By all accounts, Alabama played its most complete game of the season last weekend against South Carolina. The Crimson Tide avoided the slow starts that had plagued them against Kentucky and Florida State, instead scoring two touchdowns before the Gamecocks could get on the board. By the time Red Morgan picked off a LaNorris Sellers pass late in the second quarter and ran it into the endzone, Alabama had pushed its lead to 35-3 and the game was already over.
But that doesn't mean that Alabama played a perfect game. They didn't. Far from it, actually.
It won't take a perfect game to go into Starkville and defeat Mississippi State on Saturday either, but it will take Alabama's best effort of the young season. The Bulldogs represent the biggest test to date, and Kalen DeBoer knows his team will have to avoid a few issues they had against South Carolina that would have been a much bigger deal against better competition.
1. Alabama has to stop the run more effectively
When you think of Mississippi State this season, your mind immediately goes to star QB Kamario Taylor, and rightfully so. He's an elite QB. On Monday, Kane Wommack called him perhaps the best quarterback Alabama has faced in Wommack's three seasons as the defensive coordinator. That's high praise considering some of the guys the Tide has faced during that span, including Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza in the Rose Bowl last year.
But sleep on Mississippi State's run game at your own peril. The Bulldogs are averaging over 217 yards per game on the ground, a mark that puts them 14th in the country. Led by South Alabama transfer RB Fluff Bothwell, State will want to establish the run early and often to stay ahead of the sticks and open up opportunities for Taylor to launch the ball down the field.
Taylor is good enough to win this game even without an effective ground game, but Alabama needs to avoid allowing Jeff Lebby's team to strike balance offensively.
Alabama allowed South Carolina to rack up 216 yards on the ground last week, and they'll still be without important edge defenders Justin Hill and Desmond Umeozulu. That's worrisome.
2. Alabama's secondary cannot give up any coverage busts
Alabama has gotten burned on coverage busts in each of the last two weeks. It only happened once against South Carolina, with sophomore CB Dijon Lee falling down and allowing Nyck Harbor to catch an uncontested touchdown, but it was a major issue against Florida State.
This will be far and away the best QB Alabama has faced this season, and Taylor will make the Crimson Tide pay time and time again if there are any busts on the back end.
Anthony Evans leads a talented group of pass catchers at Taylor's disposal, all of whom are capable of making it a long day for Alabama.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Wommack get back to his roots and play more zone coverage schemes, trying to keep everything in front of his defense. Taylor's biggest strength is his deep ball accuracy, so Wommack should do everything he can to take that away.
3. Alabama won't be able to afford to stack empty possessions together
After a quick three-and-out on its first offensive possession of the game, Alabama scored touchdowns on its next four drives. Leading 35-10 at halftime thanks to that and the Morgan pick-six, the Crimson Tide seemed to take its foot off the gas a bit with four consecutive empty possessions, with the longest drive of the bunch lasting just five plays.
Now, Alabama bounced back with consecutive touchdown drives to put the game to bed, but that game was only a possession away from feeling pretty dicey in the fourth quarter.
Against Mississippi State in a game that could become a shootout, Keelon Russell and the offense need to operate with ruthless efficiency all afternoon long. They need to move the ball and put points on the board every time they have the opportunity to do so. Any stops the defense makes will be a luxury, and no lead will feel safe against an offense with the kind of firepower the Bulldogs have.
It will take a full 60-minute effort to get out of Starkville with the undefeated record still intact.
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