In Crimson Conclusions, we take a look back at each week’s Alabama Crimson Tide football game. This week, it was the last regular season home game against Charleston Southern.
On Saturday, the second-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide slaughtered the FCS’ Charleston Southern Buccaneers 56-6. The Tide dominated a team that they most certainly should have, on a day when several SEC teams struggled against overmatched foes including South Carolina falling to The Citadel. The Tide managed to play a lot of young players, especially in the second half, as the game was far out of hand after the first quarter.
Cyrus Jones, Derrick Henry Making History
Both cornerback Cyrus Jones and running back Derrick Henry continue to pave their way through the Alabama record book. Henry tied Trent Richardson for most single-season rushing TDs, with 21, and he still has at least two more games to go. Cyrus Jones became the first Alabama player in team history to return punts for touchdowns in back-to-back weeks and the first to return two punts for scores in the same game. Jones had an incredible game not only returning two punt returns for scores, but he also snatched an option pitch out of the air and returned it inside the CSU ten-yard line leading to another Alabama score. Henry ran for more than 90 total yards and two touchdowns despite only playing in the first quarter which is staggering.
Derrick Henry scores his second TD / Josh Boutwell
Clean Game, No Injuries
The Tide starters were unstoppable on both sides of the ball and the biggest plus for the starters in the game was that there were no significant injuries. The defense blistered CSU’s attempts at the option and the offense sliced through the Bucs’ defense with ease throughout the day. Richard Mullaney made a remarkable in the back of the end zone for a score on what pay have been the best offensive play of the game. Cyrus Jones was easily the player of the game with his performance. but Dalvin Tomlinson and Reggie Ragland were in the Bucs backfield regularly in the first half.
Lots of Experience for Youngsters
Other than the fact that there were no significant injuries, the biggest plus could be all of the game experience that many of the young players gained in the game. Both Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough got the most carries of the year for the two young backs, but Ronnie Clark and Xavian Marks also got opportunities in the game at running back. Scarbrough looked very similar to Henry in his tough running style while Harris’ vision and speed make him a truly interesting prospect heading into next season. Freshman walk-on Xavian Marks got some opportunities to play the Kenyan Drake role in the offense with the fly sweep plays Drake became known for and Marks played them very well. He is very shifty and quick which could lead to some opportunities for the youngster in the future.
The backups on defense got some much-needed experience as well and again they allowed a score after the starters pitched a shutout. This has happened more than once in Alabama blowouts this year and it comes down to a lack of confidence and experience in knowing what each player needs to do which should hopefully come with more experience. One of the things that worried me the most was the regression that Cooper Bateman has shown since early in the season. I was sitting in the stands for this game so I got to see the full field and it was staggering how many times receivers were running around wide open while Bateman either completely missed seeing a receiver open or threw it unbelievably late leading to an incompletion. I think some of that regression comes from a lack of playing time but he still also seems skittish to take off running at any time which is one of the biggest advantages in his game.
The Tide defense / Josh Boutwell
FINAL STATS
PASSING
Jake Coker: 11-13, 155 yards, 2 TD; 1 carry, 1 yard
Cooper Bateman: 7-11, 47 yards; 1 carry, -2 yards
RUSHING
Bo Scarbrough: 10 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD
Derrick Henry: 9 carries, 68 yards, 2 TD; 1 catch, 28 yards
Damien Harris: 10 carries, 44 yards, 1 TD
Ronnie Clark: 2 carries, 11 yards
Xavian Marks: 1 carry, 0 yards
RECEIVING
Calvin Ridley: 4 catches, 49 yards, 1 TD
ArDarius Stewart: 4 catches, 45 yards
Cam Sims: 3 catches, 25 yards
Xavian Marks: 2 catch, 19 yards
Richard Mullaney: 1 catch, 21 yards, 1 TD
OJ Howard: 1 catch, 12 yards
Dakota Ball: 1 catch, 8 yards
Daylon Charlot: 1 catch, 1 yard
Ty Flournoy-Smith: 1 catch, 0 yards
DEFENSE
Bradley Sylve: 4 TKL, 1.0 TFL
Dalvin Tomlinson: 4 TKL
Shaun Dion Hamilton: 3 TKL, 1.0 TFL
Tony Brown: 3 TKL, 1.0 TFL
Cyrus Jones: 3 TKL, 3.0 TFL, 1 FF, 1 FR, 18 yards
Reggie Ragland: 3 TKL, 1.0 TFL, 1 QBH
Jarran Reed: 3 TKL
Maurice Smith: 2 TKL
Daron Payne: 2 TKL
Marlon Humphrey: 2 TKL, 1 FF
Reuben Foster: 2 TKL
Denzel Devall: 2 TKL, 1.0 TFL
A’Shawn Robinson: 1 TKL
Da’Shawn Hand: 1 TKL
Josh Frazier: 1 TKL
Walker Jones: 1 TKL
Ryan Anderson: 1 TKL, 1.0 TFL
Jabriel Washington: 1 TKL, 1 INT, 34 yards
Geno Matias-Smith: 1 TKL
Ronnie Harrison: 1 TKL, 1 FF
Dillon Lee: 1 TKL
Michael Nysewander: 1 TKL
Eddie Jackson: 1 TKL
Jonathan Allen: 1 TKL
SPECIAL TEAMS
JK Scott: 0/1 FGs, 1/1 XPs
Adam Griffith: 7/7 XPs
Cyrus Jones: 2 PR, 115 yards, 2 TD
Ty Flournoy-Smith: 1 KOR, 19 yards
Richard Mullaney: 1 PR, 8 yards
Hale Hentges: 1 KOR, 2 yards
Next: Alabama Football: What I Learned Watching Alabama Play Charleston Southern
Next week the Crimson Tide battles hated rival Auburn in the annual Iron Bowl live on CBS at 2:30 PM.