COLLEGE FOOTBALL POP QUIZ: 2017 SEASON, WEEK TWO
1. Auburn, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Alabama: Which one of these is
not like the other?
2. Match the SEC coach with the temperature of that coach’s seat:
Coach Temperature
Bret Bielema Stone
Cold
Kevin Sumlin Warm
to the touch
Butch Jones Oven
mitt recommended
Nick Saban Could
fry an egg
3. Rank Order: by using the numbers 1 through 5, where 1 means “I
guarantee it” and 5 means “There ain’t no way” indicate your answer for the
next head football coach at Ole Miss (use each number only once).
Coach Will
be hired I want to be hired
Les Miles _______ ________
Nick Saban _______ ________
Tommy Tuberville _______ ________
Gene Chizik _______ ________
The Interim Guy _______ ________
4. Essay: Starting with the
2007 season, every football program in the SEC has changed coaches; some have
done so more than once. Nick Saban is now the dean of SEC head football
coaches. How does this make you feel?
Discuss.
(250 word limit) (This question is for extra credit. Alabama fans
are excused.)
Well, here we are two games into the
2017 football season. Some programs are already in the ditch. Others are
ticking along right on schedule. From what I saw yesterday, I think the Crimson
Tide is in the second category, notwithstanding the need to fill holes in the
defense created by injury. Jalen Hurts looked like the Jalen Hurts of last
November. The rest of the offense showed balance and depth. The starting
defense looked like …… the starting defense. Place kicking was vastly improved
over Week One.
The Tide did not cover the 43 1/2
point betting spread, but it beat an over-matched opponent in convincing
fashion. Less than one minute into the game, Alabama scored a touchdown, and
the game was effectively over.
Readers of The Grades know it is our
custom to impose a one letter grade deduction on offense and defense when justified by the quality of
the opponent. Such deductions are due to be assessed today. So, here is how I
grade the game:
Offense: B+ The Tide gained 497 net yards of total
offense [305 rushing], earned 28 first downs, converted 5 of 11 possession
downs and controlled the clock for 30:42. Jalen had an outstanding day,
completing 14 of 18 pass attempts for 128 yards and a TD [Hale Hentges]. He also rushed for 154 yards on 10 attempts
and scored 2 rushing TDs. Tua Tagovailoa got significant playing time. He
completed 6 of 9 pass attempts for 64 yards and a TD [Henry Ruggs, III].
Calvin Ridley led all receivers with
45 yards on 5 receptions. Cam Sims caught three passes for 28 yards. Robert
Foster, Bo Scarbrough, and Irv Smith, Jr. each made two receptions. Eleven
different players caught passes. In a marked improvement over last week,
neither QB caught his own pass attempt.
Jalen was the leading rusher, followed
by Najee Harris who netted 70 yards on 13 attempts. Scarbrough gained 36 yards
on 6 runs, followed by Damien Harris with 32 yards on 6 carries.
Bama had six sustained drives [73, 62,
75, 77, 53, 75] which produced 5 TDs and a field goal. The offense scored
touchdowns on its first three possessions of the game and only punted three
times. Alabama had no three-and-out possessions.
I still do not understand our
short-yardage offense in the red zone. Against Fresno State, Bama had a couple
of chances to rush the ball with a defensive lineman at full back. We lined up
with two tight ends, but a single back off-set from the quarterback who was
under center. The play gained yardage, but not enough to score a TD and the
Tide settled for a FG on 4th down. Nevertheless, Bama scored on each of its 5
red zone possessions. Combined with last week’s success, the Tide’s red zone
efficiency through two games is 100%.
Defense: B The
Bulldogs gained 274 net offensive yards and were held to only 58 yards rushing.
Chason Virgil started at QB for Fresno State. He completed 21 of 34 attempts
for 180 yards and a TD. He was sacked once. Fresno converted only 3 of 11
possession downs.
Ronnie Harrison and Raekwon Davis led
all defenders with 8 tackles each. Heath Holcombe is credited with 7 stops.
Hootie Jones, Anthony Averett, Da’Ron Payne, and Mack Wilson each made 4. Tide
defenders were credited with 3 tackles for loss [13 yards]. Anthony Averett
made an interception he returned for 30 yards.
Fresno State only managed only two
drives that gained more than 40 yards [70, 57]. These drives resulted in a FG
on State’s second possession of the game, and the end of play.
Special Teams:
Place Kicking: A Andy
Pappanastos was good from 24 and 22 and perfect on each of his 5 PATs.
Punting: A JK Scott punted 3 times for an average of 41.7
yards each of which he dropped inside the Bulldog 20. Trevon Diggs returned 2
Fresno State punts for a total of 12 yards.
Kickoffs: B Scott averaged 63.1 yards per kick on Bama’s 8
kickoffs. Three of the 8 were touchbacks. Kick coverage was good until the
fourth quarter when the return team allowed Fresno State’s Da’Mari Scott to
return a kick 63 yards. The Bulldogs took advantage of the excellent field
position and scored their lone TD after a drive of only 37 yards.
Coaching: A No
controversy this weekend. Bama was penalized 4 times for 30 yards. Sixty
players saw action in the game. For the second game this season, Alabama did
not suffer a turnover.
Coach Stallings once said, to win a
championship, a team has to have three kinds of good luck; schedule luck,
injury luck and game luck. As 2017 currently stands, Alabama has some favorable
schedule luck, at least for the next week. Colorado State presents a final
opportunity to make roster adjustments before diving into conference
competition on the road against Vanderbilt (2-0). Injury luck has not been as
favorable, so we will see whether all those number one recruiting classes have
produced the kind of deep talent pool we all hope for.
Our shared passion for Alabama
football is a fun diversion from current events. But now, next week, and in the
weeks ahead, we should all pray for those affected by natural disasters, and
devote our time, treasure and effort, to do what we are called to do in
response.
Remember April, 2011 and answer your
call.
Roll Tide Y’all.
The Commissioner
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