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Contenders or Pretenders
dawgfromduluth
Posts: 494 ✭✭✭✭ Senior
in General
Very disappointed in Saturday's result. What is with the flat first halves? So, what do you all think we have this year? Are we like Saban's team last year? Can we win out? What are y'alls thoughts on the future of this team?
Comments
National Champions!
Go Dawgs!
just win the next one
it depends. Can we. Yes. Will we who knows. Nothing to this point shows we are capabalr of winnning out. Slow first halves in every game and looking like a deer in headlights on the road. Somebody has got to bring the swagger. Somebody has got to be that dude. And frankly we have to play better. The second halves of games show we are good enough but it’s sixty minutes of mistake free football. Too many turnovers and too many penalties at this point will get you beat by Texas on the road. Frankly That has to change
We are contenders! When you have back to back to back top 5 recruiting classes! That makes you a de facto contender!
I guess the questions that should be asked, will we survive this schedule with enough of our 1st string players available for the playoffs?
I haven't lost the faith and I still believe in the team!
We will need to fix, adjust and change our current issues! Can our talented players, play at an elite level? Will our coaches figure out what the slow starts are all about, and do what is necessary to give our team a chance to compete against competitive opponents?
The O-line is average and regrettably they make huge mistakes! I counted 11 Bama players who blitzed and got in and on Beck "Free and clear"! That can never happen, never! Example: the safety called on QB, should've been called on our right guard! I am not using names for a reason! You are not making it to he pros with plays like that!
I am not discouraged, but every game it is the same thing! Show me progress, give me something!
I am not blasting away on the coaches! This is an execution and consistency problem with the players!
I guess there is always good parts to every game, we don't have to listen to the talking heads telling us we don't have any good receivers! But, Colby Young, who is a specimen, his effort and result on the last play was not good enough and I would love for him to be great!
Pretending ended in 2016……
We played a C game against the Tide on the road and almost won. Our A game still beats anyone anywhere. We just gotta play better. One loss is no biggie.
My thoughts exactly. Four turnovers will usually get you beat against even a mediocre team (eg our 2019 loss to SC). We had 4 critical turnovers against a top 5 SEC opponent on the road and still almost won. Tiger Woods used to play his C game and finish second. If we bring our A game we can beat anybody. Got to fix the slow start issues.
I think Jalon Walker can be that dude bringing the swagger. He’s a leader in multiple ways.
Agreed! Let that Big Dawg eat!
Go Dawgs!
We hadnt lost a regular season game in 4 years in the SEC. Did people think that was going to go on forever? It was the longest run since Oklahoma in the 50's
Yes it stings to lose to Alabama again. Especially considering the comeback.
But in my eyes this changes nothing. Everything still right there on the table.
Ive seen Georgia teams lose (Auburn 2017, Alabama 2021) and come back and win the rematch. It can happen again.
totally agree about Walker on D. Need someone on offense that brings the swagger and someone has got to lead these guys from snap 1 not snap 40. Not just when backs against the wall and you have no choice but to sling it. On paper I thought this offense would be ferocious this year. Experience second year qb, solid OL, ETN from portal. Someone has got to be the leader and we’ve got to stop the mistakes. We can get by the kentuckys playing like that but not ala, Tex, tenn.
Contenders, imho! Folks, this team has the makings of a championship squad, and what we all witnessed Saturday showed how good they can be. For Beck, it was the best of times and the worst of times. Seriously, he flashed his best game as a Dawg with over 400 yards against one of the best teams in the country in their house and at night. He willed the team back from the dead (along with many others) and that is exactly what I wanted to see him do—finally. At the same time, he caused four turnovers against Bama—suicidal for our victory hopes, and his worst effort as a Dawg in that department. Take away those four boneheaded plays and we win easily—even with our D's issues! Carson has to get better, but I hope and believe he will.
A couple of observations: I'm actually pleased with how things played out. This team was riding on the fumes of all the media praise, being number one, and all of the love they have been given this year. They were treated like CFB royalty. Now they are getting disrespected and even trash talked by Bama! Yeah, their 17YO, 175#s of trash talking phenom "owns" these puppies. I'm pi$$ed and I'm just a fan. I'm sure Kirby and the team don't like being trolled by a 17 YO kid, even if he is talented. Now, the Dawgs can go back to work and iron out the wrinkles. If they work their tails off and get in the SECCG or the CFPs, they can revisit PETA's worst nightmare, Mr. "Kill Everything."😎
Finally, Bama went ahead with a catch from a 17 YO TF. My personal opinion is that we actually have the most talented TF in CFB—Nate Frazier. Assuming he isn't hurt or being disciplined, they have to use him. Our two most dangerous weapons on offense are ETN and Frazier imo. Our staff should get some packages with both of them on the field. If he can't block, work on it, but get him on the field.
Go Dawgs, and I'm more optimistic than I was before the game. We saw a great comeback that just missed being the biggest comeback in CFB history. If you can do that, you can stop taking the first half off and start being champions for 60 minutes. Kirby and these Dawgs will figure it out imo.
Sounds about right, except for maybe the OL isn't as solid as we thought and then we lose Ratledge.
glad you are and hope you’re right!! Alabama was up 28-0 And it felt like they relaxed a little mid 3rd qtr as is a tendency when up that big. It almost cost them as we did fight and claw back which was very encouraging. The D did what they had to do in the second half to give us a chance until that final drive. I want to see us dictate the game from snap 1. We were the hunted on Saturday not the hunters. I want to see less mistakes from our veteran qb. Theirs played way better than ours and was the difference in the game. I want to see the first guy make the tackle. Until we do those things consistently I can’t say with confidence that we are championship material. We have it on paper but need to see it in action.
Was it 2022 that they played so many flat first quarters and halves? They pulled wins out of the hat but left us wondering if they'd be able to win big games.