Good Bama info

#1
brandonco05

brandonco05

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 6, 2009
Messages
2,793
Likes
207
#1
From Scout

Even with a relatively favorable schedule, and what’s shaping up to be another sub-par year for the SEC West (don’t believe the “rebound” hype), Alabama is destined for a step back in 2009; at least in terms of wins/losses. And this in a year many experts had predicted the Tide would compete for an SEC/National title.

Moreover, it can be attributed directly to a purposeful choice made by Head Coach Nick Saban last year: Greg McElroy threw only 11 pass attempts.

And in that decision, the fate of Alabama’s 2009 season was sealed.

Who is Greg McElroy, you ask? Exactly. In just five months, McElroy is the odds on favorite to be under center as the Tide line up across from the Hokies of Virginia Tech. Unfortunately for Alabama, the junior-to-be has a grand total of only 20 pass attempts under his CFB belt.

AN UNEXPECTED RUN

One can’t fault Saban completely. Much like the Major League Baseball team in a playoff hunt that makes a short-sighted trade for a chance to win today, Alabama’s top man unexpectedly found his team deep in the season with a shot at the brass ring.

His supporters argue that with that as a baseline, and with only one year under Saban’s belt, not to mention a brand new Offensive Coordinator, senior QB John Parker Wilson needed as many game day snaps as possible.

But we still end up at the same number: 11.

Certainly against rent-a-wins/blow-outs like Western Kentucky (41-7), Arkansas (49-14), Tennessee (29-9), Arkansas State (35-0), MSU (32-7), and Auburn (36-0), Saban could have found a few more opportunities to get his 2009 QB some game time experience. Especially if ‘bama was a #1 team in America (as many pollsters believed), then against these teams, with these scores, there should have been ample time to play McElroy and prepare for 2009.

Yet Saban elected instead to jockey it out with JP, as he’s done before. Remember 2003? Then the LSU HC, Saban rode senior Matt Mauck all the way to the NC, with backup Marcus Randall rarely seeing any grass. Yet even Randall got ~4 times the number of passing attempts McElroy got.

So what happened to the Tigers in 2004? Not surprisingly, the offense sputtered and the team paid the price, losing 2 more games than the previous year, including both of their tough road games – where experience (or lack thereof) is usually key.

JUST HOW IMPORTANT IS AN EXPERIENCED QB

So you still think Alabama has a real chance to win the National Championship this season? Good on ya, skipper. But remembering that the learning curve in the SEC is even steeper than most conferences – particularly for QBs, put down the Kool Aid and spend ten seconds on this list of signal callers that raised the crystal football over their heads this decade:

2008 – Tebow – Jr.
2007 – Flynn – Sr.
2006 – Leak – Sr.
2005 – Young – Jr.
2004 – Leinart – Jr.
2003 – Mauck – Sr.
2002 – Krenzel – Jr.
2001 – Dorsey – Jr.
2000 – Heupel – Sr.

Of that list, only one (Krenzel) entered his championship winning season with a dearth of experience comparable to McElroy. As if those odds weren’t bad enough, in 2001 Krenzel actually started in the road win against Michigan and threw almost four times as many passes (41) then McElroy threw in 2008.

11.

By the way, the other four juniors? All Heisman winners or runners up. I’m sure McElroy’s a nice enough young man, but I wouldn’t exactly be buying his plane ticket for NYC just yet.
Click to expand...
 
#2
#2
Which is worse, only 20 pass attempts or a whole bunch thrown in the turf, to opposing players, or to cheerleaders?
 
#3
#3
vol1981 said:
Which is worse, only 20 pass attempts or a whole bunch thrown in the turf, to opposing players, or to cheerleaders?
Click to expand...

Are you in love with bashing our team too, there seems to be a lot of people like you on here.
 
#4
#4
I don't think losing JPW hurts too much. McElroy should be about as decent as he was. What hurts is losing 2 of the best OL in the country.
 
#9
#9
brandonco05 said:
Are you in love with bashing our team too, there seems to be a lot of people like you on here.
Click to expand...

I don't think he was bashing our team as much as he was saying that predicting a bad season for Bama solely because their QB has 11 snaps under his belt is faulty logic. At this time last year, we would have figured Crompton to be a fairly game-tested QB for someone never labeled as "the starter," but when he got in game, it was obvious that all the experience in the world wasn't gonna stop him from telegraphing his pass attempts to opposing defenses.

Nevertheless, it's a point of concern for Bama, so good points all around.

Hugz anyone?
 
#10
#10
TitanHope said:
I don't think he was bashing our team as much as he was saying that predicting a bad season for Bama solely because their QB has 11 snaps under his belt is faulty logic. At this time last year, we would have figured Crompton to be a fairly game-tested QB for someone never labeled as "the starter," but when he got in game, it was obvious that all the experience in the world wasn't gonna stop him from telegraphing his pass attempts to opposing defenses.

Nevertheless, it's a point of concern for Bama, so good points all around.

Hugz anyone?
Click to expand...

Oh i still think they will be good but its something people shouldnt forget when they say we wont be able to hang with them. I know he didnt say that im just saying in general.
 
#11
#11
TitanHope said:
I don't think he was bashing our team as much as he was saying that predicting a bad season for Bama solely because their QB has 11 snaps under his belt is faulty logic. At this time last year, we would have figured Crompton to be a fairly game-tested QB for someone never labeled as "the starter," but when he got in game, it was obvious that all the experience in the world wasn't gonna stop him from telegraphing his pass attempts to opposing defenses.

Nevertheless, it's a point of concern for Bama, so good points all around.

Hugz anyone?
Click to expand...

You don't even have to ask for me my SWDC buddy! :)
 
#15
#15
There will be some dropoff as far as wins and loses. Alabama is a deeper more talented team now than last year. JP wilson didn't really set the world on fire either. All saban's system requires is steady/heady play by his qb. He didn't put too much on JP's shoulders and he won't put too much on McElroy. They're going to be a good solid team, but they'll have company fighting it out for the west this year unlike last. They won't go 8-0 in conference again either, that you can bank on.
 
#16
#16
Where does it say they disbanded their football team? I thought you said this was good info on Alabama?
 
#17
#17
I think our DB's under Monte will be ready for a young QB. I like the odds. I am more concerned about our QB play getting us beat than their QB play beating us.
 
#18
#18
I think bammer will rely much more on running than passing this coming year. If we dont have the meat at the line to stop the run it really wont matter who hands the ball off for them.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top