The Problem with Bama--an ObiKaTony perspective

[ObiKaTony]

Saban shouldn't have kicked it...

[birddog]

Saban should have made sure he schemed for a return. I didn't see a white jersey on the whole screen.

[olevetonahill]

Saban should have made sure he schemed for a return. I didn't see a white jersey on the whole screen.

Yup, Announcers said Bama had all their Big men on the line to try to prevent a block.Once the Auburn dude got that corner its was over, the Fat boys dint have a chance.

[birddog]

By far the best finish I've seen since kordell stewart threw the hail Mary against Michigan. Anything between those as far as game enders?

[BoulderSooner79]

By far the best finish I've seen since kordell stewart threw the hail Mary against Michigan. Anything between those as far as game enders?

The game ender for Auburn just last week against UGA comes to mind :) Does give you that dreaded feeling of "team of destiny" aura around this Auburn squad (yikes). The thing about the this particular finish is how much was on the line. The last game of the regular season, and this is how the 3-peat and going for 4 or the last 5 ends for Bama? Just wow. That CU/Umich game seemed big, but it was early in the season.

[OU_Sooners75]

It's easy for us to sit back and say it was a bad call because we can sit back and say haha, you screwed up.

But fact is how often have any of us seen that happen? So it was actually a pretty safe play for Saban. Make it you win the game. Miss it, then likelihood of it being returned slim to none, OT.

It's just the fact that the worst happened on it that made it a bad call.

This isn't me being a Saban apologist. I can't stand Bama. It's me looking at it realistically.

Want a better stat against Saban. Since 2010 he is 7-5 in November. Meaning all 3 of his national championships with Alabama he has backed his way into.

[SoonerorLater]

To me the real bad call was going for it 4th and 1 at Auburn 13. I know the kicker had missed his FGs, one of which was blocked, but this would have been a long PAT. If he had enough faith to try to kick a 57 yd attempt and the end of the game then he should have been willing to try a 30 yd kick to go up by two possessions in the 4th.

[birddog]

The game ender for Auburn just last week against UGA comes to mind :) Does give you that dreaded feeling of "team of destiny" aura around this Auburn squad (yikes). The thing about the this particular finish is how much was on the line. The last game of the regular season, and this is how the 3-peat and going for 4 or the last 5 ends for Bama? Just wow. That CU/Umich game seemed big, but it was early in the season.

Dangit, correct sir. That was a great ending. This one yesterday was just very rare. I'll still say the Stewart hail was more memorable than auburn georgia just because I believe the buffs won it that year?? If auburn finds their way into the mnc this year it won't be as impressive as our 2000 run just based on how it all lined up for us, but it will seem to be one that people will talk about for a long time just due those 2 endings

[TheUnnamedSooner]

It's easy for us to sit back and say it was a bad call because we can sit back and say haha, you screwed up.

But fact is how often have any of us seen thtat happen? So it was actually a pretty safe play for Saban. Make it you win the game. Miss it, then likelihood of it being returned slim to none, OT.

It's just the fact that the worst happened on it that made it a bad call.

This isn't me being a Saban apologist. I can't stand Bama. It's me looking at it realistically.



This. Statistically it was a very safe play.

[Jacie]

It is amusing to us non-bama fans since Saban had to use all of his brownie points with the refs to get that 1 second put back on the clock, then not recognize after an Auburn timeout that they were setting up for the return.

He will remember this as one he let get away.

Who knows, maybe it will come back to haunt him the next time he has to step up and make a snap win-or-lose decision in a game.

[bluedogok]

It's easy for us to sit back and say it was a bad call because we can sit back and say haha, you screwed up.

But fact is how often have any of us seen that happen? So it was actually a pretty safe play for Saban. Make it you win the game. Miss it, then likelihood of it being returned slim to none, OT.

It's just the fact that the worst happened on it that made it a bad call.

This isn't me being a Saban apologist. I can't stand Bama. It's me looking at it realistically.

