The Vanderbilt Commodores are a good team. Perhaps for this season, they cannot become a great one. The Alabama Crimson Tide is a good, but not-yet great team. Most importantly, Kalen DeBoer's team is getting better quickly. The Alabama Crimson Tide of the last two Saturdays bears no resemblance to the Alabama team that lost to FSU in August. What a difference a month makes.
How much Alabama has progressed will be tested in a tough schedule of games. For perspective, Vanderbilt has not beaten Alabama in back-to-back seasons since 1955 and 1956. Vandy came to Tuscaloosa, not only not in awe of the Crimson Tide, but expecting to win. Alabama will find the same opponent attitude next Saturday in Columbia, and the following Saturday when the Vols come to Bryant-Denny.
Here is some unsolicited advice for the Alabama team. Don't encourage or respond to calling Vandy and the Vols as two legs in a Crimson Tide revenge tour. Statistically, the Missouri Tigers are a better team than Alabama, assuming no deductions are made for Missouri's weaker schedule.
Alabama earned a satisfying win over the Commodores. It was a payback game. Ty Simpson again showed why he may finish the season as the SEC's best quarterback. Jam Miller rushed for 132 yards. The defense came up with three key takeaways. Even the oft-maligned Kane Wommack, steadied the Bama defense that surrendered 113 first-quarter rushing yards, and allowed only 33 yards for the rest of the game.
Not a sizzling take, but one with substance is that the Alabama football team that is a work in progress. And, the Crimson Tide is progressing nicely.
In the game, Alabama did have sizzling moments. The no-timeouts, second quarter, 78-yard touchdown drive was tremendous. Justin Jefferson ripping the ball away from Diego Pavia was outstanding. Kaelen DeBoer called Kadyn Proctor's two-yard run for a first down a "rumble." More specifically, Proctor impressively bulled his way to the first down.
Perhaps the most satisfying thing for Alabama football fans was the Crimson Tide shutting down Diego Pavia. After all his pre-game talk, Pavia's three turnovers took away any chance Vandy had for an upset. After the game, Johnny Manziel (in his Pavia jersey) had just a few words for Pavia. It appeared that Pavia wasn't listening.
Note: Game stats provided by statbroadcast.com