed to man up and do the job they have been taught to do, turf toes, high ankle sprains, future NFL wide receivers, outstanding opposing quarterback, notwithstanding.   And so they did. 

Offense:  Let's talk about the offensive line.  For the first three games of this season, the O line was, shall we say, a work in progress.  Well that work is nearly complete.  The O line finally gave up a sack last night, but it was a very peculiar play.  For those of you tracking it, last year's super duper offensive line had given up about twice as many sacks at this point of the season.  Otherwise, the work was excellent, as well.  The false starts are disappearing.  LSU's front seven, the strength of their defense, had no answer for the road grading Alabama front.  Short swing pass for a touchdown called back on a ticky tack alignment penalty?  No worries, we'll just knock them back a little further next down.  This was true across the line.  It was not a night were we ran only behind Steen.  On one of Yeldon's runs, the Kouandjio brothers gave a textbook example of blocking.  On the tackle side, Cyrus turned his man and pushed him so far towards the sideline he could hear the cheerleaders.  Arie blocked his man so far into the defensive backfield that before the replay we assumed he had been "uncovered" and fired out to take on a linebacker.  We could have rolled two all-terrain tires through that hole, letting athletes like Drake and Yeldon run through them is almost not fair.  However, we mostly want to applaud true freshman (and latest addition to the "J"  name team), OJ Howard.  His catch, and more importantly run, for a touchdown was just about as exciting as anything that has happened since a customer threw his cigar down and set the grease pit on fire.  We were worried he'd get the ball punched out when the pursuing defensive backs ran him down.  Never occurred to us that he would run off and leave them.  I mean, he's 6'6" 237 pounds.  Anything that big that goes that fast ought to have a light and a siren.

Special Teams:  Our kick coverage has suffered exactly since Sunseri went down with his knee injury.  Lots of reasons for this, including how many more snaps Collins is having to play.  In any event, it's time to go back to kicking the football out of the dadgum end zone. 

Coaching:  I'm not sure the original plan deserved that lofty score, but the in-game adjustments and the second half play calling, was just as superb.  Coach Miles was so downcast after that game that at his press conference we counted at least three sentences that had both subjects and predicates.  Down here at the Tire Store, we have generally been ok with Lester, he's a little odd, but in a harmless, almost entertaining sort of way.  However, his decision to send his quarterback out for that last series, and to even make him try to compete on fourth and forever after having been knocked goofy on three consecutive plays, well, let's just say we trust our coach would never do that.  If no other reason, didn't Miles remember they have to play Texas A&M in two weeks? 

Officiating:  Matt Austin's crew is generally considered by the SEC to be at least one of its best crews.  We understand that may be like being the tallest player on the Japanese Olympic basketball team, but still.  For the most part the officials weren't the center of attention last night, which is always a good thing.  If the game had been closer at the end the extent to which the players were "allowed to play" could have had different results.  For example, the newspaper photo of Kevin Norwood's touchdown catch this morning shows a solid form tackle being applied by the LSU defensive back.  Left arm firmly around Kevin's waist, right arm on his back, shoulder driving through his midsection.  The only problem is that the football is still a yard or two away.  No harm no foul, I suppose.  I cannot say the same for the "personal foul/late hit" that was called later in the game.  Regular readers know it is safe to say that I am not a fan of the so-called targeting rule.  It is ill-considered, poorly defined, and they can now add unevenly enforced.  Not liking the rule doesn't mean it isn't in the rule book.  If Losten's hit on Norwood isn't "targeting" then apparently there is special, extra definition that I don't know about.   Perhaps the SEC has just decided not enforcing the rule is the easiest course.  We'd like to give Losten the benefit of the doubt, it was only a few plays later that he instituted a shoving match near the goal line.... 

On to play the Bulldogs West over in Starkville.  In case you haven't heard, it's another prime time game, so we'll have lots of time for rotations and balances in the morning and still be able to see the Alabama Polytechnic game against the Bulldogs East.  If you are going to the game, we recommend some earplugs, those artificial noisemakers that the conference bans every other fan base from using are louder than an air wrench.

The Correspondent From The Tire Store 

Sunday, November 10, 2013

LSU Grades

WVOL: Travis in Crossville, welcome to Vol Calls.

Travis: Butch Jones is a [bleep] joke, man. He should have been fired at the start of the 4th quarter yesterday. I can't [bleep] believe that we hired that Bamer-[bleep] Dave Hart to be athletics director. What the [bleep] man! What do you [bleep] expect? Hart brings in [bleep] Jones and Auburn hangs 55 points on us in Neyland [bleep] Stadium! That is some [bleep]...

WVOL: Coach Jones is just in his first season.....

Travis: Do I give a [bleep] about first seasons? Gus [bleep] Malzahn is a first year coach and he treated Butch Jones like his [bleep]. What game were you watching?

WVOL: OK, Travis, you want Butch Jones fired?

Travis: [bleep] yeah! Send his [bleep] packing!

WVOL: And who would you replace him with?..........Travis?.......Travis?.......

Travis: Lane Kiffin is available. He still owns property in Knoxville and he can recruit like a [bleep]. You guys are as big a joke as [bleep] Jones. How do you [bleep] keep your [bleep] job?

WVOL: OK Travis, thanks for calling. We always enjoy it.

Travis: No problem, man. Talk to you next week. GO VOLS!

...

WGTR: Stan on a cell phone, you're on the air with the Gator Nation, what's on your mind?

