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Upon Further Review: No. 22 Texas A&M at No. 1 Alabama
by Christopher Walsh1 hour ago
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ā This whole article could be about sophomore quarterback Tua Tagovailoa finishing up his first month as Alabamaās starting quarterback.
Although yes, Alabama technically does have another game to play in September against Louisiana on Saturday (SEC Network, 11 a.m.), Week 4 is the one-third mark of the regular season.
Consider this a progress report following Saturdayās 45-23 victory over No. 22 Texas A&M at Bryant-Denny Stadium:
ā¢ His 230.5 passer efficiency rating, which is how the NCAA determines its passing champion, leads the nation. To put that into perspective, Baker Mayfield topped the FBS last year at 198.9. Thatās also the NCAA single-season record.
ā¢ Tagovailoa set career highs with 387 passing yards, 22 completions, 30 attempts and five touchdowns scored (four passing, one rushing) against the Aggies.
ā¢ The 387 passing yards were the fifth-best in school history and tied for the second-highest total under Saban. Blake Sims holds the Saban-era mark with 445 vs. Florida on Sept. 20, 2014, which is also the last time Alabama topped 400 passing yards in a game.
ā¢ So far heās directed 31 drives this season, resulting in 20 touchdowns and two field goals. Thatās a 71 percent success rate. During those possessions alone, Alabama is 15-for-19 on third down conversions, for 1,507 yards on 159 snaps for an average of 9.5 yards per play. They account for 144 of the 195 points scored by the Crimson Tide offense.
ā¢ Tagovailoa had his first third-down incompletions of the season. After beginning the season 13-for-13, he went 4-for-7 for 74 yards and three first downs, plus he ran for another. Heās 17-for-20 on third downs for 372 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions. His passer rating on third down ādroppedā to 340.24.
ā¢ Tagovailoa has yet to attempt a fourth-quarter pass this season.
Play of the game: Itās tough to top the first play when someone like sophomore wide receiver DeVonta Smith scores a 30-yard touchdown with a diving catch, reminding everyone of the play that won the national championship in January.
Player of the game: For the fourth straight week itās Tagovailoa. Honorable mention goes to senior tight end Hale Hentges for his two touchdowns and senior defensive end Isaiah Buggs for notching three sacks and also having two quarterback hurries.
**Statistic of the game:**Alabama had three touchdowns drives of 75 yards, one of 80 and another of 92. Yet it had only one possession last more than seven plays, and the final time the Crimson Tide had the ball it used up the most time, 4:33.
Five things we learned about Alabama
Penalties, penalties, penalties: Itās one area in which Alabamaās youth has been showing as the Crimson Tide was flagged nine times against Texas A&M, 10 if you count the offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Look for Saban to try and crack down on this area as Alabama is tied for 101stout of 129 teams for fewest penalties at the FBS level. Only three teams in the SEC have been flagged more: Ole Miss (tied 104), Auburn (also tied 104), and Mississippi State (tied for 124th). Arkansas State, which Alabama defeated in Week 2, is last.
**Yes, it was a horsecollar penalty:**Officials made the correct call when freshman linebacker Eyabi Anoma was called for a horsecollar penalty on third-and-10, with Texas A&M going on to score its final touchdown in the fourth quarter. The horsecollar penalty has been around since 2008, but the NCAA changed the language of the rule in 2017: āAll players are prohibited from grabbing the inside back collar of the shoulder pads or jersey, the area, or the inside collar of the side of the shoulder pads or jersey, and immediately pulling the ball carrier down.ā In other words, a player canāt grab the outside part of jersey in the area and pull someone down like Anoma did. Chalk it up to a learning experience.
Conditioning paid off: Alabama learned the hard way that the players are ready to go the distance physically in a game as the offense executed 61 plays and the defense was on the field for 71. āOur conditioning is great,ā Buggs said. Nevertheless, the team isnāt expected to practice on Monday as Saban likes to give players and extra day off every six or seven weeks from the start of fall camp.
Sack statement: Although itās an oversimplification, Alabamaās defensive line made a statement by notching 3.5 of the teamās seven sacks, plus the Crimson Tide was credited with 12 quarterback hurries. Clemson is being hailed as having the best defensive line in college football, but against this same Texas A&M offensive line registered two of the Tigersā four sacks in Week 2. Clemson had six hurries, but three more tackles for a loss than the Crimson Tide (10-7).
Yards after contact: Alabamaās yards after contact have been impressive, although itās not anything new with senior running back Damien Harris. Heās had just 230 rushing yards, putting him on pace for 920 at the end of the regular season, but his 7.4 yards per carry is the same as 2017. A lot of that comes from grinding out extra yards.
10 things you may not have noticed
1] Alabama has a new leader in yards after the catch: Since a shovel pass statistically counts as a pass at the collegiate level, speedster Henry Ruggs III tops the unofficial leaderboard with 147. Meanwhile, fellow sophomore wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Smith are tied for the lead in explosive plays (17-yard receptions plus) with eight each.
2] The blockers on Ruggsā touchdown were junior tight end Irv Smith Jr. sealing the edge, junior running back Josh Jacobs out of the backfield and redshirt freshman wide receiver Tyrell Shavers ā along with the usual suspects, meaning the offensive line and senior tight end Hale Hentges. It was a tight formation and the play-design gave Ruggs a head start on hitting the edge and turning the corner.
3] Even though Texas A&M did very well in slowing down the Alabama running game, which had only two explosive plays (Saban defines them as 13-plus yards on the ground), the Aggies didnāt notch a sack. Opponents have only had three this season.
4] On the kick coverage after Alabama scored its first touchdown, safety Xavier McKinney had his helmet knocked out and had to sit out the subsequent play. Daniel Wright took his place in the secondary. Even though Texas A&M was called for delay of game on first down, coaches kept Wright in there.
5] Alabama quarterbacks have attempted 12 passes in the red zone (inside the 20), resulting in six touchdowns compared to just three incompletions. Four have been aimed at a tight end, for three touchdowns.
6] Alabama converted just 4 of 10 third-down opportunities and big reason why was the distance. On the chances it didnāt convert the Crimson Tide needed 10, 20, 12, 8, 8 and 6 yards for the first down.
7] Harris already has more yards after the catch this season (unofficially 116) than total receiving yards in 2017 (91). He has 99 receiving yards, but most of his receptions have been on screen passes so he catches the ball behind the line of scrimmage.
8] Alabama failed to score any points in a quarter for the first time this season when it was shut out of the fourth quarter.
9] Texas A&M had just six completions during the first half when Alabama built up a 31-13 lead. Quarterback Kellen Mond rushing accounted for 57 percent of the Aggiesā offense during the first two quarters, and his 54-yard carry was 27 percent.
10] Senior tight end Hale Hentges only had three career touchdowns (Fresno State, Ole Miss and Mercer last season) before the Texas A&M game. Do you notice the way he protected the ball with both hands on the second score?
