OT: Highlights from Alabama's spring game
Well they have no shortage of effective running backs in Tuscaloosa. Hopefully we can clean up our interior line by September.
April 14th, 2012 at 10:23 PM ^
Well I liked the play of Roh and Black today. I think Pipkins can come in and play right away, so the only question is BWC.
April 14th, 2012 at 11:53 PM ^
April 14th, 2012 at 11:58 PM ^
I'd put the chance the Pipkins is effective enough to play meaningful snaps this year at 10%. It is awfully tough for a Freshman D-lineman to come in and have the strength and conditioning necessary to start at the D1 level. Pipkins will be great for us one day but I don't think he will be ready. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't see it.
The hype on Pipkins is actually a lot different from BWC. BWC has hyped as raw but with a high ceiling and Pipkins is being praised for motor and staying low out of his stance 2 things that BWC still can't do consistantly.
Not sure about the staying low part, and even if it's true he's going to need to learn to use proper technique more consistently. Hoke and Mattison seem to favor players who play with the best technique over the most physically gifted players, so I wouldn't be surprised if it took Pipkins some time to solidify himself in the DT rotation. If we weren't paper thin at DT the chances of him playing immediately would be slim.
April 14th, 2012 at 11:59 PM ^
Keep in mind that Campbell's hype was pretty similar to Pipkins coming out of high school. I hope Pipkins is ready from day one, but that's far from a given.
April 15th, 2012 at 12:03 AM ^
I may be incorrect, but wasn’t it considerably higher for Campbell? Thus the endless stream of questions regarding his development.
Pipkins seems to have far better body control than BWC did in HS. And it isn't just his explosion from the line thats elite like BWC's was out of high school but his follow through and his inside moves look far better.
April 15th, 2012 at 10:38 AM ^
Just watch the highlights from the All American game. Pipkins is not only a huge kid, but is ridiculously athletic with a ferocious motor. Campbell, while large, is not as athletic as PeeWee, and never has been. Put on the fact taht Pipkins knows if he busts his ass he can play against Bama, and Id say his chances of putting in meaningful minutes (even short yardage and run plays only) are much higher than 10%
BWC:all american or bust? discuss. there is no in between
He isn't an All-American, so he therefore must be a bust. That wasn't so hard.
I still find it unbelievable that BWC got so much recruiting hype. If pad level really is something a player is born with and can't fix after 4 YEARS of coaching, then the recruiting sites really dropped the ball ranking him so highly .
April 14th, 2012 at 10:49 PM ^
at least they dont have julio jones or any receiver remotely close to him.
But the scary part is their defense. Their defense right now (spring game) is pretty darn solid. Whats even scarier is that their incoming freshman class has some beasts like landon collins and other defensive players that may easily shut down our passing offense..
But you never know..i believe in denard show.
April 15th, 2012 at 11:22 AM ^
Sure. They are going to play aggressive and blitz ALOT.
The key to this game I feel is going ot be running inside. If we can at least keep their linebackers honest and not cheating outside on a blitz or those QB options, we will be alright.
The way our offense sets up, if they play a cover 2 4-3, that QB read leaves it essentially 3 blockers on 3 defenders with the Mike getting the choice of picking one.
So, if we run those, and they have to respect Fitz (which they almost assuredly do) then it is on their DL and outside backers to beat a block AND make a tackle.
Ask yourself this, do you like our odds of Denard having to make a guy miss to get into the secondary? I'm not saying this will be an easy game, but we sure as hell have a chance.
Why would Nick Saban run Cover 2 against Michigan with Denard at QB? That's insane. They're going to run Cover 1 and take the numbers advantage at the line of scrimmage. They'll probably play a lot like MSU has the past two years. Infact, after yesterday, running Cover 0 wouldn't be a terrible game plan either. Junior Hemmingway might finally get the credit he deserved for our big time wins last year after this game.
I'll bite.
1., his safeties consist of 2 brand new starters, one of which is a freshman. All caveats apply about "but they are 5 stars", but playing your first game in that atmosphere will definetly rattle some nerves.
2. If we set up in the gun on the read option, we have 6 linemen (5OL and TE/H), and 3 WR to complement. If they run a cover-2, that essentially means if we pass hes gambling on an OLB/NB with a 3-5 yd cushion running with a WR and the Mike running with Fitz.
If they run a cover-1, that leaves a SS/NB on the slot on the weak side, a 4-3 under with the SLB running with the TE and the Will trying to cover Fitz. THe box will be stacked with 8 (4-3 or nickel + SS)
3. If they run the cover 1, that leaves both corners on an island to cover not only the inside slant (which is our bread and butter on the Oh Noes, but also the deep ball. While we dont have the jump ball threat of Junior anymore, Roy is still a solid WR.
