*** Texas vs. Bama Write-up (Long) ***

I agree that stats are largely meaningless and said so in my write-up.

I don't think Texas will cover however.  Texas is good, but I don't think they can play big-boy football with Bama.

Yea, but if he doesn't have that defense behind him he has at least 2-3 losses already as a starting qb from the bad games he has had. LSU and Tenn for sure and maybe even the SC game.

McElroy played pretty well Against LSU.  Tennessee and South Carolina are the games in which he really struggled.  But even the great QBs struggle at times.  That's not really indicative of how good of a QB McElroy is.  He is very smart, very accurate and rarely makes a mistake with the football.

Injury Update:

Bama Corner back Marquis Johnson has a broken thumb.  He will play in cast.

I think McElroy is going to be amazed at the difference in looks he will see from Muschamp vs. Florida (who had no pass rush due to Dunlap out).  Florida also doesn't have an elite/ballhawking safety like TX does (and Berry played very well against Bama).  Kindle and Acho are going to be on him all night relentlessly.  refer to Zac Robinson's comments after the OSU game.

to say TX hasn't played a physical defense like Bama's is wrong imo---OU's dline might be the best in the country and they still eeked out a victory....and don't forget Suh and crew.

i expect the TX o-line will be much better than most thing as they have heard for 30 days how bad they are.  i expect TX will be able to run the ball and Davis will give a lot of Auburn type looks to do so....a lot more zone read. 

and McCoy is better suited agianst blitzing defenses and has always been good against the blitz.

where he suffers is when front 4 can get penetration so LBs and DBs can sit back and take away the pass.  not sure bama is built to do that really.  both OU and NU were able to do this. 

one TX weakness is stopping TEs...and its been like that for a long time (Gresham used to kill us)

the other weakness is Chykie Brown who is the weak link on defense.  teams don't throw the ball on Aaron Williams (potential 1st round pick next year) and rotate receivers to Chykie's side. 

but if McElroy starts throwing in the middle (and he stares down receivers i noticed against Florida---Earl Thomas must be licking his chopes)---he will make mistakes.

Don't be fooled.  Florida has top-notch everything.  Across the board, they are without question the most talented team in the country.

Defensively Florida and Texas are not very similar.  Florida runs a base 3-3-5 and Texas runs your classic 4-3.  But in comparing the secondaries of the two teams Florida is better, and quite frankly, it isn't close.  Haden, Hill, Black, Wright & Jenkins will all be playing on Sundays.  There is no question that Earl Thomas is a great player, but overall UT's secondary is not on Florida's level.

At linebacker, I would also give the edge to Florida with Spikes, Stamper, Jones and Hicks.  Texas, however, is close with Muckelroy, Robinson and Acho.  Florida's backers are bigger and more versitile, but UT's backers are faster.  Muckelroy is a good pass rusher, while Robinson and Acho are good in coverage.

I would, however, give Texas the check mark on the D-line.  Sergio Kindle is a player that Alabama must keep in check.  He'll be going against James Carperter who is currently battling the flu, and is prone to whiff on speed rushers from time-to-time.  Inside Randall and Houston are probably quicker than Bama has seen all year.  Bama will try to neutralize them with physicalness.

UT's problem defensively is that they are light in the ass-end, and that is not a recipe for success against the power running of Alabama.  Their D-linemen average around 263.  Their LBers are a biscuit shy of 227, and their secondary goes about 188.  This is not the make-up of a SEC defense.

As I said in my initial write-up UT's only real chance, as I see it, is for them to jump out to an early lead and maintain it.  If they can make Bama chase, that'll force Bama to throw the ball more than they would like.  That will allow Kindle and Acho to tee off in the pass rush, and hopefully force McElroy into some mistakes.  But if Bama jumps out to a lead or even holds serve, Texas is in trouble because there is simply no way UT's small defense will endure the pounding and violence Bama will serve them for 4 quarters.

