KSU Grades

What a wild game that was!  My goodness!  Did you see it? Who could have predicted how that game would turn out? And the consequences to the respective coaches and  programs! One coach might have saved his job while the other one lost his. Paul Finebaum's show prep this week will consist of nothing more than sitting down on the set.

But enough about LSU and the Barn.....for now.....this blog is about Alabama football, and the Tide had a day at the office yesterday. No surprises. No drama. No doubt. Kent State was so overmatched, I am not so sure the coin toss was genuinely competitive. 

This game was so one sided, the broadcast crew suggested Coach Saban should be recognized as the Kent State alumni of the year for the million dollar payday the Golden Flashes received for being mangled by Alabama. Eli Gold saw empty seats in the student section and had some humorous things to say about undergraduates not being sober enough to get to a game with an 11:00 o'clock kick off. But as deep as the coaches went in the roster, it is entirely possible whole rows of the student section were suited up to play. 

Readers of this blog know it is customary for The Grades to reflect a one letter grade reduction to account for the opponent's quality. The Commissioner's Son and Heir suggested this game be graded on a pass/fail basis. He makes a good point.  Kent State was completely out matched. Consider this for example: On KSU's first offensive play, running back Justin Rankin ripped off a run off 47 yards (I think a defensive lineman was busy updating his status on facebook and missed the play), for the rest of the game, the Golden Flashes only gained a net 35 yards.

Or how about this: Alabama had six offensive possessions that gained 40 or more yards [70, 79, 55, 75, 61, 66] while KSU had 8 offensive possessions that ended after 3 of fewer plays. 

It was a really bad mis-match, but no one associated with the Alabama program is responsible for Kent State having a good football team. So, on a pass/fail basis, here's how I grade the game:

Offense: Pass As in completing 22 of 34 attempts for 217 yards and 2 TDs. Jalen Hurts started his third game of the season and continues to grow into the position. He accounted for 16 completions on 24 attempts for 164 yards and one TD [Mack Wilson; Fr.; 6-2, 240; LB; Montgomery, Carver].  Blake Barnett completed 4 of 7 pass attempts for 55 yards and a TD [O.J. Howard]. Cooper Bateman completed 2 of 3 attempts. None of Alabama's passers threw an interception.

Cam Sims caught 4 passes for 54 yards. OJ Howard gained 60 yards on 3 receptions and 13 different receivers caught passes for the Tide. 

Joshua Jacobs [Fr.; 5-10, 200; Tulsa, OK] led all rushers with 97 net yards on 11 carries. He scored 2 rushing TDs. Jalen netted 54 yards on 7 rushing attempts and scored a rushing TD. B.J. Emmons [Fr.; 6-0, 220; Morgantown, NC] netted 51 yards rushing. Eight different runners carried the ball for Alabama and netted 285 yards rushing for the game. Damien Harris injured his ankle on the Tide's first offensive possession and only carried the ball 4 times for 19 yards. We must wait and see whether he is available this coming Saturday against Kentucky.

The Tide gained 502 yards of total offense, achieved 26 first downs, converted 6 of 14 third downs, and controlled the ball for 33:33 of the game. Alabama scored four TDs and two FGs in its first six offensive possessions and did not punt until the 3:42 mark in the second quarter.    

Defense: Pass KSU basically could not. Kent's QBs completed only 7 of 16 pass attempts for 84 yards and were sacked 3 times. Kent's offense generated only two possessions that gained more than 40 yards [54, 73] and was held scoreless. 

Reuben Foster again led all tacklers with 7 tackles and participated in one of Bama's 5 tackles for lost yardage. Keith Holcombe recorded 6 tackles and Hootie Jones was credited with 4. Tide defenders forced and recovered a fumble and hurries the KSU QBs 6 times. 

Special Teams:

Punting: Pass+ Xavian Marks [So.; RB; 5-8, 163; Rosenberg, TX] returned a punt 75 yards for a TD. JK Scott punted twice for an average of 49 yards per kick.

Place Kicking: Pass Griff was good from 28 and 48 yards, and was perfect on 6 PATs.

Kickoffs: Pass Three different kickers saw action on Alabama's 9 kickoffs. Griff averaged 63.7 yards per kick on 6 kicks. He had 3 touchbacks and 1 kick strayed out of bounds. JK Scott kicked off twice for an average of 65 yards, and Andy Pappanastos, a graduate transfer from Ole Miss, kicked off once for 56 yards. 

Coaching: Pass Alabama was only penalized twice, a major improvement. The participation report lists 67 players who saw action in the game. Apart from the occasional jet sweep play.....the pages for which ought to be removed from the Alabama play book.....the play calling was completely without controversy. 

Coach Saban said the team's goals this week were to play a complete game, and give as many players as possible the chance to get game experience. You can put a check mark next to both. Alabama crushed an over matched opponent 48-0. Penalties were nearly non-existent. The Tide did not turn the ball over. For the sixth time in four games, Alabama scored a non-offensive touchdown. Four quarterbacks saw action and a touchdown catch was made by a true freshman linebacker playing both ways.

In Tuscaloosa today, coaches and players are setting about the business of reviewing film and starting to work on preparation for Kentucky. How different it is today in Baton Rouge, Fayetteville, Athens and Gainesville. In those college towns, coaches and players are searching their souls to understand how things have turned so badly. 

The Tide now turns its attention back to Conference play. The fortunes of the 2016 season will be determined over the next several weeks. In Lexington, the Cats are celebrating Saturday's win over the Fighting Chickens and thinking they can upset the nation's top-ranked team Saturday night. Pass/fail will not be an option for next week's edition of The Grades. 

Roll Tide, Y'all.....

The Commissioner