Missouri Grades

Football is a violent game. Large, strong, fast, agile people run into each other with the declared intent to tackle a ball carrier to the ground, prevent someone from tackling the ball carrier to the ground, prevent a receiver from catching a pass, or prevent a quarterback from throwing one. Rules circumscribing the techniques by which players do these things are calculated to regulate this violence thereby turning mayhem into sport. Coaches are expected to teach proper, rules-compliant techniques, and officials are on hand to enforce the rules by imposing penalties for their infraction. Player safety is an intended byproduct of this protocol.

Well, at least that’s the theory.

When the officials do not perform their enforcement function, or fail to perform it in an even-handed manner, the structure of the game breaks down. The inherent violence of the game, being unregulated, takes over. Players suffer unnecessary injuries. The sport of the contest is overcome by baser instincts.

OK, well that pretty much sums up four SEC games played in Week 7. Alabama’s homecoming game against Missouri was one of them.

I know Alabama fans are frequently mocked for complaining about officiating. “Y’all are just a bunch of entitled snobs who think you’re team is perfect.” Fine. I disagree, but have enough self-awareness to recognize a grain of truth in that charge.

Entitled or not, watch that game and tell me with a straight face the officials competently did their job.

Better yet, just watch number 47 on the Missouri defense as he spears Tide players with his helmet, twists players’ feet after a tackle like he’s trying to unscrew the foot from the leg, and grabs face gear to get off a block or bring a runner down. The only dirty move 47 didn’t try was the “Three Stooges Double Eye Gouge.” But maybe he did, and I just missed it. Which would put me in the same boat with the Zebras, except they are getting paid to not miss these infractions.

Number 47 was not the only Tiger player auditioning for a pro wrestling gig. He had plenty of company; like the offensive lineman who at least twice tried to take out Raekwon Davis’ knee.

To the officials’ credit, the video refs called a targeting penalty and ejected a Missouri player after the on-field crew didn’t even throw a flag. The on field crew called four other infractions, including the previously mentioned chop block - which they nullified by calling an “offsetting” face mask foul against Alabama when the tackler grabbed the Missouri player by the front of his jersey. (Hey, who can blame them? The Mizzou runner lowered his head to look down so, you know, mistakes happen. The Refs are human too. We live in a fallen world.)

But it seemed like all the officials’ mistakes ran in only one direction. At least twelve Alabama points were taken off the scoreboard by very ticky-tack holding calls. The Bama player certainly had some Mizzou jersey in his hands for a brief moment. But the inconsistent way the rule against offensive holding was enforced was so bad, that when Missouri finally was penalized for tackling an on-rushing Tide defensive lineman, the crowd gave the refs a standing ovation. (Hint to the SEC head office: the cheer was intended as sarcasm not praise.)

I’ve spent enough time on this topic. Nothing will change for the better. But I cannot leave this subject without a one-off comment on the ESPN broadcast crew’s critique of the officials. During Alabama’s third possession of the game, on 2d down and 8 from the Tide 13, Tua threw incomplete to Hale Hentges.  A Tide offensive lineman was flagged for a personal foul, hands to the face penalty, which Missouri declined. On the next play (3rd and 8 from the 13) Tua found Jerry Jeudy on a crossing route for 22 yards and a first down.

The ESPN broadcast analyst started mocking the officials for having spotted the ball at the Tide 13 to start the play. “That personal foul should have been half the distance to the goal”, he said. Either no one in the production van told him the penalty had been declined, his ear piece was not functioning, or he drank one too many Yellow Hammers before the game, because he repeated himself after the next play.

Where do they get these guys? Can ESPN give them back?

In spite of the officiating malpractice, Alabama gained 564 yards of total offense, earned 25 first downs, and converted 6 of 13 third downs. The final score of 39-10 is a fine margin of victory in the SEC and the Tide defense played a much better game against a much better opponent than it did against Arkansas in Week 6.

The players can’t control the officiating, so here is how I grade the game:

Offense:          A-         Alabama held the football for 32:17 and gained 184 net yards rushing. Tua completed 12 of 22 pass attempts for 265 yards and 3 TDs [Irv Smith, Jr., Jerry Jeudy, DeVonta Smith]. Jalen completed 7 of 8 pass attempts for 115 yards. Tua was sacked once and lost a fumble. 

DeVonta Smith caught 4 passes for 100 yards, Jeudy caught 3 passes for 147. For the third consecutive week, Alabama has had two or more receivers gain 100 or more yards. This is an astonishing achievement when you consider that prior to this season, Alabama has only had five games IN ITS HISTORY with two receivers gaining over 100 yards. Eight different receivers caught passes. 

