UAB Blazers

Hello There, Guest! (LoginRegister)

Post Reply 
Smaug's $0.02
Author Message
Smaug Offline
Happnin' Dude
*

Posts: 61,211
Joined: Mar 2005
Reputation: 842
I Root For: Dragons
Location: The Lonely Mountain

BlazerTalk AwardBlazerTalk AwardBlazerTalk AwardBlazerTalk Award
Post: #1
Smaug's $0.02
UAB 28
Charlotte 7

The Blazers check a box in the Circle the Calendar games.

Gratifying, dominant performance. The better team was patently obvious. Charlotte is better than they were last year, and so are we. Did you ever think you'd live long enough to see the day we'd have a home field advantage at Legion Field? Now imagine the Blazer Thunder wrapping around the field when we move uptown. We have the power to make that a very difficult place to play. Us. Neat, huh?

Anywho, on to the observations.

A Tale of Two Halves

Charlotte's run defense was stout and we struggled to find any footing. Only 116 yards. Meanwhile we were able to protect AJ and it showed. 13 of 16 to eight different receivers. Not to belabor the point, but we went into the locker room up 5 minutes in time of possession. Charlotte finished the game up 7. That's a 12 minute swing in one half of football. I shall refer to this as "the third quarter".

Our play-calling was aggressive and fun in the first half. In the second half, not.

I'm against running up the score and humiliating other teams, but I'm for putting them away as early as you can.

If, during a quiet moment early in the 4th quarter, you heard a hoarse shout rise up from Section 9, "Keep your foot on the gas, Coach!" that was me.

We seemed to be trying to run the clock out the entire half, right up until they scored, which is a shame because...

There is a D in Blazers

The D was fantastic last night. We held Charlotte to 271 yards. That's it.
271. 4 of 13 on third down (and zero for whatever in the first half). Forced 2 turnovers. Defensive depth is huge. We played a lot of guys. An amazing 18 different guys recorded at least one tackle. In a conference full of pinball offenses, the team that plays D may just win the damn thing.

Okay, getting ahead of ourselves here, but specifically...

Who the hell was THAT guy?

#27 Chris Woolbright. Linebacker. LaFayette High School. Brooklyn, NY. 8 tackles, 6 solo, 2 for loss, and a sack. Something about Charlotte must've really pissed him off. Seriously, though, he has quietly become a real destructive force this year. Should have known we were getting a baller when he played ball at a high school named after the Marquis.

Honey, it's that man again!

#99 Jamell Garcia-Williams. Senior. Defensive End. Las Vegas, NV. Yeah, I know. I've mentioned him before and I like to spread the love, but when a dude keeps making plays, I don't have much choice. 3 tackles. 2 solo. 2 for loss and 2 more sacks. Speaking of...

Southside Sack Exchange

Our D was pretty good last year, but a real shortcoming was our inability to get after the quarterback. So, here's your jaw-dropping stat of the day: we have put the opposing quarterback on his ass ELEVEN times in the last two ball games. 6 against Tulane and another 5 last night. What's the old scouting report? "Does not throw well from flat on his back"?

Speaking of...

Upright and all right

AJ made great throw after great throw last night, and I think the difference is (aside from another two weeks in this offense under his belt) our ability to protect him. He's been a consistent, if unspectacular, presence. A year and change in and we still don't know if he can put a team on his shoulders and win a game. Given our style of play, that's been okay so far, though.

How many times last night did you see him drop back and have time to think, "Wow, he's got all day back there"? For me, it was a lot. In the first half and that final drive, anyway. Okay. I said I wouldn't belabor the point.

The Good

Praise Jesus for 6 o'clock kickoffs before October. It wasn't surface of the sun hot like the Tulane game, but I still sweated through my clothes.

Those ribs. They made my lips burn, but in a good way. Solid work as always, my friend.

I've already mentioned the D.

The Bad

I said I wouldn't belabor it.

The Ugly

Jebus, the exploding laundry truck! Would you believe me if I told you Charlotte had more penalties for more yards than us? I wouldn't have until I looked at the box score. Charlotte 7 for 76 yards, Dragons 5 for 72. A lot of drive-extenders in that 5 again this week. It's hard to be too grumpy about it, though, because we have become a very aggressive defense.

