SB Nation User Blog: Bamagrad

Is Texas the best?

Bamagrad — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:33:36 -0000

I try to be reasonable, which might sound like a load to some of you, but I do try. I know Texas returned many players from the team that won the Fiesta Bowl in the 2008/9 season, and I know Colt McCoy was a finalist for the Heisman. I know head coach in waiting Will Muschamp is as respected a defensive coordinator as one will find. I know Texas has the top ranked defense and the opportunity to easily sign twenty four star prospects without leaving their state. I know they score lots of points and their games are competitively over by the third quarter. I respect the Big 12 and ignore her critics because I don't think playing in a certain conference automatically makes one team better than a team that happens to play in a conference deemed inferior.

But I have to question the Longhorns' competition, both prior and remaining.

Sat, Sep 5	Louisiana-Monroe	W 59-20
	Sat, Sep 12	at Wyoming	W 41-10	--
	Sat, Sep 19	Texas Tech	W 34-24	--
	Sat, Sep 26	UTEP	W 64-7	--
	Sat, Oct 10	Colorado	W 38-14	--
	Sat, Oct 17	(20) Oklahoma	W 16-13	--
	Sat, Oct 24	at Missouri	W 41-7	--
	Sat, Oct 31	at (13) Oklahoma State	W 41-14	--
	Sat, Nov 7	UCF	W 35-3	--
	Sat, Nov 14	at Baylor	12:00 pm	--
	Sat, Nov 21	Kansas	TBA	--
	Thu, Nov 26	at Texas A&M	8:00 pm

Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State are their best victories. The thing is, Oklahoma is 5-4, Oklahoma State is 7-2 (but played without two of their best offensive players), and Texas Tech is 6-3. Those teams are good but not great. Longhorn fans would eagerly mention the records of Arkansas, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and South Carolina as being comparable, and they'll probably throw in LSU and Virginia Tech also if either one of those teams finish the season with four losses. Maybe I am too biased toward the Crimson Tide, but I am the only one thinking Texas is largely unproven? Secondly, with a victory over either a mediocre Nebraska team or a below average Kansas State in the Big 12 title game, is Texas deserving of a spot in the BCS championship?

Some unbiased LSU Reporting

Bamagrad — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:22:34 -0000

Some unbiased LSU Reporting

Here are a few of the gems I found in this article and paper:

"Had the interception been allowed, LSU would have taken over on its 69-yard line, trailing 21-15."

(I don't know about you, but I love the 69 yard line)

-The play was reviewed, but the call was not reversed. Replays and pictures from the game show Peterson had both feet in, but there was a question about whether Peterson had possession.

(And this gem)
Related Stories:
■LSU to play Alabama for second time in three years

Keenan Allen picks Bama

Bamagrad — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:11:44 -0000

Keenan Allen picks Bama

Roll Tide. Good call, Outsidethesidelines.

The Pass Sets up the Run

Bamagrad — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:10:30 -0000

Isn't it interesting, my fellow Bammers, in that against both Virginia Tech and LSU we used the pass to set up the run and we gained over 450 yards in both games? I don't have the official numbers in front of me, but I think we threw about fifteen passes in our first twenty plays and while we didn't gain massive amounts of yards in the first quarter, the strategy worked well as the game progressed. Against Virginia Tech we also used some surprising playcalling early (the Wildcat, among other things) that gained some yards but slowly took its toll on the Virginia Tech defense.

Today's gameplan against LSU operated in a similar fashion, and the game paralleled the effort against Virginia Tech in several ways. We rallied in the fourth quarter, we outgained our opponent by more than 200 yards, and we physically pounded on them until they gave way. Both LSU and Virginia Tech gave tremendous efforts and both teams proved themselves to be worthy adversaries, losing games that could have very easily gone their way despite the disparity in yardage.

Still, this is the second notable time that we used a heavy dose of Greg McElroy passing to move the ball and force a fast defense to cover large chunks of field. By doing this, we had them running all over the place, which wore them down, and we also were able to run the ball against Nickle packages.

Anyway, just sharing how much I liked the offensive gameplan today. We missed some scoring opportunities, but just like the Virginia Tech game (and the Mark Wahlberg character in Fear), we kept banging and banging until we broke through the wall.

Hats off to LSU. They brought it today. And hats off to our guys for playing with a lot of heart in an emotional, physical game against a great rival.

Roll Bama Roll MVP

Bamagrad — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:36:01 -0000

As we get closer to the holidays, I think it's only fair to end the year with a friendly competition. We've battled long and hard, endured a great deal of...actually, most of us haven't really endured much of anything. Still, it's only appropriate that we hand out some accolades for a lot of excellent work. So, in preparation for the LSU game (and the rest of the 2009 season) I announce the first annual Roll Bama Roll MVP. Who is our most valuable member? Winner receives a surprise.

Poll

Who is Roll Bama Roll's most valuable member?

