Alabama routed Texas A&M 52-24 in a game that showed why they may be the best team in the country. Fans got to see Crimson Tide quarterback Mac Jones have an exceptional game versus a quality opponent.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban was asked after the game about how he thought his starting quarterback performed.
He clearly thinks Jones is living up to the Bama standard because he had this to say about his starting quarterback, “Mac is playing really well, but that’s what we expect him to do. I think he is playing with a lot of poise out there.”
Jones and his blazing fast receivers played as well as anyone, including Saban, could have hoped. He completed 75% of his passes for 435 yards and four touchdowns. Jones had one interception, but to be fair it was on a pass batted into the air at the line of scrimmage.
The head coach of the Tide talked about Jones’ sole interception on the night, saying that he liked how he did not seem to let the tipped ball affect him.
The breakout star of this game was John Metchie, III. Metchie recorded 181 receiving yards, the most of any Alabama receiver on the night. He also caught two touchdowns for the Tide, compiling a truly impressive stat sheet considering he only had five receptions in the game.
Jaylen Waddle had a great game, as well, finishing with the second-most receiving yards, at 142. He and Devonta Smith each had a receiving touchdown.
Anyone who wanted to see what Alabama’s defense would look like this year does not have to wonder anymore. They forced the Aggies to throw two interceptions, and no Texas A&M quarterback felt comfortable in the pocket for most of the game.
Saban talked about his defense making the quarterback uncomfortable in his post-game interview, reflecting back on how that was not the case last year.
“The front did a good job of containing the quarterback,” Saban said. “We didn’t let Kellen run all over us like he did last year.”
The Alabama defense had four pass deflections and eight QB hurries against Texas A&M, proving that they have improved, and that it will not be easy to score on the Tide this year. One of the leaders of the stingy Saban defense, Daniel Wright, had a pick-six off of a bad Kellen Mond pass. Wright also had three tackles on the night.
Alabama was very impressive on both sides of the ball versus no. 13 Texas A&M, and will now look ahead to its next matchup versus Ole Miss next Saturday.
Ole Miss is coached by former Saban assistant, Lane Kiffin, who has taken his fast-paced offense to Oxford. Ole Miss defeated Kentucky to start off 1-1 in the Kiffin era.
Coach Saban is now 20-0 versus his former assistants and will aim to make that number rise next weekend.
Hayden Crigler is a contributing college football writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him through email: hayden@new-yhn.local or on Twitter: @hayden_crigler.
