You'e the coach against Bama...

[Faustdog]

Put yourself in Mullen's shoes.

1. Do you take the ball if we win the toss?

2. Mullen scripts the play calls on the first drive and has been really successful at doing so over the last few years. What does your first drive look like?

3. Do we see any different formations on offense? I know some folks have been wanting to see a diamond formation since the first game of last season.

4. How aggressive are you on defense?

5. There are two minutes left in the fourth quarter. Due to several characteristically terrible calls against us, we find ourselves down 20-17. We've taken the ball and driven to the Bama 23 yard line, but we've stalled. It's 4th and 3. Do you trot Sobes out to kick the 40 yard field goal and tie?

(That last one of course is for jokes only. We know we will have the game well in hand by then. But go ahead and answer anyway if you want.)

 

[Drebin]

Put yourself in Mullen's shoes.

1. Do you take the ball if we win the toss?

2. Mullen scripts the play calls on the first drive and has been really successful at doing so over the last few years. What does your first drive look like?

3. Do we see any different formations on offense? I know some folks have been wanting to see a diamond formation since the first game of last season.

4. How aggressive are you on defense?

5. There are two minutes left in the fourth quarter. Due to several characteristically terrible calls against us, we find ourselves down 20-17. We've taken the ball and driven to the Bama 23 yard line, but we've stalled. It's 4th and 3. Do you trot Sobes out to kick the 40 yard field goal and tie?

(That last one of course is for jokes only. We know we will have the game well in hand by then. But go ahead and answer anyway if you want.)

1. I always like to see us defer, but that's personal preference.
2. I think he will come out with a lot of play action to slow down Bama's linebackers early.
3. I think you will see more utilization of the TE as a lead blocker this week. I bet you will see more of Shump lead blocking as well.
4. We need to bring heat and double Cooper - but keep a spy for Sims. I think that's the defensive recipe.
5. Depends on how the game has gone. If we've been able to establish some semblance of a running game, I would say go for it. If we've struggled on offense, you gotta try the FG. I know Sobes is shaky, but he's our kicker and we're going to need to hit a big FG at some point.

 

[Faustdog]

I agree on Sobes. I think you've got to let him kick it. It just scares the heck out of me that his long on the year is only 37 yards.

Apparently Les Miles said that Alabama's alignment would cause us problems. I thought that was a strange thing for him to say.

 

[Crazy Cotton]

That was the most Butt-hurt Less has had in a long, long time. He still can't accept the whoopin he got that night, sending in videos to try and ease that pain and all. Wonder why he didn't try that alignment? Maybe Josh wouldn't have gotten 170+

 

[Boardtown Remy]

1) Defer
2) Mostly runs and short passes. A screen to Jameon early.
3) No. We are #1 for a reason. Play the offense that got us here.
4) Not very. More coverage. 5 man blitzes, pressure their frosh LT.
5) Give Dak the ball. He's our guy, let him earn that Heisman.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

1. Defer.
2. I'd take at least one downfield shot. I would definitely end it with a touchdown.
3. Nothing on offense, but I would like to see us go into an XP formation and then switch to Dak at QB with Sobe lined up as a wing back. Try to get Bama to burn a timeout.
4. Double up on Cooper, Go all 1a until Sims is rattled.
5. Feed Dak and JRob.

 

[Amadden0408]

Les is the SEC morality police.

 

[uptowndawg]

1. Differ. I know everyone likes the idea of scoring on the first possession, but I'd rather put that pressure on the other team and let our 1a defense get to work.

2. Some zone reads with a dump pass to the TE out of that look. Keep the LB's teetering between being on their toes or their heels.

3. I would like to see the diamond in a hurry up style for a few drives. Maybe the first drive.

4. Double cooper and don't let Simms out of the pocket. Towles showed what can happen if we ignore a qb's ability to scramble.

5. This is the part where it's no longer fun to pretend at being a coach.

 

[Amadden0408]

1. Our offense is the reason we are 9-0 due to the immense pressure we've placed on other teams to catch up. You receive.
2. I think we will probably show some new formation to try and get the run game established (31 personnel possibly) and play-action off it. The weakness of Bama's defense is outside secondary.
3. Ties back into question 2. Wouldn't be shocked to see some diamond stuff with 3 backs. Also would look to see some more motioning than we've seen since Bama does such a good job of disguising coverages.
4. We need to keep them in front of us like we've done well (at times) all year, and even things out in the redzone. I like our ability to stop the run, especially with them short their best running back. Also, with the poor showing Sims had in Death Valley throwing the football, I look for him to attempt to make more plays with his legs. Good news is we are better at linebacker than what he saw against LSU, especially after Beckwith got dinged. If he never gets hurt, then Alabama doesn't score that TD in the first half, and LSU wins. We have 3 guys that are as good as he is, so that helps a ton.
5. Irrelevant. As the B & B show likes to say, there are 4 possible outcomes to any given game. To me, this one has 3. We blow them out, we beat them tight, or they blow us out. I don't think (if) we lose by less than a touchdown. Personally, I think we are a horrible match-up for them and we are the healthiest we've been since LSU.

