By Hunt Palmer
November has traditionally been college football’s wildest month. LSU and Alabama have a way of kick starting the mayhem. Both teams are fighting for their College Football Playoff lives on Saturday. A third loss would cripple any remaining postseason hopes.
Kalen DeBoer has won everywhere he’s coached. This challenge is unique, though. Following Nick Saban has its advantages, but it also comes with massive expectations. Losing to Vanderbilt is not part of those expectations, and neither is suffering a third regular season loss.
Let’s dive into the numbers for an initial look at Alabama.
(For perspective 1st is always the best, even if the number is lowest. 16th is always worst)
Alabama Offense:
Scoring Offense: 3rd 37.6 points per game
Total Offense: 6th 431.8 yards per game
Rushing Offense: 5th 177.6 yards per game
Rushing Attempts: 11th 35.6 attempts per game
Runs for 10+ yards: 7th 43
Passing Offense: 7th 254 yards per game
Passing Attempts: 11th 27.1 attempts per game
Passes of 20+ yards: 7th 32
Sacks Allowed: 6th 17
Third Down Conversions: 10th 40%
Red Zone Touchdowns Percentage: 3rd 72.7%
Plays: 14th 62.7 plays per game
Yards per Play: 2nd 6.88
Time of Possession: 11th 28:41 per game
Alabama’s offense has been good. The Tide hung 40 on Georgia with the help of some Carson Beck turnovers. In the loss at Vanderbilt, Alabama still managed 35 points despite only having the ball for just under 18 of the 60 minutes. Tennessee’s defense is the best in the SEC, and the volunteers held Alabama to 17 points and 2.2 yards per rush. Other than that, Jalen Milroe and the offense have played well.
Third downs have been a bit of a problem. Milroe is only completing 52 percent of his throws on third down. The Tide only converted 3-of-14 third downs in Knoxville.
Last season Alabama’s offensive line couldn’t pass protect at all. They’ve cleaned that up a little bit.
On the ground, both Jam Miller and Justice Haynes have run for over six yards per carry. Milroe’s 102 carries and 12 rushing touchdowns lead the team.
Alabama Defense:
Scoring Defense: 6th 18.6 points per game
Total Defense: 11th 337.8 yards per game
Rushing Defense: 14th 144.5 yards per game
Yards Per Carry Allowed: 9th 3.67 yards per carry
Passing Defense: 6th 193.3 yards per game
Opponents Completion Percentage: 5th 57.3%
Opponents Third Down Conversions: 6th 31.7%
Sacks: 10th 2.25 sacks per game
Tackles for Loss: 12th 5.6 tackles for loss per game
Opponent Plays of 20+: 4th 26
Opponent Runs for 10+: 11th 34
Opponent Passes of 20+: 5th 19
Opponent Red Zone Touchdowns Percentage: 13th 56.5%
Opponent Third down Conversions: 6th 31.7%
Turnovers Forced: 1st 18
Penalties Per Game: 16th 8.6
Seeing Alabama with the 11th ranked total defense in the Southeastern Conference is odd. Teams have been able to run the ball on the Tide, and Georgia (34) and Vanderbilt (40) rolled up big point totals. Beck threw for 439 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw three interceptions.
The Tide has done a great job of taking the ball away. That’s been an issue for Garrett Nussmeier.
Those sack and tackle for loss numbers are jarring for an Alabama defense. During the Saban era, the Tide’s hallmark was creating havoc at the line of scrimmage. That hasn’t always been the case this year.
And no team in the SEC has been penalized more than Alabama.
This version of the Crimson Tide is good. With a win in Tiger Stadium, a playoff spot seems likely. However, this is not one of the dominant Saban-era squads.
That’s born out statistically and in the game results.