So, what does this mean, Barbara?

It's big. All conference games are big. Think it's not big? You'd like to get last year's game with them back, wouldn't you? 1-0. Tied for first in the West. We've got Tech next week, and you know damn well it's circled on their calendar. They knocked off UNT on the road yesterday, which puts more weight on this one, if we're entertaining thoughts of winning the West.

They are very good, but we will see.

That's all I got. For now. I think.
09-30-2018 03:34 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


KevMo4UAB Offline
#FreeUAB
*

Posts: 19,964
Joined: Apr 2004
Reputation: 64
I Root For: UAB
Location: Bartow Arena
Post: #2
RE: Smaug's $0.02
Love it.

It was warm, but nothing like the “hell” of two weeks ago.

I sit in Section 9.

I’m a little concerned about the halftime adjustments our last two opponents made.
09-30-2018 04:23 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Matrix Offline
Hall of Famer
*

Posts: 14,505
Joined: Oct 2009
Reputation: 197
I Root For: UAB, N'Western
Location:
Post: #3
RE: Smaug's $0.02
Excellent.
09-30-2018 04:42 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
BlazerFromMD Offline
Hall of Famer
*

Posts: 12,380
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation: 108
I Root For: UAB, USNA
Location: Maryland
Post: #4
RE: Smaug's $0.02
The "stoopid" penalties are going to bite us in the ass real soon if Coach doesn't get the guys to start thinking.
09-30-2018 08:18 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


WesternBlazer Offline
Hall of Famer
*

Posts: 22,158
Joined: Jan 2008
Reputation: 90
I Root For: UAB
Location:
Post: #5
RE: Smaug's $0.02
(09-30-2018 08:18 PM)BlazerFromMD Wrote:  The "stoopid" penalties are going to bite us in the ass real soon if Coach doesn't get the guys to start thinking.

Almost got couple more...
09-30-2018 08:33 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
jcduncan13 Offline
All American
*

Posts: 3,134
Joined: Dec 2012
Reputation: 29
I Root For: UAB
Location:
Post: #6
RE: Smaug's $0.02
(09-30-2018 04:23 PM)KevMo4UAB Wrote:  Love it.

It was warm, but nothing like the “hell” of two weeks ago.

I sit in Section 9.

I’m a little concerned about the halftime adjustments our last two opponents made.

A lot of us sit in section 9 evidently. Good work as always Smaug. #BeatTech 04-cheers
09-30-2018 08:44 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Smaug Offline
Happnin' Dude
*

Posts: 61,211
Joined: Mar 2005
Reputation: 842
I Root For: Dragons
Location: The Lonely Mountain

BlazerTalk AwardBlazerTalk AwardBlazerTalk AwardBlazerTalk Award
Post: #7
RE: Smaug's $0.02
(09-30-2018 08:33 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  
(09-30-2018 08:18 PM)BlazerFromMD Wrote:  The "stoopid" penalties are going to bite us in the ass real soon if Coach doesn't get the guys to start thinking.

Almost got couple more...

I know I've brought this up before, and I wish I had the article to cite, but some publication published a report on penalties and good/bad teams.

Seems there is a correlation between the kind of penalties you commit and whether or not you're any good.

Good teams get the big ones. 15 yarders.

Bad teams get the little ones. 5 yarders.

They asked a handful of coaches to interpret what that might mean, and the consensus was that 15 yarders were penalties of aggression. Guys going hard to the edge (and sometimes over the edge) of the allowable limit.

Whereas 5 yarders were penalties of discipline. Guys just being sloppy and careless.

