Tag: Auburn Tigers

Stop blaming the Alabama kicker for missing that final field goal

A deeper look at arguably the most important moment in the Iron Bowl.

Much has been made of the Auburn Tigers’ trick formation in the Iron Bowl on Saturday. The Tigers outsmarted Alabama and Nick Saban, and converted a fourth-and-4 by drawing a 12-men on the field penalty. That led to an Auburn win (and endless frustration from Saban).

While that was the most controversial play, there was a moment earlier in the game that was more impactful. Alabama kicker Joseph Bulovas missed an attempt from the 11-yard line with one minute and 53 seconds left that would have tied the game. And the error, as is often the case with missed kicks, doesn’t appear to be entirely his fault.

The holder, quarterback Mac Jones, appeared to botch the hold in a way that would force the kick to curve left … and then Bulovas’ kick clanged off the left upright. Jones, who has taken over the holding duties with starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa out, didn’t quite lean the ball properly.

Former Indianapolis Colts punter and current NFL analyst Pat McAfee broke down what he saw on Twitter.

It’s easy to dump on a kicker for missing a kick. But even in a moment that seems like an individual effort, it’s important to remember football is a team sport. This failed attempt is a product of multiple errors.

There was a torrent of hatred directed at Bulovas in the wake of the missed kicked, which is reprehensible, of course, because if you’re blasting a college athlete on Twitter you’re just a bad person. But it was also wrong in a technical sense, because the kicker is at the mercy of the holder, who’s at the mercy of the long-snapper.

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Nick Saban says Alabama got ‘unfair’ treatment from officials, and he’s wrong

Actually, it was unfair of Nick Saban to go after the officials.

Nick Saban is frustrated and he’s not making sense.

After the Alabama Crimson Tide’s 48-45 loss to the Auburn Tigers in the Iron Bowl on Saturday, Saban was ready to place blame — mostly on others. In particular, Saban took aim at the officials, who flagged his team for 12 men on the field on a crucial fourth down.

Auburn trotted out its punter on a fourth-and-4 with the clock running and roughly a minute left in the game. Alabama sent out its punt coverage unit as a response. But — SURPRISE! — Auburn also sent out quarterback Bo Nix, who put the unit in an offensive formation with the punter lined up at receiver. It was a clear attempt at drawing Alabama offsides, but Saban responded by putting his defense back on the field. The problem was that he left punt returner Jaylen Waddle on the field, so when the Crimson Tide lined up for the play, they had 12 men on the field.

It was a brilliant bit of strategy and maneuvering by Auburn. Coach Gus Malzahn identified a way that he could make the rules work for Auburn — and against Alabama. And Malzahn’s Tigers executed the head-fake formation to perfection. Saban, meanwhile, did not respond well.

There was blame to go around for Alabama, but it would be unfair of him to blame the officials. That’s what he did anyway. He felt the officials didn’t give Alabama the proper amount of time to get their returner off the field.  Here’s what Saban said Saturday night, via a video on AL.com.

“I really feel that it was a pretty unfair play at the end of the game. They substituted the punter as a wide receiver, so we put the punt team in. And then when the quarterback was still in there we tried to put the defense back in. I thought they should have given us a little more time to substitute and get Waddle out as a returner. We get called for 12 guys on the field. So that was very disappointing.

“We’re responsible for that as coaches, but it was a very unusual circumstance to say the least. And I think that sometimes when you have those, it should be viewed that way.”

Had Alabama gotten the ball back, it would have had one final possession to attempt to get a field goal to tie the game. Instead, the penalty gave Auburn a new set of downs and an Iron Bowl win.

The Crimson Tide coaching staff got flustered at a crucial moment, and Malzahn outsmarted Saban with a savvy trick formation. Saban has used trick formations to win games — he knows that gimmicks can stump opponents. He’s just not accustomed to getting stumped. That’s what happened on Saturday.

Among other things, the penalty cost the Crimson Tide a chance to win or tie the game and earn trip to the playoffs. Saban’s proclivity to call the situation “unfair” seems to be nothing more than a case of misguided frustration.

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Alabama’s last 5 losses have come to teams nicknamed the Tigers

Clemson, LSU and Auburn have combined to hand Alabama its last 5 losses. The schools have something in common.

No one can blame Nick Saban if he suffers from Tigriphobia. The Alabama coach does not lose games often. The last five times his Crimson Tide have fallen, they have done so to teams with the nickname Tigers. And here are the quintet of losses in order. Tigriphobia grips the Alabama.

I: National championship for 2016 season

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The Crimson Tide faced Clemson for the national championship. The game came down to the final drive. After a pass interference penalty in the final seconds, Deshaun Watson threw a touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow with 0:01 left; putting Clemson in the lead, 35–31.

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Auburn fan gets swallowed by hedge while trying to rush the field

These Auburn fans weren’t going to let huge hedges stop them from getting on the field.

