My Two Cents (11/12)-What is wrong with Alabama?

The Alabama Crimson Tide will not repeat as national champions; this season will not shape out like 2007 where a two-loss team gets into the national title game. With Boise and TCU still undefeated, one of them will certainly (I can hear Lee Corso saying, “Not so fast”) get the nod to play for the national title if Oregon or Auburn lose, over a one-loss or two-loss team.  However, if Oregon and Auburn remain undefeated then all bets are off for the two Non-AQ teams.

This year the running game has yet to get on track, who
are you looking at/for? We are looking for  you, Mr. Ingram.

With two losses on the season, Nick Saban can rally the troops for one last hurray with a win over Auburn in the Iron Bowl. I think the nation and me included have been spoiled by the running game with Mark Ingram (former Heisman winner), Trent Richardson along with impact wide receiver Julio Jones and QB Greg McElroy. I really thought that Richardson was going to trump Ingram in production and have the nation talking Heisman but it has not panned out that way.

After Alabama’s come from behind win at Arkansas, I stated that they would not lose another game all season long. I just did not see it and strongly believed it. They showed much resolve being behind and not panicking and that is a testament to the players and Saban and his staff. However, South Carolina made it look too easy jumping out to a large lead and holding the Crimson Tide at bay for the win. I really think the game in Fayetteville, AR took a lot out of ‘Bama, physically and mentally they were drained. Think about it, a team trying to repeat as national champion; the amount of pressure and scrutiny from the press is insurmountable. But who does not believe in Saban and how he has his guys dialed in like are a platoon ready to storm the coast.

Staying on top in any sport involves luck to some degree; you have to have a nugget of it while going through the weekly grind of games, meetings and practices. A two-loss Alabama team is not the end of the world for the people in Tuscaloosa, but they want more and deserve that much. The problem lies in the offensive line, which is not getting the push and is not dominant like last season, And a very green secondary is also the problem. Gamecock wideout Alshon Jeffrey (who I believe is the best in the SEC) made them look silly in their Oct. 9^th showdown, pulling in 127 yards on seven catches, yikes!!!

The young defense is not as formidable like the veteran-led squad from last year. The secondary needs some time under their belt to gain confidence and experience. Teams now know that they need to bomb away on the secondary and you will find success. And what is so important in football is making tackles, playing the ball (as a defender) and playing smart (no costly penalties); not doing any of these things can lead to six points or change field position. It really is vital that players stick to their assignment.

Nick Saban is a very good coach and approaches his craft like Bill Belichick (of the Patriots) with determination and focus. But anyone can be out coached and schemed; no one is exempt from that. So yes, Les Miles got one up on Saban and his crew and Steve Spurrier with his athletes put it to them. But it still remains that Saban is a good coach and his track record speaks for itself and his players buy into him. Without a good running game, the pass cannot be set up and vice versa. A decent quarterback will be good if he has a good running game, for this will set up play-action passes and open up passes to the flats and underneath.  No one can say that McElroy is a game-manger at the quarterback position (maybe that was true last year); this year you can see his level of maturity and knowledge of the offense.

The Crimson Tide need to find ways to resurrect their running game, get better offensive-line play, spruce up the play-calling on offense (use some trick or gadget plays), take some risks and hopefully than can flourish. Consistency is the key with this squad and playing hungry. 

My Two Cents-Will Auburn play in the SEC Championship game?

Auburn hopes to have the scoreboard read in their favor come Nov. 26th.

Yes, I feel they have the best shot coming out of the SEC West. Auburn QB Cam Newton is just phenomenal. He broke the record for the most rushing yards(in history) of SEC quarterbacks in a single season at 1, 077 yards on the ground, and he has four regular season games left. Before the season started I actually thought that that Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett would make people forget about Tim Tebow but boy I was wrong. I do not think anyone knew how dynamic Newton would be and how much he means to his team. He is clearly the Heisman front runner and if it was up to me, I would give him the trophy now.

Everyone knows that the defense is the biggest problem on this team. They actually gave up only 17 points in this game compared to 43 points (against Arkansas) and 34 (against Kentucky). There are improvements on defense, even though it might be minimal. The cornerbacks need to track and play the ball, how many times have we seen them with their backs turned to the ball allowing wide receivers to make big catches?

The annual Iron Bowl will take place on Nov. 26^th and this will be another game, if Auburn wins, that will define their impressive season thus far. Alabama leads the rivalry with a 40-33-1 record, but I feel this year the Tigers will cause the tide to shift in their favor for the next couple of years. Last season they lost a close game to the Crimson Tide that came back to pull out the win, 26-21; however, Newton was not the quarterback and this brings a very interesting element to this game.

Nick Saban and Kirby Smart will have to dial up inventive defensive schemes to confuse and shutdown the running lanes, so Newton will be forced to pass. We thought, last week, that LSU was going to be that team that took away the holes in the defense for Newton but that did not happen. And that is why I strongly believe that he will continue to have success against Alabama.

