From Athens - Bowl Chatter

I agree with a lot of that Wart, but I am not going to single out the defense for those 2 losses. Nobody came to play against usc. Offense was terrible, special teams terrible as well. Defense gave up some plays, but they were on the field way to long. Bama, they gave up a lot of yards, but they played hard til the end and made a lot of plays in that game. I will also say that Bama's o line may be the best I have ever seen in college football.

Could have been better, sure. But they did make some great plays this year. Lot of memories from this defense.

Not saying there aren't things to be disappointed about, but to me, when you are going to finish ranked in the top 5 with a 12 win season, there should be a lot more praise than criticism. Don't know that I see that IMO.

GO DAWGS

I have to agree with Wartdawg those two games that the Dawgs lost would have been different if the "D" rushing attack would have been better this year. Am I 100% sure about that, no, but I really believe if the "D" stopped teams running on them so much they wouldn't be so tired in the second half. However the Dawgs laid a huge egg in the South Carline game I don't think the "O" was ready for it either.

In the bowl game CTG was lost/slow to get players on and off the field and burning timeouts on that just get's under my collar!!! Did the Dawgs win that game yes, but the "O" had alot to do with that. The "D" did stop Nebraska but gave up way to many yards on the ground to me.

I would rather have a balance "D" on passing and rushing plays like the Dawgs had with the "O" this year. To me that would be a more winning percentage to win every game each year.

While that's my 2 cents, whatever it's worth that or not???

It was a great season... I'm happy, but I won't back off my feelings about this defense
finishing 77th in the nation against the rush and near the bottom of the pack in the
SEC.

I saw someone posted that 'Bama was just better... That's a valid statement.. they are
loaded.

But on one late afternoon in December we could have beaten them had our defense not
just been slap run the hell over in every way possible.

Not asking for some sort of miracle to have happened here. Not saying we could ever
have shut down their run completely.... But I will say we should have been better than
giving up 350 yards on the ground. Had we only given up say.... 275 yards... we might very well have won that game.

AllDawgs5 wrote:
Not saying there aren't things to be disappointed about, but to me, when you are going to finish ranked in the top 5 with a 12 win season, there should be a lot more praise than criticism. Don't know that I see that IMO.

GO DAWGS

Hey... I have said I am happy and proud, but this site would be a lot less fun if all we
did was pat each other on the back and talk about how awesome we are. That would get
old fast, lol

We know the goals... for me it's win the SEC... for some it's win the NC. We're just analyzing why we didn't do those things.

Don't get me wrong though... I have praised what we did accomplish. I have praised the
changes I saw out of Bobo and CMR. I am absolutely praising how this team fought in the SEC
championship game, and I am absolutely praising getting back on the winning side in
the bowls.

I praise our O.
I praise our play calling.
I praise changes made by CMR and CMB.
I praise our overall season.
I praise our progress.

I'm happy as a lark overall....

AllDawgs5, watching the offensive line for Nebraska warm up, thinking how in the world are they going to be able to make holes for their running backs. Thinking along the lines of size.

Anyone that takes the time to look at the film of the game will see why they are/were one of the best running attacks in college football. They moved as one, and anyone that has played the game or understands the game knows this is where football starts.

When their running backs hit the line, they were full speed and not looking for a hole for the most part, the running backs had confidence whether it was a dive or slant play, the hole would be there. This Nebraska bunch came to Orlando with blood in their eyes and kept many in the stands sitting on the edge of their seats or standing. Will go into folks standing later on.

Going to give Mike Bobo and AM credit on the call that Conley took to the house. They had studied that situation as you describe in your post. Watching film, they knew that was the call coming from Bo in that situation. The advantage of having a quarterback that spends time in the film room pays dividends.

Bet your boots I want AM back next season. First half he had problems, however many of his problems were Nebraska players blitzing the entire game. Bo's way, old LSU tactic. Cost Bo when the game was on the line and facing a quarterback that was holding the aces, knowing he would get a chance to make a huge play. They did not have 7 or 8 in the box, everyone (11) were within 5 to 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. Good on Bobo and AM.

This might not be popular but . . . . Theus needs a lot of work, a lot. Said earlier in the season Theus is not a left tackle, I stick by that. Also, I hope he returns in 2013 in better shape. I do understand he is a true freshman and rated as a 5* recruit. SEC ain't high school. Needs to get real serious with the training table and S&C. He can be a very good offensive lineman, has the size and attitude, but folks on the other side of the ball have those same qualities. Good on Will Friend for pulling him out, letting him know what is expected of a man with his talents. He will grow from this, just a freshman. Part of the learning curve. Will Friend will teach him how to play SEC football.

Wartdawg wrote: It was a great season... I'm happy, but I won't back off my feelings about this defense
finishing 77th in the nation against the rush and near the bottom of the pack in the
SEC.

I saw someone posted that 'Bama was just better... That's a valid statement.. they are
loaded.

But on one late afternoon in December we could have beaten them had our defense not
just been slap run the hell over in every way possible.

Not asking for some sort of miracle to have happened here. Not saying we could ever
have shut down their run completely.... But I will say we should have been better than
giving up 350 yards on the ground. Had we only given up say.... 275 yards... we might very well have won that game.

Hey WD, totally understand your points and was upset as well about the 350 rushing yards.

I also could make a case that BAMA could have possibly been even better in that game. They CAN throw the ball pretty well when they need to. McCarron only threw the ball 9 times and completed 8 for 114 yards. I often wonder what would have happened to our D if they had mixed it up more with the passing game. As we all know, our D can get confused and off balance.....if BAMA had used the passing game more after running the ball soooo effectively, I think they could have scored more and more often. Saban knew he could run it down our throats and run clock etc...we know the gameplan.....but also feel he could have opened it up against us more if he needed to.

Just thinking outside the box a little because BAMA can throw the ball pretty well too.