After eight grueling weeks of football, the Alabama Crimson Tide bye week is here and they are finally getting a much-deserved break. Alabama has rolled through all eight opponents in record-setting, historic fashion. The Alabama offense is averaging a little more than 54 points per game while the defense is only giving up almost 16 points per game. Here is a glance back at the dominance of Alabama so far this season:
- Louisville 14 – Alabama 51
- Arkansas State 7 – Alabama 57
- Alabama 62 – Ole Miss 7
- Texas A&M 23 – Alabama 45
- Louisiana-Lafayette 14 – Alabama 56
- Alabama 65 – Arkansas 31
- Missouri 10 – Alabama 39
- Alabama 58 – Tennessee 21
Third Saturday In October Review
This past Saturday, the Crimson Tide traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee to face off against the Tennessee Volunteers. Tennessee was coming off of a big win at Auburn and was hoping to continue that momentum. Unfortunately for the Volunteers, they were facing Alabama. In the first quarter alone, Alabama rolled out 28 straight points. After that, Tennessee seemed to get a little bit of their fight back and scored two touchdowns. Both touchdowns were orchestrated by backup quarterback Keller Chryst. Chryst replaced Jarrett Guarantano after he went out for a shoulder injury and seemed to spark the Volunteer offense.
The closest Tennessee was ever able to get it was 28-14 in the second quarter, but Alabama answered with two touchdowns of their own and never looked back. Tennessee was able to get one defensive score on a pick-six by Defensive Lineman Kyle Phillips. That pass was thrown by Jalen Hurts. Tua Tagovailoa was spectacular again completing 19 out of 29 passes for 306 yards and four touchdowns. Tagovailoa still has yet to throw an interception this season. Hurts came in to relieve Tagovailoa after he took a hard hit in the third quarter. Hurts completed two of his three passes for 21 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. He also rushed twice for 24 yards and one touchdown.
As Alabama enters their week off, it is hard to find any specific thing to say that the Tide needs to work on to improve. Head Coach Nick Saban will definitely be able to find some room for improvement for sure. That aspect is one of the major keys to Saban’s success. He is never satisfied and those around him aren’t either. Although the Tide isn’t facing another team this week, the bye week can be just as bad as a “trap game”. If not utilized properly, the bye week can strip a team of its once glorious appearance. It is always important to Know Your Foe.
Alabama Crimson Tide: Know Your Foe – The BYE Edition
What a wonderful first eight games it has been for the Crimson Tide of Alabama and the fans clad in Crimson. Alabama has completely dominated every opponent they have faced while others near the top of the Top 25 have stumbled. This past weekend saw the No. 2 team in the nation, Ohio State, get blown out by an unranked Purdue team. Alabama has remained steadfast however and has remained in the No. 1 position from the very first snap of the season.
The bye week is very important for teams to get some rest, take care of some injuries and to work on some basics. This week there are three major things that the Tide need to focus on: rushing, the secondary, and the kicking game.
Running Game
Alabama as a team has 1,838 yards rushing and 21 rushing touchdowns. Those are great numbers, but for a team like Alabama, they’re really underperforming. Here are the leading rushers for Alabama so far this season:
- Najee Harris has 78 carries for 489 yards and four touchdowns.
- Damien Harris has 68 carries for 435 yards and five touchdowns.
- Josh Jacobs has 55 carries for 267 yards and eight touchdowns.
The reason that these number should be better is simple. Alabama has always been a “smashmouth” type football team and with Tagovailoa at quarterback, the focus has become more on the passing game. That is either because the running game is lacking or because Tagovailoa is just that good. The passing offense has nearly 1,000 more yards than does the rushing offense and 10 more touchdowns. The improvement in those numbers have come the past two weeks against Missouri and Tennessee.
The Secondary
The secondary for Alabama is the area on the defense that needs to be worked on, although it is still one of the best in college football. The defensive line and linebackers for Alabama have only given up three rushing touchdowns and haven’t had 1,000 yards rushed on them yet. The secondary cannot boast numbers like that, as they have given up 1,556 yards through the air and 12 touchdowns. Those numbers would be record-setting at most other schools, but not in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
The Kicking Game
The past two seasons, Alabama has struggled in the kicking game. Granted it hasn’t been needed that much, it has still been a weak spot. This season Joseph Bulovas has the kicking duties and has made eight of his 12 attempts. He has made a long of 47 yards, missed one over 50 yards, made both attempts between 40 and 49 yards, made two and missed two between 30 and 39 yards away and is four out of five inside 30 yards.
The biggest issue for Bulovas isn’t so much the field goals. Missing extra points is a different story though. So far this season he has missed three extra points. Continuing that trend is not going to set well with Saban, so something better get corrected this week.
Bye BYE
Alabama needs to enjoy this bye week and rest. Playing eight straight games at the level that they have played them is almost unheard of and takes a toll on the players. The last four regular season games don’t get any easier either. Alabama will come back in two weeks against the LSU Tigers in Death Valley. LSU is also on their bye week, so they will be rested and prepared as well. After LSU, Mississippi State comes to Tuscaloosa, then the Tide have an easier game against The Citadel. Alabama will then close out the regular season against their in-state rivals in the Iron Bowl: The Auburn Tigers.
With an opponent like LSU awaiting the Tide on the other side of the bye week, it won’t be used or viewed as a bye week at all. This should in all actuality be an additional week of practice and preparation. LSU whipped the Georgia Bulldogs two weeks ago and now have their sights set on the Tide. Will Alabama be ready?
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