What I learned watching Alabama vs Arkansas
By Dave Ozment
Oct 10, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jake Coker (14) passing against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the third quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
With each passing week we’ll learn more about the 2015 Crimson Tide squad. We’ll spot trends as they emerge and puzzle at both the positive and negative outliers.
In this weekly feature I’ll highlight a handful of the lessons this team is taught me as I watched Alabama vs Arkansas.
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Offense Not All Bad –
We live in a world of naked over exaggeration and today the Alabama offense is on the business end of this ill-informed outrage. I’ll be the first to admit that 396 yards of total offense a juggernaut does not make, but I’m observant enough to know that the 500 yard explosions the faithful have grown accustomed to are relatively new. Nearly 400 yards and 27 points was a certifiable blowout in the hay days of the national title winning Stallings era.
Sure, the game has changed but the wisdom afforded by a contextual frame of reference remains fundamentally sound.
Don’t like the big picture so much? Then at least apply some thought to the small one. 22 first downs, 80 plays, 34 minutes time of possession, and two 13+ play drives to start the game. Those are game winning fundamentals that beg for refinement not reconstruction.
The trick is in not allowing the frustration of the moment to cloud the larger picture. Sure, I hated that the scoreboard read 3 for so darned long rather than the 14 or 17 or 21 or even 28 that should have or could have been amassed by half. Making field goals, finishing drives, managing the clock a bit better, these are all relatively easy to address as evidenced by the 24 point second half.
If someone is selling, you start buying. This team is positioned well for the second half of the schedule.
Defense Growing –
It’s the prevailing story line as the evidence continues to mount; this Tide defense is pretty good. The front seven is stacked, that’s been the day one message but as the secondary continues to evolve the effectiveness of the entire unit continues to take shape. Moving Eddie Jackson to safety is proving to be inspired and doubling down on corners (Minkah Fitzpatrick), after signing the top two ranked prep players at the position last year is paying off.
But the best is yet to come. Tim Williams is taking form as a pass rusher and seeing more playing time as a result. Further, Rashaan Evans is clearly more comfortable which allows his speed to manifest.
Small Things Done Right –
From perfectly defensing a fake punt with walk on senior Nysewander setting the edge and freshman Burgess-Becker making the tackle, to decoy ArDarius Stewart helping Calvin Ridley to line up correctly on Mullaney’s touchdown. From Rashaan sticking with his assignment on one side of the field then making the tackle on the other, to Ragland knocking loose a ball mid-tackle to save a first down. This team is beginning to instinctively do the little things that can’t be individually coached each week. These are actions that have to be ingrained into fertile soil over time and when they sprout thick across a team you end up with something that could become special.
Something about Alabama –
There’s just something about this Alabama team that brings out the nutcase in our opponents. We observed this last week with
,
is given to self-loathing in all things Alabama, and Auburn? Hell, the Tide occupies so much space in their heads that
.
Now we can add Arkansas to the mix as Saturday night the Hogs and their coach Brett Bielema
. Welcome aboard Bret. Although the bus is short, it never runs out of room.
Check back next week as I continue to track these and new items as they emerge from the field. Also be sure to check out our podcasts as I explore and debate these topics and many more in a more animated format.
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