2 observations on Alabama - Clemson game

Submitted by anywaytodelete… on

1) Clemson wins despite being -2 in turnovers and having a seriously inferior punting game - thus losing the field position battle in a major way for most of the game.  Even those things up and Clemson might have won by 3 touchdowns.

2) It took an incredible (2nd half) performance by a very very good team to beat an Alabama team that fought with one arm tied behind its back.  Damn they're good.

Will be interesting to see how Alabama's loss of its aura of invincibility plays out during the final 3 weeks of 2017 recruiting. (No, I don't expect commits to defect, but just maybe it influences a certain 5-star DL's assessment of the schools he is considering).

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Squash34

January 10th, 2017 at 11:38 AM ^

How did they get a pic of ole Phyllis? Is it a situation where the producers are like we need to reach out to her to give the fans a face to this wack job? Or did she think "you know what? I'm getting a following and should send in a pic for my fans,"? Or perhaps, she is just a relative of Paul's and he uses her batshit-crazyness to add intregue to the show... I mean, I would not be surprised by this and they do look like they can be sisters or cousins.

Joined: 09/13/2016

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Yo_Blue

January 10th, 2017 at 10:25 AM ^

And Michigan's aura of invincibility is better?  I agree with your observations but your comment is a bit off the wall since we lost three of our last four.

Joined: 08/24/2010

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Maizerage11

January 10th, 2017 at 10:26 AM ^

Can someone explain to my why Bama kept playing man coverage in the red zone?  They got caught on atleast 2 different pick plays.  Is zone a bad option in red zone?  

Also, I never undertand why player dont just switch on a pick play.  Sort of like a match up zone.  It seems like an easy adjustment but maybe I am missing something.

Joined: 09/14/2015

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Goggles Paisano

January 10th, 2017 at 12:02 PM ^

Tommy Brown, the guy covering Renfro would have had to run into the Clemson WR running the slant.  He chose to run around the bodies (leaving Renfro wide open) and thus there was no pick.  The guy running the slant was basically tackled by the Bama DB, so no penalty on him.  This was also what Spurrier noted this morning on Mike and Mike.  

Joined: 07/30/2011

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jdon

January 10th, 2017 at 11:29 AM ^

I was watching on the coach cam... and one of the coaches was pretty adament that it was blatant picking...

 

For me I though that Alabama paid for being to bland on offense and Watkins played the game of his life.  I counted five passes that were downright remarkable:  people in his face, completing a throw on a rope.

jdon

 

Joined: 09/28/2009

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schreibee

January 10th, 2017 at 1:02 PM ^

I'd guess that coach calling it a pick was an offensive coach? They don't think the rules have been loosened enough still.

On 2 Tds - one to Williams earlier and the final one to Renfrew - a Clemson receiver bolts straight upfield until contacting the DB.

On the first he caused 2 DB to collide with each other, but then instantly disengaged and turned back to the ball ready to recieve. No pick play, despite contact. He has the right to that space just as much as a DB.

On the 2nd as was noted, the DB tripped him up causing him to fall, so no pick play. This time 2nd DB went around the pile, causing him to get to WR late.

Ingenious play calling, within the rules; in fact on the game winner the DB is maybe more likely to get called for PI as the reciever is for the pick.

If we're not doing that next time we have a goal line play instead of having our RB dropped for a 5-yd loss I'm gonna be PISSED!!!

Joined: 11/02/2009

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I dumped the Dope

January 10th, 2017 at 1:23 PM ^

is as old as the hills.  Its a Brian Kelly staple in the red zone.  Hard to defend really.

The only good solution i can think of is both DBs have to watch their receiver and watch the other receiver's first step.  If they are both toward the center, they both have to know to stay home and let the receivers cross each other.

A hard jam as was mentioned would at least disrupt the timing.

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XtremeUMich

January 10th, 2017 at 10:33 AM ^

The final pass interference was called in the end zone, the Bama defender contacted the receiver at the 2, who then fell into the end zone. He never touched the guy inside of the plane of the end zone... I would think it would have been a half the distance to goal enforcement instead of ball at the 2?

Joined: 10/05/2011

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schreibee

January 10th, 2017 at 1:11 PM ^

We were having that discussion too - they could have called it Holding rather than PI, as he grabbed him before the ball was thrown. I think the determination was that he shoved him forward upon releasing him. Either way, 1st down, but could've been at the 4 (los was the 8 I think?) rather than the 2, I guess?

Joined: 11/02/2009

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antidaily

January 10th, 2017 at 10:39 AM ^

Those Clemson WRs caught everything. They're really good.

Of course, kudos to Watson for putting the ball where they could make a play. An all-time performance from the should-have-been-heisman'd QB.

Joined: 05/21/2009

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maize-blue

January 10th, 2017 at 10:42 AM ^

Alabama probably wins if their stud RB doesn't go down. They really needed that run game to be effective. Outside of Howard the TE, I wasn't impressed with their passing game. I can't name one of their WR's. Hurts is an average passer at best but a decent scrambler. Once Clemson figured out how to keep Hurts in front of them, he struggled. 

Clemson's WR's and a veteran QB were the difference. Alabama is strong though and will back again next year.

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