Stan: Is anybody in charge of the Florida football program? I mean, for the love of God, you can throw a rock in any direction from Gainesville and hit a 5 star recruit. Florida football was on auto-pilot so we bring in Will Muschamp because he was once in the same room with Nick Saban and we get beat in the Swamp by Vanderbilt for the first time since 1945....

WGTR: We understand your frustration.....

Stan: "Frustration?" You don't know "frustration." Frustration is losing a close game to that preening incompetent Mark Richt. Getting beat by Vanderbilt in a game where we can't even score 20 points is a disaster that only a coaching change can repair.

WGTR: OK, we hear you, but who do you think is out there that would be a viable alternative?

Stan: Helloooooo. Doesn't somebody have Urban Meyer's cell phone number on speed dial?

WGTR: Uh..... Urban Meyer?...

Stan: Yes, Urban Meyer. Two BCS Championships, Urban Meyer;  two SEC Championships, Urban Meyer;  one Heisman Trophy, Urban Meyer.  What's so hard about this?

WGTR: Uh, well Nick Saban is still the head coach at Alabama......Stan?.......Stan?......I think we lost him.

...

WNPR:      Welcome back to "What In The World" I'm Terry Gross. Our guest today is Mia Foshee-Kumbaya-Guevara, Professor of Critical Studies at New York's New School. Mia, that was a very interesting discussion of your new monograph, "From Hugo Chavez to Barack Obama: The Complete Political Spectrum." Let's go to the phones, we actually have a caller today. Hello Justin in Nashville, what in the world do you want to talk about?

Justin: Hi, Terry and Mia....love your show.

WNPR: Thanks, Justin, so do we.

Justin:  I just wanted to ask Mia if she thinks that Vanderbilt risks losing James Franklin to Texas, what with Mack Brown in free-all and the 'Dores looking like they are poised to make it three in-a-row for bowl appearances?.......Hello?......Am I still on?.....Terry?

WNPR: Justin, I.....we....you...I'm sorry, but I'm not sure exactly what you are referring to, would you like to elaborate on that for us?

Justin: Yeah, sure thing. You see, the head football coach here at Vanderbilt is James Franklin and he's like the best coach we have had in like forever, and the head coach at Texas, Mack Brown, is on the hot-seat, so my friends and I were thinking that it might be that Texas tries to hire Franklin away unless there is any truth to the rumors about Nick Saban being interested in the UT job.

WNPR: ........

Justin; Hello?

WNPR: ......Thanks for calling, Justin, I'm sure our listeners found that very interesting....so,Mia what is your next project?......Well, Terry, I have been thinking about writing a paper on gender inequity in math and physics faculties in universities located in states that comprised the former Confederacy, and I think Justin's call helps illustrate the urgency of my research..

Two of those universities located in the deepest regions of the Deep South played a college football game Saturday night, and while Terry Gross and Prof. Froshee-Kumbaya-Guevara might not appreciate what happened over the span of three-plus hours at Bryant-Denny Stadium, the 100,000 plus fans who witnessed Alabama's 38-17 victory over LSU certainly did. They manifested that appreciation by arriving early and staying late; by not letting an unpredicted rainfall dampen their enthusiasm; and by wishing the Bayou Bengals a safe homeward journey by four....count 'em, four....complete verses of Rammer Jammer.

OK, each verse of Rammer Jammer is identical, but the opponents that the Tide has dispatched so far this season usually have provoked only one perfunctory post-game taunt. LSU was on the receiving end of four. And if the Million Dollar Band had not needed to take a well-deserved rest, the crowd was in a mood to keep the love going a little longer. 

In Friday's CW Game Day special, Sports Editor, Marc Torrence, had a piece about the Bama-LSU rivalry. It was titled "Toe To Toe" and argued that LSU achieved dominance over Alabama when Saban was coaching the Tigers, and Les Miles has managed to maintain at least parity, if not a slight edge in the rivalry. That thesis was left in tatters after Alabama thoroughly dominated LSU in the second half, breaking the Tigers' will with a smothering defense and a punishing offense.   

How badly did the Tide dominate the Tigers in the second half? Consider this: In the second half, LSU gained only 52 yards of total offense. In the 4th quarter, LSU had -29 yards rushing and only 20 yards passing, for a total offensive gain of -9. In the second half, LSU converted only 1 of 5 third downs, and twice turned the ball over on downs. Meanwhile, Alabama ran 35 offensive plays in the second half to LSU's 22, and three of the Tide's 35 plays were out of the victory formation. Alabama gained 228 yards of total offense on the first three possessions after intermission, scoring a touchdown on each. And, Alabama had three times more rushing yards in the second half [122] than LSU had for the entire game [43].

At intermission, the Tide held only a 3 point lead [17-14] which evaporated when LSU kicked a field goal on its opening possession of the second half. Those were LSU's last points in the game as Alabama scored 21 points in its next three possessions, drained the clock, and crushed the life out of LSU.

Here's how I grade the game:

Offense: A In the first quarter, AJ found himself under constant pressure, and his passing accuracy suffered. The second quarter saw dramatic improvement and by the second half, Alabama was throwing only when it chose to, not when it needed to. AJ completed 14 of 20 pass attempts for 179 yards and 3 TDs. He was sacked once. His 179 passing yards secured AJ the Alabama record for career passing yardage.

