Hey Terry-- You know I respect you and always enjoy our conversations before the yearly game with your tide. But I gotta call you on the above statement. I am embarrassed to say that I did a quick search of your posts prior to the game in 05. The first and only thread I clicked on... http://www.tigerforums.com/tigers-den/32515-croyle-guarantees-victory.html had you saying ..... "On a similar, but slightly different note the staff has seen some weaknesses in several areas that they are confident we'll be able to exploit. I first heard about them after the Sunday meetings and spent some time looking at what they've observed M and Tues. From a defensive and offensive standpoint, the players truely believe we can win this game. And, based on what they plan to attack, I'm beginning to feel just as confident in the game plan." You seemed pretty confident in the bama coaching staff at that point too. And wouldn't you agree that that optimism was unfounded? I still feel dirty for doing a search on past posts!
That is hilarious. Especially considering the fact that one of the UT coaches told him the same thing and that he should attend the Bama game instead of his un-official visit to BR.
No, the optimism wasn't unfounded. The defensive game plan worked very well in that game. If you continued the search you would have found instances where I pointed to the weakness being the offensive line as well. If I recall correctly, and I'm pretty sure I do, I also said I expected LSU to win the game but also thought we had a chance to win it as well. It seems a lot of those conversations were about the offensive output and most here pointing to the loss of Prothro as the reason. I, on the other hand, was pointing to the injury of Closner as the majority of the reason...not because we were losing a great talent there, but because his replacement was just that bad. The confidence was in the game plan which took that one to OT. I'm sure your blood pressure was through the roof that day considering how tightly that game was played. It still was a 3 pt win for you guys.
Let me add this Snarl... From what I've been told about the game plan they are going to be working on next week, I like the chances of Bama being able to move the ball against your defense. Part of me wonders if this is going to be a shootout...but, only a slight part.
Terry -- Are you sure you are not getting gameplan info from emails from Fran? Come on, share some of inside info with your friends here at TigerForums. If the guy with 17 names is accurate and can get the ball out quickly, you will move the ball. (See LSU vrs KY) I suspect it will be a close game. But I keep thinking that LSU will execute better than they have in the last few weeks. Who knows.
Everybody else has in the last three games, but they were all highly ranked teams. They spread it with 5 receivers and get a mismatch against a linebacker and complete passes against LSU. We'll have to see if Wilson can match Tebow or Woodson in delivering the passes. But I expect Bama will also have to run the ball effectively to win this game and I don't believe Pellini is going to show you the same defense you have seen. If Bama can't run on LSU, Pellini will play dime and nickle all afternoon and cover your receivers.
I've mentioned one aspect of it already on the forum in the form of a question. If you watched any of the Bama v UT game you saw some of what you'll see come game time. I mentioned in the form of a question asking who would cover the 3rd inside slot receiver. You have some speed in your safeties and LBer's but I don't see them as being able to cover who we put there. Especially when we line up in a 5 wide set. Starting off with this set will put the defense on it's heels the way I see it. And, eventually, allow the running game to get going. If the Tigers come out with game focus, it's your game to lose. If they don't, it's our game to win. Like I've said before, I don't see this as being a Bama win. If it is, it's a huge upset. I can see a few areas that, if the cards fall right, we can be in this 'til the gun sounds.
