EA SPORTS College Football 25_DB Bama vs FCS

some call it a moniker that many claim but this city lives thanks to the Alabama Crimson Tide today we have one of those games that test your focus top 25 team against an unranked opponent can you take care of business as we'll see a team looking for its first win the pandas taking on the 12th ranked team in the land the Alabama Crimson tie for EA Sports college football ree Davis with you alongside David Pollock and Jess Palmer and guys can't wait to get this one started Alabama about to kick off to get things started and it'll be a Touchback the ball will come out to the 25 yd line the pandas offense is on the field for the first time today and there he is to this team's fans he is a heroic figure he is the guy who can lead them to the promised land this guy has been in big games in big moments he's delivered for his football team it never seems like a situation is just too big for him this obviously is a huge game I cannot wait to see this guy looking for room it's Craig and that's a very productive first down play and bringing up second and three well it's plays like that that'll help this offense stay in Rhythm all game long if you can have that kind of success on first down running the football it just opens up your entire Playbook moving forward and not even a chance to pitch it as he is slammed down in the back field well just nothing doing on that last run and they knew coming into this one they were going to be challenged right this is one of the best defenses in all of college football for them to have any shot they're going to have to do a lot better running the football just a short pass to the tight end he will step out of bounds but not before the big pick up and a first down for this offense This Crowd full throat splitting the eard drums and letting him know it's going to be a long day quickly to the tie end nice quick throw there and it's so important for quarterbacks to be able to find the Rhythm and to be comfortable and confident you want to just get the ball out quickly make it an accurate and easy throw and you could tell that these two guys they rep that play in practice all the time and it's now showing up here on the pitch and the fourth option there is to throw it in reverse and that's what happened on that one decb Rising as the crowd Gets behind this defense on third down it's a draw gets away from what find some space what a good run there he has enough for the first down the pandas are rolling down the field here's the handoff and they try to run inside and there is nowhere to go well they want to come out try try to get the Run game established but up front defensively they made a play they gave up nothing on that one got to find some breathing room if you're going to establish yourself on the ground and there wasn't any that time yeah ree I wonder now if this offense is maybe going to try to get to the perimeter of the field and see if they can use their speed to hurt this defense on the now the eighth play of the opening drive but this time facing third and long keeps it on the boot bag looking to throw under heat he gets rid of it and that's just a flat misfire not even close to his receiver and now on fourth down they'll try a field goal this is going to have to be Unleashed from 54 yds out oh and he missed it no good kicker tried to attack a few more on the scoreboard guys he couldn't do it you can't miss opportunities like that you're playing on on the road in a hostile environment you're trying to seize momentum right out of the gate you get a nice drive to start the game and then you miss the field goal you don't get any points to show for that if they're going to win this one guys they've got to take advantage of those types of opportunities and he gets a big chunk of yardage to the 34 yd line after that completion move the chains now first down making sure they have good balance keeping it on the ground [Applause] out good spot after that seven yd pickup on first down it's second and three wide out in motion little touch pass to the receiver they make the tackle at the 22 will'll give him five yds on the play it'll be enough for a first down here's this offense with a fresh set of downs trying to find his man on first down and swatted down by the defense to stop the scoring opportunity yeah and just got enough of the football there by the defender breaking on the football getting his hand on he couldn't bat it down but he got a fingertip on it tipped that thing away from the receiver made the big play saving the touchdown able to move it ahead a couple yards he gets it down to the 20 well man there's some big hitting going on in the trenches right now this defense they take a lot of pride in stopping the Run let's keep our eye on them throughout the course of the game and see if they can contain this running attack caught over the middle it's prentis he was working his way toward that goal line they'll stop him at the two after a big play up top and that's a really good example of a quarterback and his intended target both being on the same page the timing was almost perfect on that play that's why they were able to convert the third down now setting up first and touchdown Crimson tie and they break the seal on the scoring and with the extra point they get the first seven of the game so the touchdown Drive goes 63 yds and it was finished off with a 2yd touchdown and no chance at a return here they'll start this drive at their own 25 and the offense takes over to dip into its Bag of ball play we talk about settling for points but sometimes when you have to settle for nothing David it can be demoralizing yeah it can definitely be frustrating and I think it leads you to say maybe I go for it more but Jesse I think this offense just needs to put another drive together and just finish Stronger Yeah and and be a little