Although I certainly think it's true, I never said anything about UT never playing a defense as physical as Bama's.  But because I think that Bama's defense is the most physical in the country, I don't see how I could come to any other conclusion.  Overall Bama's defense is much better than NU's & OU's IMO.

Bama doesn't have a "front 4."  They play a 3-4.

Shipley is probably the only receiver that Bama is concerned about, and they'll probably bracket him to take him out of the game.  I don't think Kirkendoll or Childes is keeping Saban up late at night.  Bama has seen much better receivers than them this year, and they have the athletes to neutralize them.  That will allow Kirby Smart to keep McCoy off balance with an arsenal of exotic blitzes.  The bottom line is that if Texas can't even pretend to be balanced offensively, McCoy and UT will be in for a long evening, because UT won't beat Saban with a one-dimensional offense.

I agree that Bama's TE Colin Peek will have a big game, and said so in my initial write-up.

As for McElroy, I wish I had a Benjamin for everytime I've heard someone tell me that this defense or that defense will force McElroy into all these mistakes.  The fact of the matter is that McElroy rarely makes mistakes.  He has thrown 17 TDs versus 4 INTs and two of those four were in the South Carolina game.  The only chance for Texas to force McElroy into mistakes is to stuff the run.  If they can't, Bama's balanced offense will do to Texas exactly what they did to Florida.

duh, i fully realize that bama plays a 3-4 although threw in some 4 down schemes against florida as i recall.  as such, to get pressure on mccoy you guys are going to blitz which works into TX gameplan (unless you can get pressure with rushing 3).  wouldn't be surprised to see Saban try and go 4-3 some though as that is the blueprint that has worked against McCoy---then drop 7 into coverage.

Malcolm Williams is the guy that Bama should be worried about as he is big and has good speed...Chiles won't be on the field much i doubt.  Goodwin instead.  Kirk seems to drop balls, so if he drops one early---he won't see many more passes.  i'm sure Saban will double Shipley if necessary.  this still will be the best receiving corp bama has seen (Arkansas wasn't even in the top 40 i believe)---so if McCoy has time, there are weapons to be used.  McClain is probably our biggest worry as i feel TX o-line is at its worst up the middle.

Florida played without a 100% healthy Spikes, no Dunlap, and no passion in that game.  things will be different on January 7th.  Giving Muschamp a month to scheme is going to give McElroy fits---Mc is fine when he's not under duress like in the game against Florida, but makes mistakes otherwise.  On the other side, even Colt was surprised at schemes Bob Stoops (who just flew to chat with Saban i'm sure you know) brought up in October---but he has still seen 5x the amount of schemes than Mc has.  The speed of TX defense is going to give Mc and your o-line problems.  I agree that size wise we are smaller---but so was Utah last year.

i also agree that if our LBs can't stop the run, game over.  then again, if we turn you 1-dimensional, we win as well.

i think this is a FG game either way and am going to enjoy being there in person (just bought tix on Monday)---you going to be there?  stop by for a cocktail on the golf course if so.

Congratulations on getting tickets to the game!!!  I wish I was going to be there, but I won't.

Yeah, Saban will give a variety of looks on defense like he usually does, and that will probably include having 4 guys with their hands in the dirt at times.  When Bama blitzes, they will try to force McCoy to a predetermined side of the field thus cutting the field in half.

I think LSU are probably the best receivers Bama has seen all year, but LSU's receivers didn't have McCoy throwing them the rock.

I agree with the Utah comparison.  I made that comparison in my original write-up.

The only way Texas can make Bama one-dimensional is by getting a lead.  As long as Bama is ahead or the score is very tight, Bama will continue to pound the run game.

Have fun at the game!!!

I agree.  I said that in the original write-up.

I'm not really sure how any of that makes a case for Texas winning the game outright, but hey, it's all good with me.

I understand that you're a Texas fan and that you're excited and optimistic about your team as you should be.  But I would highly recommend that you do not wager money on this game.

gtsum- one thing no one is talking about is the speed of the TX d-line vs. the much slower/less athletic bama o-line.  i foresee some big TFL in this game (much like you guys did to us in the big 12 champ game)