Alabama Football: Tide offense to get back in the groove

Assuming Bryce Young plays against Tennessee this weekend, the offense for Alabama football should pick up where it left off in the second quarter in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Even coming off of its worst outing of the season on a per-play basis, the Alabama offense still ranks as one of the nation’s best.

The Tide is fifth nationally in scoring at 44.3 points per game. It ranks seventh in total offense (503.7 YPG) and third in yards per play (7.5) behind just Ohio State and TCU.

Alabama Football: No question marks in the run game

The Crimson Tide running game is easily the best traditional running game in the country, and is performing at a historic clip. Alabama’s 257.2 rushing yards per game ranks third in the country behind option offenses in Air Force and Army.

Meanwhile, the Tide’s 37.0 rushing attempts per game put it all the way down at 58th in the country. As one would expect, this makes Alabama the best team in the country on the ground at 7.0 yards per carry.

If the Tide is able to sustain this number, it will become the first team since 2009 Nevada to finish a season averaging at least 7.0 yards per carry.

Alabama Football: Passing game has yet to peak

The Alabama passing game was also just beginning to round into form when Bryce Young injured his shoulder against Arkansas. The Tide boasts a deep group of receivers to whom Young efficiently spreads the ball around.

Freshman Kobe Prentice, junior Jermaine Burton, junior running back Jahmyr Gibbs, junior Traeshon Holden and sophomore Ja’Corey Brooks all have between 212 and 223 receiving yards with at least one touchdown apiece.

Gibbs leads the team with 22 receptions, Brooks leads in yards per catch (18.6) and is tied for the team lead in yards (Holden, 223), and Holden leads with four touchdown grabs. This level of balance is nearly impossible for opposing defenses to game plan for.

Alabama Football: More weapons loading

Alabama has several more pass-catching weapons that it hopes to deploy more regularly.

Junior running back Jase McClellan has two touchdown receptions this season and five in his career. While Gibbs has taken a lot of McClellan’s shine as a receiver out of the backfield, Jase has still proven to be a threat as a pass-catcher.

Senior tight end Cameron Latu and sophomore receiver Jojo Earle are beginning to find their footing after fall camp injuries. In the past two games, Latu and Earle each caught their first touchdown of the season from Jalen Milroe.

Freshman Isaiah Bond has game-breaking potential, and showed signs of a budding chemistry with Bryce Young prior to Young’s injury. Louisville transfer Tyler Harrell is nearing his debut, but has still yet to play.

This weekend will bring Alabama football one step closer to a lot of questions being answered. Traeshon Holden, Ja’Corey Brooks, Kobe Prentice, and Jermaine Burton are all established contributors, but who can be the most consistent of the group? Will big-play threats Jojo Earle and Isaiah Bond continue their assimilation into the offense? Will Tyler Harrell finally see the field?

It’s impossible to know for certain, but the potential return of Bryce Young should make any Alabama football fan confident in this offense going forward.