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says the game has changed and that "people score fast." Perhaps it is implied but that quote is inaccurate and if we are going to talk about implications, I would say it is implied by many of the posts on this thread that some feel running the ball at a very high level is no longer important.

Second, you say that "his teams were up by 28 points by end of 1st quarter in most games." Again, completely false. He was never up by 28 points at the end of the first quarter against any team he played this year, so that is just untrue. In fact, he was up by 28 points at half only once all year. If you break down his games, many of them were not decided until late and he ran the ball throughout. Again, Saban runs the ball more than he throws it. That is just a fact. So, I will listen to his words if you look at and accept what he actually does.

Third, you speak of Saban saying you must emphasizing the "big play passing game." Saban never says to emphasize the big play passing game. What he does say is that the game changed with RPO's, higher tempo offense and blocking downfield while throwing behind the line. That is what he actually emphasizes and the quick-strikes in his offense are utilizing those principles. Smith scored against us from short passes. They were incredible this year using those principles. Rarely did they go downfield.

So, I am in favor of the Alabama model. I think it is great. But let's get it right. They run the ball more than they throw it and do so with a power running game, a high level of physicality and they do it very, very well. They use RPO's, short passes to dynamic playmakers with blocking downfield, all that are creatively designed, mix in downfield shots and keep defenses off-balance. It's a great model.