Can anyone decipher what "The Hat" means here?

[ShotgunDawg]

Ross Dellenger ‏@DellengerAdv 17m17 minutes ago
Miles on #Bama-MSU game: "The alignment of Alabama's defense will give Mississippi State an issue."

If Bama's defensive alignment will give us issues, then why didn't LSU line up like Bama against us?

[mstatefan91]

Les Miles is crazy and says things that don't make a whole lot of sense. Nothing to see here

[Maroons]

I assume he's talking about their base D having a NG in the A gap, esp. since the majority of Dak's rushing yards have come on runs up the middle. The middle 3 in our OL will have to play very well.

[ShotgunDawg]

I'm just curious if it's a 4/3 vs 3/4 issue and how in Bama's 3/4 they have a massive nose guard that keeps Dak from gutting their line?

[Covercorner2]

yea I think he is talking about the 3-4 as opposed to the 4-3...

[ShotgunDawg]

Imagine that if slowing down our offense was as easy as placing a big ass nose guard in the A-gap, everyone would have done it

What makes Bama's alignment different?

[Covercorner2]

Imagine that if slowing down our offense was as easy as placing a big ass nose guard in the A-gap, everyone would have done it

What makes Bama's alignment different?

I guess that they have the personnel to do it? Big 315 lb + nose guards, and a stable to big, rangy LBs....

[CadaverDawg]

Where's 57 or 34 or West to break down what Les means and how we will combat it?

[Bubb Rubb]

Where's 57 or 34 or West to break down what Les means and how we will combat it?

I'm not either of those, but we need to double team the point of attack (the noseguard) and pull the backside lineman to get a linebacker. Their alignment will limit the big QB draw runs, but we should be able to rush for a healthy YPC number. Dak will get his rushing yards this week more from scrambling than running the draw play, but there will be opportunities. I expect a lower-scoring game, but we should be able to score 24, which I think will be plenty to win the game. This is just my opinion, though.

[codeDawg]

The biggest problem I can see is that it's just different. Dan and Dak have made a living on reading defenses. This one is going to look and work differently than the other 9 we've played this year plus the one we normally practice against.

[ShotgunDawg]

What is Bama sacrificing by lining up this way? A pass rush?

[Bubb Rubb]

What is Bama sacrificing by lining up this way? A pass rush?

They aren't sacrificing anything. Their ends will be a handful and they will bring pressure from their LBs. They will make it tough for us to read and pick up their pressure. Their goal is to occupy our OL with their front and allow their backers to run free.

[ShotgunDawg]

They aren't sacrificing anything. Their ends will be a handful and they will bring pressure from their LBs. They will make it tough for us to read and pick up their pressure. Their goal is to occupy our OL with their front and allow their backers to run free.

But they only have 3 guys up front

[EAVdog]

Their Alignment didn't slow down Jennings from making some big runs up the middle. We'll incorporate TE's and Slot Receivers to peel off their LB's. That's how they get you, your OL engages 3 guys, usually with 4 and then the LB's fill/shoot the gaps. We'll have to make the LB choose to cover MJ/JL or try to sack Dak. We'll see a lot of one back sets, 4 and 5 wide.

We won't just line up and run it through the A gap. Our play calling needs to keep their heads spinning and we need to go up-tempo. Just like Oklahoma did last year. And WV and OM did a little bit this year.

[Bubb Rubb]

But they only have 3 guys up front

Their hope is that we won't be able to block three guys with three guys. They expect that we will have to double team at least the NG, and possibly at least one of the ends. Like EAV said below, we have to use the TEs to block more and spread the field otherwise.

[Beaver]

We'll have to make the LB choose to cover MJ/JL or try to sack Dak.

And this is why Jameon coming back this week is huge. While Gabe probably has more speed, Jameon's quickness and ability to work the middle of the field should be a boost.

[MetEdDawg]

Les actually makes a ton of sense here. The whole purpose of a three man front is that you have a NT act like two DTs, thus leaving you 4 LBs instead of 3 to attack the LOS or play with your skills players in space.

We've struggled with this in the past. The throwing lanes are smaller, the blitzers are faster and more athletic, and your ability to disguise what you are doing on defense goes up significantly. That's going to cause us some problems no doubt. The question is how much can we get done when we don't get fooled and can we limit the damage on plays where we do get fooled.

We've got to neutralize Bama in the middle. I believe we lead the country in rushing yards between the tackles. Bama is going to try and take that away because we are not a very good edge team. We don't have elite speed. We are very much power run and we predicate our playaction game off of our ability to be successful between the tackles. If we can control the LOS there, we can win this game. But if lose that battle more often than we win it, it's going to be a long day. Outside of Dak, the three most important players Saturday are Beckwith, Day, and Malone in my opinion.

[chef dixon]

Les sorry we tagged that ass. Maybe you can employ this next year.

[Jack Lambert]

I think it is wishful thinking. If they can't win it all they damn sure don't want MSU to win it.

[Westdawg]

He means their 3-4 base defense

quick breakdown

much of our inside and outside zone runs work best against a 40 front. just how it is. I think that is why Kentucky gave us some issues at times up front against our offense. if you have a solid 0 tech NG that can eat up the middle and control both A gaps, it allows the defense to open up a lot of their defensive playbook and wreak havoc with lots of pressure from multiple points. Dillon is going to have his work cut out. I won't lie, after seeing how we struggled a bit with Kentucky's front i was glad that our O line had a chance to really work against it. as the game went on, they seemed to get things figured out. Now the big difference between those two defenses - aside from personnel - is that UK runs mostly a 30 Stack, or 3-5-3 hybrid. Lots of things you can do pressure-wise with that defense. Bama is a legit 3-4 base defense. Those two inside LBs are the difference with those defenses. and Bama has some good ones. with a strong NG play, you open up the inside backers to clean up a LOT. This also allows your DEs and OLBs to work a lot of stunts and pressures from the edge as well as great containment. but the issue is play on that NG.
if Day can handle that NG it will open up our OGs to take on their insider backers with ease. if Day has to have help, we may have a long day trying to run the ball.