Watching Alabama's offense the past few weeks, it is clear that they have been falling into a slow rhythm that is now hurting the offense more than it is benefiting. Letting the play clock run down, making checks at the line of scrimmage, and adjusting to the perfect play call were effective at the beginning of the season, but they are no longer working now that defenses have caught on. The Tide's offense has become too predictable, so it is time to make it unpredictable and open things up.
The problem is not the effort from the players. The problem is with the predictability of the offense. The Tide offense is giving defenses too much time to read formations, adjust coverages, disguise pressures, and anticipate motion. The Tide has been losing the chess match on the field. Opponents know that the play clock will tick down, and Alabama's offense will switch the look and audible.
Georgia and Oklahoma succeeded at this in their most recent matchups against Alabama. They disguised their initial looks against the Tide before switching to their actual look just as the play clock is running down, the headset communication turns off, and the Tide has already adjusted to their final play. This is confusing the Tide and has hurt Ty Simpson's ability as a passer. The solution to this would be the Hurry Up Offense.
The hurry-up offense could be the cure for Alabama's ailing offense
The hurry-up offense doesn't just mean playing fast; it means forcing the opponent to play uncomfortably. Elite defenses the Tide will be playing against in the playoff will continue to bait the offense and disguise coverages. They will want to control the pace. They will stall, rotate, and adjust late. A no-huddle tempo takes all that away.
Going fast gives Alabama's offense certain advantages it hasn't had recently. It limits defensive substitutions that Oklahoma and Georgia relied heavily on in their last two matchups against the Tide. It gives the defense less time to disguise looks when you line up and snap it quickly. This can lead to fewer exotic blitz packages. It can force defenses to stay in basic, vanilla looks instead of having the time to disguise. And lastly, the hurry-up offense can wear the defense down. They can become fatigued as the game goes on, which the Tide desperately needs since the offense's second-half numbers this season have been abysmal. Having the opponent's defenders gasping for air and not at full strength would be a huge benefit to curb these numbers.
This isn't just a wild theory out of the blue. Tide fans should know from the team's history the headaches of when the Alabama defense is on the field, and they see opponents picking up the pass and the miracles that it could do for an overmatched offense.
Going fast simplifies the quarterback's reads. It reduces the mental load and eliminates the need to sift through the disguised coverages the defenses run. It turns the cumulative calculus exam into the 6th-grade multiplication test.
The quarterback can see the basics. If the defensive front is at a disadvantage in the box, and Alabama has a numbers advantage? Run the ball. If the defense is loading the box, time to throw the quick ball out. It will allow Ty Simpson to quickly look at the leverage the defensive backs have and playing as well and to adjust from there. If the coverage is soft, target the short underneath routes. It will make the game simpler for Simpson, which he desperately needs right now. The "happy feet" are showing in the pocket, and he is noticeably uncomfortable.
The hurry-up offense can make it so much simpler for Simpson, which will help him regain his confidence that he had earlier in the season. A confident, decisive quarterback is far more dangerous than a cautious, overthinking quarterback. The fast tempo manufactures and creates decisiveness for the quarterback.
In conclusion, if Alabama wants to move the ball against elite defenses, it can't play cautiously and methodically. They can't play slow and wait for the play calls to come in. They are not going to survive the playoff by having Oklahoma's defense determine the pace of play and have time to throw exotic looks and fronts against Alabama. The Tide needs to go fast and keep Oklahoma on its heels. It will be a defensive battle for the Tide's upcoming playoff game against Brett Venables' defense, but for the Tide to move on, the talking points after the game should be the lack of Oklahoma's offense, not the Tide's.
The talent is there for Alabama, and so are the playmakers. The offensive creativity has been there this season, too. Now it is time for the tempo to match that play-calling creativity. Alabama won't win a championship by walking through the finish line. They are going to have to run through it... and past it like a cornerback still waiting for the play call.