It all caught up with us last night. The injuries. The penalties. The dropsies.
The Injuries
We were already missing Sturdivant, Owens, Tripp, Battle, and Southerland (at fullback). We then lose Dannell Ellerbe, Chris Davis, Kris Durham, and even Knowshon for some time during this one. Unfortunately we're getting to the point where we just can't absorb these losses anymore.
The Penalties
We remain to be the most penalized team in college football. The players were saying they couldn't keep it up. It would catch up with us. Last night it did. The rouging the passer on the opening drive was a game changer. If we get that fumble who knows what happens.
The Dropsies
Way too many drops last night.
These definitely weren't the only things that went wrong. The biggest problem was that Alabama can flat out play. They hit us in the mouth and before we knew what hit us, it was 31-0.
Let's just hope the team can regroup and bounce back. Maybe this loss has a similar effect on the team as last year's Tennessee game. With one loss, we still control our own destiny in the East.
I understand when Caoch Richt said he didn't want to take away the players intensity when questioned about the the amount of penalties they recieve, but discipline should never take a back seat to that.
ReplyDeleteNonetheless, the new rankings are disgusting.
re: injuries
ReplyDeleteajc.com is reporting Knowshon is probably out against the Vols and Stafford was tested for a concussion. Yikes. That Stafford even had symptoms of a concussion seems like bad news.
Game was a perfect storm, if it could go wrong it did. At least it wasn't an SEC east loss, and a 1 loss SEC team would play in the national championship over an undefeated big 10 team. Looks like it is the big 12 winner (if undefeated) and the SEC winner, unless we cannibalize ourselves.
ReplyDeleteThe one thing that's inexcusable are the penalties -- and the aggressiveness argument is completely bogus and hollow! I agree, the first roughing the passer penalty was just plain ignorant (slapping JPW'S face as you go by) and may have changed the entire game -- but we'll never know. Does the word "bonehead" come readily to mind?
ReplyDelete