The problem with ‘Bama is that this team is better suited when playing with a lead as opposed to being down. For evidence, check out the South Carolina game,  knowing that Auburn will put up points, what will happen if Alabama finds themselves down by 14 points or more? We know Auburn will not let up on the gas pedal once they have a lead so it could get ugly and embarrassing for the Crimson Tide, if they do not keep this game close. I can certainly see the Tigers coming out like gangbusters and then Saban corralling his troops, at halftime, and have them ready for the second half.

I strongly believe that this year belongs to Newton and he will give his all in the Iron Bowl, so there will be no shortage of effort on both teams. But Auburn will make a big splash with a win over Saban’s team and ride into the SEC Championship game on a high, where they could possibly face the Gamecocks again. Momentum is on the side of the Tigers this year with the SEC having a down year, so if Newton does not capture the SEC Championship this year then it will have to be the following year. One must realize that Newton will capture the conference championship before all is said and done for him at Auburn.

Cam Newton tosses his hat in the ring of Heisman contenders

Cam Newton is racing to the finish line in the Heisman race

Cam Newton is special.  I have to admit I was skeptical about him and even compared him to Terrelle Pryor of Ohio State. But after digesting three Auburn games, I can say that he is the real deal. Newton plays with passion and wants it all. When he takes off and run, there is a purpose behind it and he will run over you and juke you out of your shoes. If you want evidence on how dynamic of a player he is--look at the Arkansas game--watch how he eludes, spins, shuffles his feet and flat out breaks ankles. 

 Here I was thinking that QB Denard Robinson of Michigan was going to run away with the Heisman this year. But in the last two games, teams must have some Kryptonite stashed on them because he has looked anything but Superman like. To be successful in college football you must have a good supporting cast; Batman cannot exist without Robin at his side, and Superman cannot take on the likes of Lex Luthor without the Justice League.

I’m calling for Newton to win the Heisman; everything sets up so well for him: Auburn is 7-0, Newton is No. 2 in pass efficiency (65% completion rate), he has rushed for 860 yards, in seven games, passed for 1,278 yards with 13 touchdowns and five interceptions, and most importantly he plays in the SEC, which is the most watched conference in college football.

Sure, they have LSU at home and end the season in Tuscaloosa (Nov. 26), but the Tigers have played the most exciting football this season. And they find themselves week-in and week-out coming back from being down and winning in thrilling fashion. Newton is the reason why, and no longer is he in the shadows of another quarterback (was a backup to Tebow in ’07-‘08). Auburn has a legitimate shot to play for the SEC Championship and go on to the national title game to represent the Southeastern Conference.

However, the defensive side of the ball is a problem. They are ranked 63^rd in the nation, giving up an average of 367.86 yards per game. Yes, this is a major problem but as long as Newton is healthy it’s hard to see this team losing. But it will be interesting to see Auburn’s offense against LSU and Alabama and how they will fare.  Newton can pass the ball; he is not Andrew Luck or Matt Barkley, but he can be effective in the passing game when called upon to. Obviously, he is most dynamic when the tucking the ball and taking off for the end zone.

Gus Malzahn is the mastermind behind Auburn's explosive offense

I have to say if the Tigers get past LSU and Newton is still doing his thing, it’s safe to say they have a good shot of beating Alabama. The way they are scoring it will be hard for the Crimson Tide to match them.

Cam Newton has arrived, and he is playing at a high level and sky’s limit for him and the Auburn Tigers. I know the school was criticized for the hiring of Gene Chizik but it has turned out that he is the right man for the job. And the great staff he has assembled is another key to his success. If I had a Heisman vote, it would be for Newton without a doubt. He means the most to his team than any other player in the nation, and he is the most phenomenal talent on Saturdays. 

Alabama shows why they are the No.1 team in the nation, pushing past Arkansas, 24-20

Alabama is a great team -the best team in the nation- and they showed it Saturday in Fayetteville. In the opening moments, the entire Arkansas team was fired up to be at home and get the chance to knock off the No. 1 team. If there are still any doubts about Ryan Mallett, please put them to rest. He threw for 250 yards in the first half, and finished the day with 357 yards through the air. You have to be special to do this against an Alabama defense, albeit a young and inexperienced unit. But I tip my hat to Mallett because he is the real deal. The Razorbacks picked on cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick all game long and exploited his inexperience for a few big plays by Arkansas wideout Jarius Wright (6 catches, 131 yards). In the first half, the upset alert was going off as the wheels were falling off of the Crimson Tide. Greg McElroy was not his steady self in the first half and that had to do with a couple of bad passes and a fired up Razorback team. The second half was when Alabama stuck to their bread and butter: the running game with Mark Ingram (157 yards and 2 TDs) and Trent Richardson (85 yards, no rushing TDs, 1 REC TD), perfect strategy to keep the potent Arkansas offense off the field and wear away at the Razorback defense. Nick Saban’s boys showed resolve and true grit in the face of adversity. McElroy orchestrated drives that put his team in position to win; there was a sense of been-here-done-that attitude by the Crimson Tide. There was no point where I saw this team panic being down for the majority of the game, taking the lead with 3:18 left in the game. Three interceptions by the ‘Bama defense was the key factor to thwarting the Razorbacks. Robert Lester had two interceptions on the day, one very important one, setting up Alabama to take the lead; and cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick picked off the last interception to seal the game and put an end to any chances for an Arkansas comeback. I feel in my gut that the Crimson Tide faced their biggest and stiffest test they will see all season. This team will be undefeated and have a chance to be back-to-back national champions. I really believe it and you should too. Greg McElroy will continue to improve, and he’s no longer a game-manager, maybe last year he was but not anymore; he comfortable with the offense and the playmakers around him. McElroy will end up being the most efficient passer in the SEC, or out of the BCS conferences. Arkansas really needs to work on establishing a running game to become more balanced with the passing attack. It’s a lot for Mallett to carry the offense with his arm for four quarters. But this team might just get the majority of their wins in shootouts; and the defense needs to improve as well. There are still signature wins to be had against Auburn, South Carolina, and LSU. And how Mallett performs in these games will put him right in the thick of the Heisman race, but no better win would have been bigger than downing Alabama.

