Ryan Fowler's Rose Bowl Good, Bad & Ugly

Ryan’s Reaction

Every Monday, Nick Saban spends part of the afternoon showing his players the good plays, bad plays, and ugly plays from the previous Saturday.

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The good section highlights what the team did well in the game; individual plays, series of plays, moments of the game that went good for the Crimson Tide.

The bad section focuses on plays that were run incorrectly, maybe a play designed to pick up more yardage but failed. It might include simple mistakes, a turnover or just a simple missed block or tackle.

The ugly section could also be called the disaster section, plays that went completely wrong or injuries. Ugly plays are learning moments for the team. Part of discussing the bad and ugly plays include thinking through what they could have done differently.

Alabama vs. Michigan

Good

Let’s start by talking about making the Rose Bowl, when you reflect on this season this team was playing with house money. I say this often on my show, Alabama fans are playing with house money every year. When you have 18 National Championships and 30 SEC titles, you expect your team to compete at a level that is hard to maintain.

This will be the first team in the Nick Saban era that will go three years without winning a National Championship.

When I reflect on the game, I have a hard time finding much good. I guess we can highlight the team’s fight throughout the 2023 season. This team always showed heart and fight until the end.

Nick Saban highlighted this during the post-game media availability, calling this team one of the most amazing in Alabama football history in terms of what they overcame. I was going to have some positive things to say about the second

half adjustments, but the final drive takes away thar narrative..

Bad

Alabama did not remind me of the team that beat Georgia 30 days ago, they reminded me of the team who experienced September struggles vs. South Florida and Texas. Particularly, mistakes like bad snaps, penalty yards in crucial situations, an offense that lacked an identity and play calling that will make the average football fan scratch their head, especially that last play.

As I sit here on the media shuttle on the way back to the media hotel, I am still puzzled on the last play.It just does not make sense, find a way to roll Milroe out and give him some options. I also think if Milroe follows his guard, he probably scores a touchdown. In fairness, pressure off the edge may have prevented Alabama from calling a play that would allow Milroe to use his strength.

Where was the offensive line who played against Georgia, did that unit travel to California? I said briefly on a social network post prior to the game that my keys to success would be getting pressure on J.J. McCarthy and preventing an aggressive Michigan front from getting to Milroe.

The Crimson Tide did not apply pressure and they allowed pressure all night. This Alabama team just ran out of gas.

Another bad was Alabama’s defensive play, not a good way to finish the season. Kevin Steele deserves a ton of credit for the 2023 season, but tonight was not his best play calling. I am almost certain he would probably say the same thing.

Ugly

I thought Alabama’s game plan on offense was at best a C-, no identity even when things were positive. I need to go back and watch the game, but I do not think this is a resume booster for Tommy Rees. I think you can say same thing about the Crimson Tide defense, maybe a C- grade for Kevin Steele and his staff.

Alabama could not serve justice to a Michigan team that got here without integrity. I dislike the example that Michigan will provide to youth in our country that cheating is the easiest way to the top. Michigan fans will hate my comments, but if they hold up the trophy in Houston, I think many people, including myself, will place an asterisk by this season.

I know many people take my final paragraph as sour grapes but I think integrity is something we must maintain in any sport, especially one that impacts the lives of so many young people.

Coming up Tuesday on The Game with Ryan Fowler on Tide 100.9, we will discuss the good, bad, and ugly. You will also have a chance to win prizes from Daniel Moore Art, starting at 2pm on Tide 100.9 and on the free Tide 100.9 app. We will have plenty to discuss.

Alabama's Tenth Spring Practice 2022

The Crimson Tide was in the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility for the 10th practice of the spring session. Alabama is preparing for the second scrimmage of the session on Saturday as each player is looking to prove himself.