Kevin Norwood caught 4 passes for 38 yards and a TD. Amari Cooper made 3 catches for 46 yards, and DeAndrew White gained 17 yards on 2 receptions. O.J. Howard caught 1 pass for 52 yards and a TD. Eight different players caught passes, including Jalston Fowler whose lone reception scored a touchdown. [He would have had another TD reception but for an illegal procedure penalty.]

TJ Yeldon gained 133 yards on 25 rushes and scored a pair of rushing touchdowns. Kenyan Drake gained 65 yards on 10 runs and Jarrick Williams gained 6 yards on his single rushing attempt; a fake punt that converted a 4th down, keeping the Tide's initial second half possession alive and snatching momentum away from the Tigers. 

Alabama's five touchdowns came on long drives [78, 80, 79, 71, 78] and the Tide converted 5 of its 10 third downs; however, the meaningful statistic is 5 of 9 since Bama's 10th third down of the game was on the final "victory" possession. Bama punted only twice and had no turnovers. 

Defense: A For the first 30 minutes, the Tide Defense had no answer for LSU's tandem of talented receivers, Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham, Jr., as Zach Mettenberger had plenty of time to throw precision strikes to open receivers. LSU gashed the Alabama Defense for 232 yards in the first half, and would have taken the lead into the locker room at intermission but for a fumble forced by Tana Patrick at the Alabama goal line. The second half-as they say-was a different story.

The Stop Troops surrendered a field goal on LSU's opening third quarter possession, on a flukey drive that included a near interception that ricocheted into the hands of an LSU receiver. For the balance of the game, the Tide defense harassed Mettenberger, throttled LSU's Jeremy Hill, and imposed its will.

CJ Mosley made 12 tackles and broke up 2 passes. Trey DePriest had 6 tackles, a fumble recovery and a sack. Cyrus Jones and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix each were credited with 5 tackles. Bama defenders recorded 8 tackles for lost yardage including 4 sacks, and broke up 4 passes.

LSU only ran 22 offensive plays in the second half and only converted a single second half third down.

Special Teams

Punting: B+ Cody Mandel averaged 43.7 yards per punt on two punts and LSU managed only a single punt return for 8 yards. Alabama did not return a punt.

Place Kicking: A Cade Foster was good from 42 yards on his only field goal attempt and Bama converted each of 5 PATs.

Kickoffs: D Foster and Mandel shared kicking duties and averaged 64 yards per kick. Christion Jones and DeAndrew White collectively returned 4 LSU kicks for 83 yards. The coverage unit, however, allowed Odell Beckham, to return a third-quarter kick 82 yards and surrendered a total of 174 yards on four returns.

Coaching: A The resilience of the team to compete at a very high level in the second half is a reflection of the coaching job and is the quintessence of The Process. Only 47 players are listed in the participation report, the Tide was penalized 4 times for 35 yards, and Alabama gained 455 all-purpose yards.

Les Miles' post-game comments acknowledged that Alabama has separated itself from the parity that Marc Torrence wrote of in the CW.  The columnists at the Time Picayune are remarkably restrained in their criticism of Miles considering the curb-stomping Alabama delivered Saturday night. They recognize what was on display in the second half: Alabama is a better team, with better players, who are better coached, than any other team in the SEC; maybe even the country. There are no calls for Miles' head coming from the Big Easy.  

Late in the fourth quarter, the student section, mocking pretenders like Oregon and Ohio State, began chanting: "We want Bama......We want Bama....." 

Some people argue that with the defeat of LSU, the only team that can derail Alabama's quest for its 16th national championship is Alabama itself. But, I am not persuaded. There is no room for error in the remaining games. Mississippi State is next. Alabama has two remaining conference games, both to be played on the road. Auburn has a single loss, is nationally ranked and has its offense playing at a very high level. The right to play in the SEC CG has not yet been secured. 

Alabama must stay focused. So should the fans. But with all the agony going on around the league and fans calling talk radio about replacing coaches, one Alabama partisan, seeing a jubilant Nick Saban leap into the arms of AJ McCarron at game's end, emailed his chat-thread: "Who is that happy short guy.....and what did he do with our head coach?"

The Commissioner  



 

Monday, October 28, 2013

Tennessee Grades: The Report From The Tire Store

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Thanks for keeping those of us who don't twitter or tweet or titter or whatever it is up to date with what the new-fangled are having to say about this weekend's game, Commissioner.  It is interesting that there may be new methods of delivering the messages, but the messages have been the same over the last few years.  Alabama beat Tennessee like they stole something.

We agree with not awarding a plus for the offense.  It sounds a little counterintuitive, but frankly the score should have been worse.  There just has to be some cure for this continued fumbling inside the five business.  It almost cost us a game in College Station, and maybe kept what now looks like a close one from being a comfortable two or three touchdown margin.  It might yet cost us one this year if we aren't careful.

Last week we worried about this team acting too big for its collective britches and perhaps overlooking an opponent at some point.  Based on post-game comments you mentioned, it sounds as if Coach Jones, brick by brick, helped build some genuine animosity for his crew on the part of the Crimson Tide.  I'd like to think that is a step you'd not want to take.  Perhaps Lester Miles will get their attention the next couple of weeks, though he is just as likely to take to the microphone to explain the importance of All Saints Day.  Besides, it should not take comments from this particular opposing coach to draw the attention of the Tide players to what is at stake.

