Alabama Football: What we learned and didn’t from the Ole Miss game

The Alabama football domination of Ole Miss offered lessons learned and lessons still to be learned if 2018 is to be another championship season.

There were exciting plays but little suspense Saturday night as Alabama football dismantled another out-matched foe. After the Crimson Tide surrendered a quick touchdown strike, Alabama football fans anticipated a quick comeback from the Tide.

Even in our optimism, none of us expected that comeback would be 62 unanswered points. The quick three-play comeback was followed by almost total domination. It is worthwhile to consider what was and was not learned in the victory over Ole Miss.

What was learned

• Ole Miss is a bad football team. It does not matter most of the blame should go to the defense and the coaching. Ole Miss and Arkansas will battle for being the worst team in the SEC West. An Ole Miss insider told us last week the NCAA probation has not much hurt yet. If so, Matt Luke has the worst job in the SEC.
• Ole Miss has talent on offense. A very accurate quarterback, a great receiving group, a stud left tackle and a capable transfer running back. The Tide defense made them look just average.
• The Alabama football defense got QB pressure without having to blitz, using a standard four-man rush throughout most of the game. Other than the busted bump-and-run coverage by Saivion Smith, the Tide secondary played well. Trevon Diggs looked great. Patrick Surtain Jr. was solid. At safety, Deionte Thompson and the fast-rising Xavier McKinney solidify a secondary that is ahead of schedule.

The pass coverage was so good, Mack Wilson described it perfectly in the tweet below.

• The SEC has several top quarterbacks. Tua Tagovailoa is the best and he will continue to get better. Consider these Tua numbers. In three games this season Tua has thrown 50 passes. He has completed 36, for a 72 percent completion percentage. Those 36 receptions have produced 646 yards, with nine touchdowns and zero interceptions. In addition, and no disrespect to any other player, if you are searching for a role model, Tua is the guy.

What was not learned

• Can Alabama football win a game with a field goal if it must? Joseph Bulovas badly hooked his first attempt against Ole Miss and it was only a 38-yarder. He came back with makes from 20 and 44 yards. Mark that up as a continuing field goal kicking dilemma.
• Does the Tide have enough depth at linebacker and defensive line to sustain another injury to a key player? Right now the answer has to be no. Alabama football fans have to hope for no more serious injuries and that at least a couple of freshmen can develop quickly.
• Until Matt Womack returns, does the offensive line have adequate depth? The second unit played a lot against Ole Miss and they seemed to be a big dropoff from the first group.
• Can another championship run be made if Tua is lost to injury? Based on the last two games, Jalen Hurts has improved but he does not have all of Tua’s skills.

Jimbo and the Aggies will be the stiffest test so far in 2018. Based on the TAMU – Clemson game, the Tide’s performance next Saturday might provide a few more answers.