Alabama Football: Five things learned from the Arkansas game

Alabama football handled the Arkansas Razorbacks with relative ease. Here are five things we learned from the 41-9 victory.

Against Arkansas it was never would Alabama football win, it was a question would the Tide finish the Hogs, Saban-Style. On a Saturday, homecoming evening in Tuscaloosa, the Tide defense was close to dominating. The offense was both explosive and methodical, though maybe not championship-level dominant.

Alabama football fans are always looking for clues to the championship potential of the Tide. We learned five things from the Arkansas game.

First, two things we did not learn because we already knew them

• Damien Harris is the best of an immensely talented roster of running backs. Bo, Josh, Najee and Brian Robinson are good and all can become as good or better than Damien. They are just not there yet. Harris runs with power and this season has added speed (thanks to no Honey Buns.) Damien has good vision to find holes. He makes great cuts in the open field. He is also solid in pass protection. No one else on the running back roster does all those things as well.
• Speaking of pass protection – the Tide still needs work. Lester Cotton and Bo Scarbrough were beaten badly on two plays. The pocket collapsed too quick and too often. Saban admitted in the post-game,

Five things we did learn from the Arkansas victory

1. Rashaan Evans is getting closer to his old explosive self. Barring future injuries, before the 2017 season is over, Evans will be a terror rushing the passer. We have no information to state he will be fully recovered by a certain date, but his play against Arkansas indicates no more than a few weeks.
2. Getting Da’Shawn Hand back will be a big boost but getting LaBryan Ray on the field early is already paying dividends. Ray does not play like a true freshman. Getting game experience in Hand’s absence will prepare Ray for a key contribution to a championship stretch run.
3. The freshmen wide receivers, Jeudy, Ruggs and Smith are the best route-runner and pass-catchers after Calvin Ridley. When the Tide goes with four wides, Ridley, Jeudy, Ruggs, Smith (or Foster) cannot be covered by any team in college football. Jalen can get them the ball if he has enough time.
4. Alabama football has a punt returner problem. More specifically, a punt catching problem. We expect the problem will not continue for long. Saban explained what Ruggs was doing wrong (not getting his hands high enough, within his field of vision) but Nick also expressed confidence in Ruggs, saying “he’s going to be a great punt returner.”
5. Video review will be more than a typical learning experience in the coming week. Jared Mayden is going to become tough-skinned or whither.

After a bone-headed tackle on the sidelines that led to a personal foul, Mayden got called for pass interference. Saban was not happy about the personal foul.

Hopefully for Jared, he had tough skin before Saturday night. If so, it will get tougher this week.

Here is Nick Saban’s complete post-game press conference.

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A slumping Tennessee Volunteer football team will limp into Tuscaloosa on Saturday. It is going to be ugly and so much fun. Who knows how many more weeks Butch Jones will last in Knoxville. The Vols fans are so angry, Butch must be glad his team’s next game is on the road.