The last few games there has been a temptation to temper any congratulations with "but the opponent was just not all that good" sort of commentary.  In cases that was warranted.  No amount of lipstick is going pretty up the pig that is 2013 Kentucky football.  Tennessee, however, has some genuine talent on its squad.  Neal is a quality running back.  More importantly, he runs behind what is likely the best offensive line in the SEC.  At least two of their linemen will be top draft picks.  There is some speculation that all five of their starters might be on NFL squads late next summer.   They did not seem to make that big a dent in the Alabama defense, even with the starting nose guard out with some mysterious-sounding ailment.

Tennessee's defensive line is not at the lofty heights of its offense, but is also a quality group.  The Alabama offensive line, with Kelly back at center, did a more than creditable job.   We were impressed.  It is also worth mentioning that Tennessee was fresh off an overtime loss to Georgia (a game lost in one of the more freakish ways imaginable) and a victory over South Carolina -- two of the three teams in the thick of the race to represent the East in Atlanta.  Tennessee has a chance to turn that race into a real fire in a coal mine when they take on Missouri next weekend.

The best news is that this team seems to be getting better with each succeeding weekend.  That arc of improvement needs to continue.  The team is tired and a little banged up.  The off week comes at an appropriate time to get ready to push through the end of the season.

As you correctly note, this was yet another poor effort for the officials.  The phantom pass interference call on Cooper was just terrible.  It looks like a film study clip that would be included in an officials' educational video for what sort of activity should not be considered pass interference.  Of course, that presumes the SEC is doing any sort of on-going training for its officiating crews.  Silly us.

Take a week off to relax. Maybe tune into the Georgia Florida game, which should probably be sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield.  After that, the traveling Mardi Gras party is coming to town from Baton Rouge.  In case you wonder about motivation, check out the video and press clippings from the last time these guys were in town.  I'm getting older, but I recall it like yesterday.  You can bet Coach Saban is reminding the team.

The Correspondent From The Tire Store

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Tennessee Grades

As a public service to readers of The Grades, The Commissioners Blog is pleased to provide a sample of postings from the Twitter-verse related to Saturday's game between Alabama and Tennessee.

One of the recurring themes was Coach Saban's exhortation earlier in the week for students to stay for the full game:

@CecilHurt: I just saw the first student leave Bryant-Denny Stadium. But her date called her by another girl's name.

@TheRealJaBo: I realize the football team is beating another SEC opponent by five touchdowns and it might be a little boring, but YOU BETTER STAY FOR THE WHOLE DAMN GAME!#donotleaveearly

@MarcTorrence: Sign in student section: "Hey Coach, we will stay for 60 minutes if you will stay forever."

@MarcTorrence: Saban in post-game presser: "That's sounds like a good deal to me."

Reacting to a ridiculously bad call of offensive pass interference against Amari Cooper, @CorrespondentFromTheRealThing tweeted: "The real officials must have left early.#zebras"

Savoring the magnitude of the victory, a Bama fan living in Tennessee tweeted: @WadeMan: Derrick Dooley never lost to Alabama by as large a margin as Butch Jones just did. #UTturnaround

And then there is this one just as the game clock went to all zeros:

@TideFaninVolLand: 525,600 minutes=time available to savor Tide victory over the Vols. #thirdsaturdayinoctober #dominate

OK, the 2013 renewal of the Alabama-UT rivalry was not held on the third Saturday in October, but "domination" is the only word to describe the recent relationship between these two programs. And Saturday night's merciless beat-down of the Big Orange was a lost fumble at the goal line from being the largest margin of victory in the history of the series. As it was, you have to go all the way back to 1963 to find the equal of Alabama's 35 point domination of the Volunteers. 

By every statistical metric, Alabama dominated Tennessee. First Downs: Tide 26-Vols 14; Total Offense: UA 479-UT 322; Rushing Yards: Bama 204-Tenn. 127; All Purpose Yards: Alabama 728-Tennessee 468.

After the game, AJ told reporters that the team was especially motivated to avenge statements attributed to UT players and coaches that reflected some degree of disrespect towards the two-time defending national champions. If a 45-10 woodshedding is what Alabama delivers in response to Butch Jones saying: "I think our guys can play with anybody" then the UT Sports Information Department should just impose a "No Comment" policy during Alabama week.

Saturday's Tuscaloosa News devoted the front page of the Game Day section to the question of whether Alabama vs. Tennessee was still a rivalry. Take it from someone whose home is in the State of Tennessee: You better believe it is!

Sure, in recent years LSU has become the biggest challenge in the SEC West. A&M is an emerging rival and there is always Alabama Polytechnic Institute. But none of them come anywhere close to Tennessee. Say any of these phrases: Third Saturday, Broken Leg, Secret Witness, Rocky Block, The Great Pumpkin or Victory Cigars and Alabama fans know the reference is to Tennessee. The 2013 edition may have been a lopsided affair and the combined margin of victory in Alabama's recent national championship run is a staggering 130 points, but UT - Alabama is very much a rivalry. Perhaps the best in the Deep South. Some day, especially if Butch Jones continues to recruit gargantuan receivers and behemoth offensive linemen, the student section will be packed for 60 minutes, not because the coach challenges them to stay, but because the outcome of the game will be in the balance. 

Here's how I grade the game:

Offense: A Kenyan Drake's lost fumble at the UT goal line on Alabama's fifth offensive possession of the game keeps me from being able to award the + to what was otherwise as impressive an offensive performance as we have seen from Alabama so far this season. The Tide scored touchdowns on its first four drives. 