No. 15 Auburn took down No. 5 Alabama on Saturday in a thrilling Iron Bowl shootout, after Alabama kicker Joseph Bulovas missed a game-tying 30-yard field goal in the final minutes that could have sent the game to overtime.

To rush the field at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn fans have to jump over the carefully manicured hedges that line the endzones. Two women trying to make it on the field had a bit of trouble making it through the greenery.

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Jaylen Waddle scores his third TD of the day!

Jaylen Waddle has scored his third touchdown of the game, this one on a 12 yard pass from Mac Jones to help Alabama regain the lead in yet another significant lead change in the second half. Jaylen Waddle cannot be stopped. His THIRD touchdown of …

Jaylen Waddle has scored his third touchdown of the game, this one on a 12 yard pass from Mac Jones to help Alabama regain the lead in yet another significant lead change in the second half.

Waddle has only three receptions today, but has been able to stretch them out into 70 yards and two touchdowns, plus the additional touchdown he had on his 98-yard kickoff return.

He has wasted no time showing how big of an impact he can have on this Alabama offense.

Next year, it’s anticipated he will be the only returning starter from the wide receiving corps, as Smith, Jeudy and Ruggs are all projected to be drafted in the first or second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

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Can anyone keep Jaylen Waddle out of the end zone?

Alabama works their way into the lead, yet again, early in the fourth quarter as Mac Jones and Jaylen Waddle connect on their third touchdown of the game. This touchdown came under two minutes into the fourth quarter. Jones lobbed it up 28 yards and …

Alabama works their way into the lead, yet again, early in the fourth quarter as Mac Jones and Jaylen Waddle connect on their third touchdown of the game.

This touchdown came under two minutes into the fourth quarter.

Jones lobbed it up 28 yards and Waddle had to use all of his vertical to grab it in the air and come down with it.

This touchdown, Waddle’s fourth, helped Alabama go up with a score of 45 – 40 on the Auburn Tigers.

 

Jaylen Waddle helps Alabama regain lead on 58-yard TD!

Mac Jones continues to shock the college football world as he throws for his second touchdown of the half, this one to Sophomore wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. Jaylen Waddle probably ran for this touchdown faster than the time it took to type out this …

Mac Jones continues to shock the college football world as he throws for his second touchdown of the half, this one to Sophomore wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.

This is Waddle’s second touchdown of the day, the first one being the 98-yard kickoff return to the house.

Both touchdowns have been absolute displays of his speed and elusiveness.

In the 58-yard receiving touchdown, Waddle had to turn on the jets in order to reach to edge and hit the end zone.

Alabama leads 31 – 24 heading into halftime.

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Henry Ruggs reels in Alabama’s third TD of the half

Mac Jones recovered nicely from the pick six he threw in the second half by completing a three yard pass to Henry Ruggs in the back of the end zone to help Alabama go up 24 – 17 with just over four minutes remaining in the first half. Touchdown …

Mac Jones recovered nicely from the pick six he threw in the second half by completing a three yard pass to Henry Ruggs in the back of the end zone to help Alabama go up 24 – 17 with just over four minutes remaining in the first half.

Jones is having an impressive outing as he now has 76 yards, 12 completed passes off of 17 attempts for one touchdown and the lone interception.

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Najee Harris dives in for Alabama’s first TD in 2019 Iron Bowl

The Alabama Crimson Tide got points on the board in their first series of the game, but had to settle for a field goal, courtesy of Joseph Bulovas. After going down 7 – 3 heading into the second quarter, Najee Harris made it a mission to get the …

The Alabama Crimson Tide got points on the board in their first series of the game, but had to settle for a field goal, courtesy of Joseph Bulovas.

After going down 7 – 3 heading into the second quarter, Najee Harris made it a mission to get the Crimson tide into the end zone.

Harris dove into the end zone on this six-yard run.

Harris has 91 yards on the ground off of 11 carries and the lone touchdown so far in today’s matchup.

Alabama leads 10 – 7 early in the second quarter.

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Report: Alabama DL DJ Dale doesn’t travel with team to Auburn

Charlie Potter of 247 Sports reported that Alabama’s true freshman nose tackle, DJ Dale, will not be playing in the 2019 Iron Bowl at Jordan Hare stadium as he did not travel with the team. Nick Saban told Eli Gold that DJ Dale (knee) did not …

Charlie Potter of 247 Sports reported that Alabama’s true freshman nose tackle, DJ Dale, will not be playing in the 2019 Iron Bowl at Jordan Hare stadium as he did not travel with the team.

His knee injury is to blame for him not making the trip to Auburn.

Dale has played in six games in the 2019 season where he has accumulated 17 total tackles, a lone sack and a fumble recovery.

His absence won’t be a huge loss for the Alabama defensive front, and as Potter reported, Saban believes “everybody else has a chance to play in this game.

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