The Alabama football team and Tide fans received a wakeup call by the TAMU Aggies. Most important is the Tide survived and now it’s lesson time.
It may not be a popular position among the Alabama football fanbase, but the Tide was due for a wakeup call. Saturday night, the Aggies provided one in College Station. TAMU is an improving team and the Aggies fought hard to pull off a comeback upset.
While not a sellout, 100,000-plus loud, dedicated fans made Kyle Field tough on the Tide. The Aggies are talented. A fast maturing, true freshman quarterback, Kellen Mond made some big plays. TAMU will be a tough out in the second half of the SEC season.
Many Alabama football fans are distraught. Nick Saban was clearly displeased. He berated the media in the post-game presser saying media coverage of his team was “rat poison” to the players.
As he should, Saban will get his team’s attention. Fans would do well to calmly consider the words of Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News.
"there are nights when you have to go on the road, play in front of 100,000 fans against an opponent that’s ready for its shot at history — and survive."
And survive, the Crimson Tide did. After week six of the 2017 season, college football has only nine unbeaten, Power Five teams. After Saturday, the road to a CFB Playoff berth became very tough for supposed powerhouse teams, Oklahoma and Michigan.
The road to 2017 championships also looks tougher for the Tide after TAMU. But that should not be a surprise. It was always going to be tough in November, December and January.
What we learned from the TAMU game
- Even without Da’Shawn Hand, the defensive line is improving. Isaiah Buggs made 10 tackles against the Aggies. Quinnen Williams and LaBryan Ray made big sacks. Raekwon Davis played well. Da’Ron Payne deserves more credit than he receives, regularly facing double-teams and still making plays.
- The improved defensive line led to the Tide getting pressure at times while only rushing four.
- Damien Harris is the Tide’s best running back. For the season, Harris is averaging 8.4 yards-per-carry. The all-time Alabama football record holder is Bobby Marlow at 7.5 yards.
- Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy are fast becoming the Tide’s best receivers after Calvin Ridley
- The offensive line looked strong at times but did not win all the battles. In fairness, the Aggies often loaded the box and five guys cannot block seven, much less eight.
- The run defense is very good.
Jalen has improved but is his passing good enough?
A couple of points are central to any Jalen Hurts discussion. First, the young man has led Alabama football to a 20-1 record. Do not gloss over that stat. Secondly, Hurts is running the scheme given by Saban to minimize mistakes. However you rate the Brian Daboll offense (and we rate it highly) it does not rely on the Tide being pass-heavy. It is designed to utilize the deep running back roster, make enough explosive plays and not make turnovers. From that perspective, Hurts has done well.
What causes doubt among Tide fans is what will happen when a top defense (Auburn, Georgia, Clemson) sells out to stop the run. The long pass to a wide-open Robert Foster was troubling. Jalen only threw three or four off-target passes but he missed Foster badly.
At times, Jalen did not see open receivers. A time or two he took off running too soon. It was not his best game. Still, he did not play poorly. He is arguably the best runner among top team’s quarterbacks. He does not make many mistakes.
What comes next?
Cecil Hurt provided some additional words of caution to,
"the portion of the fan base that cannot stand a minute’s discomfort … Alabama isn’t going to be perfect every single time out against talented opponents"
Cecil correctly opined his admonition is “doomed to go utterly unappreciated.” It is time to remember 2017 was never going to come easy. After huge losses to the NFL and added attrition from injury, the defense needed time to meld. It is ahead of schedule. The offense is not Big 12 explosive but it is balanced and potent.
Much will be learned in the next few weeks while Alabama football almost assuredly climbs to an 11-0 record. Then it will become a four-game season where every game will challenge. That is why a wakeup call in College Station was a good thing.
Next: 30 Greatest Football Games in Tide History
A bit of historical perspective on the TAMU game. The toughest man at Kyle Field Saturday night was the beloved Gene Stallings. The former Aggies and Tide coach would be quick to state survival is good enough when on the road in the SEC West.