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Alabama Football: The Tide Won’t Beat Ole Miss, Here’s Why

By Chris Hale

Sep 10, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban brings his team onto the field prior to warm ups at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban brings his team onto the field prior to warm ups at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 10, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Damien Harris (34) is hit by Western Kentucky Hilltoppers defensive back Joe Brown (7) and linebacker Keith Brown (2) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Tide defeated the Hilltoppers 38-10. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Damien Harris (34) is hit by Western Kentucky Hilltoppers defensive back Joe Brown (7) and linebacker Keith Brown (2) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Tide defeated the Hilltoppers 38-10. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

The Running Game

A staple of an Alabama football team since Coach Nick Saban arrived has always been the running game.

What Alabama fans have seen out of it this season has some concerned.

At this point in the season, the Tide’s leading rusher, Damien Harris, is ranked right in the middle of the pack for the SEC according to statistics.

Against Western Kentucky last Saturday, the Tide was held to an average of under one yard on a handful of carries in the first half. That’s alarming but with what the Hilltopper defense was presenting, it didn’t make sense for Lane Kiffin to run the ball right into them. They did finish with 124 yards for the day.

The offensive line hasn’t looked up to par with the lines we are used to seeing, either. With a true freshman making his first SEC start on the road, Alabama needs to establish the run against the Rebels to keep the defenders honest and give Hurts some breathing room.

Next: The Tide Will Absolutely Beat Ole Miss

Now after all of that, I hope we can look back at this and laugh as we are celebrating the win on Saturday. I’ve got a feeling that you will enjoy reading Meredith’s much more than mine.

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