Championship Week Plays
- Thread starter CrimsonK
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CrimsonK
Sid Bream Supporter
We have a unique scenario here with the #1 ranked undefeated team in the nation catching double digits. I firmly believe the line is inflated due primarily IMO to ESPN already crowning Florida Nat'l Champions.
Alabama sort of came out of nowhere this season and shocked the nation with it's rise to the top spot. They have done this with a fairly simple formula. Play fundamental football, utilize a great offensive line and play smothering defense. Bama is averaging 201 rushing ypg ranking them 22nd nationally. They have 3 very talented backs in Coffee, Ingram and Upchurch. Coffee will take the bulk of the load as he has in conference play where he has averaged 117.1 ypg and leads the SEC. The heart and soul of this team is the offensive line. They have simply dominated the LOS and have gashed their opponents with methodical drives and also big gains. The main difference in Alabama this year and years past is the play of QB John Parker Wilson. While Wilson's numbers are not overly impressive he has managed games and has avoided critical mistakes. Bama's offensive coordinator Jim McElwain has helped slow down the game for JPW and does not get the credit he deserves. JPW has a ratio of 9:5 TD/INT but if you watch mnay of their games you will see he has been very precise and intelligent with his decision making. Standout Freshmen WR Julio Jones has been bracketed by safties the majority of the season and Bama has been able to utilize TE Nick Walker and recently TE Travis McCall. The TE's will play an integral role in this game, with run blocking first and then setting up play action. Alabama has not had a true #2 receiver step up but they have done a nice job lately finding receivers and TE's in single coverage.
Florida has been a juggernaut offensively averaging 46 ppg. QB Tim Tebow while he has not put up the numbers of season past, he has done an incredible job managing the game and has a 25:2 TD/INT ratio. Tebow has seemed to be thinking pass first this season and has not immediately abandoned his progressions to take off on foot. Florida's speed on offense could certainly be even more apparent on the fast track in the GA Dome. The potential loss of All world Percy Harving at RB/WR is a HUGE blow to this offense. Harvin is a 1,000 yard offense guy and forces defenses to key on him. While he may not be 100% for this contest his presence will be felt as far as forcing Bama to game plan for him and could be used as a decoy to open up other offensive play makers. There is certainly a stable of play makers on Florida's side line but I think Harvin's importance to this offense can not be over looked. Florida has gotten good play from their offensive line but I don't believe that they are over all as good a unit as Bama has.
The Alabama defense is a perfect portrayal of their head coach Nick Saban. They control the LOS and make big plays on the second are third levels. While DT Terrence "Mt" Cody gets many of the accolades on this defense I don't believe he is their best player. The stregth up the middle behind him with LB Rolando McClain and S Rashad Johnson have been the biggest keys to Bama's defensive successes this year. Alabama is Top 5 in most major defensive categories. Most impressive has been scoring defense. They are only allowing 11.5 ppg and this should be a great matchup with a defense limiting opponents to 11.5 ppg and an offense averaging almost 47 ppg. Alabama will run primarily out of the nickel package and that is right down Coach Saban's alley. I think Alabama is unique in the sense that they can still stop the run as well as they do out of this formation with the abundance of DB's on the field. Alabama's open field tackling will be critical and it is an area that they have excelled at all season long. Coach Saban is as good as it gets as far as taking away an offenses strenghts. Alabama will force Tebow to beat them with his arm, something that no QB has been able to do thus far. Alabam has not allowed a team into the red zone in their last 27 drives and have only allowed 16 drives into their red zone all season. Bama has only allowed 7 points in the second half in their last 4 games, which contradicts the early season trend they started with dominating the 1Q and 1H and letting up in the 2H.
Florida is no slouch defensively in their own right. They have a defense that ranks Top 12 or better in most major defensive categories. They have been fantastic in the red zone and have been ball hawks on defense. While UF's numbers are impressive defensively I feel the numbers are a bit skewed. Almost every team UF has faced this season has been their own worst enemy. They have shot themselves in the foot and have let Florida's special teams overwhelm them. Especially the rushing numbers don't exactly indicate this unit's true colors. Most teams have left their defense on the field all game and have not had the luxury of being able to run the football as they have already dug themselves too deep a hole to over come. I don't think they will be able to contain Bama's offensive line as virtually no one has all season long. As soon as UF stacks the box, Wilson will hit his TE's on play action and will start stretching the field.