It made sense to me, and since I read that it seems I see it everywhere.
09-30-2018 09:31 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


BlazerPhil Offline
Administrator of Comedy
*

Posts: 15,852
Joined: Jul 2004
Reputation: 86
I Root For: Birmingham U.
Location:

Folding@NCAAbbs
Post: #8
RE: Smaug's $0.02
Those Ribs. Seriously Blazerwkr, I'll need a lead time and a cost on placing an order. They were perfect.
09-30-2018 09:33 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Smaug Offline
Happnin' Dude
*

Posts: 61,211
Joined: Mar 2005
Reputation: 842
I Root For: Dragons
Location: The Lonely Mountain

BlazerTalk AwardBlazerTalk AwardBlazerTalk AwardBlazerTalk Award
Post: #9
RE: Smaug's $0.02
(09-30-2018 09:33 PM)BlazerPhil Wrote:  Those Ribs. Seriously Blazerwkr, I'll need a lead time and a cost on placing an order. They were perfect.

He sent a rack home with me and the were good again today. 04-cheers
09-30-2018 09:37 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
the_blazerman Offline
Legend
*

Posts: 30,397
Joined: Nov 2004
Reputation: 95
I Root For: UAB
Location:
Post: #10
RE: Smaug's $0.02
(09-30-2018 09:31 PM)Smaug Wrote:  
(09-30-2018 08:33 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  
(09-30-2018 08:18 PM)BlazerFromMD Wrote:  The "stoopid" penalties are going to bite us in the ass real soon if Coach doesn't get the guys to start thinking.

Almost got couple more...

I know I've brought this up before, and I wish I had the article to cite, but some publication published a report on penalties and good/bad teams.

Seems there is a correlation between the kind of penalties you commit and whether or not you're any good.

Good teams get the big ones. 15 yarders.

Bad teams get the little ones. 5 yarders.

They asked a handful of coaches to interpret what that might mean, and the consensus was that 15 yarders were penalties of aggression. Guys going hard to the edge (and sometimes over the edge) of the allowable limit.

Whereas 5 yarders were penalties of discipline. Guys just being sloppy and careless.

It made sense to me, and since I read that it seems I see it everywhere.

A 15 yarder sent their punter to the showers although it seemed to me that he his his lower leg diving in.
09-30-2018 10:07 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


BlazerMatt Offline
Super Moderator
*

Posts: 13,986
Joined: Jul 2004
Reputation: 112
I Root For:
Location:

DonatorsFolding@NCAAbbsFolding@NCAAbbsBlazerTalk AwardBlazerTalk AwardBlazerTalk AwardBlazerTalk Award
Post: #11
RE: Smaug's $0.02
(09-30-2018 09:33 PM)BlazerPhil Wrote:  Those Ribs. Seriously Blazerwkr, I'll need a lead time and a cost on placing an order. They were perfect.

Sick baby changed up our gameday plans and I realized around lunch time that I'd be flying solo. Because my inlaws were in town I decided to be a good host and cooked steak on the grill and had an early supper with the family before heading to the stadium. NY strip, sweet potato with butter and cinnamon, even had a little ice cream for desert. Left the house stuffed and content.

I got to the stadium less than an hour before kickoff and stopped by the tailgate just to say hi. Saw there were some ribs left and decided to taste one.

I took one bite and was instantly legit hungry for ribs. I went from being very full to feeling like I could have sat down and eaten a rack of those things. They truly were amazing. I'd never had a spicy rib before, and those things were so full of flavor they really could be the signature dish at a successful BBQ restaurant.
10-01-2018 08:10 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
BlazerMatt Offline
Super Moderator
*

Posts: 13,986
Joined: Jul 2004
Reputation: 112
I Root For:
Location:

DonatorsFolding@NCAAbbsFolding@NCAAbbsBlazerTalk AwardBlazerTalk AwardBlazerTalk AwardBlazerTalk Award
Post: #12
RE: Smaug's $0.02
(09-30-2018 09:31 PM)Smaug Wrote:  
(09-30-2018 08:33 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  
(09-30-2018 08:18 PM)BlazerFromMD Wrote:  The "stoopid" penalties are going to bite us in the ass real soon if Coach doesn't get the guys to start thinking.

Almost got couple more...

I know I've brought this up before, and I wish I had the article to cite, but some publication published a report on penalties and good/bad teams.

Seems there is a correlation between the kind of penalties you commit and whether or not you're any good.

Good teams get the big ones. 15 yarders.

Bad teams get the little ones. 5 yarders.

