Interesting Tidbits From Last Night's Win
Alabama 35-17
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
It was a fine beginning to a brand new season. Sure, there are things to work on, bugs to be worked out, and a chink here or there in the armor. But all in all, the 2015 edition of the Crimson Tide is ready to make another run at the SEC crown and national title.
It will be a difficult road, sure. Bama has, by all pundits, the hardest schedule in all of college football. To make it through this season unscathed would indeed be quite an accomplishment and one that would be truly national championship-worthy.
Now last night's game. That 34-17 shellacking of Wisconsin was a sight to behold. Number three did what it was supposed to do to number 20. Even beat the point-spread for those who keep up with that sort of thing. All-in-all, a really good game for Bama.
The game captains for Alabama for the AdvoCare Classic last night were seniors Ryan Kelly and Reggie Ragland, as well as junior A'Shawn Robinson, all of whom turned in great performances.
Bama had seven student-athletes making their first appearance on the gridiron, according to RollTide.com. They were true freshmen Calvin Ridley, Ronnie Harrison, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Daron Payne, Shawn Burgess-Becker, Damien Harris, Lester Cotton and Dallas Warmack. Included in this group were redshirt freshmen Marlon Humphrey, Christian Miller and Keith Holcombe. Finishing out the group was transfer Richard Mullaney.
Those starting for the first time for the Tide were defensive players Marlon Humphrey, Darren Lake and Shaun Dion Hamilton. On the offensive side of the ball were first-time starters Ross Pierschbacher, Domick Jackson, Jake Coker and Robert Foster.
Alabama is 70-3 since the start of the 2008 football season when they have rushed for at least 140 yards.
Derrick Henry's 56-yard touchdown run is the longest scoring run in the seven year history of the AdvoCare Classic. Henry also got his 6th career 100-plus yard rushing game. It was his 4th in the last 5 neutral-site games.
The Crimson Tide has scored in the first half of the last 104 games played. Incidentally, that's the longest streak in the nation. The last time Bama failed to score in the first half was back in 2007 against Florida State.
The Crimson Tide owns a perfect 6-0 record in an opening night contest played inside a domed stadium under head coach Nick Saban.
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
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Saban Post-Game Interview
One thing is for certain. Alabama head coach Nick Saban will tell it like it is in his post-game interviews. He'll give you the good and the bad. Then he'll take Sunday off, so-to-speak, on the last game ups and downs and get ready to focus on the next opponent.
Concerning the game itself, Saban said, "You know, a lot of good things in the game today. Thought we played
well in the line of scrimmage. We kind of dominated the line of
scrimmage, were able to stop their run. I thought we played really well
defensively. Didn't get the turnovers like we wanted. Never got off
the field always on third down like we wanted. But I thought our
guys really competed and played hard, and I was really proud of the way
we came out, especially in the second half on both sides of the ball and
kind of dominated the game. I thought that was a big difference in the
game.
"Offensively, even though we started a little bit slow, that was kind of
the plan, not to put a lot on the quarterback," Saban continued. "Ran the ball four or
five times. Then when we opened it up and created some balance. I
thought Jake (Coker) played really well. And, obviously, Derrick Henry
had a nice game. I thought the offensive line did a pretty decent job.
Wisconsin has got a very good defensive front. We had some shots at
some explosive plays that we missed that were sort of 50/50 balls that
you think you would get some of them or half of them or whatever, and we
didn't always come down with it."
When asked about Jake Coker's performance, and his decision-making as the game progressed Saban said, "Did a really good job. I think he was 14 for 21 and about four of the
balls were long balls that we had a chance on. Didn't turn it over. We
need to protect a little bit better. Couple times we got sacked early
in the game. Not really his fault. But
I thought he did a nice job. I thought he was accurate with the ball.
He didn't make any poor decisions. He didn't put the ball into coverage
anywhere. Did a nice job of executing what we wanted him to do. It
created balance for us on our offense, and that was really good."
When asked about the importance of Derrick Henry in the overall game plan for last night's game Saban said, "Well, Derrick Henry
has had an outstanding camp. I think he's a fabulous player. He
usually plays better as the game goes on in terms of workhorse type guy.
And it was good to see him make some good runs out there. We think
the guy can be a fantastic player for us, and we want to get Kenyan Drake some more opportunities. We want to see Kenyan Drake do a little bit more too. And Damien Harris got to play mostly with the second offensive line, which didn't do a very good job in the game. But they had their first group in there. So it was a good
experience for those guys, and they will learn, and it will help our
depth down the road."
Saban was also asked about ball distribution to the various receivers and the importance of Coker in doing that, thus making Wisconsin defend the entire field. His response was, " Well, he threw the ball to the guys that he was supposed to throw it
to. He made the right reads based on the call that was made and based
on the way Wisconsin was playing. If you are playing split safeties, you are supposed to throw it
to one side. If you are playing the middle of the field closed, you
throw it to the other side. So it is not like Jake went out there and said, I am going to throw the ball to a
lot of different guys. He threw it to the guy that he was supposed to
throw it to all the time in the game, which was a very good thing. He
was accurate for the most part, and we were pleased with the way he
played."
So good and bad in the interview, as well as a little of the Saban sarcasm we've all come to expect. So he was pretty well pleased, yet realistic. Work begins again when the "24 hour rule" is over.
