It wasn't pretty, but for the third week in a row, Alabama defeated a ranked conference opponent. For the second time, that win happened on the road, further dispelling the notion that Kalen DeBoer-coached Alabama teams can't win contested games away from Tuscaloosa.
There's plenty to clean up, but it's hard to be disappointed in any SEC road win, especially against a team that entered the game 5-0. Alabama is finding ways to win close games, something they struggled with a year ago.
Alabama will have to get better, and clean up the laundry list of mistakes it made in CoMo, but Tide fans will have to get used to the fact that the days of blowing everyone out are long gone. For everyone. Games will be more hotly contested now, and you'll have to execute down the stretch to win close games.
Alabama did that, and they've now reeled off five consecutive wins to put themselves in a great spot in the College Football Playoff race.
5 observations from Alabama's win over Missouri
Alabama's offensive line took a step backward
Alabama's offensive line had shown steady improvement week by week after getting manhandled by Florida State in the opener. They took a step backward against Missouri in what was probably the biggest test they've faced since Tallahassee.
Missouri sacked Ty Simpson four times, and Alabama allowed eight total tackles-for-loss. Alabama ran the ball better than most figured, producing 150 non-sack yards on the ground at a 3.8 yards per carry clip. That's not spectacular, but against the nation's No. 1 run defense, it was more than good enough.
The offensive line rotation continues and shows no signs of stopping. It was a particularly difficult day for starting RT Wilkin Formby, who continues to play more snaps than freshman Michael Carroll. Most Tide fans are miffed about that, but it almost certainly signals that Carroll is still picking up the entire playbook and learning all the nuances. It's clear that the line is better with Carroll over Formby, and that full-time swap feels inevitable at some point.
Jaeden Roberts saw significant playing time after logging a DNP against Vanderbilt. That should continue moving forward as he seems to bring more of a punch than Geno VanDeMark at right guard.
Alabama's run defense took a step forward
The numbers won't show a peak Alabama defensive performance against the run, but with what the Crimson Tide were up against - and in this era - it was a good performance overall. Alabama held Missouri to 163 yards on the ground. The Tigers came in as the No. 1 rushing offense in the country, averaging over 300 per game.
The nation's leading rusher - Ahmad Hardy - was held to just 52 yards on 12 carries. Alabama's run defense continues to improve on a down-to-down basis, and Kane Wommack has been willing to adjust his scheme. At times against Mizzou, Alabama had all three of their inside 'backers - Deontae Lawson, Justin Jefferson, and Nikhai Hill-Green - on the field at the same time.
Alabama's issues tend to be with giving up a few explosive plays per game. They aren't getting gashed repeatedly, but when they do miss a run-fit, it tends to lead to a big play. 62 of Missouri's 163 rushing yards came on two plays. If you remove those two busts, Alabama held the Tigers to 101 rushing yards on 26 carries.
Alabama's freshman class is special
It's been obvious since they stepped on campus, but Kalen DeBoer's first signing class at Alabama is truly a special group. Several first-year players are making immediate impacts for the Crimson Tide, none bigger than the trio of RT Michael Carroll, WR Lotzeir Brooks, and CB Dijon Lee.
Carroll is splitting time at RT and is effectively a co-starter with Wilkin Formby. Brooks was Alabama's leading WR yesterday, and Ty Simpson trusted him on the biggest play of the game. Brooks hauled in a reception on a perfect throw by Simpson on a critical 4th-and-8 in the 4th quarter that extended a drive where Alabama ultimately punched in a touchdown to take a two-score lead.
Lee snagged his first career interception to seal the game with Alabama leading by three. An overthrow by Beau Pribula went right into Lee's hands. Lee previously dropped an interception in the first half. The 5-star CB is beginning to get more and more playing time, and that could continue if senior Domani Jackson's struggles continue.
The offense has to execute better in plus-territory
Two weeks in a row, Alabama's offense has really struggled in plus-territory. It's a concerning trend that could very well cost the Crimson Tide a game. It could have done so the last two weeks if it weren't for timely plays by the defense.
With the game tied at 17, Alabama had the ball on the Missouri one-yard line, looking to take a touchdown edge. Instead, Simpson tripped on a would-be touchdown handoff to Jam Miller, and Alabama did nothing from the 5-yard line. They were forced to settle for a field goal.
After Bray Hubbard intercepted Pribula on the next drive, Alabama moved the ball to the Missouri 31. Three consecutive unsuccessful pass plays led to a 49-yard field goal attempt by Connor Talty that missed.
Two significant missed opportunities in the second half could have put the game to bed. Instead, Missouri had the ball late, trailing only by three with a chance to tie or win the football game.
Situational play-calling has to improve
Execution was far from perfect on Saturday, but neither was the play-calling by OC Ryan Grubb or DC Kane Wommack.
As mentioned above, Grubb's decision to call three straight pass plays when Alabama had a 1st-and-10 at the Missouri 31 with 10 minutes to play was a bit baffling. That was far from the only issue. Grubb called a 1st-and-10 shot play on the first play of the second half. An understandable play-call, except for the fact that the Tide was struggling to protect Simpson after the first couple of drives of the game, and that play call allowed Missouri's secondary to defend only a two-man route concept and heat up Simpson. The result was a strip sack, and Missouri tied the game three plays later.
Grubb's play-calling was a bit hamstrung by Alabama's offensive line struggles, but he never seemed to adjust to quicker pass plays to try and combat it, either.
Wommack's defense deserves credit, but he still has a tendency to be overaggressive and send ill-timed safety blitzes in critical situations. He did it twice late against Missouri when Alabama should have been rushing four and playing coverage. The first led to a big pass play from Pribula to Donovan Olugbode that set up a Missouri touchdown to cut the Tide's lead to three. The second produced a 25-yard pass on a 4th-and-6 with Alabama clinging to a three-point lead.
So while there was plenty the players need to clean up in execution, the play-callers can also do a better job of putting them into better positions to succeed.