Terrence Cody and Leon Lett

Bamagrad — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:50:59 -0000

The Rocky Block is easily the most controversial moment of the 2009 season but the one name I haven't seen mentioned anywhere, that should be mentioned, is Leon Lett, who committed a famous blocked kick blunder on Thanksgiving Day 1993. As for Cody, well, the other day I stated that I didn't believe Cody should be flagged because his helmet came off simultaneously with the expiration of the clock. This comment caused some people to question my knowledge of the rules (and to tell me how much of a moron I am and how I change my story repeatedly, et cetera) but this comment, before the vitriol, was predicated on the idea that possession had changed and time had expired, thereby ending the game, which made Cody's penalty a post-game penalty (if there is such a thing...they might as well have flagged the Alabama sideline for running onto the field after the game also and they might as well flag coaches for being jerks and players for excessive celebration when they sing with the band).

First off, let's talk about Leon Lett. Like Alabama against Tennessee in 2009, the Leon Lett and the Cowboys blocked a Pete Stoyanovich field goal attempt on Thanksgiving Day in 1993. The blocked kick traveled past the neutral zone onto Dallas's side of the field, changing possession. Dallas did not have to recover the blocked kick, but Leon Lett, being ignorant of the rule, ran down field, slipped on the ice (freak storm in Dallas that day) and kicked the ball down to the one yard line. The Dolphins then recovered the ball and kicked the game winning field goal as time expired. If Lett had done nothing the officials would have blown the whistle a second or two later and Dallas could have taken a knee.

Now, I stated that I didn't think Cody should have been flagged because his helmet came simultaneously with the expiration of the clock. Again, I had people telling me how much of a dumbass I am, et cetera, et cetera because a quarter doesn't end at 0:00. But my thinking behind this was sound whether anyone recognized it or not.

First, the kick was blocked by Alabama. It traveled across the neutral zone onto Alabama's side of the field meaning Tennessee could not recover it and meaning that Alabama did not have to down it. Players are taught to play to the whistle and because of Leon Lett, many know not to touch a blocked kick that travels onto their side of the field. Because the clock expired and the ball was on Alabama's side of the field, my thinking was that no one from Alabama needed to do anything. The ball was dead unless touched by Alabama and there was no time remaining on the clock. The similar situation would be if a team punted at the end of a game and the receiving team just let it roll. If no player on the punting team made a move to down the ball and quarter ended, the official could simply end the quarter without the ball being touched. This is why I mentioned in one comment that the official behind Tennessee waves his arms to indicate a block and obvious change of possession.

Thinking along these lines, I didn't think Cody should be flagged. Again, we're talking about a play occurring at game speed in the waning moments. But once the ball went across the line of scrimmage and the clock was at zero the official doesn't have to wait two seconds for a Tennessee player to down the ball. The play and game were over as soon as the ball fell dead on Bama's side. In fact, when Julio grabbed the ball, Alabama's sideline had emptied and only one official did much of anything because the game was already technically over. And in my opinion, the game should have been officially over as soon as the ball crossed onto Alabama's side of the field and it lay untouched, with 0:00 on the clock. Yes, Cody removed his helmet at this very second, but what I tried to communicate was that the game was over at this point, not because there was 0:00 on the clock, but because possession had changed with 0:00 and Alabama did not need to recover the ball (and UT didn't need to down it), Thinking along these lines, I didn't believe Cody's removal of his helmet after possession had changed, simultaneous with the expiration of the clock was a penalty.

That was the logic behind my thinking and the reason I didn't appreciate being called a moron and conspiracy theorist.

When Dwayne Rudd removed his helmet against the Kansas City Chiefs, possession had not changed because the ball had not passed the neutral zone and Rudd's penalty was a defensive penalty, something with which no quarter can end. When Leon Lett muffed the blocked kick against the Dolphins in 1993 possession had changed and there was time remaining on the clock. That is the biggest difference between those two plays and what happened to Alabama with Terrence Cody the other day. Call my theory wild or different, but don't call it homerishly stupid.

Cody Saves the Day

Bamagrad — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:17:59 -0000

Cody Saves the Day

Coming from Pat Forde's article, this might be the quote of the year:

Lord knows they weren't happy with that in the stands. One Alabama fan with a 1980s perm came up to me shortly after the game -- not to rejoice in Cody's block, but to rip Saban for the goal-line sequence.

"Throw the ball two f------ times from the 1-yard line?" he said. "Coach Bryant wouldn't do no stupid s--- like that."

So much for the thrill of victory. And now you know why Saban makes $4 million a year -- to put up with fans like that.

Hopefully the fans will be more forgiving of Ingram, whose one mistake gave Tennessee hope late in the game.

Thoughts after 8-0

Bamagrad — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:39:24 -0000

The last time I wrote one of these we were 4-0 and heading to the bluegrass of Lexington, Kentucky for our first SEC road game. Greg McElroy's name was being whispered as a Heisman candidate, our defense had just performed brilliantly over four games, Julio Jones seemed to be back, and we thought we had the makings of a diverse, high-powered offense.

