The Alabama Football team enters the bye at 7-1 before a crucial matchup against the LSU Tigers. Through the 8 games the Alabama Football team has started to find its identity as it’s started conference play 5-0. Through eight games let’s look at what’s stood out the most so far, what’s been the biggest improvement, and what we need to watch for as Alabama enters the back half of the season.
The Secondary is much improved than the 2022 Unit.
The secondary certainly struggled in 2022, especially in conference. Through five conference games the Alabama football team only allowed Ole Miss to pass for more yards than they did the year prior improving by 45 yards per game in the conference. Much of this improvement can be given to the development of Kool-Aid Mckinstry and Terrion Arnold. The secondary has improved mightily allowing only two wide receivers to amass 100 yards whereas, through 8 games in 2022. The dominance of the secondary has played a crucial role in the success of this Alabama football team. Limiting the big play and keeping wide receivers in front of them has allowed Alabama to prevent teams from coming back late in games and helped the 2023 team close out ball games.
The Defense comes alive in second halves.
The Defense has seemingly gotten better in the second halves of games and the stats back it up. The defense has allowed just seven points per game in second halves this season, that number falls to 5.6 points per game in second halves in conference. Kevin Steele has shown an ability to adjust to his opponent and the defense has improved because of it. This weekend versus Tennessee, The Volunteers were averaging six yards per play and 4.2 yards per carry leading to 20 first-half points. The Alabama football team responded by shutting out the Volunteer’s offense holding them to 3.9 yards per play and 2.4 yards per carry.
The Passing Attack is Explosive.
Last season the Alabama passing attack was versatile averaging 13.1 yards per reception. With the departures of Bryce Young, Jojo Earle, Traeshon Holden, Jahmyr Gibbs, and a few other vital pass catchers that number surely went down right. The 2023 Alabama team is averaging 15.5 yards per completion an improvement on its 2022 mark. The Offense has been its best passing deep as Isaiah Bond has touchdowns of 46 yards, 52 yards, and 47 yards. Kobe Prentice has a 79-yard touchdown of his own and Jermaine Burton has multiple 50+ yard receptions. While the passing attack hasn’t been efficient like it was with Bryce Young at quarterback it’s an explosive passing attack that has the ability to score deep on any play.
Transfers have played a key role in the success so far.
The transfers for the Alabama Football team have proved vital so far in this 2023 season. Trezman Marshall has played nicely at Middle Linebacker alongside Deontae Lawson. Marshall was crucial when Lawson was dealing with an ankle injury filling the starting middle linebacker role in Lawson’s absence. Tight end CJ Dippre has been a reliable option for Jalen Milroe as he’s recorded 6 catches for 119 yards this season while helping out in the run and pass-blocking games. Trey Amos a cornerback filled in nicely as Terrion Arnold went down in the second half of the Tennessee game and got credit for his performance from Nick Saban in his postgame interview:
"Trey played well, played really well made some really good plays was very aggressive in coverage had a couple pass breakups, on the sack fumble for a touchdown if he would’ve thrown the ball, he double clutched it I think Trey Amos was going intercept it, it was right in front of me. I thought he played really really well."
Alabama has also gotten a great contribution from transfer safety Jaylen Key who ranks third on the team in tackles with 45 and also has an interception to go with it.
The pass rush has found its groove.
After losing a player as talented as Will Anderson Jr. to the draft it’s easy to expect the pass rush to take a step back in 2023. The pass rush has sacked the quarterback 29 times through eight games averaging out to 3.63 sacks per game. Replacing a player of Anderson’s caliber doesn’t seem as daunting when a player produces at the level of Dallas Turner. Dallas Turner’s 8 sacks rank second in the power 5 behind Jonah Ellis of Utah. Rushing opposite Turner, Chris Braswell has burst onto the scene recording 6.5 sacks through eight games. Braswell’s strip sack of Tennessee Quarterback Joe Milton sealed the game for the Alabama football team on Saturday giving them a 14-point lead with seven minutes to go. The interior defensive linemen have added 7.5 sacks of their own but, the duo of Braswell and Turner has provided Alabama a top-tier edge rush duo that they had with Will Anderson.
Heading into the bye Alabama Football controls its destiny
With the only loss for Alabama Football coming to an out-of-conference opponent in the Texas Longhorns the Crimson Tide control their own destiny. Should Alabama win out the rest of the regular season they’ll find themselves in Atlanta for the SEC championship game just as the fans and team hoped. After its 8th game, the Crimson Tide sits ninth in the AP poll with two one-loss teams ranked ahead of them. Should they win a potential SEC championship game they’d find themselves back in the College Football Playoff after a year hiatus.
Note: All stats via ESPN