Why the UAB may be just what was needed.

[joedog]

Like everyone else I want to see the dogs blow out every opponent we face. From USM, UAB, LSU as a fan I want 70-0. I realize that is not reasonable but that is what we all want a dominating, opponent demoralizing victory.

With all of the preseason hype and hiesman talk and the dominating week one performance I think we and by we I mean the fans and the team were getting a case of the big head. UAB came out and deflated that head some and put us all back where we should be. The team should not feel invincible any more and try and coast whike playing lesser teams. Also, we as fans should not be expecting 12 games of 49-0.

I'm not going to get into the debate to sub and play backups at what point in a game are ok. Dan's methods so far may not be conventional but it has produced 2 wins and until it affects the W-L record it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.

P.S. Yes it was hot as hell yesterday. I saw quite a few people escorted out by medics before halftime. I was there with my 9 year old daughter and every family around me with kids left before halftime. The second half was better but the kids from our group all left at halftime with the moms.

[RougeDawg]

Yes. Yesterday after game I was talking to a long time donor about this game helping us going forward. Hopefully it will wake these guys up and keep them hungry the rest of the season. It will also give the coaches something if ride the players about and push them to get better. We should see the effects this next weekend in mobile. I expect us to come out and put another buzzard style beat down on the jags.

[CadaverDawg]

Like everyone else I want to see the dogs blow out every opponent we face. From USM, UAB, LSU as a fan I want 70-0. I realize that is not reasonable but that is what we all want a dominating, opponent demoralizing victory.

With all of the preseason hype and hiesman talk and the dominating week one performance I think we and by we I mean the fans and the team were getting a case of the big head. UAB came out and deflated that head some and put us all back where we should be. The team should not feel invincible any more and try and coast whike playing lesser teams. Also, we as fans should not be expecting 12 games of 49-0.

I'm not going to get into the debate to sub and play backups at what point in a game are ok. Dan's methods so far may not be conventional but it has produced 2 wins and until it affects the W-L record it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.

P.S. Yes it was hot as hell yesterday. I saw quite a few people escorted out by medics before halftime. I was there with my 9 year old daughter and every family around me with kids left before halftime. The second half was better but the kids from our group all left at halftime with the moms.

I agree that it will force us to focus....but at the same time, I didn't feel like our players weren't focused at all. I felt like Mullen is the only reason we didn't beat them 70-10. I'm fine with deflating heads, if they're inflated...but I didn't think they were. To me, we roll in that game yesterday and get tons of stats, tons of experience, and tons of pub....if Dan doesn't F with the QB's and mass subs.

When your guys are focused, but the coach breaks that focus and momentum by screwing with things and getting too involved and too cute...that's messed up.

I know I'm beating a dead horse...I just don't feel like our team overlooked UAB at all, hence our starting O scoring on 6 of 9 possessions and our starting D locking down UAB for the most part. The mass subs made it look like we weren't focused, but what it really was, was a huge drop off from first string to second string. Sub a few guys at a time and we wipe them out. It was all coaching yesterday that kept it from being a massacre.

[EnterpriseDawg]

We had three games to develop continuity amoung our starters. How many other teams do you see pulling this crap of 1a and 1b? Even teams with far more depth than us don't even do it. We should be as finely tuned as we can be heading into the LSU game. Now after game 2 we don't really have a clue what this team is about. The one question that I have is how the starting players will react having to play a whole game? Is this 1a/1b gonna affect their ablitliy to play longer when we get to SEC play?

[CadaverDawg]

We had three games to develop continuity amoung our starters. How many other teams do you see pulling this crap of 1a and 1b? Even teams with far more depth than us don't even do it. We should be as finely tuned as we can be heading into the LSU game. Now after game 2 we don't really have a clue what this team is about. The one question that I have is how the starting players will react having to play a whole game? Is this 1a/1b gonna affect their ablitliy to play longer when we get to SEC play?

