Alabama Football: ‘Sizzle’ versus ‘Stuff’ across college football

Pedal to the metal offensive attacks are the trend in college football and Alabama football has not been left behind in relying on explosive offense.

In the national aversion to defense-first football, Alabama football has shed its reputation for old-school offense lacking in explosive play potential. Sometimes lost in admiring the trend is most high-powered attacks wow fans, but fail to produce championship level wins.

A good example is Ole Miss. Based on Bleacher Report research, Ole Miss is No. 2 in CFB over the past four seasons in yards-per-play. The Alabama Crimson Tide is No. 7. Not surprisingly, Oklahoma is No. 1. Clemson did not even make the top ten. Who else topped the Tide? No. 3 through No. 6 were Oklahoma State, Memphis, Toledo and Appalachian State.

Clemson does join a top ten when comparing points-per-game. Oklahoma is No. 1 again. The Tide is No. 6 and Clemson, No. 7. Combine both stats and only four top Power Five teams make the top ten – Oklahoma No. 1; Alabama ties at No. 4 with Toledo; Ohio State tied for No. 6 and Clemson at No. 9.

None of these stat rankings are adjusted by any strength of opponent calculations. If they were, it is fair to assume the results would be different. Programs like Toledo and Appalachian State would not make a top ten.

Alabama football was third in the FBS last season in points-per-game at 45.6. Clemson was No. 4 and Oklahoma was No. 1. The 2018 Alabama Crimson Tide set a team record for points-per-game at 45.6, surpassing the 43 points average of the 1945 team.

Looking back at 2011-2017 (in chronological order) Crimson Tide points per game were: 34.8; 38.7; 38.2; 36.9; 35.1; 38.8 and 37.1. As the Big 12 proves season after season, to win championships, stopping other teams from scoring cannot be ignored. Looking at Alabama Crimson Tide opponent’s points per game from 2011 – 2018: 8.2; 10.9; 13.9; 18.4; 15.1; 13; 11.0 and 18.1 last season.

Only in 2015, did Alabama football win a national championship allowing opponents to score at an average of more than 12 points-per-game.

Conclusions from these statistics can only indicate general assumptions. Many more statistical components determine the outcomes of individual games. Still, the general assumptions have some merit. Alabama football had its best points producing offense ever last season. It also had its second-worst points allowed defense since the 2011 season.

Clearly, the Big 12 premise of the insignificance of defense is flawed. Admittedly the game of college football has changed. Alabama football has and will continue to change with it. Even with the explosion of offensive systems, a team must still stop an opponent from scoring more times than it gets stopped.

The 2019 Alabama Crimson Tide needs a proper balance. It needs an offense that will sizzle and a defense adept at stuffing other high-powered attacks.