A month later, thanks to four bleeping physical games, we are 8-0, heading to a much needed week off. Greg McElroy has shown the passing ability that made him John Parker Wilson's backup (and that's the "Oh, God, please, God, please don't let Wilson get hurt" backup) in 2007 and 2008, Julio is seemingly back, and our offense is completely one-dimensional and archaic.

So let's begin.

Let me just say, wow. Everything went against us in the last three minutes and forty-five seconds of the game. Up until Cody blocked that kick. I stood up, bracing myself for a defeat to Tennessee, and the football I expected to see soaring up and through the goalposts ran into a mountain of manliness named Cody. Outsidethesidelines said it best in his writeup. He went from campus legend and college football folk hero to mythical, up there with Stabler, Krauss, and Van Tiffin. He is truly a godsend.
Tennessee took control of the game in the second half, and that's frustrating because we could have and should have put it away with our last drive of the first half and our first possession of the second half. 2nd and two from the four yard line and we throw two straight passes? That's three downs we could have used to get a first and goal, and we didn't. Then, after stopping them to start the second half, we get a great punt return, a tripping penalty by the Volunteers, and we go three and out after getting stoned on a third and one play. Fitzgerald's punt after this was inadequate, and we end up watching Tennessee take about 8 minutes off the clock.
Talking to some of my old teammates, the thought is that McElroy is going through his reads too quickly before the routes have developed. I don't know crap about quarterback play, but I can tell you this. He's not getting the ball downfield and we haven't scored more than one touchdown since the Kentucky game. If you remember correctly, our offense struggled in that game also.
Monte Kiffin called a great game, but we helped him by playing exactly into his schemes. We ran when he wanted us to run and passed when he wanted us to pass.
That game reminded me of the Ole Miss and Kentucky games from 2008.
LSU looked good, but again, they were playing an Auburn team that is falling apart. The commentators said Gene Chizik had turned his radar on for signs of discontent. Well, Coach, they're everywhere. Good luck stopping the bleeding.
I don't want to toot my own horn, but again, when Auburn started 5-0 I said/wrote they could lose 6 of their last 7. Since that day, they are 0-3.
Colin Peek, please get healthy.
Greg McElroy, please regain the patience that made you a star in the early going.

Tennessee Players are Confident

Bamagrad — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:37:37 -0000

Tennessee Players are Confident

Tennessee defenders are confident in defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin's ability to stop Alabama.

In my opinion, our style of offense is harder to stop than a gimmicky offense. And I fully expect us to come out throwing against Tennessee.

Thoughts and concerns

Bamagrad — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 03:44:34 -0000

While we all would have liked for the game to be much prettier, this was a good win tonight against South Carolina. Javier Arenas was out and it didn't take a genius to see that Spurrier wanted to go after Marquis Johnson (who answered the bell). I'm sure the scouting report for Alabama's defense says that number 24 is the weak link, and the fact that a cornerback like Arenas, who has earned All-American honors from some publications, was on the bench forced Johnson into the line of fire.
Speaking of scouting reports, is Greg McElroy paying too much attention? He's known to be a cerebral guy, and at times, the worst thing a football player can do is think too much. It looked like Hardy and Ole Miss's pass rushing reputation got to his head last week, and this week it looked like Norwood and Matthew's reputation did the same.
In McElroy's defense, however, South Carolina played a 4-2-5 most of the night which left them a little vulnerable to the run. Still, the kid is obviously out of sorts.
James Carpenter and Drew Davis still struggle to block guys off the edge. Tennessee, LSU, and Florida (if we make it that far...Dunlop...oh, no!) have the players to hurt us off the edge.
When Auburn started 5-0 I looked at their remaining schedule and said they could lose 6 of their last 7. So far, I'm happy to say I was right in my projection.
Tennessee is good enough to beat us if we don't pass the ball well. It turns my stomach to think about what Kiffin (Monte, not his assclown son) has in mind after watching McElroy against Mi'ssippi and Carolina.
As a receiver, Julio Jones went to waste tonight.
It's great to see Mark Ingram having so much success, but I am terrified that we'll become too reliant and overuse him. We have to become more diverse on offense again.
Can we return a punt or kickoff without blocking someone in the back? Man, that was frustrating.
The line judge in tonight's game was absolutely garbage. South Carolina's RT repeatedly held and that son of a bitch called him what, one time? Horrible. I about had a meltdown.
This game made me so damn angry...I still don't know where one of my cats is and my wife is just now sitting next to me again.
Ellis Johnson and Lorenzo Ward brought their best against us. I knew they would.
Hopefully Javy will return next week as will the G-Mac from the first five games. We're going to need him to beat Tennessee.
Yes, I am worried about Tennessee. Hopefully we bring our A game against them. We have a BYE coming up. Let's win the Third Saturday in October and get to our break. Then we can rest up and prepare for LSU.