They asked a handful of coaches to interpret what that might mean, and the consensus was that 15 yarders were penalties of aggression. Guys going hard to the edge (and sometimes over the edge) of the allowable limit.

Whereas 5 yarders were penalties of discipline. Guys just being sloppy and careless.

It made sense to me, and since I read that it seems I see it everywhere.

Thats mostly true, but there are some pretty freaking stupid 15 yard penalties you can get.

The roughing penalty, he was going for the block and was a little late. It happens.

The roughing the passer penalty, he was just a step late. Honestly, had he not hit him so hard i doubt a flag even gets thrown.

The personal foul where we pushed a RB to the ground, from behind, a full second after the whistle had blown... That was just stupid and the kind of thing that needs to stop before it costs us a game.
10-01-2018 08:16 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
BlazerGreen Offline
All American
*

Posts: 4,651
Joined: Dec 2010
Reputation: 45
I Root For: UAB, Goals
Location:
Post: #13
RE: Smaug's $0.02
(10-01-2018 08:16 AM)BlazerMatt Wrote:  
(09-30-2018 09:31 PM)Smaug Wrote:  
(09-30-2018 08:33 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  
(09-30-2018 08:18 PM)BlazerFromMD Wrote:  The "stoopid" penalties are going to bite us in the ass real soon if Coach doesn't get the guys to start thinking.

Almost got couple more...

I know I've brought this up before, and I wish I had the article to cite, but some publication published a report on penalties and good/bad teams.

Seems there is a correlation between the kind of penalties you commit and whether or not you're any good.

Good teams get the big ones. 15 yarders.

Bad teams get the little ones. 5 yarders.

They asked a handful of coaches to interpret what that might mean, and the consensus was that 15 yarders were penalties of aggression. Guys going hard to the edge (and sometimes over the edge) of the allowable limit.

Whereas 5 yarders were penalties of discipline. Guys just being sloppy and careless.

It made sense to me, and since I read that it seems I see it everywhere.

Thats mostly true, but there are some pretty freaking stupid 15 yard penalties you can get.

The roughing penalty, he was going for the block and was a little late. It happens.

The roughing the passer penalty, he was just a step late. Honestly, had he not hit him so hard i doubt a flag even gets thrown.

The personal foul where we pushed a RB to the ground, from behind, a full second after the whistle had blown... That was just stupid and the kind of thing that needs to stop before it costs us a game.

Yeah, that was what set me off. I don't want to see my team playing that way. Aggressiveness is essential but stupid, borderline dirty, plays like that get you beat and set a bad example for younger players.

On the bright side, we hopefully started a positive trend of reduced penalties. Special teams also did a nice job.
10-01-2018 07:50 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
ATTALLABLAZE Offline
Administrator
*

Posts: 56,918
Joined: Jan 2003
Reputation: 640
I Root For: UAB Blazers
Location: Gallant, Birmingham

The Parliament AwardsCrappiesDonatorsBlazerTalk AwardBlazerTalk AwardBlazerTalk AwardBlazerTalk AwardBlazerTalk AwardCrappies
Post: #14
RE: Smaug's $0.02
Only 5 penalties looked like improvement to me. One was aggressive and i can live with that. The stupid ones I can't.
10-02-2018 07:21 AM
Visit this user's website Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Post Reply 




User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)


Copyright © 2002-2024 Collegiate Sports Nation Bulletin Board System (CSNbbs), All Rights Reserved.
CSNbbs is an independent fan site and is in no way affiliated to the NCAA or any of the schools and conferences it represents.
This site monetizes links. FTC Disclosure.
We allow third-party companies to serve ads and/or collect certain anonymous information when you visit our web site. These companies may use non-personally identifiable information (e.g., click stream information, browser type, time and date, subject of advertisements clicked or scrolled over) during your visits to this and other Web sites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services likely to be of greater interest to you. These companies typically use a cookie or third party web beacon to collect this information. To learn more about this behavioral advertising practice or to opt-out of this type of advertising, you can visit http://www.networkadvertising.org.
Powered By MyBB, © 2002-2024 MyBB Group.