First off, RIP to the bottle of Maker's Mark my sister bought yesterday at 7pm EST. You lived a short life, but you were loved. On a related note, I am glad that I did not attempt to post this at 1am.
Missed opportunities in big games are becoming a calling card for Franklin and Company. That first half was as much of a missed opportunity as the last play call (which, while inexplicable, is not what lost the game). Dropped passes, irrational/unnecessary gadget plays, points left on the field. The best half of football this team has played all season was undone by one fumble.
And yet, up 12 with 8 minutes left is a scenario I think anyone on this board would've taken before the game. Much like how I would've taken the situation to start the second half last year. Whereas last year JT Barrett went Steph Curry on our asses and you have to give him all the credit in the world for it, this year OSU screen-and-swing-passed their way to the lead while the offense, capable as they are, got in their own way.
The defense is a separate issue altogether. Jekyll and Hyde. They are young, my fingers are crossed. But the lack of sound techniques, tackling, play recognition is concerning. Certain units just go invisible for random drives. It's baffling. Is it a scheme issue? Is it just the youth? I don't ****ing know. But the full circle is completed because every missed tackle, of which there are many, is a missed opportunity.
I don't care if we lose 3 in two years by 8 points or 78 points. A loss is a loss is a loss. I don't think we are elite - I agree with James there - and haven't. I think a couple units need more infusions of talent and depth before we are in that conversation. But even with more talent, we need more consistency. Both from those in jerseys on the field and those in headsets on the sidelines.
I said this last year, I think after the OSU game as well, but this reminds me of what a friend told me that has done some work with Bama's program. Saban constantly stresses, as a measuring stick for the team's performance, how early in the game were they able to "break the other team's will." There were opportunities last night (in the first half especially) and last weekend and last year to break another team's will and they got passed over. Missed opportunities.
Missed opportunities in big games are becoming a calling card for Franklin and Company. That first half was as much of a missed opportunity as the last play call (which, while inexplicable, is not what lost the game). Dropped passes, irrational/unnecessary gadget plays, points left on the field. The best half of football this team has played all season was undone by one fumble.
And yet, up 12 with 8 minutes left is a scenario I think anyone on this board would've taken before the game. Much like how I would've taken the situation to start the second half last year. Whereas last year JT Barrett went Steph Curry on our asses and you have to give him all the credit in the world for it, this year OSU screen-and-swing-passed their way to the lead while the offense, capable as they are, got in their own way.
The defense is a separate issue altogether. Jekyll and Hyde. They are young, my fingers are crossed. But the lack of sound techniques, tackling, play recognition is concerning. Certain units just go invisible for random drives. It's baffling. Is it a scheme issue? Is it just the youth? I don't ****ing know. But the full circle is completed because every missed tackle, of which there are many, is a missed opportunity.
I don't care if we lose 3 in two years by 8 points or 78 points. A loss is a loss is a loss. I don't think we are elite - I agree with James there - and haven't. I think a couple units need more infusions of talent and depth before we are in that conversation. But even with more talent, we need more consistency. Both from those in jerseys on the field and those in headsets on the sidelines.
I said this last year, I think after the OSU game as well, but this reminds me of what a friend told me that has done some work with Bama's program. Saban constantly stresses, as a measuring stick for the team's performance, how early in the game were they able to "break the other team's will." There were opportunities last night (in the first half especially) and last weekend and last year to break another team's will and they got passed over. Missed opportunities.
