from David Malinsky @ Pregame
Point Blank – September 21
What a “Bettor Better Know” – NCAA #3
Item – How do you grade the Alabama/Mississippi defenses after that?
In turning an Under ticket in the Ole Miss/Alabama showdown, I detailed the merits of what I believed were the two best defenses in the country. So what happens to the ratings after 80 points got to the scoreboard? Would you believe nothing? As difficult as it might appear on the surface, the two defenses were actually pretty darn good on Saturday night.
If you are going to downgrade the Rebels for allowing 29 first downs and 503 yards, which are the usual quick-glance measurements, don’t. That is what is going to happen when you are on the field for 100 plays. That is correct, 100. That is about 33 percent more than what the projection would have been, so in the back of your mind instead of 29 and 503, think 19 and 335, and how does that feel? Much different, isn’t it. But in this case there is even more.
There were 43 offensive snaps in the fourth quarter, with the Rebel defense on the field for 36 of them. That is an exhausting load, which exacerbated the fatigue notions. From 10:02 to 4:33 there were 21 offensive snaps, all by the Crimson Tide. Yet having to play through that in a difficult environment against a talented opponent, Ole Miss allowed 5.0 per play for the game. In 2014, only 24 teams allowed less than 5.0 over the course of the season.
As for the Alabama defense, the Crimson Tide literally made one major mistake the entire game, the 73-yard TD pass from Chad Kelly to Cody Core early in the fourth quarter. The earlier 66-yard pass TD from Kelly to Quincy Adeboyejo that sped up the pace in the third quarter was an absolute fluke of football, something that goes into the record books for all times as a play having merit, and will clog data bases well into this season. Take that play away and what was the Rebel production? 15 first downs and 367 yards. That is a solid showing vs. the weapons that Ole Miss has.
There could be some opportunities going forward because of that scoreboard, and especially the frenetic pace – these are still the two best defenses in the nation, and Saturday night provided a rarity, 80 points hitting the board despite the defenses actually acquitting themselves well.
Neal/Chase/Jeffery, you should have him back on the podcast.
Point Blank – September 21
What a “Bettor Better Know” – NCAA #3
Item – How do you grade the Alabama/Mississippi defenses after that?
In turning an Under ticket in the Ole Miss/Alabama showdown, I detailed the merits of what I believed were the two best defenses in the country. So what happens to the ratings after 80 points got to the scoreboard? Would you believe nothing? As difficult as it might appear on the surface, the two defenses were actually pretty darn good on Saturday night.
If you are going to downgrade the Rebels for allowing 29 first downs and 503 yards, which are the usual quick-glance measurements, don’t. That is what is going to happen when you are on the field for 100 plays. That is correct, 100. That is about 33 percent more than what the projection would have been, so in the back of your mind instead of 29 and 503, think 19 and 335, and how does that feel? Much different, isn’t it. But in this case there is even more.
There were 43 offensive snaps in the fourth quarter, with the Rebel defense on the field for 36 of them. That is an exhausting load, which exacerbated the fatigue notions. From 10:02 to 4:33 there were 21 offensive snaps, all by the Crimson Tide. Yet having to play through that in a difficult environment against a talented opponent, Ole Miss allowed 5.0 per play for the game. In 2014, only 24 teams allowed less than 5.0 over the course of the season.
As for the Alabama defense, the Crimson Tide literally made one major mistake the entire game, the 73-yard TD pass from Chad Kelly to Cody Core early in the fourth quarter. The earlier 66-yard pass TD from Kelly to Quincy Adeboyejo that sped up the pace in the third quarter was an absolute fluke of football, something that goes into the record books for all times as a play having merit, and will clog data bases well into this season. Take that play away and what was the Rebel production? 15 first downs and 367 yards. That is a solid showing vs. the weapons that Ole Miss has.
There could be some opportunities going forward because of that scoreboard, and especially the frenetic pace – these are still the two best defenses in the nation, and Saturday night provided a rarity, 80 points hitting the board despite the defenses actually acquitting themselves well.
Neal/Chase/Jeffery, you should have him back on the podcast.
