After a disappointing 0-for-3 week in making bold predictions against Missouri, we showed slight improvement last week for the Tennessee game, but still well below our high standards here at Bama Hammer.
We correctly predicted that Ryan Williams would go over 100 yards. The sophomore had 87 receiving yards, but he added 16 yards on the ground to finish with 103 all-purpose yards in the Tide's victory over the Volunteers.
That was the good news.
The bad were the other two. Lotzeir Brooks didn't find the endzone, though he might have if it wasn't for pass interference on Tennessee. Ty Simpson took a deep shot to Brooks in the second half, but he was interfered with by a Vols DB who was beaten.
The other prediction was outright bad. I called for Alabama to outrush Tennessee. And while the numbers weren't demonstrably far apart, Alabama's ground game struggled a lot more than I expected against Tennessee's weak front.
Let's do better this week.
3 Bold Predictions for Alabama against South Carolina
Kadyn Proctor finally gets into the endzone
The only thing missing from the Kadyn Proctor skill package this season has been a big-man touchdown. The monstrous left tackle has had the ball in his hands in three of Alabama's last four games, but the package missing from the game plan last week was perhaps the only downside of the Tide's 37-20 win over Tennessee.
My assumption is that the game was never close enough in the second half for Alabama to pull out the play. Or Ryan Grubb wasn't comfortable with what they had worked on in practice that week. I would expect it to make its triumphant return in Columbia against South Carolina.
Proctor got close to the endzone against both Georgia and Missouri. He rumbled down the two-yard line for an 11-yard gain against the Bulldogs. Against the Tigers, Proctor got all the way to the one on a wildcat snap.
This week, Proctor gets into the endzone for an epic touchdown.
Daniel Hill leads Alabama in rushing
It would not surprise me this week to see Daniel Hill get the most carries of Alabama's running backs. Jam Miller will start, and he's still clearly RB1 moving forward, but he was ineffective against Tennessee a week ago, and it wouldn't be the worst idea to try to steal some extra rest for him with a bye week on the horizon.
Kevin Riley impressed early, but he has not done much with his opportunities as a runner in recent weeks. He gained -2 yards on three attempts against Tennessee. In Alabama's last five games, Riley has carried the ball 31 times for just 81 yards (2.6 yards per carry).
Ryan Grubb raved about Hill on Monday and indicated that an expanded role was coming for the redshirt freshman back. Hill picked up 34 rushing yards and added 16 receiving yards on eight touches against Tennessee last week. He was the only RB who was effective against the Vols.
Hill has earned more work, and I think that culminates in a strong performance against the Gamecocks.
Yhonzae Pierre notches his second straight multi-sack game
The light has flipped on for Yhonzae Pierre in recent weeks. With injuries to Qua Russaw and Jah-Marien Latham, the third-year Wolf LB has had a lot added to his plate. He has responded in a major way for the Crimson Tide.
Last week against Tennessee was Pierre's coming-out party. He sacked Joey Aguilar three times, including a forced intentional grounding in the endzone to produce a safety. Pierre is becoming a terror off the edge, and he could feast against a struggling South Carolina offensive line.
Despite LaNorris Sellers' dual-threat ability, he has been sacked 25 times this season, including a combined 11 in losses to LSU and Oklahoma the last two weeks.
Alabama will look to heat up Sellers on Saturday, and Pierre is just the guy to do it.