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Tide Rolls To 35-17 Season-Opening Win
Photo Credit: CBSsports.com
Photo Credit: CBSsport.com
The third-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide put a good, old-fashioned beat-down on the Wisconsin Badgers last night behind the bruising running of Derrick Henry. That beat-down came to the tune of 35-17 in front of 64,279 fans at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Badger's 300-plus rushing yards per game last season limped in on crutches last night to a tune of only 40 yards on 21 carries. The Crimson Tide? 502 total yards.
The quarterback? Jake Coker. Coker completed 15 of 21 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown. Another important stat. Coker had no interceptions. Head coach Nick Saban decided to send in Cooper Bateman late in the game, who showed a little more quickness in his footwork, but didn't get a real opportunity to secure the starting position.
The Tide had terrible field position in the first half, but marched down the field for scores on drives of 88 and 90 yards. The first drive went nowhere fast for Bama. The second possession was a bit different, however. Backed up on their own 10 yard line Bama marched 90 yards in only six plays, with running back Derrick Henry breaking through on a 37-yard touchdown run with 5:51 remaining in the first quarter. Bama held a 7-0 lead through the end of the first quarter.
The first quarter ended with Bama leading in every stat. Bama led in passing yards 56-29, rushing yards, 39-13, and first downs 7-2. Total yards was 95-45 in favor of the Crimson Tide.
The Wisconsin score came with 11:06 remaining in the second quarter on a six-yard pass with the receiver laying out across the ground for the score. That tied up the score, for the only time during the game, at 7-7.
The Tide's second score of the evening came on a Jake Coker pass to Robert Foster on a 17-yarder with 6:34 remaining in the half. That drive was good for 88 yards, giving Alabama the lead again at 14-7.
Bama went into the half leading in all stats. Total yards 199 to 171 in Bama's favor, passing yards 158 to 156, rushing yards 65-22, and first downs 12-8. Coker was 10 of 13 for 134 yards and one touchdeown. Henry had nine carries for 75 yards and a touchdown, and Kenyan Drake had 6 for 14 yards.
During the halftime stop 'n question on his way to the locker room Saban said, "We obviously made some mistakes. We are not executing perfectly."
The third quarter brought Alabama another big score off the legs of Derrick Henry, a 56-yard burst that was the longest touchdown run in the seven-year history of the AdvoCare Classic. This was a two-play, 56-yard drive that took only 17 seconds. Bama was up 21-7.
That wasn't all for the Tide or Henry. Bama's big hoss capped a 7-play, 67-yard drive on a two-yard touchdown run. Bama up now 28-7 on a drive that lasted only 2:10.
Wisconsin came up with a field goal to bring the game a little closer at 28-10. The Badgers missed the first attempt, but had a second shot as a result of a penalty just prior to the snap.
Afterward, Cooper Bateman entered the game at quarterback for Bama with 1:27 remaining in the third quarter. His first play was a six-yard dash to show his speed and versatility. He completed 7 of 8 passes for 51 yards. Bama still led the contest 28-10 at the end of the third quarter.
It was again Kenyan Drake in the fourth quarter with another score. He appeared to be stopped for a loss, but broke lose on 3rd and 26 for a 43-yard dash and score that gave the Tide a 35-10 lead.
Wisconsin did manage another touchdown but didn't really help the outcome. Bama took the win 35-17.
The Alabama Crimson Tide has now scored in 184 consecutive game. That is the longest streak in Bama history. Also worth noting, Derrick Henry now has his sixth 100-plus yard rushing game. It's his fourth in the last five neutral site games.
When asked if he was happy with the team's performance in this 35-17 season-opening game, Saban said, "The second team didn't play well. At least not to our standards."
Though he was complimentary of several facets of the game as well as players, Saban also let it be know, "You know, I think in a game like this, you're always going to go back and say 'Where are we? Where do we need to improve? What are the things we did well? What are the things we need to do better?' There's certainly a lot of things we can do better in the game. It was a great win for us. Wisconsin's got a good team, and I'm really happy with the way our guys competed, and I thought we came out and played really well in the second half."
Concerning the quarterbacks, Saban said, "I thought Jake (Coker) played very well. You know, Cooper (Bateman) probably didn't have the same opportunities as he had, but really pleased with the way Jake played. He made good choices and decisions out there...and hopefully he will only get better and so will Cooper."
This game, this offensive scheme was more of the traditional Alabama offense. And with Derrick Henry, why not? And Kenyan Drake? Of course. But isn't it also good to know that the passing ability is indeed there both in the arm of the quarterbacks and in a receiving corp that looked pretty darn good? You bet.
The take-away from game one of the season? We should be just fine. Now with a game, and let's be clear, a game with a Top-20 opponent under their belts, the Crimson Tide is off to what should be another good season. Sure, do some fine-tuning. But opening night jitters are now going to be past them. Things are going to be a little more settled.
The Crimson Tide of Alabama will indeed make another run for the championship of both the Southeastern Conference and the nation. Roll Tide!
Photo Credit: ESPN
Photo Credit: ESPN
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How The SEC Fared
Alabama 35 Wisconsin 17
Mississippi State 34 Southern Miss 16
Florida 61 New Mexico State 13
Kentucky 40 Louisiana-Lafeyette 33
Texas A&M 38 Arizona State 17
Ole Miss 76 UT-Martin 3
Tennessee 59 Bowling Green 30
Missouri 34 SE Missouri State 3
Auburn 31 Louisville 24
Arkansas 48 UTEP 13
Georgia 51 Louisiana-Monroe 14
Vanderbilt 12 Western Kentucky 14
LSU-McNeese State cancelled/weather
