Alabama Football: Offensive Report Card vs Auburn

The offense for Alabama Football looked much improved in a 49-27 rout of Auburn in the Iron Bowl. It finished with its highest point total since the Tennessee game, and its highest point total in a win since the Arkansas game in week five. Alabama’s 516 yards of total offense was also its best performance against FBS competition since the Tennessee game.

Alabama Football Quarterbacks: A

Bryce Young gave Alabama football fans a lights out performance in his Bryant-Denny curtain call. Young was inventive as usual, and threw several deep balls that he hasn’t even attempted in recent weeks.

The junior quarterback finished with 343 passing yards and three touchdowns, along with 48 yards rushing and another score. His 391 total yards tied his output against Vanderbilt as his second-highest yardage production of the season (Tennessee, 451). Young’s four total touchdowns was the most he’s had in an SEC game this season.

Bryce Young connected on several big plays, including a 52-yard pass to Jermaine Burton, a 39-yard pass to Kendrick Law, a 32-yard touchdown to Ja’Corey Brooks, and a 27-yard touchdown to Traeshon Holden. The offense has lacked big-play production throughout the second half of the season, so these long completions were a welcome sight.

There was certainly something satisfying about Bryce Young returning to form in his final home game, and doing it against Auburn.

Alabama Football Running Backs: B+

The Bama running backs were able to make a major impact in this Iron Bowl. The trio of Jahmyr Gibbs, Jase McClellan, and Roydell Williams combined for 32 touches for 143 yards and four touchdowns.

Gibbs returned from injury to lead Alabama with 17 attempts for 76 yards on the ground. He scored on a 23-yard dash to put an exclamation mark on the Bama win.

McClellan has been impressive in Gibbs’ absence, leading Alabama in rushing in the past two games. Even in Gibbs’ return, Jase McClellan made a difference in the Iron Bowl. He ran for 44 yards and a touchdown, and added another touchdown through the air.

Bruising back Roydell Williams got a goal-line carry on his only touch of the game, and capitalized with his fourth rushing touchdown of the season.

Alabama Football Receivers: B

The Alabama receivers made explosive plays all game, and largely had one of their best games of the season. Still, the group continued to struggle with inconsistency and drops. Going into the bowl game and next season, the receiver room will have to continue to improve. It has been a liability at times this season, but this was not the case in the Iron Bowl.

Sophomore Ja’Corey Brooks has been the most consistent receiver on the team. He grabbed four passes for 76 yards and a touchdown against Auburn to finish the regular season with team-highs of 623 yards and seven scores. Junior Jermaine Burton has come alive in the past few weeks, and led Alabama with 87 yards on three catches in the Iron Bowl. Fellow junior Traeshon Holden caught his sixth touchdown pass of the year on a 27-yard tunnel screen.

Freshman Kendrick Law had two receptions for 52 yards, and classmate Isaiah Bond had four catches for 36 yards. Sophomore tight end Robbie Ouzts saw an increased usage rate as well. He entered the game with just two catches for 14 yards this season, and made two more grabs for 29 yards in the Iron Bowl. He also blocked pretty well, and added a physical, violent edge to the offense.

Alabama Football Offensive Line: A

After getting abused by the Auburn front last season, the Alabama offensive line flipped the script in the 2022 Iron Bowl. The line paved the way for 173 rushing yards on over five yards per carry, and allowed only three tackles for loss.

It also kept Bryce Young clean all night. The offensive line did not give up a sack the entire game, and only surrendered two hurries. Tackles JC Latham and Tyler Steen, who was returning from an ankle injury, neutralized Auburn defensive ends Derick Hall and Colby Wooden.

Collectively, the group did exactly what it needed to against one of the SEC’s best pass rushes.