Damien Harris led all rushers with 62 yards on 14 runs. He scored the Tide's lone rushing TD. Najee Harris gained 57 net yards on 13 rushing plays. Josh Jacobs added 52 yards on 9 carries.

The Tide offense had 6 possessions that gained 40 or more yards [81, 67, 75, 83, 81, 40] resulting in 3 TDs, 2 FGs, and a turnover on downs. For the first time this season, Alabama had five drives with 9 or more plays [9, 9, 10, 9, 9] and six drives that took more than 3:00 minutes off the clock [3:18, 3:26, 3:28, 4:48, 4:09, 5:47]. This contributed to the defense being able to contain Mizzou's explosive offense.

Defense:          A+            Missouri was held to only 212 yards of total offense [70 net rushing], 13 first downs, and 6 conversions on 16 third down plays. Mack Wilson was the Tide's leading tackler with 11 stops. Quinnen Williams was credited with 7 tackles and Raekwon Davis made 6 tackles. Tide defenders made 8 tackles for lost yardage [4 sacks], forced [Isaiah Buggs] and recovered a fumble [Anfernee Jennings], made two interceptions [Saivion Smith,  JUCO Jr., DB; 6-1, 200, Miss. Gulf Coast Comm. Coll.], broke up 2 passes and hurried the Tiger QB 7 times.

On Missouri's first possession of the game, Saivion Smith nearly returned an interception for a TD, but stepped out of bounds at the Tiger 13. The defense scored 2 points with a safety in the third quarter [Q. Williams]. 

Raekwon Davis was guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct when he punched a Tiger offensive lineman who appeared to have speared a Tide linebacker. The ESPN crew took to their fainting couch over Davis' intentional foul. The guest official on the broadcast harumphed that Davis ought to have been ejected. Maybe so. The officials certainly could have taken a more assertive response to this clear infraction. Coming as it did late in the game, in my opinion, Davis' undisputed penalty was the result of frustration over Missouri's chronically dirty play that was not being properly policed by the refs. This is not an excuse, but it is an explanation. Coach Saban properly held Davis off the field for a few plays to get his head back in the game.

Special Teams:

Punting:         F         Skyler DeLong is still enrolled at the Capstone. This is no doubt good news to his parents, who might have been wondering where he was since Alabama did not attempt a punt in the two previous games. His lone punt covered 12 yards. Jaylen Waddle had only one opportunity to return a Tiger punt. He gained a single yard. 

Place Kicking:         A-          Joseph Bulovas was good from 30, 28, and 20 yards. He missed from 52. He was also perfect on 4 PATs.

Kick Offs:         A+          Bulovas kicked off 8 times for a gross average of 53.5 yards per kick. The coverage team yielded only 29 yards on two kick returns, while the Tide return team gained 88 yards on 3 kick returns, including a long return of 50 yards [Josh Jacobs].

Coaching:           A             The play by the defense was much improved over the last two games, and especially so coming off the 31 points surrendered to Arkansas in Week 6. The participation report lists 59 players who saw action in the game. Alabama was penalized 5 times for 60 yards.

I continue to be perplexed by the formation and play selection in short-yardage / goal line situations. Twice Alabama had first and goal with less than 10 yards to score. We ran on first down, then threw on 2d and 3rd out of spread formations with a single back. Twice Bama was held on downs. Would someone please find the pages in the playbook with the Jumbo formation?

Poor officiating did not mar only the Alabama / Missouri game. Georgia was plagued with some sorry work by the officials in its loss to LSU; however, the Bayou Bengals are a good football team. The Tide / Tiger game in Baton Rouge may very well decide the SEC West championship.

Likewise, Auburn had the assistance of the officials throughout their game with Tennessee. If you knew nothing about what constitutes pass interference or offensive holding, watching that game would have made you no wiser. Even so, Tennessee showed some real improvement, and character coming from behind to beat Auburn in The Village. The Tigers have now lost three SEC games and are mathematically eliminated from contention for the SEC West title. Auburn fans looking for a post-season holiday trip are crossing their fingers hoping for an invitation to the Music City Bowl. Why wouldn't they? Country Music Hall of Fame; Peddle Taverns; Lower Broad. What better do Shreveport and Memphis have to offer?

And finally, on the officiating theme: The refs let the Vanderbilt / Florida game get out of hand towards the end of the first half with a bench-clearing rhubarb. Both head coaches were very circumspect in their post-game comments. I think they both realize their respective players slipped the figurative leash. 

So .... seven weeks of the 2018 season are in the books.  Tennessee Week has officially begun. Enjoy:  Bama Fan Hates Tennessee - Retrospective 

Roll Tide Y'all

The Commissioner

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