AJ completed 19 of 27 pass attempts for 275 yards and 2 TDs. He was not sacked and had no interceptions. Kevin Norwood caught 6 passes for 112 yards-his first 100+ yard receiving performance. Amari Cooper made 5 receptions for 75 yards. But for an inexcusably bad call of offensive pass interference, the talented sophomore would have added another TD catch of about 65 yards, to his stat sheet. Seven different receivers caught passes.

Kenyan Drake led all rushers with 89 yards on 14 carries. TJ Yeldon gained 72 yards on 15 runs while Derek Henry and Christion Jones each contributed 20 yards on the ground. Yeldon scored 3 rushing TDs.

Alabama had six drives that gained 40 or more yards [51, 66, 66, 81, 98, 68] producing five touchdowns and one field goal. The offense controlled the ball for 33:58 of the game and converted 7 of 11 third downs.

Defense: A+ Landon Collins, starting in place of the injured Vinnie Sunseri, scored the third-longest touchdown on an interception return in school history when he picked off a Justin Worley pass late in the second quarter and, expertly following his blockers, raced 89 yards to the end zone. 

Tennessee managed to complete less than 50% of its pass attempts [13 of 28] for a meager 195 yards. Deion Belue also intercepted a second-quarter Worley pass and returned it 28 yards. 

Collins led all tacklers with 6 stops [5 solo] and forced a fumble. True freshman DT A'Shawn Robinson was credited with 6 tackles and a QB hurry. Trey DePriest made 5 tackles. Cyrus Jones and Denzel Deval each made 4 tackles. Defenders recorded 5 pass breakups and 4 hurries.

In the first half, Tennessee had five meaningful offensive possessions; they achieved two punts, a turnover on downs and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a TD. For the game, UT converted only 3 of 12 third down opportunities and had more yards in kick returns [146 yards on 8 kickoffs] than net yards rushing [127].

Special Teams:

Punting: A+ Cody Mandel did not make an appearance in the game until the third quarter and punted twice in the game. Those kicks were his fourth and fifth punts for the month of October. He averaged 40 yards per punt and neither punt was returned. Christion Jones returned 2 UT punts for 19 yards.

Place Kicking: A+ Adam Griffith was good from 20 yards out on Alabama's lone field goal attempt. He and Cade Foster shared PAT duties and were perfect on all six attempts.

Kickoffs: B+ Alabama kicked off so many times that Foster, Griffith and Mandel had to share the duty. They averaged 63.2 yards per kick. The Tide return game was very good; Tenn. averaged only 20 net yards per kick off. The Tide coverage unit, however, took a step backwards against Tennessee allowing one return for 45 yards, and achieving a net of only 35.5 yards per kick.

Coaching: A Alabama was penalized 4 times for 45 yards. The participation report lists 66 players who saw action. Starting nose-tackle,Brandon Ivory, did not play due to an unspecified medical issue.

As the game clock ticked under 2:00 to play, the smoking lamp went on in the student section  as several thousand cigars were lighted. By the time the Rammer Jammer had been sung a haze of blue-gray smoke covered most of the seating in the south end zone. Victory cigars were ubiquitous on the quad as a sizable crowd celebrated the Tide's win in Tent City. Which reminds me to share with you another tweet:

@TennesseanInTtown: Victory over the Vols is sweet....also smokey! #IhateUT

In the night game, SEC East front-runner, Mizzou banged a chip-shot field goal attempt off the left upright to lose in double overtime to the Fighting Chickens. This prompted @WadeMan to tweet: "Not even the Heimlich maneuver can save you from a choke like that. #notreadyforprimetime"

At the Barn, API beat Florida Atlantic 45-10; Ole Miss beat Idaho [are they the Spuds?] 59-14; A&M crushed Vandy 56-24; and State proved itself to be only six points better than Kentucky, winning 28-22. 

LSU whipped Furman 48-16. The Bengal Tigers have two weeks, during which Alabama will be idle, before they travel to Tuscaloosa. I think that the media relations folks in Baton Rouge are going to say something to Les Miles and other members of the traveling costume party that is LSU football about being careful not to say anything that causes Alabama to feel disrespected. 

On second thought, I doubt that ever occurs to them. Expect the smack-tweets and talk of "Tiger Bait" to start any moment now. Some rivalries are spicier than others. And this one is about as peppery as they come.

Au revoir, Vols.




Bienvenue, you folks from Louisiana.

The Commissioner      

Monday, October 21, 2013

Arkansas Grades: The Report From The Tire Store

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That was an excellent edition of The Grades, Commissioner.  Oddly, we find we have very little to add.  Excepting what is being reported today as a season-ending knee injury to Vinnie Sunseri, whose loss will be felt in far more than his physical play, Saturday bordered on the near-flawless.  Most importantly, this team continues to improve from its early showings in most every phase of the game.  Weakness of opponents aside (see below) things such as reducing penalties, securing the football, downing punts, making kicks -- in short the “little” things that win football games -- are often wholly in your control.  Alabama is beginning to control those little things.

 
Hubris is an interesting term.  Our modern day meaning isn’t how the Greeks used the term, necessarily, though there are parallels, such as when Ajax supposedly informed the Goddess of War that she could lend her aid to others in the battle, because he didn’t need it.  The modern day meaning of over confidence, pride, arrogance and overweening self-regard is starting to apply to many in this more-than-half-completed college football season. 