This^

[Coach34]

On the flip side- dont many of you complain about our depth and worry? Especially on the OL, RB, and WR? How else are they supposed to get better if they dont play? I mean damn, dont complain about Kent Flowers or Demetric Warren on Tuesday- and then bitch about us playing them on Saturday. People make predictions about Ross breaking out this year- well, to breakout he has to play. People want to see some Shump- well, you did. How is Nick James going to get better without meaningful reps? I could go on and on

[CadaverDawg]

On the flip side- dont many of you complain about our depth and worry? Especially on the OL, RB, and WR? How else are they supposed to get better if they dont play? I mean damn, dont complain about Kent Flowers or Demetric Warren on Tuesday- and then bitch about us playing them on Saturday. People make predictions about Ross breaking out this year- well, to breakout he has to play. People want to see some Shump- well, you did. How is Nick James going to get better without meaningful reps? I could go on and on

You're being ridiculous. You can get people reps in the 3rd and 4th when you're up by 24-31 points. You know this. Nobody is bitching about reps, they're bitching about entire line shifts, and 2nd team reps at crucial points in the game just for the hell of it. You aren't this foolish, even if you're just trying to stir the pot.

[basedog]

It's better for backups to get playing time when the game means something, see how they react. 34 is correct 100%.
.

[CadaverDawg]

It's better for backups to get playing time when the game means something, see how they react. 34 is correct 100%.
.

Horseshit. What did we learn from that shit show yesterday when the second team came in? Nothing. And how often is our entire second team going to come in at a key moment? You can sub in a few here and there and accomplish the same goal. There's a reason Mullen is the only coach in the country doing this crap....and I'll give you hint...it ain't because he's smart and they're all dumb. 34 is wrong on this, as are you, IMO. "100% correct" is laughable...he himself said in his Sunday QB post that he would leave it up to others to whether it was right or not, bc there were pros and cons to it...so even HE wouldn't say he's 100% correct.

I see the pros to second teamers playing in crucial spots for experience....but putting multiple second teamers in at once is not beneficial for anybody, because the first string will never all get injured at the same time. It's stupid, plain and simple. Especially at QB...it kills rhythm and ends up hurting both your starter and your backup, see Saturday. Dak and Damien both struggled in terms of accuracy and reads.

[dawg27]

34 is right them seconds are one play from being the first they need to have time

[EnterpriseDawg]

34 is right them seconds are one play from being the first they need to have time

And they shall have time. Right after the game is well in hand. The way it's been done for a long damn time. It can also be used as a way to motivate the 2's to play better. You wanna start and play lots of reps? Show me!!!

[CadaverDawg]

And they shall have time. Right after the game is well in hand. The way it's been done for a long damn time. It can also be used as a way to motivate the 2's to play better. You wanna start and play lots of reps? Show me!!!

Exactly. Does everybody get a game ball after the game, too?

[Dallas_Dawg]

Surely Mullen figures out this week after watching the film that he has got to scrap the 1a and 1b shit in games. We are about to go on the road to face and up and coming team hosting their first SEC game ever. We can't go into this game with that same plan.
If D Williams trots out in the first quarter next week, I am going break something.

[Coach34]

And they shall have time. Right after the game is well in hand. The way it's been done for a long damn time. It can also be used as a way to motivate the 2's to play better. You wanna start and play lots of reps? Show me!!!

And what better way to show than when the game is on the line instead on when it's 40-7 and UAB's guys are just going thru the motions to get the game over? When we are battling LSU, Auburn, Bama- we damn well need to know how some of these other guys are going to react

The game was never in doubt and our guys got tons of experience. How is that not doing things right?

[Natedogg33]

I agree with C34. The game was never truly in doubt. It seemed like Mullen intentionally put us in a bad position to check our guys mettle. I don't think he believed they could chunk 4 bombs and connect, but that's another REAL problem. Hopefully, that was an anommaly and we get that fixed.
I was more concerned with Dak lobbing terrible throws half the time. He's got to make some of those and check down instead of throwing balls into nothing. He has a tendency to lock in and pray. He can't do that if we're going to be as good as we can.

[PMDawg]

And what better way to show than when the game is on the line instead on when it's 40-7 and UAB's guys are just going thru the motions to get the game over? When we are battling LSU, Auburn, Bama- we damn well need to know how some of these other guys are going to react

The game was never in doubt and our guys got tons of experience. How is that not doing things right?

I'm not wading into this with you, because everyone knows youre too hard headed to change your mind or admit when you are wrong. BUT l will point out the irony that you are 100x more of a Mullen apologist than anyone you accused of being a Stanbury apologist. If he were a women, I'd swear you were stalking him and sniffing his underwear.

[PMDawg]

I agree with C34. The game was never truly in doubt. It seemed like Mullen intentionally put us in a bad position to check our guys mettle. I don't think he believed they could chunk 4 bombs and connect, but that's another REAL problem. Hopefully, that was an anommaly and we get that fixed.
I was more concerned with Dak lobbing terrible throws half the time. He's got to make some of those and check down instead of throwing balls into nothing. He has a tendency to lock in and pray. He can't do that if we're going to be as good as we can.

