In today’s edition, we will take a look back at Saturday’s Alabama vs. Louisiana-Monroe game on what went wrong, what went right, and what it could mean for the Tide going forward.
Going into Saturday’s game with the Warhawks, Coach Nick Saban said that he wanted to see the Tide play fundamentally sound football and wanted the mistakes eliminated. In some ways, he got what he wanted. In others, it’s still a work in progress.
After last week’s performance against the Rebels, the defense wanted to come out and to totally dominate. Tide linebacker Reggie Ragland wanted no points. He got that. Alabama’s defense held Saturday’s opponent to only 92 yards total with 83 yards on the ground. It doesn’t matter the opponent with the numbers like that. That’s impressive no matter how you look at it. The Tide’s opponent next week, Georgia, allowed the Warhawks to have 251 yards of offense during the first game of the season with the majority of that coming through the air.
Sep 26, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Denzel Devall (30) and defensive lineman Jarran Reed (90) tackle Louisiana Monroe Warhawks quarterback Garrett Smith (13) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
With Georgia giving up that many yards through the air and if Jake Coker can make the throws next weekend in Athens, more than likely the Tide will be back in the win column for conference play. On Saturday, Coker wasn’t bad but wasn’t exactly awesome either. He finished 17-31 with 158 yards with three touchdown passes and one interception that was a horribly thrown ball. Coach Saban said after the game that four of his incompletions could have been hauled in by the wide receivers.
Alabama’s main workhorse in the backfield, running back Derrick Henry, ended his day with 52 yards on 13 carries. He missed one practice this week due to tonsillitis and Coach Saban said they were giving as much rest as possible. With another week to recover, he will hopefully be back to his old self for Saturday’s game. The Tide will more than likely get another weapon to use next week as running back Bo Scarbrough has served his four-game suspension from the NCAA.
One thing that will be sure to make Alabama fans smile is the field goal kicking. Adam Griffith looks to have settled down, making a perfect two field goals on two attempts with both being over 35 yards.
Sep 26, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide place kicker Adam Griffith (99) kicks a field goal during the game against Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
The Tide will have their hands full next week with the Bulldogs and I’m not too confident with the offense going into Athens and leaving with the win. I am hoping they prove me completely wrong. We all know about Bulldogs’ running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel but their quarterback has also been on fire. Since starting the Vanderbilt game 0-7, Greyson Lambert completed 45 out of 49 passes for 592 yards and 5 touchdowns. Alabama was credited with six sacks on Saturday so maybe that talented defense can get to him, put the pressure on him, and force some mistakes.
That’s why they play the games. You never know what is going to happen. Here is hoping next Sunday, we will be looking at stats from a Tide win.