SB Nation User Blog: Bamagrad

Colin Peek

Bamagrad — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:46:54 -0000

ed.- bumped from the fanposts.

It's no secret that defensive coaches dread defensing a great tight end because of their access to defensive soft spots, and I'm going to go ahead and state right now that Colin Peek, 6'6 250, originally of Bolles High School (Yeah, Travis Carroll, dawg) and Georgia Tech, will be a major difference maker in Alabama's 2009 offense, second only to Julio Jones. It's rare to find a tight end who can both block well and run routes and receive well, and while time will tell how well Peek blocks, the transfer from Georgia Tech has already earned accolades from teammates, coaches, and media personalities for his receiving ability. In the 2009 A-Day Game Peek showed his skills, and viewing the game you got the feeling that Alabama had a lot more up its sleeve regarding Peek than it wanted to show.

...check out the catch and run at the :20 mark...

Now, very few people outside of Tuscaloosa expect much from Alabama's 2009 offense, and on paper, why should they? When an offense loses more starters than it returns, it's only common for football experts to be noncommittal in their predictions. That's safer than predicting unproven players to come through and have a big season, and it's remarkably easier to jump on a bandwagon than to excuse an erroneous prediction. Still, it's not a stretch with Colin Peek. As a result of his transfer from Georgia Tech, Alabama is getting a fifth year senior player with NFL ability in a spot normally taken by a new player. Athlon won't put his name in bold letters, but he's certainly not green with four varsity letters, and he's clearly dangerous. He could make a splash as big as Terrence Cody...well, maybe not as Cody in the literal sense, but you get my point. Colin Peek is Alabama's top newcomer.

Last year, Alabama's passing game could be divided into two categories: Julio (58 receptions, 924 yards) and Tight Ends (46 receptions, 474 yards). That's almost 60% of the near 2,400 yards Alabama quarterbacks passed for, and with Jim McElwain calling plays in 2009, fans can expect much of the same. Nick Walker was Alabama's second leading receiver with 32 receptions, but he was severely limited in the routes he could run effectively, relying primarily on short play action routes. Travis McCall totaled only 7 receptions, the same number as Brad Smelley, who does return. I expect Colin Peek to surpass Walker and McCall's combined totals in both catches and yardage.

Julio Jones will garner considerable coverage, leaving Alabama's second and third receivers in likable coverage situations. From a defensive coach's standpoint, a tight end who can run short to intermediate routes right in the middle of the field, where a defense is tremendously vulnerable, presents frightening possibilities. Remember how hard the Cowboys were to defense when they had Michael Irvin and Jay Novacek? Remember Brent Jones running routes underneath Jerry Rice? A great receiving tight end can, in many cases, be a greater threat than a wide receiver because of his position in the middle of the field. He can get to a defense's soft spot sooner than a wide receiver, and he can draw coverage from slower and shorter linebackers and smaller defensive backs. With a new quarterback like Greg McElroy, Alabama could even simplify some plays as reads between Julio Jones and Colin Peek.

Speaking of McElroy, not only has Peek built an extremely close friendship with him and chemistry is an invaluable benefit. What is of more importance, however, is that Peek's faster than both Walker and McCall and he can effectively run more of the aforementioned routes than either. With his ability to catch the ball in so many places, combined with Julio Jones's known ability to stretch the field and garner coverage, McElroy has at least two NFL caliber targets defenses will struggle to defend.

Call me a homer, but I don't think it's a stretch to say Alabama's 2009 offense might be better than the 2008 edition. Don't underestimate the potential of a great tight end. Their contributions in route running, in matchups, and in the soft spot of the field are invaluable. Colin Peek will show this in 2009.

Gene Chizik, Party Monster Cabo, Tim Tebow, and Pete Holiday

Bamagrad — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 02:24:07 -0000

Gene Chizik:

My friends, Auburn has once again tried to emulate Alabama in the worst way, and by worst way, I mean worst in the pejorative sense. This is akin to Bob Bockrath all but forcing Gene Stallings out and hiring a manageable toady like Mike DuBose in 1997. This is worse, though, because at least with DuBose, we had the optimism that follows success, and we had an above average recruiter. Has Chizik ever recruited well? Is Auburn so envious of Bama that they're following the Mal Moore path to success?

Auburn's power players clearly panicked. Even if Tuberville resigned by his own volition, I sense that he'd had enough of the meddling administrators and boosters breathing down his neck, seeing what we all saw coming. Now they have to wonder (or admit) is there any coming back from a mistake of this magnitude?

Did Auburn set their football program back to the days of Doug Barfield? Let's hope so.

