Just a few observations from the final game of the season. Most of this is pretty obvious and repetitive at this point, but, here it goes nonetheless:
Quick thoughts heading into the bowl & offseason:
We will see what the next several weeks hold. Need to nail the OC hire(obviously). Also need to have a laser-sharp approach to the portal and overall roster management. I’d love if BV would go out and hire another one or two Matt Wells-type of Special Assistants who can be in his ear on game day. All the good vibes of Bama are gone…this thing kind of crashed back to earth in a harsh way tonight. BV’s seat is hot heading into 2025. Going to take some massive changes to get this thing headed back in the right direction.
- LSUs OL is legit and held up well against our rush. I actually thought our edges got some decent pressures throughout the game, but not so much in the interior. Nuss is a gamer with great pocket awareness, did a great job stepping up into the pocket and distributing the ball.
- Our defensive backs just got worked. Completely outclassed. In retrospect, between LSUs strong OL and pass game, this was a matchup nightmare. It’s really been the Achilles heel of this defense all season and it reared its ugly head tonight. Only a handful of teams have really been able to expose it, but LSU out-schemed and out-executed OU tonight.
- Speaking of coaching & scheme: if there was even a glimpse of hope for JJF and Kevin Johns to remain play callers (or even on staff), I think that was emphatically shut down tonight. The Bauer double pass was just terrible timing during a drive where OU was moving the ball extremely well.
- Small note: that kick return TD was an absolute killer. Special teams has been better this year then the past several, but we still aren’t a great special teams program. Again, it matters in the SEC with razor thin margins.
- If this is “raggedy ole” Spencer Brown’s last game, I won’t be mad. He regressed to the mean after last week. Got man-handled all night. Howland also struggled…a lot.
- He isn’t and hasn’t been perfect, but I feel for JA. Our tackles were abused all night long. The receiving corps tonight is just not a serious P4 group of players. Can’t wait for the offseason and next year in that regard.
Quick thoughts heading into the bowl & offseason:
- Need to upgrade at CB and TE through the portal regardless of who stays or goes. CBs were exposed in big games all year, struggle mightily in any man scheme. Bauer Sharp can’t be your in-line HBack-type of blocker. If you can’t find a TE to fit that bill, change the scheme. We’ve asked Stog last year (god bless him, he tried) and now Bauer this year to play the role of Brayden Willis. Those guys don’t have it. If you are adamant of keeping that personnel, for the love of all things holy, go recruit a true FB/HB type of player.
- Need DE depth. If R Mason goes, that position scares me immensely. Losing a ton of productivity and experience.
- Just my personal opinion, but there aren’t that many guys on the offensive side of the ball that worry me about hitting the portal. We need a serious influx of offensive talent and athleticism. Honestly, probably wouldn’t hurt to turn over a decent portion of the offensive roster.
We will see what the next several weeks hold. Need to nail the OC hire(obviously). Also need to have a laser-sharp approach to the portal and overall roster management. I’d love if BV would go out and hire another one or two Matt Wells-type of Special Assistants who can be in his ear on game day. All the good vibes of Bama are gone…this thing kind of crashed back to earth in a harsh way tonight. BV’s seat is hot heading into 2025. Going to take some massive changes to get this thing headed back in the right direction.
