Alabama Offense Sputters Against State

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — On the finish of the day, Nick Saban’s not going to complain a couple of win. And Alabama did bounce again with a 30-6 win in opposition to Mississippi State Saturday evening, however it wasn’t a fairly one for the Alabama offense. 

Every week after placing up massive numbers within the loss in opposition to Tennessee, the Crimson Tide offense struggled to get something going persistently in opposition to Mississippi State Saturday evening. And consistency was the important thing idea for Alabama quarterback Bryce Younger after the sport.

“We’ve acquired to be extra constant,” Younger mentioned. “We did some good issues, however there’s some drives that we wish again. So I feel it’s simply that consistency. Ensuring that we’re that very same workforce. We stalled a little bit bit in that second half and have been capable of lean on our protection that did an amazing job all sport. We wish to be the very best model, the very best unit we could be.”

Alabama jumped out to a three-touchdown lead early within the second quarter, however Younger’s six-yard connection to Traeshon Holden with 8:19 left within the second quarter could be the final time the Crimson Tide discovered the top zone in opposition to the Bulldogs. 

For the primary time this season, Alabama was outgained. With Mississippi State’s late drive and landing, the Bulldogs completed with 293 yards in comparison with simply 290 for the Crimson Tide. The 290 yards was 84 yards lower than the earlier season low for Alabama in opposition to Texas. Alabama acquired the ball in Bulldog territory a number of occasions within the second half however may solely provide you with three area objectives. 

The protection was pursuing its first shutout of the season late within the second half. The Crimson Tide acquired the ball again with a little bit over seven minutes left within the fourth quarter however couldn’t milk the clock down. Mississippi State acquired the ball again with 3:58 to go and drove down the sector to attain its lone landing. 

“We must always be capable to take the air out of the ball on offense,” Saban mentioned within the postgame. “We couldn’t run the ball very effectively tonight, that’s one thing we undoubtedly want to enhance on.”

Led by Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama’s dashing sport had been choosing up steam the final a number of weeks. The Crimson Tide got here into the matchup twelfth within the nation averaging 236.7 dashing yards per sport. Alabama had at the least 100 dashing yards in each sport up to now this season.

Towards the Bulldogs, Alabama completed with 29 yards on the bottom. It was the bottom whole put out by the offense for the reason that nationwide championship loss to Georgia in January when Alabama had 30 dashing yards. 

Gibbs had a 19-yard landing run within the second quarter, his first dashing landing at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and that ended up being just about the one spotlight on the bottom. 

“We didn’t play very effectively with any consistency on offense,” Saban mentioned. “And that begins with what I mentioned earlier than— couldn’t run the ball very effectively. That impacts play motion passes. I believed we had some RPO throws that we must always have taken that we did not take, and we missed a pair.”

In response to Alabama proper deal with JC Latham, Mississippi State’s slants and linebacker plugs on protection created a whole lot of misdirection, which made it tough to get get guys free on combo blocks and run the ball successfully. 

“It means loads that we had a fairly profitable passing sport,” Latham mentioned. “So far as the run sport goes, we gotta do a greater job at executing and being extra constant. We’re simply targeted on dealing with our enterprise transferring ahead.”

Younger mentioned it would not put any further stress on his shoulders when the run sport is struggling as a result of the offense has to have success as a cohesive unit. In response to the quarterback, all 11 guys should be on the identical web page. The quarterback completed with 249 yards and two touchdowns within the win. 

Thankfully for the offense, it now has per week to get rested and refreshed because the Crimson Tide enters the bye week. It offers the workforce the chance to observe movie and enhance, but in addition bodily get well their our bodies with out the pressure of a sport. 

For Saban, this week could possibly be particularly essential for getting Younger again to full well being after the shoulder damage he suffered in opposition to Arkansas. 

“I feel Bryce performed very well within the sport, however I feel getting him again one hundred pc will actually assist,” Saban mentioned.

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