My Thoughts - Alabama

It's nice to be complaining about the "usual stuff" again. With the defense being so obviously the problem for the previous two games, there was very little need to be concerned about what I call "the usual": lackluster and predictable playcalling, poor offensive execution, running on third down too much, taking no chances either down field or into the end zone...the typical Houston Nutt coaching inadequacies. Watching those things cause us to lose another game yesterday felt as normal as going home to a warm bed.

Sometimes having too much talent is a bad thing. Don't get me wrong...I love all of our running backs and have no doubt that we'll need something from every one of them this year (including the punt block contribution made yesterday by senior running back Kyle Dickerson). But the amount of quality depth has caused a lot of second guessing. Questions like "Why didn't Felix Jones play against Vanderbilt?" And then yesterday, "Why did Darren McFadden only carry the ball nine times?" And so when McFadden turned a very simple off tackle play into a game-changing 70 yard touchdown, Hog fans were once again left to wonder what "could've been."

He may be the best quarterback we've got, but I still wish we would try one of the others. And if you're going to give someone else a chance, a bye week followed by a game against Louisiana-Monroe would seem to be the time to try. And for those who say we shouldn't question playing this quarterback after an 11 for 26, 81 yard passing game with an interception and a lost fumble, I have to disagree. If we hadn't benched Zak Clark and gave Matt Jones a try in 2001, we wouldn't have had that 1-3 to Cotton Bowl turnaround that Houston is talking up a lot at the moment.

Poor clock and timeout management have become all too common with this team and this coach. The "drive" to end the first half was a complete mess and a wasted opportunity. And there's no excuse to have to keep burning timeouts every game because the wrong personnel are on the field or worse, because the head coach can't make up his mind what play to call. And right now, it might be a good idea for Houston to take responsibility for his mistakes as often as he (indirectly) blames the players for their penalties and mistakes.

Putting Peyton Hillis at punt returner is just an attempt to keep him happy. He's not the best punt returner we have...Felix Jones already proved that at USC and there was no reason to replace him with Hillis at the end of that game. During the game yesterday, Hillis looked uncomfortable and let several punts hit the ground that should have been caught. Unfortunately, Hillis' expected role of all-purpose Mr. Everything hasn't panned out and putting him at punt returner just looks to be a move by the coaches to keep him from being unhappy.

Finally, even though I really do want to completely forget last week, I have to ask: Is it a good thing that Frank Broyles bragged that he only received three letters after the Hogs lost by 53 points? To me, that shows complete apathy by the fan base...NOT that they support the coach. Maybe that's what Frank wants? Maybe he knows that fan apathy is the only way he can keep his promise to Houston of a two year free pass? Either way, there's no doubt in my mind that apathy is where the fans of this program are right now.