bit less predictable too especially as they get closer and closer down to the end zone they got nothing on the last play it's second and 10 to the air it's wicks and the heat will get home and the quarterback goes down at the 17 I think if you're the quarterback moving forward you need to start thinking about hot routes to your tight ends and to your running backs because of this outside linebacker he's a guy that has shown the nap to get after the QB when he comes blitzing you need to have an outlet throw in your back pocket and he's not going to make it the defense denying him the first down and the pandas deci side to pun it away three and out they got stuck in Reverse they hope the punt can bail them out and no shot at a return here as the punt goes out of [Music] bounds the tied offense rolls onto the field that last drive an absolute aerial assault for the touchdown Jesse it was a nice job in play calling too David just giving the quarterback some easy looks and read so he could go out and execute and he knew exactly where to go with the football everything looked really really easy he was hot the ball was coming out of his hands the defense better do something different offense picking up steam first and 10 from the 31 used the play fake now to throw he slings it deep to the left and he's going to take it into the end zone touchdown Bama and the extra point pushes the lead to 14 aggressive play calling on that drive just two plays they get the long touchdown pass to pay it off and it'll come out to the 25 no attempt at a return and now the offense will come onto the field again to say this has been a slow start it's a bit of an understatement and they really need to get it going here Jesse that's right the opponent they're firing an all cylinders right out of the gate offensively for this unit they've been slow and struggling they need an explosive play to wake themselves up yeah and it's just the first quarter so it's not the end of the world you've seen slow starts but you got to continue to pick and pick and pick until you find that play or or that scheme that you can use against this defense banging slithering whatever it takes to get that ball up to the 32 listen you you got to be able to know what play to call and what hole to go through like the line blocks for a certain hole good job getting through the hole getting the block getting a nice positive gain making your situation really good on the next down that just never had a chance as they controlled the middle of the field and stopped him in the back field on third down the pandas line up to punt it away this will be the second time they've had to kick it away he'll bring it back it's Adams slips through the line very little will make a crowd hold its breath like a part turn and he brought them to their feet on that one first down for this [Music] [Applause] offense the give to the back Bulls his way forward and these defensive tackles just eat people they swallow human beings when they get near they're so big so strong those guys those running backs coming they just need a mid they put one mid on a running back and he usually falls to the ground just because of their sheer mass and strength the and look they've got the play bottled up fumble it's out it's so hard to force fumbles and when you do you so badly want to get them you're crawling you're doing whatever you can to get there as a Defender but the offense fortunate enough to cover it back up they're looking for an advantage to the right he'll be down at the four yd line after that terrific run this defense has been slid and diced and now facing another first and goal so Alabama takes the lead into the quarter break really strong performance so far to be able to build a lead here in the first period as we look at the stats Alabama comes to the line with a first and goal wide receiver now comes in motion looks as if he's going to run it touchdown Alabama and they add six more to the board with that trip to the house the Mantra is always finished and they're trying to do that here in the regular season with this week 12 performance lining up to cover the kick after that touchdown [Applause] [Music] Drive coming out with it it's Jeffrey not nearly as much as he'd hoped when he brought it out of the end zone he'll be stopped at the 15 and and the offense takes the field ready to go back to work trailing by three touchdowns if you're going to get back in it David the time to start is right now got to start now defense giving up points on that last possession again the offense is going to have to score and Jesse probably scored pretty quick yeah you got to go Tempo you're going to have to try to fit in as many plays as you can throughout the rest of this game but I think more than that you got to eliminate the negative plays no more penalties and no more turnovers finds his way ahead for three out to the 16 and those physical runs take a toll it might not be a big game now but down the road third fourth quarter late in the ball games they tend to turn into bigger runs trying to make that Rush think on the draw play here what a nice job on the ground working his way ahead for seven yds and leaving them with fourth and short they're about two yds away and the pandas send out the punt unit let's see if he can help the coverage team out with this one bringing it back it's Adams very little will make a crowd hold its breath like a pun return and he brought them to their feet on that one here comes that Alabama offense this offense is really been clicking in the game so far Jesse no doubt everything their play caller is dialing up these guys offensively have been able to go out and execute them yeah and it's just maintaining the lead keep doing what you've been doing you got a big lead let's just keep time to take a shot he got it touchdown TI and once he found some daylight it was time to