You can bet this weeks game will be in doubt for quite awhile. You can also bet Dan will be doing the same thing he has done these first two games.

[Alldawg]

He may swing both ways!! Like Cadav said, you will never have all five linemen go down. If you want to see what a player has, sub in one or two. Don't pull this 1A and 1B bullshit. There are no 1b players. They are subs. Sub in a few here and there. Let Williams come in with the starters but quit being to cute

[EnterpriseDawg]

And what better way to show than when the game is on the line instead on when it's 40-7 and UAB's guys are just going thru the motions to get the game over? When we are battling LSU, Auburn, Bama- we damn well need to know how some of these other guys are going to react

The game was never in doubt and our guys got tons of experience. How is that not doing things right?

The game SHOULD NEVER be on the line with a team like UAB. You go in there and take care of business like you're suppose to. The only reason it was was because of the poor play of the 2's. What would have happened had Dak been so out of rythem that he couldn't bring us back. How stupid would Mullen have looked. When every game counts, why risk it? Just to prove how great you are?

[Todd4State]

I agree with C34. The game was never truly in doubt. It seemed like Mullen intentionally put us in a bad position to check our guys mettle. I don't think he believed they could chunk 4 bombs and connect, but that's another REAL problem. Hopefully, that was an anommaly and we get that fixed.
I was more concerned with Dak lobbing terrible throws half the time. He's got to make some of those and check down instead of throwing balls into nothing. He has a tendency to lock in and pray. He can't do that if we're going to be as good as we can.

I think our plan was based a lot on the fact that:

1. Dak was hurt in practice.

2. The fact that USM beat UAB last year.

3. The fact that UAB only threw 19 passes against Troy and ran the ball a lot. Not to mention their backs are in the 220's.


What happened unfortunately was our back-ups weren't producing, which knocked us out of rhythm. As far as mass subbing guys, that's another discussion. I do think that if the staff was honest with you, they would tell you that they underestimated what UAB could do. We did beat USM easily- a team that blew out UAB last year, and Troy was a team we hung 60 points on last year. Add in the fact that they had a QB that they held out vs. Troy that had a really big arm- and that leads to some big plays for them. Looking at UAB on the film we had available, there is no way that any coach in America would have had a different game plan than what we had vs. them.

[Todd4State]

The game SHOULD NEVER be on the line with a team like UAB. You go in there and take care of business like you're suppose to. The only reason it was was because of the poor play of the 2's. What would have happened had Dak been so out of rythem that he couldn't bring us back. How stupid would Mullen have looked. When every game counts, why risk it? Just to prove how great you are?

That game was never on the line. When they took the lead, we started blitzing and ended up two scores at the half. We had at least a three score lead for most of the second half until they added a bomb late on a freshman CB for some garbage points.

Notice Dan started running Dak more when the game was getting a little bit dicey in the second quarter. Right after they took a 20-19 lead, we easily ran the ball right down their throat and took the lead back for good.

[EnterpriseDawg]

That game was never on the line. When they took the lead, we started blitzing and ended up two scores at the half. We had at least a three score lead for most of the second half until they added a bomb late on a freshman CB for some garbage points.

Notice Dan started running Dak more when the game was getting a little bit dicey in the second quarter. Right after they took a 20-19 lead, we easily ran the ball right down their throat and took the lead back for good.

But why even let it get to that point? Step on their throat at the very beginning and don't let off till they stop squirming. Who cares if the backups play garbage time? At least they are getting time.

[Natedogg33]

I think things snowballed more than the staff thought it could. At that point the pretty ass whipping was out the window. Put the gas down and jumped back up by twenty. Wasn't pretty, and pissed as anyone about the full team swap outs. All I or we can hope, Dan got that crap out of his system.
Hopefully Dak stays healthy. Have to stay optimistic at this point.

[bluelightstar]

That game was never on the line. When they took the lead, we started blitzing and ended up two scores at the half. We had at least a three score lead for most of the second half until they added a bomb late on a freshman CB for some garbage points.

Notice Dan started running Dak more when the game was getting a little bit dicey in the second quarter. Right after they took a 20-19 lead, we easily ran the ball right down their throat and took the lead back for good.

Yeah, we definitely had a 6-point lead at halftime. And UAB got the ball back to start the half. I don't think we were really going to lose the game, but you let a team hang around like that and bad, unpredictable things can happen to you.