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Tide Tops ‘ Toppers: First Impressions

By Kirk Franklin

Sep 10, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Tim Williams (56) throws Western Kentucky Hilltoppers quarterback Mike White (14) to the ground and receives a roughing the passer call for the play at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Tim Williams (56) throws Western Kentucky Hilltoppers quarterback Mike White (14) to the ground and receives a roughing the passer call for the play at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Alabama Football got off to a great start a week ago, trouncing the USC Trojans 52-6. However, their Week Two performance was not quite up to the Tide’s lofty standards. Following Alabama’s 38-10 victory over Western Kentucky in Tuscaloosa on a sweltering 92 degree day where the on field temperature topped 100 degrees, Nick Saban’s internal temperature was even hotter. Cameras caught him ripping into Offensive Coordinator Lane Kiffin late in the contest.

Here are my observations from the game:

Quarterbacks

  • Jalen Hurts has an absolute cannon for an arm. You can see it in the arc of his passes. The plane is flat and the spiral is tight. He has definitely got to work on timing with the receivers and the flow of the routes as several of his passes were either late or under-thrown due to holding on to the ball too long or releasing the ball before the receiver breaks free. The talent is there however. That’s obvious. It just takes reps.
  • Blake Barnett regressed. Not sure if it was due to lack of reps or the bland play calling, but the offense didn’t have the same look to it as when Hurts was under center. The potential is easy to see. His mechanics are good, the team just doesn’t respond the same.
  • The QB competition is over. Going forward, Hurts will be the guy unless there is a serious regression or injury. He got 80% of the reps against WKU and you have to expect the game plan for Ole Miss will be built around him. Hurts threw for 286 yards and was 23-36 overall. All this after a good 100 yards was lost via dropped passes.  Barnett might be kept in the mix as an insurance policy, but he will most likely be relegated to headset duty.

Offensive Line and Running Game

  • The interior of the OL needs improvement big time. Alphonse Taylor replaced Pierschbacher early in the game to try to help create a push in the run game. It didn’t help much. Bozeman stayed at center, but had a bad snap in the shotgun. Lester Cotton had a holding penalty and didn’t get much push. You have to wonder if Pierschbacher will move back to center, as he was during most of fall camp and Taylor stays at RG, while Bozeman goes back to the bench as the top backup. Either way, chemistry and cohesiveness have to be a priority immediately.
  • The run game was ineffective. 39 carries totaled 124 yards for an average of 3.2 per carry. This was against a completely outmanned front seven for WKU. Lack of push from the OL was a major contributor however, as was play calling, but you just never got a sense the run game was dominant.

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Defense, Penalties, and Minutiae

  • The defense is phenomenal and will only get better. The secondary came away with two picks, one for a TD, while having their hands on a couple of others. Jonathan Allen did whatever he wanted and looked like the Top 10 pick he will be next spring.  WKU had 23 yards rushing on 22 attempts. That’s not good.
  • Penalties are a concern. The offense isn’t clicking enough to overcome these self-inflicted wounds yet, and this has to be infuriating  to Saban. 12 penalties for 84 yards is not part of the Process. Expect this to be a major emphasis this week in practice.
  • It seemed like Saban kept emphasizing to the team  via the media that arrogance and lack of respect for an opponent are not a recipe for winning football. You have to wonder if the team was reading its own press clippings after the USC game. Internal leadership needs to step up and refocus attention to detail.
  • Hurts became the first true freshman to start at QB for Alabama in 32 years. The last one? Vince Sutton in 1984 before giving way to Mike Shula.
  • Alabama does this most seasons. They whip a brand name foe in the opener, only to struggle against a lesser foe in the second week of the season.Tide fans shouldn’t worry too much about the Tide’s struggles against WKU. As of right now the Tide is somewhere between the USC performance and yesterday’s showing.
  • For his part, Head Coach Nick Saban was extremely hot after the game, saying:

Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

"“I don’t know that I’ve ever been this disappointed after winning a game, maybe ever. I’m almost embarrassed I didn’t do a better job for my team.”"

Conclusion

Ole Miss is up next as the Tide rolls into Oxford. No doubt , focus and intensity won’t be an issue as Bama looks to avenge two of the only three losses they have had in the previous two seasons. Thanks for reading. Be sure to “like” us on Facebook and “follow” us on Twitter.

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