Party Monster Cabo:

I watch this show because I can't find Rambo or Rocky anywhere on DirecTv. I have to admit, it sucks. Sucks big time. Today they had Puff Daddy (P Diddy? Puffy? Sean?) and I couldn't help but wonder how funny it would be if I could host a party for him. I'd have three kegs in garbage cans and a bunch of drunk people standing around a boringly undecorated house. And I would be sent home the next day.

Tim Tebow:

How did Tebow not win the Heisman? Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford play golf and go to the gym. Tim Tebow circumcises Pilipino orphans. I doubt he's ever looked at a Playboy, let alone kissed a girl or touched a boob, and he loses? The guy's the closest living thing to John the Baptizer in cleats and he lost a Heisman contest involving two quarterbacks from the same conference. What happened? He doesn't even take steroids. He's never watched a porno. I know this for a fact.

Pete Holiday:

You are the Bama voice on AOL's biased and annoying Fanhouse. You are Pete. What year did you graduate from Bama? I ask because I wonder if I ever had a class with you.

Florida Fans

Bamagrad — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 19:34:00 -0000

Losing the SEC championship is never easy, but I'd like to say that the Florida fans I've encountered in person and through the internet have been the classiest opposing fans I've ever encountered. After every Bama game I surf the net for stories and as soon as I'm finished with the article I read the comments.

I have seen so many gracious, complimentary, and respectful comments by Florida fans that I felt obligated to point out their class. I seriously doubt most of these folks would be any different had Alabama won yesterday.

Good luck, Gators. It was hard to lose yesterday, but you guys are all right in my book.

Tracy Wolfson

Bamagrad — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:51:09 -0000

Did anyone notice the look in Tracy Wolfson's eyes after the game Saturday when she interviewed John Parker Wilson? I saw it on College Football Final and I'll tell you, I've seen plenty of her interviews and I've seen a lot of girls; the last woman to look at me like that was my wife and I don't want to tell you what happened next.

I think Tracy Wolfson is in love with John Parker Wilson.

Agree or disagree?

Who wins the SEC East in 2008?

Bamagrad — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:07:10 -0000

What a difference two years makes. I'm normally very impatient with Bama football, whether we're playing well or playing like we played in three of Mike Shula's four seasons. This year, however, I've finally learned to pace myself. I'm not looking ahead to LSU and Auburn because we'll need to play well to beat Ole Miss in thirteen days. That is our next assignment. We pass that, then we focus on going into Tennessee and winning there. But Ole Miss, first.

Strangely, the three biggest SEC games this year, in my opinion--and this is due largely to the effect they've had (and will have) on the division races--are Ole Miss beating Florida, Bama beating Georgia, and Vanderbilt beating Auburn. It's very easy to forget about how important inter-division SEC games are because we tend to focus first on the Western Division, but think about something. To make it to Atlanta, you must have the best record against all SEC opponents, not just East or West, and as a result of the three aforementioned games, there's a very good chance neither Florida nor Georgia will win the East. Both already have one loss to a Western division opponent, and both still have to play LSU and each other. Simply stated, a 6-2 conference record will probably win the East. With three SEC wins already, Vandy can legitimately make it to Atlanta if they can finish 3-2 in the conference and beat either Florida or Georgia. That's no small task, but it is certainly possible.

As for us...I am ecstatic that we are in a pennant race. 3-0 in the SEC with five conference games remaining. Let's have a great game against Ole Miss and we'll go from there.

Points of Concern: UGA

Bamagrad — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:02:03 -0000

Going into the Georgia game, I am extremely excited about the opportunities in front of our football team. We have played well this season and have earned a high ranking. That said, I have several points of concern.

1. Our pass rush-

We're not getting to the quarterback enough and Matthew Stafford has such a strong arm that he can pick us apart if we don't. This must change.

2. Vulnerability to screens-

Georgia is a notorious screen team and yesterday Arkansas showed that we are still vulnerability to this type of pass play.

3. Our pass blocking-

While we haven't given up many sacks, our opponents get to JPW a little bit faster than one would like. Georgia has a dominating pass rush. I seriously doubt we'll be able to pound the ball on them for 200+ yards, so we're going to have to throw and we're going to have to block well when we do so.

4. Our kickoff coverage-

Point blank, it needs to improve. We're giving up too much kickoff return yardage.

5. JPW-

I do think he has managed games well, but other than parts of the Clemson game, he hasn't exactly shredded opposing defenses. I think we all know that Georgia has an awesome rush defense. No matter how well we run the ball, JPW will have to make throws and minimize incomplete passes.