Special teams is th one clear cut area I see UF to have the advantage in. They have blocked 5 punts this year(much thanks to Kentucky!). Meyer and Saban have similar philosiphies as far as putting great athletes on the ST unit. As a matter of a fact Meyer lets the ST unit eat first in pre game meals before the offense or defense. Florida's speed on ST is just scary good and could certainly play an integral role in deciding the outcome of this contest. Alabama has improved their ST unit late this season as they have a lot of youth that have adjusted nicely to assignment football and the speed of the college game. Bama has a fine KR/PR in their own right in Javier Arenas. Arenas and James both average an identical 14.7 yards per punt rturn but James has been more impressive on kick offs. One area that I think is interesting is the FG kickers. Bama's K Leigh Tiffin has been battle tested and has been put in some sticky situations as far as making big kicks in his career. Florida's kicker Johnathan Phiilips is 10/10 on the year and they are the only team of 119 that have not missed a FG this season. Phillips has only attempted one FG since 10/4 against Arkansas where he netted all 3.
Alabama has recent success ATS against Florida covering 5 straight. They last met in ATL in 1999 with Bama's defense shining in a 34-7 win. Alabama has lost 15 games in their last 50. Only two of those losses have come by a margin greater than 10 points:
2006: @ Florida by 15 (late Pick 6 I believe)
2006: @ LSU by 14
As I stated I think this line is well over a FG too high but I completely understand why the line is set where it is as far as the books trying to balance their action. The last time a #1 team was dogged by 10 points was the Orange Bowl in 2001. #1 ranked Oklahoma "upset" Florida State 13-2 as DD dogs. This should be a terrific football team and it will be interesting to see how the Gators respond to a swift kick in the mouth for the first time since Ole Miss took them down in the Swamp. I'm a firm believer in backing underdogs that run the football and play defense. It just so happens that the team I'm backing is catching 10 on a neutral field.
GL
Alabama sort of came out of nowhere this season and shocked the nation with it's rise to the top spot. They have done this with a fairly simple formula. Play fundamental football, utilize a great offensive line and play smothering defense. Bama is averaging 201 rushing ypg ranking them 22nd nationally. They have 3 very talented backs in Coffee, Ingram and Upchurch. Coffee will take the bulk of the load as he has in conference play where he has averaged 117.1 ypg and leads the SEC. The heart and soul of this team is the offensive line. They have simply dominated the LOS and have gashed their opponents with methodical drives and also big gains. The main difference in Alabama this year and years past is the play of QB John Parker Wilson. While Wilson's numbers are not overly impressive he has managed games and has avoided critical mistakes. Bama's offensive coordinator Jim McElwain has helped slow down the game for JPW and does not get the credit he deserves. JPW has a ratio of 9:5 TD/INT but if you watch mnay of their games you will see he has been very precise and intelligent with his decision making. Standout Freshmen WR Julio Jones has been bracketed by safties the majority of the season and Bama has been able to utilize TE Nick Walker and recently TE Travis McCall. The TE's will play an integral role in this game, with run blocking first and then setting up play action. Alabama has not had a true #2 receiver step up but they have done a nice job lately finding receivers and TE's in single coverage.
Florida has been a juggernaut offensively averaging 46 ppg. QB Tim Tebow while he has not put up the numbers of season past, he has done an incredible job managing the game and has a 25:2 TD/INT ratio. Tebow has seemed to be thinking pass first this season and has not immediately abandoned his progressions to take off on foot. Florida's speed on offense could certainly be even more apparent on the fast track in the GA Dome. The potential loss of All world Percy Harving at RB/WR is a HUGE blow to this offense. Harvin is a 1,000 yard offense guy and forces defenses to key on him. While he may not be 100% for this contest his presence will be felt as far as forcing Bama to game plan for him and could be used as a decoy to open up other offensive play makers. There is certainly a stable of play makers on Florida's side line but I think Harvin's importance to this offense can not be over looked. Florida has gotten good play from their offensive line but I don't believe that they are over all as good a unit as Bama has.