 
This weekend’s outcomes in the SEC, particularly, invite philosophical wonderings about just exactly what is going on in the world.  Upset Weekend doesn’t quite seem to cover it.

 
Georgia, crowned by many as the SEC East Champion (at least) after its defeat of LSU, has seen a spate of injuries on the offensive side of the football that I am not sure any team could overcome.  LSU itself went to Oxford and lost a game to the Mississippi Admiral Akbar Rebel Black Bears that was downright puzzling.  Mississippi had lost three straight.  LSU’s quarterback, who had played well enough that some considered him the class of the league -- a league that has one quarterback who is the current Heisman Trophy winner, another with three national championship rings and a touchdown to interception ratio that may set a record for all of college football history, and another who just set the SEC record for total offense with six or seven games still remaining in his career -- threw three interceptions in the first half, to go with only seven completions.  Frankly, Mississippi probably should have picked a couple of more.  Texas A&M, supposedly with the best player in college football, and an early dark horse favorite to win it all, has now lost two games at home, and may be an underdog at least twice more before the season ends.  Florida’s nationally-respected defense was methodically picked apart by a redshirt freshman at Missouri. Clemson was run out of its own stadium (admittedly by a very good FSU team) while holding a number 3 national ranking. South Carolina may be as dramatically internally dysfunctional as an episode of Big Brother. According to media reports, Oregon’s defensive coordinator complained publicly (and rather directly) that the opposing coach continued to call pass plays after the game was pretty much decided and he had therefore freely substituted on defense.  For a team that regularly plays its offensive starters late in the second half of games that are, shall we say decided, that seemed sort of cheeky.  What of those teams that fought hard and managed significant upsets last Saturday -- can they manage success?

 
More than halfway home, Alabama is undefeated, ranked number one, leads the SEC West, and laying aside Texas A&M no opponent has come closer to it than 25 points.  In fact, since the closing horn in College Station,  the defense has given up a grand total of 16 points.  Even with the Aggie game figured in, the defense is giving up on average fewer than 10 points per game.  The offense gained over 1000 yards combined in the last two games, which have been absolute shellackings, and by late in the third quarter featured players you might not identify with a program. Yes, we have won two consecutive games over conference opponents, but between them they own a grand total of 4 wins, coming against the likes of Samford and Louisiana Lafayette (no disrespect intended). The UA scoring offense is ranked 16th in the nation; scoring defense is ranked 1st in the nation. Could Alabama fall victim to reading its own press clippings?  To underestimating an opponent?  To not preparing mentally and physically for a challenge?  Coach was reportedly displeased with the efforts at practice last week, which makes one wonder what would have happened Saturday if the team had prepared harder. 

Coach Saban has structured The Process ®© to guard against the sort of overconfidence and self regard that leads a team to think that it can, to quote him, “throw its helmet out on the field and win the game.”  The team is supposed to play against a standard.  How good is it measured against how good it could be, not the opponent?  How good is it measured against its historical predecessors?  As an individual player, how well did you play on second and 6 early in the fourth quarter of a blowout game?  Was your effort, effect, and grade on that play the best you could achieve?  The issue is finding a way to make young men between the ages of 17-22 (with apologies to Jai Miller, who played Saturday) find that point of balance between confident and cocky.

It is a good thing, to my way of thinking, that Alabama knows that Tennessee took a very good Georgia team to overtime, and defeated highly-ranked South Carolina. Tennessee plays well on the line on both sides of the ball.  They do not quit.  Thus far, the Alabama players seem to be saying all the right things.  Let us hope their actions match their words. 

Hope to see you all in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Arkansas Grades

Did you know that there are three recommended way to roast a whole hog? It's true. According to the National Pork Board, of Des Moines, Iowa, you can roast a pig  on a grill, on a rotisserie, or in a pit you dig in the ground.

The Pork Board offers some good advice to those contemplating the prospect of roasting a pig: "Order your pig from a specialty meat packer, grocery story or local locker." Makes sense."It is often necessary to give them 7 days advance notice" Check. "Before purchasing make sure the pig is absolutely clean."  Whoa! I didn't see that one coming. 

No doubt you have seen those hi-tech hog-cooking rigs. Some of them are so big they are motorized. If you decide to go the low-tech route for your porcine cuisine, the Pork Board has this handy suggestion: "Dig a hole two feet deep and five to seven feet wide."

There was some hole digging on display Saturday night in Tuscaloosa. The Alabama running game dug a trench straight to the Arkansas end zone while AJ McCarron and the Tide receivers lit up the Hogs with a precision passing game. Not to be outdone, the Tide defense stuffed the Pigs, holding them scoreless for the second straight year.

So, it turns out there is yet a fourth way to roast hogs: put them in a football game against Alabama. 

The Tide was utterly ruthless in all phases of the game. For the second week in a row, Alabama had two running backs rush for more than 100 yards. In all of Tide history, that has been accomplished only 17 times. Fully 25% of those times have come in the last 9 contests. For the sixth time this season, the Defense held an opponent to 10 or fewer points. By way of comparison, in the entire 2012 season, Alabama held 7 opponents to 10 or fewer points. In 2011 the total was nine opponents. This team is well positioned to eclipse that mark.

Saturday night's 52-0 roasting of the Razorbacks was not the result of playing the starting rotation the entire game. AJ's work was over mid-way through the third quarter, and when the Tide defense held the Arkansas starters on downs late in the fourth to preserve the shut out, there were only a couple of players on the field whose names were included in the three-deep handy-reference card.