make a house call and the extra point will tack another one onto this lead almost ready to kick it away after scoring the touchdown that makes the score out of 28 from a couple of yards deep he'll bring it out rolling the dice to bring it out of the end zone Z did not work out as he stopped at the 13 opening play of this drive comes from the 13 yd line they'll come out on this drive and let it rip finds his tight end I'll tell you I love the play call on first down here you're just trying to find an easy completion and the shortest throw on the field the quarterback is finding your biggest Target and that's the tight end nice job dropping back it's Wicks they're bringing Heat and the pressure gets him back at the 8 y Line playaction pass success has a lot to do with selling that fake you could tell defense was not buying it got in the back field got the big play he's going to let one fly down the middle it's caught he'll make a play on third down he's got enough for the first as they mark it at the 32 the pandas come to the line with a new set of downs this time they go to the running game he's dropped behind the line of scrimmage that'll be be a loss of three how about the defender being a heat seeking missile he was on radar lock he found the football and flew down with some bad intentions defense closed down quickly after a gain of three they'll mark it at the 32 man down on the play as the officials take a break to let him be checked out they line up with some serious work to do if they want to convert this one third and long and he'll try to throw for it unloads to the wide out and that pass is intercepted those kind of plays can be huge for momentum even with the short return they're set up at the 45 they've got the Big Fellas out there a three tight end look on First and 10 he'll pitch it on the move it's the 30 he's brought down but there's a flag on the play Let's see if it's hands holding holding penalties the ultimate Drive killer we'll see if it cost this offense here clock Kicks Down Under four minutes to go in the half keeping it on the ground with the running back tried to fight his way through that tackle but he's brought down you're going to stop the run game you better be physical up front on the defensive line they've got some balls they've got some dudes with bad intentions nice play there movement here from the tight end going to run it it's Haynes bounced off his feet really nice play call there on second and long by the offensive coordinator he was able to get a lot of that yardage back by running the football and now of course it sets up a third and manageable situation running to the left he's all the way down to the 27 yd line and they are threatening all right defense that's that's what we can't do we can't give up this many chunk yards on the ground got to commit more guys to the line of scrimmage got to get those running backs on the ground that's way too easy got her enough for the first down and wants more first down you know you always want to establish the running game how about this offense nothing fancy run the football be phys go get a big game on first down here with time for maybe one more play until the two-minute warning as we reach the two-minute warning they'll need to try to get a stop to keep this thing from getting out of hand this offense has put on a display in the first half and they have a chance to attack another one on before the break and you know exactly what time it is when you get down here in the Red Zone you got to be able to run the football but when you got a back like this who punches the ball in the end zone consistently almost every single game you are going to feed that animal to rock that lead just keeps getting fatter in this kickoff team doing a little running and they thought about a return Then thought better of it they'll bring it out to the 25 so guys we'll see this offense again boy they've been caught in a buzz saw here in the first half but maybe a chance to carry some momentum into the break here it all comes down to this drive right here Reese obviously this offense hasn't had everything go right for them in the first half but here's an opportunity David to execute some plays put some throws together and generate some points and you're right Jesse and this offense needs to start now like we got to get some points on the board create some momentum and continuing cuz you've dug yourself a significant hope after the incompletion it's second and 10 from their own 25 looking to throw it's Wicks and's flat missed him sometimes you see a guy he's open and you try to baby it too much and it was a bad throw probably the toughest call on the play sheet third and long Ball's at the 25 the give to the tailb he's dropped behind the line of scrimmage that'll be a loss of three and that's what makes this defense so difficult to run against they've got guys up front that just push offensive lineman backwards they basically push the blockers right into the lap of that that running back he gets a block he was hoping for a little more Running Room but they're able to get him down at the 45 the tied offense rolls onto the field in modern college football Jesse if there's time there's an opportunity to attack and I like them being aggressive here too guys look they they practiced this all week long now you're in that he holds it in and nobody's close flying down the left side That's What's So Scary About This offense they've got guys in the perimeter that can change the game in one single play and you saw it right there too much speed on the perimeter to create that explosive play so they'll send out the field goal unit on the field never a doubt well that's just piling on not the penalty kind just the KN kind that late in the half field goal always gives you a little boost going to the locker room and they'll need to finish off these final few