No chance in hell they consistently run a cover 0.. no Safety help on a team like ours leads to "The Longest Run in Jerryworld History".
4. If they run the cover 1, if we play action and the SS and Nickel/WLB bites, Slot/Gallon will be free. And by free I mean wide the hell open.
Saban will probably run a jam cover 2, taking away the short and daring Denard to go deep. He will also probably run some cover 2 robber, wiht a SS playing a short zone and free over top. But a cover 1 implies total faith in both CB's being lockdown or your free being a freak of nature, which I don;t think Saban ahs this year (unlike last year)
If it was so easy to deal with an overloaded box and no help over the top down the sidelines then they should have blasted Michigan State's defense last year. The risks you decribed with Cover 1 is something that Nick Saban has chosen to live with, and that's really a great option to take against Michigan. Why would you be afraid of the pass against Michigan? You stop Denard and you stop Fitz, that's how you deal with Michigan's offense. Virginia Tech made that pretty clear. Cover 2 doesn't dare anyone to throw the ball at all, Cover 2 is a dare to run the football. The only way it's not is if your front four is running the show up front, in which case the offense is dead in the water to begin with. If you press the receivers and put two deep safeties nobody would even bother passing, because you gave up the run by default. We faced a lot of teams with a lot less talent that made the same concessions when gameplanning to play against Michigan. Northwestern of all teams gave up the deep ball.
April 14th, 2012 at 10:58 PM ^
Our D-line, however skilled and quick they may be, is simply not big enough to handle a pounding running game. The LBs as a whole need to step up and fill the void left by Martin and RVB.
April 14th, 2012 at 11:00 PM ^
We're going to have to be solid in every aspect, there's a reason they won the national championship (over-signing division) but if the front seven play up their potential and the offense finds ways to move the ball, this game will be a dogfight.
April 14th, 2012 at 11:16 PM ^
then I'll kill them both.
April 14th, 2012 at 11:22 PM ^
I don't like violence, Tom. I'm a businessman; blood is a big expense.
April 14th, 2012 at 11:23 PM ^
April 14th, 2012 at 11:35 PM ^
The whites gonna be eatin' steak and bangin' hot chicks and the crimson gonna be eating beans and jerkin' off to conway twitty.
April 15th, 2012 at 12:11 AM ^
That game is going to go along way in turning Team 133 into the team Hoke wants them to be. I'm not selling our boys short, but we are probably not in Bama's league right now. That's why they play the games though, right? We get the mistakes corrected, move on to assignment football agaisnt Air Force, hit our stride agaisnt UMass, go into South Bend and destroy ND and start the "Fire Brian Kelly" campaign, run the table in the B1G, win the BIG Champ Game, go to Pasadena and beat down a USC team that lost a game they shouldn't have somewhere during the season. Sound like a plan? On two...on two...ready...BREAK!
April 15th, 2012 at 12:54 AM ^
April 15th, 2012 at 12:13 AM ^
I get what your saying because sometimes kids don't work out, but when they move from a 3 star to a 5 star then there's something to the hype.
I think this game provides a great measuring stick to see where the program is at in year two. The one thing that UM has going for them that seems to be an advantage is experience. When the game is played, it will be the first game for many of what will be Alabama's inexperienced starters. The game could be sloppy. Maybe more defensive breakdowns or turnovers than Alabama is accustomed to. This could make the game closer and give UM a real opportunity. However, I have to agree that a program can not be turned from a mess in to the top program in the country by the beginning of year 2 (although Hoke may do it much faster than anyone thought possible). The mentality I have always had is that Michigan should be able to compete with anybody on the football field. I EXPECT them to win no matter the opponent. This game will be no different. Are my expectations truly realistic in this situation? I don't know about that. With that said, I will always expect UM to win and I am sure Hoke feels the same way. This is Michigan for god's sake!!!
April 15th, 2012 at 10:08 AM ^
You dont have to be better than 'Bama for a full season...just 1 game my friend which is possible.
April 15th, 2012 at 11:45 AM ^
April 15th, 2012 at 10:05 AM ^
Alabama has averaged more yards per play than Michigan, including Michigan's big 2010 offensive year:
2009: Alabama 5.96 Michigan 5.61
2010: Alabama 6.96 Michigan 6.75
2011: Alabama 6.46 Michigan 6.23
They've also scored more points than Michigan each year as well against a tougher slate of opponents.
It's overshadowed by their all-world defense, but Alabama's offense has been quietly very effective particularly the last two seasons. I'm not saying they'll do it again this year, but their offense has been vastly UNDERRATED the last few seasons.
hasn't tried to transfer to AZ with RR
The Key to the Game will be Michigan's NT vs Barret Jones... and Jesse Williams vs Michigan's C... Both teams are going to replace all americans with new starters from different positions... This is going to be a trench game as both teams don't seem to have playmakers on the edge to dominate the game