 

[dogfan96]

I believe you always defer....

If the offense is the strength of the team, I'd rather have the ball 1st in the 2nd half after you have a better feel for what's working and what's not. If the defense is the strength of your team, I'd rather have them on the field first bc it's usually harder to get started on offense against a good opponent right out of the lockerroom and you can possibly create some good field position to start the game for your offense.

 

[AlCoDog]

Mind game.....abstain if we win the toss

Punt on 2nd down

Try that Clausell Tackle eligible again.

blitz 10 leaving Redmond 1 on 1 with Cooper.

 

[Amadden0408]

I'd rather not be in a situation where Saban get's to make halftime adjustments based on what has been successful.

 

[Faustdog]

Punt on 2nd down

Try that Clausell Tackle eligible again.

blitz 10 leaving Redmond 1 on 1 with Cooper.

That's next level stuff. Genius.

 

[dogfan96]

I don't hold Saban in as high of esteem as most I guess...

He's a really good coach, but I don't think of him as some coaching mastermind. When he has less talent, he could lose to ULM. With better QB play, LSU beats Bama. Had them beat anyway.

 

[Amadden0408]

Saban's the best defensive coach in college football. He run's that defense, and he coaches the db's. I guess I could phrase it better by saying, I'm not worried about Kiffin making earth shattering adjustments at the half. If we are up 7-10 at half, the pressure is squarely on Kiffin to come out and score a TD. I like out defense's chances in that situation. They only had 43 yards of total offense in the second half against LSU. I think we are better defensively from front to back than LSU.

 

[dogfan96]

Kiffin is Kiffin...

sometimes he's gonna look like a world-beater and sometimes he's gonna look like dog ****. Plus after halftime, the crowd isn't nearly as amped up.. they're coming from the concession stand and the restroom. I just like the offense's chances better on the road having to go 70-80 yards after half rather than at the beginning when the stadium is amped and there might still be a few jitters. Going on defense first (if you can) is just something I've always believed in. Denver always goes on defense first if they win the toss and they have the best offense in the history of pro football. They want the wrap-around scores.. at the end of the half and the beginning of the 2nd half.

 

[wcvetau]

If the offense is the strength of the team, I'd rather have the ball 1st in the 2nd half after you have a better feel for what's working and what's not. If the defense is the strength of your team, I'd rather have them on the field first bc it's usually harder to get started on offense against a good opponent right out of the lockerroom and you can possibly create some good field position to start the game for your offense.

I agree and remember you have to win outright as if the officials can screw you in Tuscaloosa it will happen. Pray you dont have Ritter's crew. Saban is not a great game day coach. He is a good coach with superior talent. February is when he does his best work.

 

[Dawgg]

1. I feel like the best thing we can do is score first and put the pressure on them and our punt returning has been a little shaky, so I think we take it and ...
2. No huddle, up tempo, Robinson to the outside, screen to Bear, Robinson inside, downfield to Ross, Dak draw, Robinson inside, Bear across the middle, Robinson screen.
3. Dear Lord, I hope not. I feel like we are at our worst when we are at our most creative. I think we have the talent to line up against them and should use it.
4. If we're aggressive, we still have to contain Sims. LSU was in the backfield of every play of that last drive, but once Sims got to the outside, it opened up options downfield.
5. How many timeouts? If we have all 3, we run the unit out as if it's a real kick, but it's a fake. If not, we throw up a prayer and send him out to make the kick.

 

[Old Fart Dawg]

1) Receive
2) Since we got Brian Johnson as qb coach, I vote for coming out like Utah in the 09 Sugar

3) different formations? Only as adjustments.
4) always aggressive on D. Stop the running game, make Sims pass, and get a pass rush on him. Double Cooper.
5) hails yes. Let the man kick. He hasn't been bad, and his confidence level should be ok

 

[BulldogBlitz]

score early and often. treat it like we need a 63 point spread to stay number one.

 

[Old Fart Dawg]

ETA: 6) watch out for trick play. Saban is notorious for trying to get a cheap score