Digging into CFB Week 3 stats for Alabama and every other team can be a rabbit-hole trap, producing more clutter than clarity. A Week 3 sample size is too small for precision. Any presumed conclusion must be prefaced with 'at this point'.
At this point, the narrative about Alabama has suddenly changed. Less than a week ago, I wrote, "I have been waiting for this Alabama Crimson Tide defense for years. ... I believe that the one word to describe what this defense will become is 'elite'." The Florida State game made me ask, "What was I thinking?" I believed that Alabama's secondary was arguably the best in college football. It looked nothing like that in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.
Coverages were blown, and Crimson Tide defenders were outplayed for the ball. Ashton Daniels turned in what was, for him, an otherworldly performance. Alabama did make three interceptions that were key to the win. The Crimson Tide's run defense was again outstanding. But every opposing QB (except Chattanooga's, and perhaps not Auburn's Byrum Brown) will gleefully watch replays of Alabama's FSU game.
I am tempted to look at Saturday as nothing more than a one-off for Alabama's secondary. A more cautious response is to check out the Crimson Tide's key team stats through three games. Rabbit hole risk be damned!
Alabama Crimson Tide Team Stats
The stats below are compiled by cfbstats.com. They are not opponent-adjusted.
Alabama's Scoring Defense, based on average points allowed per game, is tied for No. 63. Driving down that ranking is Alabama's Pass Defense Rating of 133.22, No. 89 among FBS teams and the SEC's fourth-worst-rated Pass Defense. Saving the Crimson Tide is its Rushing Defense, which, based on 1.79 y.p.c. ranks No. 4 among all FBS teams and third-best in the SEC.
Alabama's Scoring Offense (based on total points per game) is tied at No. 7 among all FBS teams at 47.7 points per game. The SEC teams scoring more are Georgia, No. 1 at 59.3 points, and Florida, No. 2 at 54 points.
What tentative conclusions can be reached about Alabama and its future SEC opponents? Let's review the same three team stats for Alabama's opponents in schedule order.
- South Carolina Gamecocks - The Gamecocks are tied at No. 14 nationally in scoring at 45.3 points per game. South Carolina is the No. 36 Scoring Defense, No. 84 Passing Defense, and No. 28 Rushing Defense.
- Mississippi State Bulldogs - At 47 points per game, the Bulldogs are No. 10 in Scoring Offense. They are tied for No. 57 in Scoring Defense, No. 42 in Rushing Defense, and No. 51 in Passing Defense.
- Georgia Bulldogs - Again, the Dawgs are No. 1 in Scoring Offense. Kirby's team is No. 23 in Scoring Defense, tied for No. 3 in Rushing Defense, allowing only 1.79 y.p.c., and No. 17 in Passing Defense.
- Tennessee Vols - The Vols are tied with Alabama at No. 7 in Scoring Offense. Jim Knowles' defense is No. 26 in Scoring Defense, No. 14 in Passing Defense, and No. 94 in Rushing Defense.
- Texas A&M Aggies - The Aggies are tied for No. 21 in Scoring Offense. A&M is tied for No. 39 in Scoring Defense, No. 56 in Rushing Defense, and No. 104 in Passing Defense.
- LSU Bengal Tigers - LSU's offensive savant Lane Kiffin has the No. 28 Scoring Offense. The Bengal Tigers are tied for the No. 50 Scoring Defense, No. 89 in Passing Defense, and No. 1 in Rushing Defense.
Vanderbilt and Auburn are excluded from this review. Both teams might improve significantly, but currently, Alabama could only lose to either one if the Crimson Tide beat itself.
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