The Alabama defense is a perfect portrayal of their head coach Nick Saban. They control the LOS and make big plays on the second are third levels. While DT Terrence "Mt" Cody gets many of the accolades on this defense I don't believe he is their best player. The stregth up the middle behind him with LB Rolando McClain and S Rashad Johnson have been the biggest keys to Bama's defensive successes this year. Alabama is Top 5 in most major defensive categories. Most impressive has been scoring defense. They are only allowing 11.5 ppg and this should be a great matchup with a defense limiting opponents to 11.5 ppg and an offense averaging almost 47 ppg. Alabama will run primarily out of the nickel package and that is right down Coach Saban's alley. I think Alabama is unique in the sense that they can still stop the run as well as they do out of this formation with the abundance of DB's on the field. Alabama's open field tackling will be critical and it is an area that they have excelled at all season long. Coach Saban is as good as it gets as far as taking away an offenses strenghts. Alabama will force Tebow to beat them with his arm, something that no QB has been able to do thus far. Alabam has not allowed a team into the red zone in their last 27 drives and have only allowed 16 drives into their red zone all season. Bama has only allowed 7 points in the second half in their last 4 games, which contradicts the early season trend they started with dominating the 1Q and 1H and letting up in the 2H.
Florida is no slouch defensively in their own right. They have a defense that ranks Top 12 or better in most major defensive categories. They have been fantastic in the red zone and have been ball hawks on defense. While UF's numbers are impressive defensively I feel the numbers are a bit skewed. Almost every team UF has faced this season has been their own worst enemy. They have shot themselves in the foot and have let Florida's special teams overwhelm them. Especially the rushing numbers don't exactly indicate this unit's true colors. Most teams have left their defense on the field all game and have not had the luxury of being able to run the football as they have already dug themselves too deep a hole to over come. I don't think they will be able to contain Bama's offensive line as virtually no one has all season long. As soon as UF stacks the box, Wilson will hit his TE's on play action and will start stretching the field.
Special teams is th one clear cut area I see UF to have the advantage in. They have blocked 5 punts this year(much thanks to Kentucky!). Meyer and Saban have similar philosiphies as far as putting great athletes on the ST unit. As a matter of a fact Meyer lets the ST unit eat first in pre game meals before the offense or defense. Florida's speed on ST is just scary good and could certainly play an integral role in deciding the outcome of this contest. Alabama has improved their ST unit late this season as they have a lot of youth that have adjusted nicely to assignment football and the speed of the college game. Bama has a fine KR/PR in their own right in Javier Arenas. Arenas and James both average an identical 14.7 yards per punt rturn but James has been more impressive on kick offs. One area that I think is interesting is the FG kickers. Bama's K Leigh Tiffin has been battle tested and has been put in some sticky situations as far as making big kicks in his career. Florida's kicker Johnathan Phiilips is 10/10 on the year and they are the only team of 119 that have not missed a FG this season. Phillips has only attempted one FG since 10/4 against Arkansas where he netted all 3.
Alabama has recent success ATS against Florida covering 5 straight. They last met in ATL in 1999 with Bama's defense shining in a 34-7 win. Alabama has lost 15 games in their last 50. Only two of those losses have come by a margin greater than 10 points:
2006: @ Florida by 15 (late Pick 6 I believe)
2006: @ LSU by 14
As I stated I think this line is well over a FG too high but I completely understand why the line is set where it is as far as the books trying to balance their action. The last time a #1 team was dogged by 10 points was the Orange Bowl in 2001. #1 ranked Oklahoma "upset" Florida State 13-2 as DD dogs. This should be a terrific football team and it will be interesting to see how the Gators respond to a swift kick in the mouth for the first time since Ole Miss took them down in the Swamp. I'm a firm believer in backing underdogs that run the football and play defense. It just so happens that the team I'm backing is catching 10 on a neutral field.
GL
tunasunday
Pretty much a regular
Crimson K--fantastic write up. You will fit in nicely on this site with such top flight analysis. Good luck tomorrow.
booksbestfriend
On Johnny's Shitlist
This was evident after summer camp. Fresham phenom Julio Jones stiff armed the shit out of him.
booksbestfriend
On Johnny's Shitlist
Oh, and excellent write up CrimsonK, welcome to the site.
CrimsonK
Sid Bream Supporter
I think Rashad is the type of player that will make the plays when he needs to. My major knock on him has been not wrapping up in his tackling. I would imagine finishing tackles has been a point of emphasis for the entire defense this week. I believe Rashad has a big game tomorrow as he has been a key element to every major Bama win this season
CrimsonK
Sid Bream Supporter
Thanks Hunt, I remember reading you have been high on Alabama for some quite some time. I live in ATL and will be heading in for the festivities early in the AM. GL
JumpOnBoard
CTG Partner
great stuff....gl
boomer23us
Pretty much a regular
awsome crimson welcome