seconds and not allow them to [Applause] answer running out of time here in the first half they're going to have to be efficient to put some points on the board before the break hand off to the single running back he's knocked down in the back field he'll lose a couple let's get it we played two quars here time to go to Kevin Connors in our halftime update fellas you've been calling a great one today from there in Tuscaloosa and we have to start this halftime breakdown by addressing the play of this Elite wide receiver this is clearly a young man who once he's finished playing on Saturdays he's going to be playing on Sundays the kid has different gears he has a knack for finding gaps in the defense and I can't remember a college player with that kind of catch radius and with that said let's send it back to the guys at Bryant Denny Stadium number thanks for that halftime report Kevin Alabama ready to put a boot to it to start the second half on the move from inside is five really disciplined job by the coverage unit to get down there and make the stop at the 19 here comes that Alabama offense [Applause] [Music] so they start this drive from inside their own 20 at the 19 yd line9 he'll do it himself well the QB decided to keep it on that one and listen if you had his athleticism you'd want to keep it too almost every time they run these types of option plays but he's just going to have to do a good job of understanding when to hand it off when to pitch it and try to keep this defense on their heels and read his keys he's got a lot of Talent just got to make sure he's making the right decisions moving forward wide open down field and he's brought down after a huge completion well how about the offense setting that play up we've seen earlier in the game a couple shorter throws they're just trying to suck those safeties closer to the line of scrimmage anticipating that they would get an opportunity to take a shot they called the perfect play at her perfect time right there QBs that can run completely change your game plan I mean every single bit of it you have to understand now as a pass rusher I got to keep him in the pocket I got to understand all the Zone read Concepts and the power read the jet read all the different things they can do to you so you know having a guy back there at the helm that can run the football you better be alert of it from the first play to the end of the fourth quarter Alabama Rolling quickly downfield set up with another first down to the ground with the back and he does a really nice job finding open space and making a good gain before the stop is made they can really be aggressive after that last play it's second and three the give to the lone running back they make the tackle but he's got a fresh set of downs and it's first and goal from the seven in halftime in this locker room there's a lot of positive things to talk about you got the lead but you know what else will be positive Palmer get the running game going early in this second half you're absolutely right here and I think this coaching staff is going to try to put this game on the offensive line a little bit let these guys take this thing over be physical and push this defense aroundi so the offense more than happy with the result of the play will decline the penalty he keep pushing that lead out and the kickoff team's getting some [Applause] work he thought about bringing that out for a half second but take a in they and now this offense will take the field again looking for a productive play on first down used the play fake now to throw got it in the middle at Sheffield and they'll pick up the first down and Mark it at the 47 one big Play To Get It Up near Midfield now they're in business at the 47 you'll keep it himself he's dropped behind the line of scrimmage that'll be a loss of three I got to be honest I am shocked at just how well the defense has played in this game especially stopping the Run we talked about statistically how they've struggled this season but they have put the clamps down in this one and they're just and the ball is caught he's inside the 35 he'll work his way down to the 28 L re you and I were talking about this before the game how is this defense going to be able to deal with all the speed they have offensively you saw them just rip off a big play and Jesse now their head spinning just a little bit give up a big chunk play and it's right back at him got some room entered to the goal line touchdown pandas what a grab and go for the score number 88 how about the Renaissance the tight ends inline flexed out split out they can do a little bit of everything they really can and they're asked to block a lot of the times too but I tell you what all the wide receivers out wide the fancy toys the fancy Sprint don't forget about that tight end he does a little bit of everything and then you reward the big fella throwing the ball and he catches so he really can do a little bit of everything on offense and The Return Man is stopped and that'll leave it up to the offense on the next Drive okay so here comes the offense returning to the field always good to get points on a drive David but Chip Shot field goals can leave you a little empty and I think it's great to get points but the great teams get touchdowns in the red area you got to get out there this time and execute a little better on this drive you're absolutely right David generally the best Red Zone offenses are the ones that run the ball so let's see if they can be a little bit more physical on this drive second down coming up from the gun he leaves it with the back finds his way ahead for five and now they've got it at the 28 well this offense came into the game knowing they wanted to be physical they wanted to establish the line of scrimmage and they're running downhill right at this defense and they're turning out positive yardage early just