Some Thoughts On the Bama Game
Only a couple of days away from the game & after listening & reading this week, here are some thoughts on what I expect:
- I don't think we can score enough to win the game, but, if we are able to, I think we need to somehow score 28 points. I think 28 points is the magic number that gives us a punchers chance, & to score that many will likely require a defensive or special teams score. I'm not sure that we can execute 4 TD drives. I think we can steal one & hopefully manufacture 2 more.
- That being said, I do expect Moorhead to dial up the most aggressive offensive game plan we've seen in years vs Bama. Why? Because he ain't letting the LSU game happen again. Moorhead has said more than once how much he lost his identity as a play caller in the LSU game, &, since this is his next real chance to redeem that game plan (SEC road game vs a top 5 opponent), I expect to him run the opposite of it. That means that you shouldn't expect the ball control offense you saw vs Bama last year. We can't run out the clock this year.
- The key for our offense will be Fitz getting the ball out of his hand quickly & us picking up blitzes. If we can do both of those things, along with our normal running game, I think we can give Bama's defense some issues.
- Although I expect to our defense to be challenged beyond their limits, I am fascinated by what Bob Shoop can come up with defensively. While Bama obviously blew out LSU, I thought LSU's defense was the first defense this year to provide "resistance" to Bama's offense but Aranda had to design a game plan without video of anyone else having success against Bama's offense in anything. Due to LSU providing "some" resistance, Shoop has something to work with this week. He has the chance to watch film, see some things that had success & take them a step further with good personnel. I expect Bama to score 32-37 points. That means if we score 28, we'll be in the game, but fall just short. At least it gives you a chance though.
- I'll be interested to see how our secondary plays. Do you provide cushion & prevent big plays or do you crowd the Bama WRs, hit them off the line, & hope our top notch DL can get there? We are going to need some big sacks that create long down & distance to get Bama's offense off field.
- Lastly, it seems like every time we play at LSU or Bama we make a catastrophic error in the first 5 minutes that puts us in a hole. Can we avoid that? Can we come out hot & put the pressure on them?