Alabama's performance was more than just scoring a half-hundred points. It is also the zeros that are remarkable. Zero points allowed. Zero interceptions. Zero fumbles. Zero penalties. A single punt and a failure to convert on fourth down are the only blemishes that keep it from being a perfect game.

Three seasons ago, an ancient time when the iPhone 4 had yet to make its debut, Arkansas was arguably one of the best teams in the country. It was certainly one of the top three in the SEC West. But since Bobby Petrino's infamous joy ride on-what else?-a Hawg, the combined score of Arkansas-Alabama games is a staggering 104-0. Put another way, in the last two seasons, Alabama has roasted enough Pigs to supply every tailgate tent on the Quad with a season's worth of pulled pork.

Here's how I grade the game:   

Offense:     A+      Alabama earned 25 first downs [15 rushing], and gained 532 yards of total offense [352 rushing] converting 5 of 9 possession downs.

AJ completed 15 of 21 pass attempts for 180 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was not sacked. His favorite target was TJ Yeldon, who caught 4 passes for 45 yards. Amari Cooper seems to be returning to pre-injury form. The exciting sophomore caught 3 passes for 65 yards and a TD. Christion Jones caught 3 balls for 20 yards and O.J. Howard had a 17 yard TD catch. Jalston Fowler made the most of his lone pass-catching opportunity scoring a TD from 5 yards out; the same play on which he dropped the pass in last week's game. Eight different players caught passes.

True freshman, Derrick Henry gained 111 yards on 6 carries and scored a TD on an 80 yard run. It is really amazing to watch someone that big [6-3, 235] run that fast. I wonder if he generates seismic waves detectable across campus in the geology lab. Kenyan Drake ran for 104 yards on 8 carries and scored 2 rushing touchdowns.TJ Yeldon added 88 yards and a TD on 12 runs. 

Alabama had six drives that gained 40 or more yards [68, 84, 72, 72, 67, 85] producing 5 TDs and a loss of possession on downs. The Tide's 10 offensive possessions generated 7 TDs, 1FG, a punt and a loss on downs. 

Defense: A+ Arkansas was limited to only 16 first downs and 91 passing yards. The Hogs gained 165 yards rushing, however, and converted 6 of 15 third downs. The occasional failure to get off the field on third down might warrant a slight downgrade, but the defense earned the + with its two interceptions [Ha Ha Clinton-Dix; Cyrus Jones] 5 pass breakups and 11 QB hurries.

CJ Mosley led all defenders with 10 tackles 2 breakups and 2 hurries. Jarrick Williams was credited with 6 tackles. Landon Collins and Clinton-Dix each made 5. 

Arkansas had 9 meaningful possessions in the game, which produced 4 punts, 2 interceptions, a blocked FG, a fumbled kick return and a turn-over on downs. 

Special Teams

Punting: A+ Cody Mandell only punted once-that counted-for 51 yards a no return. His second punt attempt, which was downed at the Arkansas 1 yard line, was nullified by an Arkansas roughing penalty. 

Kickoffs: A+ Alabama's kickers averaged 62.4 yards per kick and the coverage unit achieved a net of 42.6 yards/kick. Christion Jones returned Arkansas' single kickoff 32 yards to start the game.

Place Kicking: A+ Cade Foster was good from 48 yards on his single FG attempt and the Tide's place kickers were perfect on PATs. Alabama blocked Arkansas' lone FG attempt.

Coaching: A+ The participation report lists 70 players who saw action against Arkansas. The ball security and concentration issues that plagued Alabama last week against Kentucky were nowhere in sight Saturday night as Tide runners secured the ball "high and tight" and receivers held onto well thrown passes. And it bears repeating: Alabama was not penalized a single time in the game.

Apart from Alabama, October 19 was "Upset Saturday" for every SEC team that entered their respective games as the Las Vegas betting favorite. A future Tide opponent-LSU-lost on a last second field goal to a former opponent-Ole Miss, while a former opponent-A&M lost to future opponent Auburn. Non opponent-Vandy-effectively eliminated another SEC East rival-UGA-from having a chance to be an opponent. And non-opponent, Florida, was soundly whipped by just-might-be opponent Missouri.

The team that matters most, Tennessee, looked a little like the Vols of yesteryear by clawing back to win the fourth quarter, and the game, upsetting South Carolina 23-21. In The Daily Fishwrapper, columnist David Climer has declared UT's conquest of the Fighting Chickens to be a "signature win" by first-year coach, Butch Jones.

Personally, I would not have it any other way. No fans get unrealistically optimistic faster than Tennessee fans. Some are devising the scenario that gets Tennessee into the SEC Championship Game-spoiler alert: it involves Georgia and Florida both losing the Cocktail Party, and a secret witness convincing the NCAA that both Missouri and Vanderbilt are ineligible because having two people named James Franklin is like having two players wearing the same number on the field for the same play.

Look for Tennessee fans by the bus load to start arriving in Tuscaloosa as soon as Monday. For those readers in T'town: please exercise sensible precautions. Avoid direct contact with anyone wearing orange. You don't know where they have been, or what they have been doing. Remember what the Pork Board cautioned about making sure your pig was "absolutely clean." The same advice applies when it comes to visitors from  Rocky Top. If you think I am exaggerating, just listen to the lyrics of that song. Don't say I didn't warn you.

