Film Study: Alabama getting back to physical football spells doom for SEC foes

What did the great Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers say to the media last season?

It went something like: “R-E-L-A-X. Relax.” That’s the exact sentiment supporters of the University of Alabama should’ve practiced regarding their angst over the Tide’s perceived quarterback woes that marred the offseason. As a matter of fact, the Tide faithful should just repeat this mantra before every offseason to combat the expected naysayers who rear their ugly heads.

Remember that one offseason where a ton of media types said head coach Nick Saban was out of touch with the game and would be in for a rude awakening?  Well, how did that work out? Does anyone remember when the entire college football landscape laughed at Saban’s hiring of offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin?

Some called it “desperate.” About umpteen broken records later, how’d that go for them?

I have one more: Remember when the Tide were counted out after last season’s spring game where the offense didn’t quite look up to snuff?

Yep; crickets…

So when the whole Bama-Has-No-QB crowd popped up again, I couldn’t help but laugh, because you know what the definition of insanity is, right?

All offseason long I detailed in mass how all the Tide had to do was get back to basics and they’d be fine. Well, at least for one night against a very game University of Wisconsin squad, the Tide got back to basics and looked explosive, physical and downright scary.

So once again, what was that Rodgers line again?

The Trap Game And Other Power Concepts

First of all, I’ve always to type that particular sub headline (without getting fired), but Kiffin and Co. provided me the green light behind a physical rushing attack that reminded me of the Tide of yesteryear.

It’s no secret that former OC Doug Nussmeier brought with him a slick brand of football behind core zone concepts designed at forcing the defense to adhere to proper run fits. Although it was extremely effective, especially when former backs Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon racked up a thousand yards a piece in 2012 on the way to a BCS National Championship, it really took the wind out of the sails for those of us who are used to the physicality of man- or gap-blocking runs from Bama.

And Kiffin did a great job of not venturing out much from some of the core concepts Coach Nuss installed as to ensure a lot of continuity on a team with a ton of talented veterans. In Year 2, it seems as though Kiffin has tweaked the scheme to fit the personnel like any great OC would do.

One of the first things I noticed was the abundance of trap runs against the Badger’s aggressive, stout 3-4-based alignment. One way to use a defense’s aggressiveness against itself is to force penetration and stone it at the point of attack. Kiffin did a fantastic job of running out of “Rhino,” “U” and “Ace personnel,” while deploying a multitude of tight ends and H-backs, to give the scheme a touch of physical flavor. Kiffin window-dressed it with a ton of motion, shifts and personnel tweaks to the H-back/TE position.

But, ultimately, Bama imposed its will on the Badgers by seemingly running the same play ad nauseam.

As you can see, this is a man-blocking concept with everyone attempting to get a hat on a hat. They intentionally leave a free rusher, also known as the end man on the line of scrimmage, unblocked on the back side for some good old fashioned trapping; this play is commonly referred to as a “Long Trap.”

Here it is in action: On this particular touchdown run by superstar running back Derrick Henry (6’3″, 242 lbs), the Tide deployed No. 94 TE/H-back Dakota Ball to smash the EMLOS; Henry’s upright running style worked in his favor as he was able to squeeze through a very tiny crease on his way to an explosive score.

Left tackle Cam Robinson (No. 74) did a fantastic job of holding up his block front side, while center Ryan Kelly (No. 70) and left guard Ross Pierschbacher (No. 71) held stout at the point of attack.

A few years back, I remember a University of Georgia player remarking how the Crimson Tide weren’t as physical as they once were due to the influx of zone concepts, that same player’s eyes would bug out his head if he watched this particular game.

Here’s another version, this time with the Trap coming from the right side of the formation and being delivered by the ultra-talented TE O.J. Howard. This appears to have a wrinkle to it as Howard looked as if he had the first thing smoking through the back-side B-gap before redirecting to the EMLOS.

Notice my man Kelly doing work on the inside linebacker on the second level of the defense. There seemed to be a nastier disposition to the offensive line as all summer long it heard how Wisconsin’s line was the premier unit in all of football last season.

There was also something different about Henry as he ran way more physical than at any point of his career. I’ve gone on record stating how Henry is the most effective zone runner I’ve studied on film while lacking the requisite physicality one might associate with a back his size.

He must’ve heard me saying that on countless radio spots as he shut me up by running with a ferocity that had to strike fear in all Wisconsin defenders. In addition to the numerous Traps, I saw a ton of Power O and various back-side guard pull concepts.

Here’s a variation of “Power O” being run out of Cheetah personnel — from Shotgun of all things. Once again, notice how Howard springs this play being pulled as the back side H-back. (That’s for all you lazy media type continuing to run with the narrative that he can’t block despite me showing otherwise.)

The Tide are getting back to the basics at a point in time where they are breaking in a ton of inexperienced players. Check back with me when I show you how these core concepts helped spark a very efficient night from QB Jake Coker.

Coach Kiffin, you deserve a game ball, my man.