Comparing Coaches and Players -- 1980's - 2000's

If we are singling out the best running backs between Alabama and Georgia, no doubt at this point the best back hands down is Todd Gurley. After that, Derrick Henry for Alabama is a beast also, will only get better as his offensive line improves.

Watched Nick Saban press conference yesterday, brings back thoughts of what yankeedawg1 said on this board. Saban is not and will never be satisfied, that is one of his positive traits. yd1 mentioned that some of that appears to have rubbed off on Jeremy Pruitt. If we look at Saban's list of coaches that have studied under him, find most or many have the same characteristics. Nick Saban believes in good, better, best, never let it rest until the good is better and the better is best. Winning formula.

DWS, the SEC is loaded with outstanding running backs. Comes down to this for me, team with the best offensive line has the best chance of reaching the final four.

Copied this from another thread.

Sometimes those quarterbacks that roll out and have a "decent arm" can cause problems. We have one of those if that is what it takes in "certain situations".

In my man cave tonight with my wife, both of us have been around football for a "while".

USC loss, is a UGA win. Me thinks.

Coaching makes a difference. I said that.

Coaching certainly made a difference is the TAM/USC game. Kevin Sumlin is a force to be taken seriously. What he had his players ready for was totally unexpected by Spurrier and the South Carolina fan base. This win was not a "fluke".

Back to Jeremy Pruitt. If you haven't watched the video, might want to. Pruitt pulls no punches, says exactly what he means. Also, Pruitt is not afraid to call players names and say what their standing is with him. He has a comment on Ramik Wilson. Draws my respect for being up front, a bit different than our last defensive coordinator. Blows no smoke.



From the offensive of the ball. Mike Bobo.

I like CJP's philosophy when he says things like we did what we were supposed to do, so what's the big deal...

Too often around the classic city, this team and it's coaches wanted to give and accept praise for just doing what they should have done all along.

Saturday we did what we should have done... especially with our O-line and backs against a smaller and not too deep DL. I have to see them do it against an SEC caliber line.

Call me after the SC game, and then I'll talk about handing out cookies.

more of a finesse game now than it was 30 years ago. Coaches want more versatile players on both sides of the ball. Used to be the big OL, big RB and big arm QB smash mouth Woody hayes type football. Now more the fast type hybrid QB and hybrid type RB/Reciever type players with an OL that is not only big but fast to deal with the type of DL/LB's in todays game.

One comment that I really liked coming from Pruitt and it goes along with what you guys are saying . . . . Right now we are 1 and 11, not the typical comment of we are 1-0. Little different way of stating the case. Thought about it, effective in my mind.

Say again, there is always a "new wrinkle" in college football. Changes made quicker in college than the pros.

Some of what I see as far as offensive changes are concerned, coaches like Gus Malzahn reached into his bag and pulled out a slightly different variation of the single wing. Many times it comes down to making a change and reaping the benefits in the win column. Will be interesting to see how long that pays dividends.