Regular season losses have been rare for the Crimson Tide, and a loss to an unranked team has not happened since 2007.
So, the question mark going into today’s Mississippi State game is one of the few things we actually do not know about the Tide. How will they react?
Nick Saban-coached teams are known to get fired up after a loss and for coming out better than ever the next week. These losses are usually to a highly-ranked LSU, Auburn, Florida or Texas A&M team. Texas A&M was unranked, but that doesn’t mean they were not a good team.
Texas A&M was actually picked to be the team to contend with Alabama in the SEC West in the pre-season by most SEC Media personnel. The Aggies’ loss to Mississippi State the week before the Bama game is why people counted them out.
So, TAMU was actually a good team that Alabama lost to on a last-second field goal, and it is time to bounce back. Here are the three things the Tide need to do to get back on track and set their eyes back on that number one spot.
Pass blocking
The most evident, but least discussed issue with Alabama in their game against Texas A&M was their pass blocking. The Aggies’ pass-rush was an absolute terror to Alabama’s offensive line.
Stats do not tell the whole story here. Against Texas A&M, Alabama’s offensive line gave up four sacks and five quarterback hurries.
Bryce Young even gave up an interception because the pressure was so much. Bama’s passing attack is one of the best in the country again this year, but this season the quarterback has about half the time to get rid of the football.
Jimbo Fisher’s Aggies exposed the Tide’s pass-blocking, and Mississippi State will be looking to do the same this week. Saban knows more than maybe any coach in the country about the importance of good line play, so look for major improvements this week from that position group.
Feed Brian Robinson, Jr.
Alabama has kicked up their number of rushing attempts starting with the Ole Miss game.
Robinson has 526 yards so far this season running the ball, as well as six touchdowns on the ground. Keep in mind, that is with Alabama throwing the ball on more downs than running the ball through the first three games of the season.
Jase McClellan is the other guy that has been doing good behind Robinson with 191 yards for a 4.8 yard average on his carries.
McClellan has been playing well for sure, but that statistic really just shows how good Robinson has been. Robinson definitely has the hot hand, or leg, and he needs to be fed.
If the first key to Alabama righting the ship doesn’t turn around there will be no doubt that Robinson will become a workhorse for this football team, and that should make Alabama fans very happy.
Limit turnovers
This is not really discussed and kept on the hush around here, but Alabama lost the turnover battle last week.
Saban is arguably the best coach ever, and has very disciplined teams sure, but no team is perfect. This team specifically has looked a little bit sloppy at times this year.
Turnovers have not been a huge issue for the Tide so far this season, but it’s part of a bigger issue: Having a young team. This team is very young and inexperienced and hasn’t really gotten to live through much of Saban’s “process” just yet, but they probably got a heavy dose of it this week.
Saban likely heavily emphasized losing the turnover battle. That is one of the little things that maybe fans don’t see or care about as much, but a coach does.
This coach specifically cares.
Yes, they only had two turnovers and caused one for A&M, but Bama only lost by three points. Alabama is too good of a team not to correct a few of the young, sloppy mistakes for this season.
Alabama will right the ship starting this week and will look very good. However, don’t sleep on Mississippi State who beat Texas A&M just two weeks ago.
The Tide will travel to Starkville to take on the Bulldogs of Mississippi State at 6:00 p.m. CT for a game where Alabama will be looking to prove their worth and show what they are made of.
Hayden Crigler is a contributing college football and college basketball writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him through email: Hayden@yellowhammernews.com or on Twitter: @hayden_crigler.