Want a better stat against Saban. Since 2010 he is 7-5 in November. Meaning all 3 of his national championships with Alabama he has backed his way into.
I think I heard somewhere that it has only happened four times in the college game, I have seen it much more often in the NFL. I remember the Chargers having one a few years ago.

[SoonerorLater]

Looks like the Bama fans aren't blaming Nick. Apparently they think it's time to string up their kicker. These guys take their football seriously.

http://msn.foxsports.com/college-football/story/tide-lb-calls-out-fake-***-bama-fans-after-kicker-gets-death-threats-120113

[ObiKaTony]

Looks like the Bama fans aren't blaming Nick. Apparently they think it's time to string up their kicker. These guys take their football seriously.

http://msn.foxsports.com/college-football/story/tide-lb-calls-out-fake-***-bama-fans-after-kicker-gets-death-threats-120113


On espn they said Saban got out-coached. His team didnt play their best game, but this is all a moot point if the kicker makes his f/g's wasn't he 0-4? Kinda ridiculous...

[SoonerorLater]

Actually I think he was 0-3. I think he put one of them through but had to rekick because the it was whistled dead. One of them was blocked. I believe it was a different kicker who attempted the 57 yard FG at the end.

[birddog]

Yes, it was a freshman kicker they tossed out there to win it from 57 yds. Nice

[BoulderSooner79]

Dangit, correct sir. That was a great ending. This one yesterday was just very rare. I'll still say the Stewart hail was more memorable than auburn georgia just because I believe the buffs won it that year?? If auburn finds their way into the mnc this year it won't be as impressive as our 2000 run just based on how it all lined up for us, but it will seem to be one that people will talk about for a long time just due those 2 endings

Buffs finished #3 with only loss to eventual #1 Nebraska that year. Michigan finished 8-4.

[birddog]

Hmm. It WAS 20 years ago. I was 20 and much more impressionable. :)

[8timechamps]

To me the real bad call was going for it 4th and 1 at Auburn 13. I know the kicker had missed his FGs, one of which was blocked, but this would have been a long PAT. If he had enough faith to try to kick a 57 yd attempt and the end of the game then he should have been willing to try a 30 yd kick to go up by two possessions in the 4th.

YES!

I kept thinking the same thing. Since Saban sent out what was supposedly their "long FG specialist", I kept thinking "If he's that good, why didn't he come in for the 30 yd kick to take the lead (since it was clear he had lost confidence in the regular kicker). It just seemed really strange.

What I couldn't understand was why leave the game up to a seldom used kicker? Wouldn't you want the ball in McCarron's hands in that situation? He could at least throw one to the endzone.

As much as Saban is praised as the "best", he sure flubbed that one.

[BoulderSooner79]

It's easy to fault Saban because of the way the kick turned out, but it should have been a safe play. I'll fault Saban, or more likely the special teams coach for the execution. They had a ton of time due to the review for the 1 second left deal. The FG unit should have been reminded to beware of the return. You can see in the replay from behind the returner that most the Bama players were just standing around and watching the kick instead of organizing to defend the return. The returner was at full speed and 20 yards up the field before they reacted.

No, I wouldn't have made the same call - I would have gone hail mary. But I don't think it was a bad call.

[8timechamps]

It's easy to fault Saban because of the way the kick turned out, but it should have been a safe play. I'll fault Saban, or more likely the special teams coach for the execution. They had a ton of time due to the review for the 1 second left deal. The FG unit should have been reminded to beware of the return. You can see in the replay from behind the returner that most the Bama players were just standing around and watching the kick instead of organizing to defend the return. The returner was at full speed and 20 yards up the field before they reacted.

No, I wouldn't have made the same call - I would have gone hail mary. But I don't think it was a bad call.

Saban, of course, was asked about the play in his post game press conference, and he said they (the coaches) reminded the players to fan out after the kick. It was just one of those plays that nobody expects. Almost the exact same thing happened in Vikings/Bears game (going into the half), but the Bears stopped the return man. My guess is that most of the guys on the FG unit didn't really expect the kid to get it out, and assumed one of the speedier guys would take him down.

