Readers of this blog no doubt have life experiences being either on the giving or receiving end of "To Do Lists." If your experience is like mine, many of the entries on your list of things you really need to do but have yet to accomplish start with the words: "Clean up the ....." The task list for the Crimson Tide football program ought to be no different.
Yes, Alabama defeated another FBS team by 50 points, gained one yard short of 600 yards, scored its third non-offensive touchdown in two games, and seems to solve the mystery of kicking PATs, but no matter how lopsided the score was, the game left a sense of unfinished business. The O Line allowed the Red Wolf pass rush to generate too much pressure, the defense surrendered nearly 400 yards, State was able to run the ball more than 170 net yards, and opposing receivers were too often uncovered. These are just a few of the things the Tide has to clean up before starting SEC play this coming Saturday in Oxford.
Because there is no time like the present to clean and polish, here is how I grade the game:
Offense: A To be sure, Arkansas State was over-matched. Nevertheless, I do not think an automatic one grade reduction for quality of opponent is appropriate for this game. I will save that for The Citadel.
The offense ran 73 total plays, earned 26 first downs, converted 10 of 15 third down opportunities (Tua was an astonishing 10 for 10 passing on third down), gained 278 net yards rushing, and controlled the ball for 31:44. All three Tide QBs played in the game. Tua completed 13 of 19 pass attempts for 228 yards and 4 TDs. He was sacked once. Jalen Hurts completed 7 of 9 pass attempts for 93 yards and 2 TDs. Mack Jones attempted one pass that was incomplete.
Jerry Jeudy gained 87 yards and scored 2 TDs on 4 receptions. Irv Smith Jr. also caught 4 passes for 41 yards and a TD. DeVonta Smith caught 3 passes for 77 yards and a TD. Henry Ruggs, III added 56 yards and a TD on three pass receptions. Eight different players caught passes. This receiving corps is scary good. I cannot recall when Alabama has had a passing game so deep and deadly. Since there was only one Don Hutson, when Don Hutson was playing, I suspect there never has been a better group of Tide receivers.
Najee Harris led all runners with a career high 135 net yards rushing and a TD on 13 attempts (10.4 yard avg.). Damien Harris gained 61 net yards on 12 rushing attempts. Brian Robinson [So. RB; 6-1, 221; Tuscaloosa] ran the ball 5 times for 16 yards. Josh Jacobs had 5 carries for 14 yards.
Alabama had 7 offensive drives that gained 40 or more yards [75, 70, 83, 63, 52, 89, 75] resulting in 6 TDs and a lost fumble [Hurts]. Only one of those drives consumed lots of time [15 plays, 89 yards, 7:01]. Otherwise, Alabama struck quickly and often from long range.
Defense: B- Saivion Smith returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown, while the pass defense broke up 11 passes, hurried the State QB 8 times, and made 3 tackles for lost yardage [1 sack].
Xavier McKinney made 7 tackles. Deionte Thompson was credited with 6 stops. Daniel Wright and Isaiah Buggs each made 5 tackles.
The Stop Troops held State to only 4 of 19 third down conversions, but allowed the Red Wolves to convert twice on four forth down plays.
The defense left quite a lot to clean up before taking on Ole Miss.
Special Teams:
Punting: B Skyler DeLong punted 4 times for a net average of 35 yards. Two punts were caught fair, and two were returned for zero yards. Jalen Waddle only had two return opportunities on which he lost a total of 6 yards. He misjudged one punt resulting in a scrum for a live ball. Disaster was avoided when an alert Alabama player recovered the muffed kick. DeLong's first punt was nearly blocked as State rushed the kick, and DeLong seemed to take a fraction of a second longer than we have become accustomed to when JK Scott was punting.
In the opening game against Louisville, the Tide special teams showed an explosive potential. The special teams coaches need to clean up some lack of consistency.
Kickoffs: B Joseph Bulovas handled kick off duties and averaged 57 gross yards per kick. The coverage unit allowed one return of 21 yards, otherwise the Red Wolves were better off fair catching kicks than trying to return them.
Place Kicking: C Austin Jones, who transferred from Temple, where he was the number 4 all-time scorer in program history, in order to compete for place kicking duties with the Tide, missed two PATs in the first quarter. He was replaced by Joseph Bulovas [RS Fr; 6-0, 206; Mandeville, La.] who converted each of his PAT attempts and was good for a FG from 39 yards.
I hope the clean up on place kicking duties has been accomplished.
Coaching: A Alabama was favored by the betting line to win by 36 points. The Tide covered. Last week, penalties were a huge problem impacting every phase of the game. Against State, Alabama was flagged only 4 times for 35 yards. The participation report lists 66 players who saw action in the game. Based on promising performances against Arkansas State, here are a few more names you should get familiar with: Ale Kaho [not listed in the media guide]; Josh Jobe [Fr. DB; 6-1, 195; Cheshire Academy, Conn.]; Keaton Anderson [RS So. DB; 6-1, 196; Florence].
Before the season, many pundits were scoffing at Alabama's schedule. Some were saying the Tide would not face any serious test until the Iron Bowl. Cleaning up that rat poison has to be a high priority.
Anyone paying attention knew the SEC West got tougher when Jimbo Fisher arrived in College Station. The Aggies out-played Clemson in the 4th quarter last night and proved Jimbo has cleaned up the trash left by his coaching predecessors. LSU's decisive opening weekend win over "The World's Greatest Human Being" and his Miami Hurricanes served notice that reports of the Tiger's demise were premature at best. Ole Miss may have made itself a laughing stock with their ridiculous new mascot, but the Rebs offense which gained 646 yards and scored 71 points against Southern Illinois is no joke.
The Road to 18 has become a good deal tougher. Bama fans would be wise to make sure all your best Bama-flage is cleaned up, and ready to wear. The coaches and staff will surely be cleaning up the messy details in advance of Saturday's advent of SEC competition.
Roll Tide, Y'all.
The Commissioner
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