Alabama Faces Its Toughest Test Yet
Hosts Ole Miss This Saturday
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The Crimson Tide of Alabama will face its toughest test of the young season when they put their No. 2 national ranking on the line when they face off against the Rebels of Ole Miss. It is an understatement to say this is a big game. It's one stumble that haunts Tide fans from the 2014 regular season. It was a stunning 23-17 upset loss in Oxford, Mississippi that still bothers the faithful today. One year ago.
What about this year as compared to last? Last year Alabama was favored by all the prognosticators. This year, most pick Bama to win but there are those who are not convinced, and believe that Ole Miss will come to T-Town and make the Tide irrelevant as far as the national championship picture goes, and possibly for the SEC crown as well.
Last year the Tide was still questioning the quarterback situation, but Blake Sims was getting the vast majority of the playing time by the third game of the season. He won that starting quarterback job over one of the same men battling again this year for that same job, Jacob Coker. Bama fans were screaming, at times, for Coker to be put in the game. Well, he's in there, for the most part, this season, and the fans have screamed for someone else. So a similar situation with the QBs exist this season.
The running back situation last season was never in doubt. Neither is it this year. Bama has a running back corp that can get the job done. So, again, similarities.
The offensive line is similar to last season, but right now not quite as good. Pass protection has broken down at times, although some of that is one the quarterbacks for not getting rid of the ball. But too many defensive players have entered the Tide backfield.
Last season the defensive secondary had its problems. Ditto for this year. The long ball has only caused problems this season, however, in the form of pass interference calls. Yes, plenty of balls have been caught, but this season the defensive line is putting more pressure on quarterbacks and giving a little help to the Bama secondary. When the opponents QB is being chased around, or finds himself getting up off his back from the turf, it tends to make that quarterback a little nervous, not quite as likely to be as accurate, and have to hurry his throws. So, similar secondary but maybe a bit better and definitely an improved defensive front seven.
What about Mississippi? Improved. Faster, uptempo spread offense that is the type to cause defenses problems in their alignments and substitutions. They're putting up more points so far this season, and moving downfield by both the pass and the rush. Defensively they're better also, keeping the point totals down for the opposition. Possibly the best defense in the conference outside of Tuscaloosa.
Saban said, "Ole Miss certainly has an outstanding team. They have a lot of experience returning, I think 18 starters. Obviously when you score over 75 points a game, you have a pretty dynamic offense in a lot of ways. They have a lot of good players, they have a great scheme, and they do a really good job at executing; they play fast. They are leading the nation in a lot of categories when it comes to offense. I think (quarterback) Chad Kelly has done a really good job for them. They have a really good runner, and they've got really good receivers. (Laquon) Treadwell is probably as good as anybody in the country, and overall they have a really good receiving corp.
"On their defense, they've got seven starters back. It is one of the best defenses in the SEC; they've given up 12 points a game so far this year. They are one of the best defensive teams in our conference. This is a very good all-around team. It's certainly going to be a challenging game for us. We are looking forward to begin playing SEC competition, playing in our conference. This is the conference opener for us, and if you're a great competitor and you love to play in the games like this, then this is certainly going to offer as many challenges anyone could hope for as far as a competitor."
Though Bama recovered from last year's loss to Ole Miss, it would be best not to go through that again. A loss this early could be devastating to a team with the nation's toughest schedule and the "hardest" contests yet to come. And everyone remembers the loss of Kenyan Drake to a terrible leg injury during that contest. But he's back, and 100 percent.
No doubt this game presents a challenge, to both squads. Alabama is by far the more superior team than those the Rebels have faced this season. Ole Miss is also the best team the Tide will have seen. Which is the better team? It's why they play the game.
Alabama (2-0) hosts the Ole Miss Rebels (2-0) this Saturday at 8:15 p.m. CT in Bryant-Denny Stadium. The game will be televised by the SEC Network.
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