There's no way to really call it a "bad" call, just because the odds were against Auburn scoring. Still, I'd rather have the game in my QB's hands.

[BoulderSooner79]

There's no way to really call it a "bad" call, just because the odds were against Auburn scoring. Still, I'd rather have the game in my QB's hands.

And it's not so much on the QB either. He does need to throw a pass that comes down in the endzone. From there, there are lots of things that can happen that favors the offense (receiver out-muscles the D, lucky bounce off someone, *PI* call, etc.) and almost no chance for a return. But the FG attempt should be very safe too. I'm guessing this kid has a very strong leg and Saban thought he would clear the endzone even if he did miss. A blocked kick with return is the real danger on an FG attempt and I think the kicker was worried about that. You could tell he didn't lower the kick to drive for distance like you normally see for 50+ yarders.

[8timechamps]

And it's not so much on the QB either. He does need to throw a pass that comes down in the endzone. From there, there are lots of things that can happen that favors the offense (receiver out-muscles the D, lucky bounce off someone, *PI* call, etc.) and almost no chance for a return. But the FG attempt should be very safe too. I'm guessing this kid has a very strong leg and Saban thought he would clear the endzone even if he did miss. A blocked kick with return is the real danger on an FG attempt and I think the kicker was worried about that. You could tell he didn't lower the kick to drive for distance like you normally see for 50+ yarders.

That's why I would want the ball in my QB's hands. There are several things that could happen that favor Bama, but more importantly, McCarron is seasoned enough to know if there is absolutely no chance, he could eat it or throw it away. Still, it's a tough call, and I don't think there was a "wrong" call at the time. It's easy to look at it in hindsight and say it was the wrong call, but at the time it seemed almost impossible that Auburn would win on that play. I just didn't really understand Saban's thought process, since he didn't trust the kicker enough to kick the 30 yard FG a little earlier in the quarter.

[birddog]

I just think it was the wrong call. The kid had no chance of hitting one from 57. Let's be real. Malzahn obviously saw a chance for a return and his team was prepped for it. Is it possible to look at a list of fgs over the last 20 years where a freshman kicker nailed a 57 yarder? Hell, May as well look at freshman in the history of college football that had one from there. Maybe it was low risk, but I'd rather heave one in the end zone and let my boys regroup for ot.

[BoulderSooner79]

I just think it was the wrong call. The kid had no chance of hitting one from 57. Let's be real. Malzahn obviously saw a chance for a return and his team was prepped for it. Is it possible to look at a list of fgs over the last 20 years where a freshman kicker nailed a 57 yarder? Hell, May as well look at freshman in the history of college football that had one from there. Maybe it was low risk, but I'd rather heave one in the end zone and let my boys regroup for ot.

We don't know the kid had no chance regardless of the history of other kickers. The kid may have a big leg and Saban thought, what the heck, it may go through, otherwise no harm. And indeed, that was a big kick. As I mentioned he hit it high instead of driving it and it still almost cleared the endzone. When I saw it jump off the turf, I didn't think it would make it to the goal line. Ironically, the height that made it safe from being blocked is what made it returnable.

And as far as not trusting the kicker on the 30 harder - it was a different kicker he put.

[Salt City Sooner]

By far the best finish I've seen since kordell stewart threw the hail Mary against Michigan. Anything between those as far as game enders?
Wasn't quite as unique as this past Saturday, but how about Appy State blocking a FG to beat #5 Michigan at the Big House back in '07?

[birddog]

To me it was nothing more than a punt without having the punt team out there. If Saban thought the kid could make it, fine, but at least have your team ready. I looked at the longest fgs and most of em are from tees and the last one of 57 or more was 5 years ago.

[birddog]

Wasn't quite as unique as this past Saturday, but how about Appy State blocking a FG to beat #5 Michigan at the Big House back in '07?

Yeah I lived up there then. Didn't see any Michigan gear for quite some time. Anything that puts some distance between us and the Boise finish is fine by me.