How my Blazer Sunday morning feels. A football hangover, without the buzz to even the score. Getting older sucks.
Yesterday felt like a re-run of the UT game. Spot the opposition a two score lead with turnovers and then sputter the rest of the way on O. Defense hangs in there and makes some plays but fatigue and a hopeless offense wears them down.
Seems pretty obvious where we need to make changes. If we don't get this offense turned around in the next three games, I really hope those changes are made.
A few thoughts on yesterday, starting with QB's:
Joe Burrow was a solid but unspectacular SEC qb until LSU hired Joe Brady. His numbers were similar to Erdely's in 2017: 16 TD 5 INT. Now he's the leading Heisman contender with 33 TD 4 INT
Coming out of high school, Tyler Johnston and Dylan Hopkins were both rated slightly higher than Zac Thomas out of Trussville. Now he's a Unitas nominee and has led Appy to a conference title, a bowl win, a top 25 ranking, and 2 P5 wins. Not faulting UAB for not offering him. It happens and we already had TJ3 committed. It just illustrates the need for better development at that position.
Did we recruit better for our OL before The Return? Seeing the drop off not only in experience but talent after 2018 makes me wonder. Don't understand why the 2017 OL was so much better than this one.
A much more composed Marino versus USM. Good to see from the senior.
The biggest margin of defeat of the Bill Clark era, 35 points. Definitely not the low point since The Return for me. I felt way worse after the CCU game last year. We had way more going against us yesterday and USM is a pretty good team. Still no rational explanation for that CCU "performance".
I didn't expect to win but I never expect a Bill Clark UAB team to get embarrassed. Two weeks in row on national television a few weeks before early signing date is some bad timing as well. Need to get this season turned in big way this coming Saturday.
(11-10-2019 10:26 AM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote: IF we Beat UTEP
Fixed
Cant win if you can’t score. Defense will play stout but give up at least one TD due to a personal foul extending a drive. We couldn’t even get in field goal range yesterday.
I honestly don't know what some of you expectations were for this team. We wasn't projected to be as good as last year and we haven't been as good this season.
Nevertheless, with a rebuilt offensive and defensive line, missing out best CB for the season and with a little luck with our schedule we are 6-3 and going to our third straight bowl game.
Sure I'm a little disappointed with the way the team has played but we are still far better than what people thought we would be.
Clark record at UAB is 31-17. I'm not about to question his decision making with his staff because I trust he'll do what is necessary to make this team better for the reminder of this season and beyond.
(This post was last modified: 11-10-2019 11:12 PM by HiddenDragon.)
(11-10-2019 05:27 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote: I honestly don't know what were your expectation for this team. We wasn't projected to be as good as last year and we haven't been as good this season.
Nevertheless, with a rebuilt offensive and defensive line, missing out best CB for the season and with a little luck with our schedule we are 6-3 and going to our third straight bowl game.
Sure I'm a little disappointed with the way the team has played but we are still far better than what people thought we would be.
Clark record at UAB is 31-17. I'm not about to question his decision making with his staff because I trust he'll do what is necessary to make this team better for the reminder of this season and beyond.
I didn't expect this to be a great season but I did have hopes that next season could be better than last year. Maybe even be in the mix for the G5 spot. Our issues on offense, particularly OL, have dimmed those hopes for me somewhat. We have such a long way to go on that side of the ball compared to the top tier AAC and MWC schools, not to mention App State.
The last two weeks our offense has been lower tier CUSA. If we're serious about our goals, that's not gonna cut it.
(11-10-2019 08:44 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote: I didn't expect this to be a great season but I did have hopes that next season could be better than last year. Maybe even be in the mix for the G5 spot. Our issues on offense, particularly OL, have dimmed those hopes for me somewhat. We have such a long way to go on that side of the ball compared to the top tier AAC and MWC schools, not to mention App State.
The last two weeks our offense has been lower tier CUSA. If we're serious about our goals, that's not gonna cut it.
It's a new OL man. What is it that you don't understand about that? It takes a while for an OL to come together. I fully expect that unit to be much better next season. Right now they are going through their struggles and still learning.
I think the 6-1 start maybe blurred the realistic expectations of this squad.
People that use the excuse it’s a new O-line really don’t understand what is going on with the offense. Yes, it’s a young O-Line and the haven’t played together more than this season. I get it, but you are leaving out that the coaching staff has to help them out with the play calling. If you can’t block; why do you keep running routes 40 yards down field? You have to have a capable quick passing & screen game to help out the young, inexperienced, & sometimes overmatched O-Line. The key to a great short passing game is a QB who gets the ball out quick & who can get the ball to the skill players will the opportunity to run after the catch. UAB doesn’t do any of that. They don’t run drags, mesh, no short or deep crossing routes. They have no screen game, No middle screens, slip screens, Nothing just streaks straight down the field. They run very few to no RPO’s. And they sure as hell don’t run any down field RPO’s. And they don’t run any tempo. Any of these wrinkles would help out the OLine immensely with run blocking as well as pass blocking. UAB does none of it. UAB avg’s about 60 offensive plays a game. Most games are in the high 50’s. While decent tempo teams average anywhere from 70 to 80 offensive plays a game. Teams like UCF & FSU have hit over 90 offensive plays in a game this year. UAB’s offense has no uniqueness. They don’t spread it out, don’t run tempo, they have no short passing game, screen game, or RPO game. Their running backs don’t really catch passes, they don’t use their tight end. They are very basic. Any defensive coach knows what they are going to do and who they want to do it with by what formation they are in. And by as much as you all have probably watched UAB play on offense you know what they are going to do too. Well besides a innovative 2nd and 30 QB draw play. The offensive coaching is the problem not the play of the players they are doing the best with what they have. Vincent is not putting them in a position to be successful. And Clark isn’t either by keeping Vincent around. D1 college football is a business sometimes you have to let people go. Every one on this board wants success for UAB. Just because they display their disgust doesn’t mean they are not true fans. They just want the team to go to new heights. Everyone needs to be held accountable in the program, Including the Head Coach. If the students, fans, alumni, boosters demand greatness they will get it. And they will also get mediocrity if they allow it. Also if you expect it to get better you might be delusional. What exactly makes you think it will get better? And before you say in 2014 UAB’s offense under Vincent was good. They also had Howard, Nelson, Everett, Blackam, Salko, Ike. They were loaded with NFL talent. Mediocre coaches can coach great talent, Elite coaches develop great talent. They also find a way to be in position to win the game when their inferior talent is overmatched.
(This post was last modified: 11-11-2019 12:48 AM by PaUABlazer.)
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Sunday Morning Coming Down
