The Bama comparisons
Throughout the game I was too lazy to yell at my Xbox to mute so I listened to the ear bleeding commentary. One thing that stood out was the referrence to the likeness of our play calling (Specifically running) to Alabama's. Maybe I just didn't watch enough Bama games to get it and maybe I'm so expectant that what Nuss does will be so completely the opposite of what the Borg called that I just didn't see
a. the reason to make the comparison
b. the actual comparisons merit.
Did our run game change so much that the identity of it morphed into us having Bama's play style? I guess I could go dig up some plays of Bama running and see it, but personally I thought it was just fluff. I don't especially expect App State to have a stellar D-line, so while I'm happy we actually ran the damn ball, I'm still holding my excitement till we play a team with a real d-line and run the ball.
August 31st, 2014 at 8:38 PM ^
August 31st, 2014 at 8:54 PM ^
August 31st, 2014 at 9:50 PM ^
Thank you. I was going to post this exact thing.
Crappy color commentators frame these issues so badly that everyone will not be subjected to weeks of this crap. UM is running an offense that resembles Alabama's in that it is a pro-style, inside-zone rushing attack. Galloway could have referenced any number of teams with a similar style, but that would have required him to put down his coloring book long enough to turn on his computer and look it up, so I guess I'm not surprised.
August 31st, 2014 at 8:47 PM ^
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August 31st, 2014 at 9:40 PM ^
August 31st, 2014 at 8:57 PM ^
August 31st, 2014 at 9:08 PM ^
August 31st, 2014 at 9:30 PM ^
August 31st, 2014 at 11:23 PM ^
August 31st, 2014 at 11:21 PM ^
August 31st, 2014 at 11:28 PM ^
August 31st, 2014 at 9:01 PM ^
I am not sure why anyone would be upset with the comparison. We did hire Alabama's OC to install his offense. For an announcer to point out the attack at the line of scrimmage with big bruising backs running down hill looks like Bama is just an observation based on fact. We are running the same system. Seth had a great write up on the front page that stimulated some great comments on the philosophy.
August 31st, 2014 at 11:34 PM ^
I'm not upset about it, but it is an extremely shallow analysis. Dozens of teams have big running backs.
September 1st, 2014 at 12:03 AM ^
September 1st, 2014 at 12:23 AM ^
But it's not analysis, it's an observation and it's relevant because our offense has been overhauled and is now being lead by the former Bama OC and that's big news in the college football world. Sure, lots of teams run a similar scheme but they didn't just lead the country last year in rushing plays that resulted in negative yardage and hire the OC from Alabama to fix the shit. In the very first game of the Nuss tenure, for an announcer to mention Bama a few times isn't lazy, it's the story. Especially when they are running the football at will.
August 31st, 2014 at 9:26 PM ^
August 31st, 2014 at 9:51 PM ^
But that inside zone rushing attack has been a staple of Alabama's offense for years. The throwing of balls to WRs using Mr. A.J. Webb was the wrinkle brought by Nuss.
August 31st, 2014 at 9:26 PM ^
August 31st, 2014 at 9:30 PM ^
I'm hoping for the OL to stay healthy and improve weekly during the season. If we can do that the wins will come.
August 31st, 2014 at 9:43 PM ^
And we will run the ball down your throat. And pass at will.
August 31st, 2014 at 10:21 PM ^
We ran primarily inside zone. Nothing revolutionary. Nothing Alabama-specific. Many teams run it and Alabama ran it before Nuss. In fact, formation-wise, we were in the gun more than Alabama was.
Galloway is just a hack and the media always wants to frame a story in a neat way so that you are given one simple takeaway from every game. Its stupid.
August 31st, 2014 at 10:24 PM ^
That's certainly not an unfavorable comparison. But by the fourth time Galloway said that it was getting stale.
August 31st, 2014 at 11:39 PM ^
Looking at the highlights, the thing that struck me most (of course, they're just highlights) was the confidence and determination. The last time I saw that, on both sides of the ball, was 2006.
August 31st, 2014 at 11:54 PM ^
I think this was one of 2-3 talking points Galloway had ready. I don't know how many times he said it but t was a lot. Didn't see anything especially "Alabama", just very good play calling.
September 1st, 2014 at 12:01 AM ^
September 1st, 2014 at 12:14 AM ^
...they looked unlike Bama in the same way we didn't look like Michigan?
September 1st, 2014 at 12:25 AM ^
September 1st, 2014 at 1:59 AM ^
September 1st, 2014 at 10:26 AM ^
The smoke barbeque. We're still a little behind there, too.
September 1st, 2014 at 8:38 AM ^