Everyone seems to think the game is over and was played yesterday; I really don’t see it this way. I have complimented Bama numerous times here at the RX and have called them the best team in NCAA this year. So I am not a basher, have a lot of respect for the program and the coach. Have not always felt that way, but how can you not? What happened last year does not matter this year? However, when looking at the very few games Alabama has lost the last few years there are some patterns that I see.
I could be dead wrong and these are only my thoughts and observations which are worthless.
The Michigan State game was such a match up nightmare for them it was almost laughable. I think if you look up Saban’s comments before the game and after he references “match ups” a lot when discussing opponents.
Kirby Smart, I think he is one of the most over rated coaches in ncaa. I will add if I were a Georgia fan and I saw him appointed our new head football coach but still standing on the sidelines for enemy #1 for a few more weeks I would not be happy. I also remember watching a Nick Saban interview where he once talked about assistant coaches getting other jobs as head coaches and it serves both schools involved for that coach to move because you can’t be two things at the same time.
Back to Kirby, how can he not be a “good” coordinator with a team filled with NFL talent and depth? I could be the defensive coordinator at Alabama and be just as good as him along with any of you with a coaching/playing background in the game.
If you look at some of the few loses bama has had over the last 3 or 4 years they were against teams who presented some “matchup” problems as they possessed above average talent but not equal to Bama, mobile QB’s, a tempo offense with the ability to run it or throw it, and a defense athletic enough to neutralize the Alabama skill along with out coaching Kirby on the offensive side of the ball.
On a side note, I don’t know how people continue to bash Lane Kiffin and the job he has done at Alabama.
Back to Kirby, after 6 loses to teams with the characteristics I mentioned above, he has yet to show the ability to make adjustments or stop a team like that. If you think back to the Ohio State game, while the final score was close, it did not tell the story of how Ohio State moved the ball for the most part up and down the field at will. I cannot give Kirby Smart the benefit of the doubt now more than ever as he is splitting his time between two teams.
Clemson has held their own vs some very good teams as Swinney has been building this program with big wins over LSU, FSU, ND, Ohio State, Oklahoma ( 2 times ). I think if they play their best there is no reason they cannot win the game. They also come in with that big chip on their shoulder. Something else that is impressive with this team is that they continually overcome self-inflicted wounds with turnovers and win games. Based on prior performance I do think they move the ball and score on Alabama.
Having come to the conclusion that I feel Clemson will move the ball and score. It brings me to another part of the game. The Alabama offense. They are a machine when being successful doing what they want to do. Playing with a lead, pounding ball, and throwing when they want to throw it. They have demonstrated in the past when behind on the score board, the tendency to get away from the running game and throwing it much more than their fans have liked.
So assume they fall behind on the score board, abandon the run and turn to the passing game as they feel they must score and “keep up” with the opponent. Have they been successful doing this? Personally I don’t think they have.
I played Clemson on the ML +158 versus OU and will be playing Clemson on the ML when I feel the number has peaked, tonight when I checked it was +240.
If you do not present matchup problems for them Alabama will wipe the floor with you as they did with Michigan State. If you do present matchup problems you stand a chance vs this power house.
Nothing but respect for Nick Saban and his teams and I wish fans of both teams good luck.
So my question.. how do you think these two teams match up?
I could be dead wrong and these are only my thoughts and observations which are worthless.
The Michigan State game was such a match up nightmare for them it was almost laughable. I think if you look up Saban’s comments before the game and after he references “match ups” a lot when discussing opponents.
Kirby Smart, I think he is one of the most over rated coaches in ncaa. I will add if I were a Georgia fan and I saw him appointed our new head football coach but still standing on the sidelines for enemy #1 for a few more weeks I would not be happy. I also remember watching a Nick Saban interview where he once talked about assistant coaches getting other jobs as head coaches and it serves both schools involved for that coach to move because you can’t be two things at the same time.
Back to Kirby, how can he not be a “good” coordinator with a team filled with NFL talent and depth? I could be the defensive coordinator at Alabama and be just as good as him along with any of you with a coaching/playing background in the game.
If you look at some of the few loses bama has had over the last 3 or 4 years they were against teams who presented some “matchup” problems as they possessed above average talent but not equal to Bama, mobile QB’s, a tempo offense with the ability to run it or throw it, and a defense athletic enough to neutralize the Alabama skill along with out coaching Kirby on the offensive side of the ball.
On a side note, I don’t know how people continue to bash Lane Kiffin and the job he has done at Alabama.
Back to Kirby, after 6 loses to teams with the characteristics I mentioned above, he has yet to show the ability to make adjustments or stop a team like that. If you think back to the Ohio State game, while the final score was close, it did not tell the story of how Ohio State moved the ball for the most part up and down the field at will. I cannot give Kirby Smart the benefit of the doubt now more than ever as he is splitting his time between two teams.
Clemson has held their own vs some very good teams as Swinney has been building this program with big wins over LSU, FSU, ND, Ohio State, Oklahoma ( 2 times ). I think if they play their best there is no reason they cannot win the game. They also come in with that big chip on their shoulder. Something else that is impressive with this team is that they continually overcome self-inflicted wounds with turnovers and win games. Based on prior performance I do think they move the ball and score on Alabama.
Having come to the conclusion that I feel Clemson will move the ball and score. It brings me to another part of the game. The Alabama offense. They are a machine when being successful doing what they want to do. Playing with a lead, pounding ball, and throwing when they want to throw it. They have demonstrated in the past when behind on the score board, the tendency to get away from the running game and throwing it much more than their fans have liked.
So assume they fall behind on the score board, abandon the run and turn to the passing game as they feel they must score and “keep up” with the opponent. Have they been successful doing this? Personally I don’t think they have.
I played Clemson on the ML +158 versus OU and will be playing Clemson on the ML when I feel the number has peaked, tonight when I checked it was +240.
If you do not present matchup problems for them Alabama will wipe the floor with you as they did with Michigan State. If you do present matchup problems you stand a chance vs this power house.
Nothing but respect for Nick Saban and his teams and I wish fans of both teams good luck.
So my question.. how do you think these two teams match up?