masterful working that sideline and getting the toe down for the catch defense is about feeling out the offense and what they like to do what are they going to do in third and short third and medium third long so far the offense is winning defense is going to need to make some adjustments a confident tough efficient run gets it up to the 44 you want to talk about making it easy for an offensive coordinator you pick up a bunch of yards on first down make that second down really really manageable that's a great job by the offense fast motion from the offense using his legs it's young tackle is made but not until he gets the first down it's hard to stop great Runners it really is that's why you run the football consistently you got a big offensive line a big physical unit you run the football like this man it will take a toll later but you got to tackle this guy over and over again who has this ability to make people miss and make big plays they'll finally get him on the ground but not before he makes it to the 30 and gets a first down so Alabama takes the lead into the quarter break and as we switch ends of the field let's take a quick look at the national rankings the tide with the first and 10 quarterback Quick Pass to the receiver drives ahead for three to the 27 yd [Music] line here comes the offense on second [Music] down they'll ride the running back and leave it with him and he'll be taken down but he does have enough for the first down and if this offense can keep that rolling if they can keep the physical ground game and continue to add these plays up as they go along long drives eat the clock with the lead this coach will be ecstatic drives into the defense and they get him down after a pick up of three to the 16 I like the decision there in the RPO game too guys I know only only got a couple of yards but that play is going to open up bigger opportunities throwing the football down the field in the RPO game too so keep handing it off to this guy let him see what he can do and when the defense gives you the look to t hold the football and then finally throw it that's what you take boy they'd love to pick up this conversion and go to work with a first and goal on the ground trying to pull the plug on this clock only able to pick up a yard before he stopped and now it's Fourth and three so here comes the field goal unit again this kicker has already made three in this one right down the boulevard it's good and they just tack on a little more to this guard stuan lead they're really starting to extend that lead as they get ready to kick it away again he'll bring it out it's what that is a decision he will likely regret he brings it out of the end zone and he's knocked down at the 10 and the offense heads out onto the field to get the drive started they'll snap it from the 10 for the first play of this drive to the air it's Walters coming after him got a man and a good job in coverage there as they stop it after just a few still some work to do after that last completion it's second down he's looking to throw finds a tight end and the defense settled in to stop that one for a short gain this offense has their work cut out for him man because the coverage has been so tight and if you're not throwing to the sideline or you're not getting past the sticks this defense is going to tackle inbounds like they just did on that last play and bleed the clock they make the stop if this passing game does some damage and they move the sticks with the first down he's going to pass fires to the tight end and he's able to bounce off one tackle but still not a whole lot of Running Room trying to get a rhythm in the passing game now on second down he's looking to throw pocket starts toct claps and there was nowhere to go for this quarterback and down he goes it's third down now and they ought to be able to get off one more play before the two-minute warning we've reached the two-minute warning and we see miracles in college football all of the time and they could use one here I'm not positive but that first down marker might be in the next County on Third and long hoping to throw beyond the sticks pulls it in it's Jeffrey and sure tackling there to keep him from getting to the first down marker and the pandas will punt this one away form to kick it away coverage team gets the job done and they'll Mark him down at the 38 yd line the tied offense rolls onto the field firmly in control with this game we'll see if they just try to run out the clock and get out with the victory everybody on offense here should feel were really good about their performance today too they had a really good game plan coming in this one they went out and they executed at a very high level yeah lights out and this game's over interested to see the philosophy now do we keep chucking the pill and keep trying to score points cuz it's the defense's responsibility to stop them or they just run this clock and say all right we did enough today we kick them in the face and the defense is still fighting they they haven't had the day that they dreamed of you know talking to the coaches coming into the game like they thought they had a good plan they'd be ready to attack and and and limit some of the damage this offense has done they haven't done it today though they got to go back to the drawing board figure some things out cuz this wasn't a great day that'll be enough for a first down as he crosses the 50 and gets it to the 48 [Applause] we just complete and utter dominance in this one outplayed their opponent and took care of business yeah Total Domination in all three phases of the game offense defense and special teams this team came ready to play and man it was pedal to the metal right from the opening kickoff and that's how you like it forget the close games forget the Heartbreakers the oh this play could decide it just frying pan meet face ball game