BAMANEWSBOT
Staff
TUSCALOOSA ā Alabamaās lone bye week couldnāt have come at a better time.
Eight weeks into the season, the 7th-ranked Crimson Tide (7-1, 4-1 SEC) has gone through the ringer, having weathered the turmoil of an early-season quarterback competition, started 0-1 in SEC play and fought its way back into the Top 10 with a pair of dominant road wins over higher-ranked opponents.
Now, with perhaps the biggest game of the season on the other side of the bye, Alabama needs to heal up ahead of next weekendās make-or-break opportunity when No. 4 LSU comes to Tuscaloosa on Nov. 7.
With one loss already on its record, the Tide is no longer in control of its own destiny so long as Ole Miss remains undefeated within the SEC West.
Which leaves the Tide in a must-win scenario each week if it has any chance of both reaching the SEC title game and potentially earning a berth in the second College Football Playoff.
While voting for the initial Playoff poll comes out Tuesday, now is as good a time as any to take stock in what has happened through the seasonās first eight games and what Alabama might look like down the stretch.
Offense: B
It took a little while for the team to establish an offensive identity that has seemingly been Alabamaās bread-and-butter under Saban ā a strong power run game with the occasional big play off play action. But when the Tide truly dedicates to feeding bruising junior Derrick Henry early and often in a game, it usually works. Still redshirt senior quarterback Jake Coker has proven himself both as a leader and a playmaker, thought it took some early growing pains to get to that point.
MVP: Derrick Henry, RB, Jr. ā Henry (1,044 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns) has been Alabamaās one consistent and reliable offensive weapon averaging 5.8 yards per carry this season, heās also in the midst of a nice 12-game scoring streak.
Surprise: Jake Coker, QB, Sr. ā It took several weeks into the season, and a couple of big scrambles for Coker (1,623 yards on 143-of-224 passing, 11 touchdowns, 7 interceptions) to win over his teammates and secure the starting job, but heās seemingly done it and has looked even more comfortable and confident within the offense when Alabama needed to win a game late.
Key freshman: Calvin Ridley, WR āNot that this should come as any surprise, but the key piece to Alabamaās 2015 signing class has been everything the Tide coaches and fans could have hoped, already establishing himself as a reliable playmaker, leading the team in nearly every receiving category (45 catches, 525 yards, 3 touchdowns).
Defense: A
Coming into the season, the hype surrounding Alabamaās potential on defense given the multitude of returning starters bordered on obscene, drawing comparisons to the otherworldly 2011 squad. So far, it hasnāt dominated opponents in the same fashion, but that doesnāt mean it hasnāt been elite, once against leading the SEC in run defense (78.5 rush yards per game). Add to that an opportunistic secondary that leads the conference with 12 interceptions and a pass rush that boasts an SEC-best 27 sacks and the Tide defense has made life difficult on opposing offenses.
MVP: Reggie Ragland, MLB, Sr. ā Leads the team with 71 tackles, including 42 solo, and has routinely made big plays when his team needed them most defensively. Ragland has been the steady leader and emotional core of Alabamaās vaunted defense all season and that doesnāt look to change anytime soon.
Surprise: Eddie Jackson, SS, Jr. ā A mid-spring switch from corner to safety has proven to be a stroke of genius as Jackson has five interceptions for a nationās-leading 230 return yards and two touchdowns.
Key freshman: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Star ā Another coveted five-star recruit is living up to lofty expectations, albeit much earlier than many expected. Fitzpatrick is already fifth on the team in tackles with 31 on the season is second with two interceptions ā both returned for touchdowns.
Special Teams: C
A unit that often gets overlooked in the grand scheme of things, special teams has been both a strength and a weakness at times this season for Alabama. An inconsistent kicking game has been somewhat surprising and unsettling, especially given the experience there. And the Tide have yet to really find a key return man. But despite some of those inconsistencies, special teams has answered the bell when itās had to make plays this season, a positive by any means.
MVP: JK Scott, P, Soph. ā The nationās leading punter a year ago as a freshman, Scott hasnāt been able to quite match the same sort of consistency that made him a Ray Guy Award finalist in his first season. But with several booming punts in the 50-plus yard range, Scottās shown flashes of being able to take over a game with just his foot. Alabama will need more of that down the stretch.
Surprise: Adam Griffith, K, Jr. ā This isnāt necessarily a good or bad surprise but the Griffith has been both consistently reliable and unreliable, including opening the season missing his first four field goals. But Griffithās booming leg has rebounded, averaging 62.8 yards on kickoffs and making 10 of his last 12 field goal tries.
Key freshman: Damien Harris, KR/PR ā This was much harder to determine since most true freshman arenāt given such important roles on special teams. But the dynamic Harris has shown flashes of his five-star potential at running back in limited opportunities as a kick returner, averaging 18 yards on six returns so far.
Overall: A
Outlook: As indicated by its own run last year, as well as that of defending national champion Ohio State, an early season loss doesnāt have to mean the end of oneās season. Alabamaās in a very similar boat to where it was a year ago, and can still achieve everything it desires, with a little help along the way. But it all starts Nov. 7 when LSU comes to Tuscaloosa. A victory against a potential Top 4 team in the initial CFB Playoff poll will certainly boost Alabamaās resume. And if it can continue to win, whether or not it makes it to the SEC Championship game, the Tide should be in good position to secure a playoff spot, though becoming the first back-to-back SEC title winner since Tennessee in 1998 certainly wouldnāt hurt anything.
