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Michael Casagrande |
The numbers behind an undefeated season.
9 good reasons Alabama is 9-0
Posted November 10, 2017 at 09:01 AM | Updated November 10, 2017 at 09:02 AM
Why Alabama is 9-0
Trying to explain how Alabama got to this point is complicated. Entering Saturdays' 6 p.m. trip to Mississippi State, the Crimson Tide is 9-0 having only been challenged by Texas A&M and LSU. It now faces a tough stretch with the No. 16 Bulldogs followed in two weeks by No. 10 Auburn.
There's obviously more than a few things to Alabama's 2017 story, but we made a list that sets out some of the defining numbers that provides some context to the 9-0 record.
Turnover streak
Among the most important stats for determining success that Nick Saban cites is the turnover. Alabama has been among the national leaders in turnover margin this season thanks largely to the low number of giveaways. The Tide also has a streak of 36 games of forcing at least one turnover. That includes 45 interceptions and 22 fumble recoveries dating back to the Sept. 26, 2015 win over Louisiana-Monroe.
First quarter routs
Alabama hasn't allowed opponents any hope early. Through nine games, it has outscored opponents 114-9 in the first quarters of games. No touchdowns have been scored on the Tide in the opening 15 minutes, only three field goals. The last three Alabama opponents managed just three first half points -- LSU's second quarter field goal being the lone contribution after pre-intermission shutouts of Arkansas and Tennessee.
Scoring quarters
Alabama's played 36 quarters this season. It has scored at least three points in all of them. It has had three 21-point quarters (two at Vanderbilt) and a 24-pointer in the third quarter against Ole Miss.
Rushing TDs
Alabama scores a bunch of them and allows very few. Try 30 scored for the Tide and just three for the opposition. It was just two before LSU punched it in from 2 yards out Saturday. The other two were scored in the closing moments of wins over Fresno State and Texas A&M.
Non-offensive touchdowns
This one kind of breaks the theme but is still worth noting. Last year Alabama scored 11 touchdowns on defense last year (six INTs, five fumbles) in what became the identity of the 2016 team. The trend didn't continue into this season. Levi Wallace's 35-yard interception return (above) against Ole Miss is the Tide's lone non-offensive touchdown. Special teams are a factor in the overall non-offensive total that hit 15 last year and 10 in 2015. The lack of help in those categories show what the Tide offense has been able to do. It averaged 38 points a game last year aided by the 15 non-offensive TDs. It is scoring 41 a game this year with only one.
Fourth downs
Alabama's the only team in the country with a perfect fourth-down conversion percentage. It is 11-for-11. The next-best team in terms of percentage is Ohio at 85.7 (6-for-7). And with teams taking the same number of attempts, Clemson has the next best percentage at 81.8 percent. Defensively, Alabama's allowing just 5 of 14 fourth-down conversions from opponents. That's 17th best nationally.
Interceptions thrown
Back to the turnover thing, Alabama's two interceptions are tied for the fewest in the country. Jalen Hurts is one of 12 quarterbacks who've thrown just one interception and his 175 attempts is the most of that group. Tua Tagovailoa threw the other pick that was returned 97 yards for a Tennessee touchdown followed by a now-infamous celebration.
Punts returned
Alabama has had just one punt returned by an opponent this year. LSU's DJ Chark had a two-yard return last week for the first of the season. Utah has the next fewest with three.
Long plays
Alabama's done a good job of preventing the big play. The longest of the season? The 54-yard run by LSU's Darrel Williams in the Wildcat on Saturday gains that distinction. Alabama's offense has seven plays that traveled at least 54 yards. The longest passing play by an Alabama opponent was a 46-yard completion by Arkansas' Jordan Jones. In all, Alabama has allowed just three plays of 40-plus yards while recording 12 of its own.
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9 good reasons Alabama is 9-0
Posted November 10, 2017 at 09:01 AM | Updated November 10, 2017 at 09:02 AM
Why Alabama is 9-0
Trying to explain how Alabama got to this point is complicated. Entering Saturdays' 6 p.m. trip to Mississippi State, the Crimson Tide is 9-0 having only been challenged by Texas A&M and LSU. It now faces a tough stretch with the No. 16 Bulldogs followed in two weeks by No. 10 Auburn.
There's obviously more than a few things to Alabama's 2017 story, but we made a list that sets out some of the defining numbers that provides some context to the 9-0 record.
Turnover streak
Among the most important stats for determining success that Nick Saban cites is the turnover. Alabama has been among the national leaders in turnover margin this season thanks largely to the low number of giveaways. The Tide also has a streak of 36 games of forcing at least one turnover. That includes 45 interceptions and 22 fumble recoveries dating back to the Sept. 26, 2015 win over Louisiana-Monroe.
First quarter routs
Alabama hasn't allowed opponents any hope early. Through nine games, it has outscored opponents 114-9 in the first quarters of games. No touchdowns have been scored on the Tide in the opening 15 minutes, only three field goals. The last three Alabama opponents managed just three first half points -- LSU's second quarter field goal being the lone contribution after pre-intermission shutouts of Arkansas and Tennessee.
Scoring quarters
Alabama's played 36 quarters this season. It has scored at least three points in all of them. It has had three 21-point quarters (two at Vanderbilt) and a 24-pointer in the third quarter against Ole Miss.
Rushing TDs
Alabama scores a bunch of them and allows very few. Try 30 scored for the Tide and just three for the opposition. It was just two before LSU punched it in from 2 yards out Saturday. The other two were scored in the closing moments of wins over Fresno State and Texas A&M.
Non-offensive touchdowns
This one kind of breaks the theme but is still worth noting. Last year Alabama scored 11 touchdowns on defense last year (six INTs, five fumbles) in what became the identity of the 2016 team. The trend didn't continue into this season. Levi Wallace's 35-yard interception return (above) against Ole Miss is the Tide's lone non-offensive touchdown. Special teams are a factor in the overall non-offensive total that hit 15 last year and 10 in 2015. The lack of help in those categories show what the Tide offense has been able to do. It averaged 38 points a game last year aided by the 15 non-offensive TDs. It is scoring 41 a game this year with only one.
Fourth downs
Alabama's the only team in the country with a perfect fourth-down conversion percentage. It is 11-for-11. The next-best team in terms of percentage is Ohio at 85.7 (6-for-7). And with teams taking the same number of attempts, Clemson has the next best percentage at 81.8 percent. Defensively, Alabama's allowing just 5 of 14 fourth-down conversions from opponents. That's 17th best nationally.
Interceptions thrown
Back to the turnover thing, Alabama's two interceptions are tied for the fewest in the country. Jalen Hurts is one of 12 quarterbacks who've thrown just one interception and his 175 attempts is the most of that group. Tua Tagovailoa threw the other pick that was returned 97 yards for a Tennessee touchdown followed by a now-infamous celebration.
Punts returned
Alabama has had just one punt returned by an opponent this year. LSU's DJ Chark had a two-yard return last week for the first of the season. Utah has the next fewest with three.
Long plays
Alabama's done a good job of preventing the big play. The longest of the season? The 54-yard run by LSU's Darrel Williams in the Wildcat on Saturday gains that distinction. Alabama's offense has seven plays that traveled at least 54 yards. The longest passing play by an Alabama opponent was a 46-yard completion by Arkansas' Jordan Jones. In all, Alabama has allowed just three plays of 40-plus yards while recording 12 of its own.
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