The Commissioner

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Kentucky Grades: The Report From The Tire Store

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Thanks for a prompt edition of the grades at the end of an odd week, Commissioner.  Last night was a bit of an odd one in Kentucky.  It took three quarters of domination to cleanse the palate of the first three series, by the offense at least.  But those three quarters were a serious beat down.   I don't think Kentucky is a very good team right now, but I'm mindful that just a few weeks ago they gave supposed BCS Buster Louisville all they wanted for three quarters.  Last night's game was over at half time.  It was good to see Alabama back to making the other team quit.  Even the players who are, shall we say, waiting their turns to start, lined up and took the fight to the Wildcats.  It is also worth noting that yesterday seemed like Upset Saturday in college football.  Georgia, Michigan, Stanford, Oklahoma all expected a brighter Sunday morning.   Alabama avoided adding its name to the list of teams that watched their chances to win it all be snatched away by supposedly inferior teams, instead dominating an opponent it should have.


The various offensive miscues and fireworks, all coming in the same game, make it easy to overlook how very well our defense has been playing since it left College Station.  Last night's effort was suffocating.  Kentucky's touchdown came on a play where one of our defenders suffered a key isolation block -- unintentionally thrown by one of this teammates.  For the last few seasons, various pundits have remarked that the team that was best situated to beat Alabama was Alabama.  I was not so sure that was true this season, especially three games in.  Here, at more or less the half way point, I am starting to believe that may be true again and it is because of the development on the defensive side of the ball.  Given the losses to graduation, I feared that the offense would have to carry the defense, which is not my preference for a football team, but you do with what you have.  If the defense can continue to play like they did Saturday night, it will make things that much easier for the offense.  Bear in mind that Ha ha was again held out Saturday night. The rumor we hear down at the Tire Store on the fine young freshman defensive back is that he injured an ankle during the homecoming game last week and was somewhat limited in practice.  However, reading quotes from the defensive backs coach/head coach's press conference last night, it may be that Slyve just practiced better and was given his just rewards on Saturday night.  Can't say that we have concerns about there being three healthy defensive backs that the coaches have enough confidence in to start.

We do agree that despite record-setting team performances all over the place, the offense deserved to be graded down just a bit.  A worrying case of the dropsies seemed to be spreading like a bad virus. Yeldon said after the game he was carrying the ball too low.  No word on Drake, though there is just a chance that was the result of an outstanding play by Kentucky's defense.  But a Fair + sounds just a bit harsh for a team that turned in one of the best offensive showings in four decades.   Though it pains us to admit this, numerous subscribers to the grades weren't yet alive the last time a better performance was turned in by the offense.  There's a passel of national championships, talented players, and, to be fair, games against pretty weak opponents scattered across that stretch.  We'd say that rates at least a "good".  Continued improvement by the offensive line, whether based on changes in personnel, better communication, or just the experience of playing together is a very hopeful sign.

We continue to be pleasantly surprised at the development of the special teams as a weapon.  For the second week in a row, it appeared that the other team decided to punt away from our returners and paid a price when they didn't execute correctly.  Place kicking is solid and we even appear to be making conscious choices whether to kick off deep into the end zone or to try to stop returners short of the 25.

Your larger point cannot and should not be ignored.  Saturday was a pounding of an inferior team. That does not mean that exactly the same performance would even achieve victory over most of the rest of the schedule.  Believing there are no negative repercussions for sloppy play is not acceptable. We have a good bit of confidence in this coaching staff to ensure that message is delivered.  See entry under, Saban, Nick, exploding head.  Also, we note improvement in preparation for games like this which, in times past, Alabama might have been tempted to sleep walk through a little bit.  Even the key drop and two fumbles in the first quarter were on plays that were well designed and working exactly as drawn up by the coaches, so they get at least partial credit for that.

We did not have high expectations for the officials' performance as soon as we noted that Penn Wagers' crew had shown up for the game.  We were not surprised.  Someone has to come up with a solution for the play where the official marks the ball ready for play and is still somewhere between the line of scrimmage and the linebackers when it is snapped.  It didn't cost us last night, but it could against a more potent offense.  Some of the personal foul flags were just silly.

Despite struggles by the officials, I thought they performed better than the ESPN announcing crew.  It is always refreshing not to have Verne mangling everyone's name and Gary waxing poetic about the Days o' Tebow, but at least they call the action on the field.  It seemed like we watched a full quarter of the game last night while they had useless theoretical discussions with the silly
Todd McShay about various NFL draft "projections" and sang the praises of Oregon specifically and the PAC generally.  Biased much?  Alabama was setting statistical records left and right, but you wouldn't have known it from the broadcast.  While McShay was giving lofty explanations of why AJ is a third-tier quarterback, he was buzzing laser-like strikes down the field in the background. While the oblivious chuckleheads talked away about what NFL teams might do in March, for pity's sake, Tenpenny was pounding through the Kentucky defense like a saber saw, carrying something like 8 times in 10 plays and scoring a touchdown.  All we heard about was what an intimidating place Seattle is to play football.  Really, guys?  Next week, we'll just turn the volume off and listen to Eli.

We'll just conclude with this, we always like those games where, during the Rammer Jammer, Coach Saban is at midfield apologizing to the other team's coach for the late touchdown scored by the backups.

Back to Tuscaloosa to face the Razorbacks, who will be trying to find a way to get over the embarrassment of this past Saturday.  Wounded animals are always dangerous.  See you Saturday.

The Correspondent From The Tire Store