🏈 Bama shakes off the rust

[Bamabww]

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  Alex Scarborough, ESPN Staff Writer

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- For the better part of three quarters, Arkansas kept No. 8 Alabama on the ropes.

On the road as a two-touchdown underdog, Bret Bielema's Razorbacks used smoke and mirrors to jump out to a lead. Meanwhile, Alabama, fresh off a 28-point beatdown of Georgia last weekend and riding a streak of 56 consecutive wins against ranked opponents, did everything they could to shoot themselves in the foot with two interceptions and two missed field goals in the first half.

But eventually Arkansas ran out of gas and Alabama returned to form, winning 27-14 thanks to a surge of momentum and better execution late in the third quarter and into the fourth.

Jake Coker responded to a shaky first half to lead back-to-back touchdown drives and the defense was borderline dominant, shutting down the Arkansas running game while limiting Brandon Allen to less than 50 percent passing.

Jonathan Williams’ absence is felt. Alex Collins kept pounding away against Alabama’s defense, but to no avail. He needed a change-up only Williams could offer. Allen performed admirably at quarterback but ultimately didn’t have the weapons to make Alabama pay. Without the multifaceted Williams to help both the passing and running game, Arkansas’ offense suffered. The defense was dominant at times, stifling Alabama’s running game and pressuring Coker, but with no offense to take advantage, it was all for naught. By keeping things close against Alabama for three quarters, Arkansas showed fight, but it also showed how far away the roster is from being a title contender.

Player of the game: There’s no questioning what the strength of Alabama’s defense is. It’s the front seven by a long shot. Against Arkansas, they showed why. Middle linebacker Reggie Ragland was a monster, delivering several big hits. He led the team in tackles, had two quarterback hurries and forced a fumble. With big bodies like Jarran Reed, A'Shawn Robinson and Daron Payneclogging the lanes in front of Ragland and the rest of the linebacker corps, Collins was helpless. The Hogs’ star, who entered the game in the top 15 nationally in rushing yards, was limited to less than 3 yards per carry.

The game turned when: Alabama needed something -- a spark, a lift, some sense of momentum. Then the defense forced a punt and the offense took over on their own 19-yard line. On first-and-10, offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin dialed up play-action and Coker executed it beautifully, throwing the ball down the right sideline where only his guy could get it. Calvin Ridley, Alabama’s talented true freshman receiver, smoked the defensive back, hauled in the pass near midfield and sprinted into the end zone for the score. Alabama took the lead, the momentum and never looked back.

Uh, what? Bielema didn’t care that Adam Griffith was on a hot streak. As he told ESPN’s sideline reporter at halftime, “We kind of wanted to put it in that kicker’s hands.” And it turns out he was right to do so. After making five attempts in a row, Griffith returned to his old ways, missing two first-half field goals to hand Arkansas a 7-3 halftime lead. Alabama figured it out in the long run, winning the game, but Griffith’s shaky right leg will continue to be a point of concern the rest of the season.

Rapid Reaction: Alabama Crimson Tide 27, Arkansas Razorbacks 14 - SEC Blog - ESPN