Quick observations from yours truly and TideSports.com's Aaron Suttles:
D.C. Reeves
Alabama's national title hopes, and I'm assuming its No. 1 overall seed in the CFP, are still in tact. Oregon could overtake Alabama on Tuesday night with a dominating win over Oregon State, but that would be inconsequential to Alabama in terms of getting to play a potential semifinal game in New Orleans.
It's the first time Alabama went 4-0 in November since 2009.
Alabama's 55 points ties the most it has ever scored on Auburn. Last time it dropped 55 on the Tigers? 1948.
Amari Cooper will be in NYC in December, take that to the bank after his game, namely his huge second half. He has 19 catches for 402 yards and 4 touchdowns in his past two Iron Bowls.
The difference in the game defensively was Alabama's ability to get red zone stops. The Tigers were forced to settle for three field goals on its first three redzone trips after 19 plays, 41 total yards, 3 field goals on first three trips.
Take away Auburn's inconsequential score at the end of the game and it was held to one touchdown, five field goals and one turnover on downs in seven red zone trips.
Alabama allowed eight passes of 30-plus yards all season coming into Saturday. It allowed six to Auburn.
Blake Sims' first interception was the worst he's thrown all season long, bar none and it his worst 2.5 quarter stretch as Alabama's starter. That first one was a complete misread that led to a touchdown and Auburn's 16-14 lead in the second quarter. Making matters worse, all three of his interceptions were on Alabama's side of the field.
That said, you have to give him credit for bouncing back with the help of Cooper. He went 10-of-12 for 183 yards and three touchdowns after his third interception of the game. He also ran in a score.
Aaron Suttles
Amari Cooper simply is too good for most college defense. To single cover him is just asking to get burned. Yet we continue to see it this season. I know quarterbacks and running backs get all the Heisman love, but Amari Cooper is absolutely deserving. If you take him off this Alabama team, there's a huge hole that can't be filled. -
T.J. Yeldon got just eight carries in the first half, but got it rolling in the second half to finish the game with 19 rushes for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Lane Kiffin is a play calling guru, but not feeding Yeldon when he's ripping off 7.4 yards per carry seems like a bad idea.
No injury update on true freshman Cam Robinson, but his status is something to watch this week, as Missouri can flat-out rush the passer. A healthy Brian Vogler would go a long ways too.
Jalston Fowler had a whale of a football game. He often goes unnoticed due to his position, but when you re-watch the game be sure to notice how much the Nudie Bus did his job and more.
Derrick Henry, or El Tractorcito as he's known in Mexico, is near impossible to stop once he gets rolling. The problem has been getting him running north and south and full tilt.
This post was edited on 11/30 12:01 AM by dcreeves
https://alabama.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=427&tid=207207157&mid=207207157&sid=885&style=2
D.C. Reeves
Alabama's national title hopes, and I'm assuming its No. 1 overall seed in the CFP, are still in tact. Oregon could overtake Alabama on Tuesday night with a dominating win over Oregon State, but that would be inconsequential to Alabama in terms of getting to play a potential semifinal game in New Orleans.
It's the first time Alabama went 4-0 in November since 2009.
Alabama's 55 points ties the most it has ever scored on Auburn. Last time it dropped 55 on the Tigers? 1948.
Amari Cooper will be in NYC in December, take that to the bank after his game, namely his huge second half. He has 19 catches for 402 yards and 4 touchdowns in his past two Iron Bowls.
The difference in the game defensively was Alabama's ability to get red zone stops. The Tigers were forced to settle for three field goals on its first three redzone trips after 19 plays, 41 total yards, 3 field goals on first three trips.
Take away Auburn's inconsequential score at the end of the game and it was held to one touchdown, five field goals and one turnover on downs in seven red zone trips.
Alabama allowed eight passes of 30-plus yards all season coming into Saturday. It allowed six to Auburn.
Blake Sims' first interception was the worst he's thrown all season long, bar none and it his worst 2.5 quarter stretch as Alabama's starter. That first one was a complete misread that led to a touchdown and Auburn's 16-14 lead in the second quarter. Making matters worse, all three of his interceptions were on Alabama's side of the field.
That said, you have to give him credit for bouncing back with the help of Cooper. He went 10-of-12 for 183 yards and three touchdowns after his third interception of the game. He also ran in a score.
Aaron Suttles
Amari Cooper simply is too good for most college defense. To single cover him is just asking to get burned. Yet we continue to see it this season. I know quarterbacks and running backs get all the Heisman love, but Amari Cooper is absolutely deserving. If you take him off this Alabama team, there's a huge hole that can't be filled. -
T.J. Yeldon got just eight carries in the first half, but got it rolling in the second half to finish the game with 19 rushes for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Lane Kiffin is a play calling guru, but not feeding Yeldon when he's ripping off 7.4 yards per carry seems like a bad idea.
No injury update on true freshman Cam Robinson, but his status is something to watch this week, as Missouri can flat-out rush the passer. A healthy Brian Vogler would go a long ways too.
Jalston Fowler had a whale of a football game. He often goes unnoticed due to his position, but when you re-watch the game be sure to notice how much the Nudie Bus did his job and more.
Derrick Henry, or El Tractorcito as he's known in Mexico, is near impossible to stop once he gets rolling. The problem has been getting him running north and south and full tilt.
This post was edited on 11/30 12:01 AM by dcreeves
https://alabama.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=427&tid=207207157&mid=207207157&sid=885&style=2
