THE GOOD
Not a lot of great things to say about the offense. For every great pass an interception. For every great play a turnover. For every big run they have numerous no gains and the failure to convert 3rd or 4th and inches is just embarrassing now. The Rebels do have some guys making consistent big plays though.Shay Hodge is becoming the stud receiver the team needs. He chipped in another 66 yards and a touchdown against the Tide showing his great ability to bring the ball down in traffic. He's fourth in the SEC in receiving yards and tied for first in receiving touchdowns. That's a solid season.
On defense the big positive to come out of the game is that the linebacker play is finally improving. Allen Walker is stepping up and making plays and finished with 7 tackles. Ashlee Palmer is playing more like he did last year and had 8 tackles. Plus he's one of the better linebackers at timing his blitzes well. Peria Jerry played like a man possessed and finished with an impressive 7 tackles, a forced fumble and a sack. Ted Laurent also played well.
You know one of the biggest things I don't talk about any more? Special teams. Under the gar fisherman they were abysmal. Probably the worst special teams in the BCS conferences and lost the Rebels numerous games. Credit must go to Coach Shibest who has taken those same players and turned them into a solid group. Gone are the days of squib kicking every kickoff and twenty yard punts. Justin Sparks is doing a great job on kickoff's of angling the kick towards a sideline and deep to limit returns. Rob Park is getting great hangtime and distance this year. Against Bama he was a weapon and averaged 45+ yards a punt. That's solid. He's gone against a fearsome group of return men in Florida's James, Vanderbilt's Moore and now Bama's Arenas but he's managed to hold all in check.
THE DUDE
Speaking of Special Teams the Rebels ran a perfect fake field goal that was the driving force that got them back in the game. Scoring his much belated first touchdown was Jason Cook who had a monster of a game. Enrique Davis's 67 yard run was the result of his great block. He made other big blocks and really set the tone that the Rebels were going to be in this physical game.
THE BAD
The offense completely struggled in the first half. Other than Enrique's big run there wasn't much to it. And he also got chased down from behind despite being way ahead of all defenders. Even the Predator might have scored on that one. Enrique was the leading rusher on the day but didn't do much other than that run. He carried the ball eleven times. On the other ten carries he ran for twelve yards or a 1.2 carry average. This was most apparent during the drive where the Rebels ran on both 3rd and inches and 4th and inches and Enrique was stopped at the line both times. Absolutely no excuse not to convert there. Part was bad play calling and part was the line and Davis not doing what they had to be able to do. No excuse not to get one yard ever. I don't understand why when Eason and Bolden have been the far more productive backs all season they combine for less carries than Enrique who's running at a 1.2 yards per carry clip. And after they stopped you the first time why run the same play? Try to play action or naked boot. You know Bama was expecting the same run up the middle and either would have been open.
And there were other play calls that left a lot to be desired against Bama. I don't know who is in charge of the different play calls. The McCluster pass on 3rd and 22 was just stupid. Did you really think they were going to load the line on 3rd and 22? They seemed overly predictable in the first half but got better at mixing it up in the third by actually passing on first down some. I still don't understand when Bama or anyone else is blitzing why they do not run screens and draws. Especially a quarterback draw.
Which brings me to another point. Snead is even more like Schaefer than originally thought. He's also more effective when he can run the ball and can keep defenses on their heels worried about the run. I don't understand why he's not getting designed runs on a regular basis. He's a tough SOB as he showed tackling a guy. He ran a lot in high school and can take it. Its not worth worrying over the potential injury. It probably open up some more coverages for him as well if linebackers were worried he was about to run the ball. He had some great runs to keep the final drive alive but when it came down to it and he had to pass for a first for some reason he threw down field really way off towards the deep and well covered receiver missing in the words of Kent Austin "wide open" receiver running a drag route for a first down.
And the other half of the turnover twins had a rough day as well. Dexter made his usually big plays with his usual even more devastating turnovers. The fumble this time was manageable since Bama turned it right back. It was just odd since he wasn't even hit as hard this time it just went flying away while he was diving up in the air. The interception was awful since it came right after one of Snead's and gave Bama great field position on successive drives. As mention before it was terrible as well because the play call was terrible considering no one thought he was going to run for 22 yards on 3rd down. The execution was equally bad as he didn't look like he could see over the line or had the upper body strength to throw it 23 yards directly so he just sort of heaved it up in the air. I think its time Nutt readdresses the wildcat formation and either quits running it or lets a different player manage it. Dexter's good as a slot back but not running an offense. For it to work they have to have someone deep that makes the defenders actually defend the pass some what.
THE UGLY
For the second straight game pass defense was essentially the difference in the game. Tyrone Nix actually did a good job of clamping down on Bama and making them work for any running yards and held them scoreless in the second half. But the two biggest offensive plays for Bama were two long passes from John Parker Wilson. These two quick and easy scores were Bama's big points. Other than that they got a rushing touchdown from a yard out and a 41 yard field goal on a short field after an interception. The offense faltered in the first keeping the defense on the field most of the first half but for the most part the defense held their own other than those two huge plays.On both Marshay Green got beat bad. On the second he actually had safety help from Kendrick Lewis who could have made the play and it took a perfect pass but Marshay was still beat. On the other he just wiffed on his bump part of his bump and run coverage and the defender ran right past him. I don't mean to signal Marshay out because he's a great athlete and a solid punt returner. He made great plays at receiver last year and I have no doubt that he could make a solid defender. But it looks a little rushed right now. And what doesn't make any sense is why last years best coverage guy never plays. Dustin Mouzon doesn't even get back up duty anymore. I'm sure the coaches no more than I do but it doesn't make any sense why they wouldn't use him at all.
CURSE OF CUT UPDATE
The Curse lives on thanks to Miami beating Duke therefore the Rebels lost so as not to achieve a greater record than the Blue Devils. The Blue Devils go to Nashville this week. Lets hope they do what the Rebels couldn't do and beat Vandy.
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