Decatur DailyāContinue reading...
Eight weeks into the season, the 7th-ranked Crimson Tide (7-1, 4-1 SEC) has gone through the ringer, having weathered the turmoil of an early-season quarterback competition, started 0-1 in SEC play and fought its way back into the Top 10 with a pair of dominant road wins over higher-ranked opponents.
Now, with perhaps the biggest game of the season on the other side of the bye, Alabama needs to heal up ahead of next weekendās make-or-break opportunity when No. 4 LSU comes to Tuscaloosa on Nov. 7.
With one loss already on its record, the Tide is no longer in control of its own destiny so long as Ole Miss remains undefeated within the SEC West.
Which leaves the Tide in a must-win scenario each week if it has any chance of both reaching the SEC title game and potentially earning a berth in the second College Football Playoff.
While voting for the initial Playoff poll comes out Tuesday, now is as good a time as any to take stock in what has happened through the seasonās first eight games and what Alabama might look like down the stretch.
Offense: B
It took a little while for the team to establish an offensive identity that has seemingly been Alabamaās bread-and-butter under Saban ā a strong power run game with the occasional big play off play action. But when the Tide truly dedicates to feeding bruising junior Derrick Henry early and often in a game, it usually works. Still redshirt senior quarterback Jake Coker has proven himself both as a leader and a playmaker, thought it took some early growing pains to get to that point.
MVP: Derrick Henry, RB, Jr. ā Henry (1,044 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns) has been Alabamaās one consistent and reliable offensive weapon averaging 5.8 yards per carry this season, heās also in the midst of a nice 12-game scoring streak.
Surprise: Jake Coker, QB, Sr. ā It took several weeks into the season, and a couple of big scrambles for Coker (1,623 yards on 143-of-224 passing, 11 touchdowns, 7 interceptions) to win over his teammates and secure the starting job, but heās seemingly done it and has looked even more comfortable and confident within the offense when Alabama needed to win a game late.
Key freshman: Calvin Ridley, WR āNot that this should come as any surprise, but the key piece to Alabamaās 2015 signing class has been everything the Tide coaches and fans could have hoped, already establishing himself as a reliable playmaker, leading the team in nearly every receiving category (45 catches, 525 yards, 3 touchdowns).
Defense: A
Coming into the season, the hype surrounding Alabamaās potential on defense given the multitude of returning starters bordered on obscene, drawing comparisons to the otherworldly 2011 squad. So far, it hasnāt dominated opponents in the same fashion, but that doesnāt mean it hasnāt been elite, once against leading the SEC in run defense (78.5 rush yards per game). Add to that an opportunistic secondary that leads the conference with 12 interceptions and a pass rush that boasts an SEC-best 27 sacks and the Tide defense has made life difficult on opposing offenses.
MVP: Reggie Ragland, MLB, Sr. ā Leads the team with 71 tackles, including 42 solo, and has routinely made big plays when his team needed them most defensively. Ragland has been the steady leader and emotional core of Alabamaās vaunted defense all season and that doesnāt look to change anytime soon.
Surprise: Eddie Jackson, SS, Jr. ā A mid-spring switch from corner to safety has proven to be a stroke of genius as Jackson has five interceptions for a nationās-leading 230 return yards and two touchdowns.
Key freshman: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Star ā Another coveted five-star recruit is living up to lofty expectations, albeit much earlier than many expected. Fitzpatrick is already fifth on the team in tackles with 31 on the season is second with two interceptions ā both returned for touchdowns.
Special Teams: C
A unit that often gets overlooked in the grand scheme of things, special teams has been both a strength and a weakness at times this season for Alabama. An inconsistent kicking game has been somewhat surprising and unsettling, especially given the experience there. And the Tide have yet to really find a key return man. But despite some of those inconsistencies, special teams has answered the bell when itās had to make plays this season, a positive by any means.
MVP: JK Scott, P, Soph. ā The nationās leading punter a year ago as a freshman, Scott hasnāt been able to quite match the same sort of consistency that made him a Ray Guy Award finalist in his first season. But with several booming punts in the 50-plus yard range, Scottās shown flashes of being able to take over a game with just his foot. Alabama will need more of that down the stretch.
Surprise: Adam Griffith, K, Jr. ā This isnāt necessarily a good or bad surprise but the Griffith has been both consistently reliable and unreliable, including opening the season missing his first four field goals. But Griffithās booming leg has rebounded, averaging 62.8 yards on kickoffs and making 10 of his last 12 field goal tries.
Key freshman: Damien Harris, KR/PR ā This was much harder to determine since most true freshman arenāt given such important roles on special teams. But the dynamic Harris has shown flashes of his five-star potential at running back in limited opportunities as a kick returner, averaging 18 yards on six returns so far.
Overall: A
Outlook: As indicated by its own run last year, as well as that of defending national champion Ohio State, an early season loss doesnāt have to mean the end of oneās season. Alabamaās in a very similar boat to where it was a year ago, and can still achieve everything it desires, with a little help along the way. But it all starts Nov. 7 when LSU comes to Tuscaloosa. A victory against a potential Top 4 team in the initial CFB Playoff poll will certainly boost Alabamaās resume. And if it can continue to win, whether or not it makes it to the SEC Championship game, the Tide should be in good position to secure a playoff spot, though becoming the first back-to-back SEC title winner since Tennessee in 1998 certainly wouldnāt hurt anything.
Decatur DailyāContinue reading...
