I think the key to victory is simple

[Shamoan]

Dont turn the ball over and wait for them to make the mistake. im not saying dont be aggressive, as i think we need to push for early points, but dak needs to manage the game and not make stupid decisions. grind them down, protect the ball, be opportunistic, and dont give them the short field. i really think we can pull it off the more i think about it, but only if we dont turn it over. we have been pretty sloppy with the ball as of late and the lsu game makes me think we will be primed to do what is necessary, but our turnovers (specifically those in the red zone) have KILLED our chances in the past against bama when we were fortunate enough to move the ball on them.

BALL CONTROL. the rest will take care of itself. its time to out-bama bama.

 

[shotgunDawg]

i think we need to come out like a bat out of hell and put them in a hole. Putting them in an early hole will quiet the crowd and create some frustration

 

[boatsandhoes]

I was thinking about this

Since I am worthless this week.

I still don't think we have played to our potential ceiling. LSU for 55 minutes until the end when we just subbed to early, made a few mistakes to let them back in it.

Auburn is obviously the most explosive team we have played offensively. More explosive than Bama on offense by a long shot. Copper is probably better than Duke Williams, but slightly. Cooper is big, strong, fast, and runs really good routes. We turned the ball over 4 times, and add to that we turned it over 2 times in the red zone (int's). Meaning we were about to score again before the turnover. We leveled out the TO diff by causing some TO's. Point being, imagine what we do if we are +2 or 3 in TO diff.

Saban is going to do whatever it takes to stop the run, and force Dak to throw to beat him. They are going to try to cover us in man, and sell out to stop the run. I said it in another thread, the officials are going to allow some holding on WR's, and call us for anything. Tubby is going to be really important getting open fast, and RAC yards.

On defense, if we can stop the run (should be easier if yeldon is gimpy), and keep Cooper under control then we should be good. i hope we can get pressure with 4-5, and 1B scares me.

No special teams scoring allowed from them, and don't turn it over is a recipe for a W.

Hopefully, it starts under control until we get a feel for the flow of the game. Move the ball early to turn field position in our favor. I hope we have our mean streak back up front so we can maul them in the trenches on both sides of the ball. I feel good about it as long as we don't dig a hole early.

 

[notoriousD_O_G]

We need Bear to have an early impact in this game like he did against LSU and Auburn. Get the ball down field a few times and then let Dak run his draw plays.

 

[Incognegro]

It would be a mistake if Bama sold out to stop the run. We're pretty good at burning teams that try to stop the run with play action, especially when you consider how many options we can go to. If anything, they'll more than likely employ a bend but don't break philosophy. We'll get our yards. I see Bama staying in a nickel for a good portion of the game. The problem will be when we get into the red zone. All in all though, I don't see them shutting us out of the endzone too often. We'll get our points. If we can manage 24 points, we should win.

 

[Sutterkane]

The key to victory is we all stick to our 17ing rituals; no 17ing around tomorrow or Saturday.

 

[mcdawg22]

It comes down to this. Cooper with less than 100 yards, we win. Cooper with 100-150, toss up depending on TO's, Cooper with over 150, Bama wins.

 

[Dogariffic]

Yes.

 

[ababyatemydingo]

We're pretty good at burning teams that try to stop the run with play action,

play action only works after you've established you can run the ball

 

[KurtRambis4]

Cooper is going

to get his. Him having an avg day (140 yds, 1 TD) isn't going to win the game for them. Now if the guy goes for 200yds and 2 TDs, that's a different story.

ETA: What we need to happen is for our DL & OL to control the line of scrimmage and for Dak to be ++ overall. If these two things happen, they won't beat us.

 

[boatsandhoes]

well, if onlyI was nick saban i'd be rich *****. Hell, maybe he will just play the run with 6 in the box.

I just don't see him hedging between the two. I don't think he thinks our guys can beat his corners (if they can hold some), and collins over the top of them. Reason being he pretty much covered Dural/Dupree (LSU) in man without a whole lot of help. I don't think he will bring 8 in the box, but I think we will do what it takes to stop the run. If I were kirby, I would put it on Dak's arm, and accuracy. I would try to stop the run, cut out the scrambles and hope Dak makes some poor throws or bad reads.

Speaking of, Trey Quinn was open all night, and dropped a bunch of balls. trey Quinn can't hold tubby lewis' jock. I think they will try to defend us similar to LSU, so Tubby should roam free if he is healthy.

 

[AHSDawg]

No big play TDs and no TOs equals win.

We can even survive one of the two in most instances. We gave up big plays against LSU but virtually no TOs. We gave up TOs against Auburn but no big plays.

What is awesome is that we have yet to play a complete game where we do not allow the other team anything. We can do this Saturday.

 

[Boardtown Remy]

JRob has established we can run the ball. We don't have to prove it every game for play action to work. I would prefer we ram it down their 17ing throats though.

 

[Incognegro]

If they are selling out to stop the run at the very beginning of the game, then the run has already been established. Despite Alabama being one of the most disciplined defenses in the league, I just don't see them stopping the run with only 6 in the box. Possibly 7, but we'll still get our yards. If they put 8 in the box then Dak will burn them with his arm.

 

[Philly Dawg]

Bama usually plays defense pretty straight until you prove you can hurt them in some way.

 

[Seinfeld]

Aaaaaaamen. I swear... there are a lot of things that I can handle, but if we somehow lose tomorrow and I find out that one of you 17ers sat on the wrong the side of the couch or failed to wear a lucky shirt because it was dirty, there will be hell to pay.

Rest assured that my usual Saturday ritual will be in full effect

1. Wear lucky necklace that daughter gave to me
2. Do my best not to take the lord's name in vain for 24 hrs
3. Get piss *** drunk prior to gametime

 

[vandaldawg]

Get good yards on first down. nm

nm