DonkeyDick:Stray I agree with you. The 11:30 start is for the birds. My little boys football game is at 12:30. As far as Arian Foster goes I think UT uses him as a work horse. He will have a good first half. Probably 60 or 70 yards. The will use him up the middle until the defense tires midway through the 3rd quarter. Then they will start using Hardesty and Coker. Hopefully I will have a reason to get on here and rib you a little bit on Saturday night.
Yeah, one of the best things I've been able to pick out of Bama's offense thus far (amongst the piss poor pass blocking and inconsistency) is Saban's desire to mix up player distribution and not ask anyone to be a "workhorse". I'd expect Grant and Coffee (if he's over his case of fumblelitis yet) to split from the get go with Upchurch getting more and more carries out of the backfield (I think he's the overall most complete back we've got at the moment.
I think this game will be all about pass rushing and blocking honestly. Our o-line is so inconsistent against the pass, we made a previously unheard of sophomore from Ole Miss look like an All-American last Saturday. They've simplified Wilson's gameplan, and he's looked more comfortable the last couple of weeks. I hope the trend continues. If UT's pass rush, a problem for the Vols as well, can disrupt us even more than OM, it'll be a long day resulting in a lot of defensive snaps for our mediocre, no depth D. We'll have to string drives together and first downs will be almost as important as touchdowns.
On the other side, I'd be shocked if we sacked Ainge more than once, given the quick release, no huddle mentality and the fact that we just don't have the athletes for it right now. It's gonna be up to our secondary to disguise enough coverages out of the nickel and dime packages to allow for a couple of turnovers and field position help.
It's a swing game either way. I was hoping for 5-2 at this point for the season started and have it. We've been in every game to more talented teams much of the time and won some we could've easily lost - all signs of good coaching and a young, lack of top-notch talent team. I see the UT game, and of course more so the LSU and Auburn games, as "icing" games. We can get to 7-5 (my preseason pick was 8-4 while hoping for an "icer") without any of them, but it would be nice to snag one or two. Who knows, we get some momentum and keep the crowd into it and we might sneak out a point or two ahead.
Sorry so long, but I just get involved and can talk about football from dawn 'til dusk. ha ha
If I'm not on Saturuday night to rib a little OR get ribbed, it'll most likely be due to a lack of internet connection rather than not wanting to take some jabs. ha,ha. I'll be back in time with a post-game analysis either way.
An all in good fun, but indisputably funny Bama/UT quote:
During the CTSN pregame radio show before the 1991 game:
"Well Eli, Smokey just came out of the tunnel, and he's about 100 yards away from me now, and if I had my deer rifle I believe I could drop him. Back to you Eli"
- Jerry Duncan, sideline reporter
RTR
"Roses in a vase of white
Bloodied by the thorns
Beside the leaves that fall because my hand is
Pulling them hard as I can."
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