Nebraska puts an end to the hype surrounding Jake Locker, 56-21

I’m glad it’s over, at least for now: the hype surrounding Jake Locker. Todd McShay has been flying his banner for a couple of years to go so far as to deem him the No.1 overall draft pick for 2011. I personally do not see it and have never seen it in Locker. As far as good quarterbacks that will be great at the next level, in the Pac-10, the honors go to Matt Barkley and Andrew Luck. Locker has the attributes: 6-3, 230 and has a live arm. Everything a coach wants in a quarterback, but he is widely inconsistent with his throws. We all expected marked improvement, in his second year, with head coach Steve Sarkisian (who is known for grooming quarterbacks at the collegiate level). However, the hard work has not paid dividends yet. The Nebraska defense did not give him time to check down to his wide receivers and made sure the running lanes were closed. The Cornhuskers utilized their speed to thwart the entire Washington Husky offense all day, so it was not only Locker’s inadequacies that cost them the game. His offensive line could not contain the feisty Nebraska defense that have the luxury of having two defensive coordinators in theory: Bo Pelini (head coach) was behind the successful defense of the 2008 National Champions LSU Tigers and his brother (Carl), who in actuality, is the defensive coordinator; so this team thinks defense first before anything else and it shows. If you can believe it, Locker was outplayed by redshirt freshman Taylor Martinez, who was doing his best impression of Denard Robinson: he threw for 150 yards with 1 TD and ran for 137 yards with 3 TDs. If you haven’t seen him, he is really fast and decisive once the ball is snapped. Who knows maybe Locker will find his stride later in the season, but all is not lost because if he pulls off improbable wins against Stanford at home (Oct. 30) and @Oregon (Nov. 6) these would be huge wins for him and the program. But that is a big “If.” Wins against USC and Oregon State does not hold the luster of winning at Stanford and Oregon. USC is in the rebuilding mold and trying to find their identity on both sides of the ball while if Oregon State gets creamed by Boise Sate this upcoming Saturday then it does not say much for a Husky win against them. It’s is fine not getting wins but your star quarterback and highly touted needs to do better than completing only 20% of his passes, how about above 50% and an average of 200 yards with no interceptions?! As any football fan knows, some collegiate players have an awesome college career and flop in the NFL and vice versa. So Locker might go down as a disappointment at the college level but might show the potential all the media types have been trying to shove done our throats at the next level. But as it stands now, he is going to have to show me more, and he can certainly fall in line with Jacory Harris and Terrelle Pryor as quarterbacks that do not deserve the hype, nor are they Heisman candidates.

Alabama is more than deserving of the No.1 spot in the nation

Wow, is all I can say about Alabama. I must say that I actually thought Greg McElroy would be the Achilles heel of this team. However, I’m wrong about that. McElroy might be the most efficient passer of the SEC, forget about Ryan Mallett and John Brantley and Cam Newton. They can put up those gaudy numbers, but McElroy will spread the ball around to his receivers and he as the best running back tandem in Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson. Against Penn State, McElroy stood tall in the pocket, checked down to his 1st and 2nd receivers and let the ball fly or broke the pocket for a run. He is more confident in his second year with his playmakers. The only problem might be the young secondary, but with good coaching they might not be that vulnerable as everyone thinks. During the offseason, I was adamant that the Crimson Tide could not repeat as national title winners, but it is looking to me that they have the best shot out of anyone to reach the title game and win. Before I drink their Kool-Aid, I will let them take a bite of their conference pie, first. However, the way things are now, they will be a dominant force in the Southeastern Conference. September 25th @Arkansas and October 9th @South Carolina will be pivotal games. If Alabama beats both teams then they will play for the national title, no bones about it. I can realistically see a rematch for the SEC title game between the Crimson Tide and South Carolina, unless the Gamecocks implode down the stretch and Florida sneaks in through the back door. I’m starting to believe that Florida has legit problems on offense and with Chris Rainey being dismissed from the team, they could be in trouble. In my mind, Alabama is a more complete team than last season, and they are serving notice to everyone in the nation that they are going back to Glendale to take another crystal trophy home with them.