The 2016 Alabama football team moved to 6-0 after a gear-grinding 34-6 outing against the Kentucky Wildcats, but what did we learn from the Tide on Saturday?
ICYMI: Nick Saban’s Most Underrated Characteristic: Adaptability
With each passing week we will learn more about the 2016 Crimson Tide squad. We will spot trends as they emerge, and puzzle at both the positive and negative outliers throughout the Alabama football season.
In this weekly feature I’ll highlight a handful of the lessons this team is teaching all of us.
Homecoming
A time filled with extraneous pageantry during which the governor presents a small crown to a pretty girl, and the lot of it requires an extra-long halftime.
At best, it’s a push.
5 out of 6 Cylinders Prefer
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On the whole, the Alabama football team played well. All the markings were there. The talent and depth at running back continued to emerge, as the offensive line continued to improve. The offense moved the chains and the defense stood firm over the course of the game, plus another non-offensive score was registered.
But there appeared to be a missing spark. Errant field-goal attempts that should have been touchdowns, a couple too many runs up the middle allowed by the defense, and deep-ball timing on offense that was a little out of sync. A score in the 30s that could easily have been in the 40s or even 50s.
On the whole, it wasn’t an unsatisfying outing. But it wasn’t particularly satisfying either – speaking from the seat of an occasionally unreasonable fan.
Josh Jake is for Realz
Look, I have no clue how the kids (or silly media adults), are going to nickname this guy, but I do know that he’s going to be nicknamed. Then someone will promptly ruin it by trying to sell t-shirts and register trademarks – don’t be that guy.
In the meantime, let’s enjoy the talent that is Joshua Jacobs.
As we said in our podcast last week, this kid checks off lots of boxes, and against the Wildcats he further demonstrated his emergence. Good vision, wiggle, balance, willingness; he should only improve as he racks up more experience.
Depth Watch
It is time now for the chicken-little portion of the program.
There are worse things than having Cooper Bateman as your backup quarterback …
Hmm, that probably won’t sound right.
As Tide fans, we are fortunate to have Bateman as our backup. He has time in the system and has actually started a game. Heck, didn’t the Tide go a full season with freshman Philip Ely as the backup to McCarron?
Alabama can win with Cooper Bateman under center, even if the game plans would require tweaking.
The point here is that the coaching staff would have loved to give Bateman a long spell of play in the second half. But the rest of the team – much less the opponent – didn’t share the objective.
Xavian Marks seemed to be outright against the idea, and for that all the media should rejoice – as it provides more grist for their hyperventilation machines.
Depth Watch Too
Tide fans, let’s keep a close eye on the defensive interior this next week. If Kentucky was able to find lanes, then Arkansas may find paved roads. At one point, the Wildcats were moving the ball against Josh Frazier in the middle and DaRon Payne was forced back into the game to close it down. We’re going to need more than one inside plugger to emerge, and it’s past due time for them to report.
Next: Get Off My Lawn, Blake Barnett
Check back 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.