6. Creativity in offensive playcalling-

I realize that Jim McElwain has more in his playbook than he has shown and that he's a good enough coach not to call plays prematurely, but I hope we are not so predictable on first and second down. I know Saban and Co. don't want to put the game on JPW's shoulders, but I honestly think that UGA has too good of a defense for us to simply try to run right over. Hey, I'd love it if we did and I'd be the first one to admit I was wrong, but my gut tells me we're going to have to pass well to beat them. Nobody wants to see Alabama in a lot of 3rd and 9's next Saturday. Hopefully Coach calls a good game and makes it easier on the players to succeed.

No matter what, something has got to give. They're undefeated and ranked third. We're undefeated and ranked ninth as of this moment. If we can manage to win a game like this on the road, we'll know our team is for real. It's going to take a great effort. I know we have it in us. Roll Tide, Roll!

The CSS Coverage of Bama/WKU

Bamagrad — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:11:26 -0000

Before I complain, I'll admit that it's my fault for living in California, but I don't know if I can watch another Bama game on CSS without losing my head. Is there a reason the picture quality resembles something from 1978? Why is the grass mustard yellow and the crimson in Bama's jerseys a bright red. Some of the shots look orange.

It looks like a high school game on public access. Is it too much to ask for CSS to buy some new cameras? In this day and age, how hard is it to improve picture quality? We have video cameras in our cell phones that record better than this. I feel like I'm watching a John Holmes movie on an 8mm projector in my dad's basement.

Otherwise, Roll Tide, Roll!

Why did we hire Bill Curry?

Bamagrad — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:08:02 -0000

Can someone please explain to me (again) why we hired a coach with a 31-43-4 record in seven years at Georgia Tech?

New York Times
January 5, 1987 COLLEGE FOOTBALL; ALABAMA NAMES CURRY AS COACH AP

LEAD: Bill Curry was named football coach at Alabama today, and Steve Sloan, a former Crimson Tide quarterback, accepted the athletic director's job.

Bill Curry was named football coach at Alabama today, and Steve Sloan, a former Crimson Tide quarterback, accepted the athletic director's job.

Both resigned their current coaching posts - Curry at Georgia Tech and Sloan at Duke - to take the positions vacated by Ray Perkins, who resigned Wednesday. Perkins was selected as head coach and vice president of operations of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after leading Alabama to a 10-3 record.

Joab Thomas, Alabama's president, said at a news conference at the Crimson Tide's football complex that he ''can't stand to lose,'' adding that both Curry and Sloan ''can bring a continuing winning program to the University of Alabama.''

The 44-year-old Curry said that until he received the offer from Alabama, he never thought he would surrender the coaching job at Georgia Tech, his alma mater. He held the post for seven years, compiling a 31-43-4 record.

''I want to thank the incredible Georgia Tech family that I thought I would never leave,'' Curry said. He said that after talking it over with his wife and children, he had an ''intuitive compulsion that this is the right thing to do.''

''I've always been fascinated by the Alabama mystique,'' Curry said. He said the mystique stems from a university family ''that really loves this institution and what it means. My job as football coach is to carry on the Alabama tradition.''

''I do know that a concerted effort has been instituted to graduate every single player and I would like to be part of continuing that and building on it,'' he added.

Curry said that with the combined efforts of all sectors of the university, ''We will give you the program that Alabama people deserve.''

Thomas said the search committee that he headed to find a successor to Perkins considered three main criteria.

''First and foremost, we wanted people who had unquestioned integrity,'' Thomas said. ''Second, we wanted people who would assist in the continuing efforts to improve academic records for our student athletes, and third, we wanted to win.''

A Raleigh, N.C., television station, WRAL-TV, reported that Sloan and his staff had nominatedan assistant coach, Richard Bell, to replace Sloan as head coach at Duke. Sloan, who was quarterback at Alabama from 1963 through 1965, compiled a 13-31 record at Duke.

Brutal Schedule

Bamagrad — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:02:07 -0000

I know the preseason rankings don't have a lot of meaning past the first two weeks of the season, but some of the publications have Georgia, LSU, Auburn, and Clemson ranked in the top ten, all of whom, in case you haven't noticed, are on our schedule. Are there other teams who are going to play four of the preseason top ten teams? I know three of them are in the SEC, but I'm curious to know if there are any other teams who have a schedule as brutal as ours.

The Definitive Football Argument

Bamagrad — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 01:31:34 -0000

Loyalty to the Crimson Tide--like blogging, sex in the missionary position, and intravenous drug use-- is not only an addiction, but an endless rite of passage we all endure. When confronted by equally loyal fans of rival teams, we grasp our loyalty, and hope to gain the upper hand when defending our "boys". We bring up championships, they talk of recent history. We talk about probation, they talk about Mike Shula's incurable case of Vaginitis.

Considering this, I have found a short video that captures the logic of 99.9% of football arguments. Here it is, tell me what you think:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-flQmtL_IQ