Alabama
Does Alabama, Bryce Young Have a Go-To Receiver? All Things CW
The All Issues CW notes column by Christopher Walsh will seem in 5 elements this week, one every day because the Alabama Crimson Tide enjoys a bye week.
That is …
Take 1
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — We have been saying all season that one of many key statistics for the Alabama Crimson Tide this season could be third-down conversions, as it is not solely telling in regards to the offense’s potential to maintain drives however provides a transparent indication about who quarterback Bryce Younger appears to in clutch conditions.
That is normally. Not a lot this season.
With so many new faces and so many potentialities within the passing sport, the Crimson Tide has been fairly various, with 19 completely different gamers having a reception to date.
But issues are nonetheless fairly unsettled. Not solely is that partly on account of accidents and the dearth of expertise with the quarterback, however Younger has additionally been damage, struggling a shoulder harm in opposition to Arkansas.
This week will not assist as he’ll can be shut down to assist relaxation the harm. Younger began in opposition to Tennessee and Mississippi State, however you most likely seen that he wasn’t throwing downfield a lot in opposition to the Bulldogs — partially to attenuate the chance of a setback.
He will must down the stretch, particularly in opposition to LSU on Nov. 5.
So which participant will step in that regard on the opposite finish?
Working again Jahmyr Gibbs has essentially the most receptions (31). Ja’Corey Brooks has essentially the most yards (376). Sophomore JoJo Earle has the perfect common achieve per catch (20.4). Junior Traeshon Holden tops the workforce in touchdowns (5).
Plus, freshman Isaiah Bond has the longest achieve at 53 yards.
Alabama has handed for two,195 yards, nevertheless final week everybody noticed what occurs when it is not clicking, particularly within the second half. The place it actually confirmed statistically was within the operating sport, which was fairly stagnant as Mississippi State might zero in on maintaining all the things in entrance of the secondary.
Total, Alabama is fifth within the nation in scoring offense, averaging 43.1 factors per sport regardless of its lack of cohesion within the passing sport.
That is the excellent news. It is fifteenth in complete offense and seventeenth in speeding, however then twenty eighth in passing effectivity.
It is also twenty eighth in third-down conversions.
As famous right here earlier than, one of many actually spectacular issues about Younger throughout his Heisman Trophy season was that his completion share really went up on third down. He accomplished 68.4 p.c of his makes an attempt on first down, 65.8 on second, however was 86-for-122, 70.5 p.c, for 1,263 yards on third down.
He additionally had his finest common for passing yards on third down, 10.4 per try. His passer score was 176.3.
Up to now this season, Younger has been 25-for-46 (54.3 p.c) for 379 yards, with 5 touchdowns on third down.
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He hasn’t been picked off, and in addition hasn’t been sacked almost as a lot.
But his passer score is simply 159.4 on third down.
That’s really fairly regular, though Younger is not identified for being a standard quarterback.
He is been at his finest this season on second down, when defenses usually don’t know if Alabama is seeking to run or cross. It is translated to a passer score of 174.5.
Going again to our unique premise, what Younger hasn’t had to date is a go-to receiver he can depend on like he had with John Metchie III final season till he suffered a season-ending knee harm within the SEC Championship Sport.
Towards Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Metchie had six catches for 97 yards and a landing all earlier than halftime. Nevertheless, with lower than a minute remaining within the second quarter he tore his ACL on a non-contact play.
Jameson Williams stepped up in that position, however then he too suffered a knee harm in the course of the CFP Nationwide Championship Sport, additionally in opposition to Georgia. The Bulldogs went on to win, 33-18.
Metchie had 25 third-down receptions in 13 video games final season, averaging nearly two per outing. Williams had 18 third-down catches, and the 2 mixed for 878 yards and 7 touchdowns in the important thing scenario.
By eight video games this season, Brooks the one participant near averaging a third-down catch per sport regardless of solely being a sophomore. That speaks volumes to his potential and future, however going from making the occasional massive catch (like he did within the Iron Bowl final yr) to persistently being the man the offense appears to and depend on is the following step in his improvement.
Might it occur in November? Alabama wants somebody to step up in that capability, and for the general chemistry to enhance within the passing sport if it’ll be a professional contender.
2022 Alabama Third-Down Receiving Leaders
Title, Catches-Yards (Avg.) TDS
Ja’Corey Brooks 7-125 (17.9) 1
Kobe Prentice 5-86 (17.2) 1
Jahmyr Gibbs 5-9 (1.8) 0
Jermaine Burton 4-51 (12.8) 1
Traeshon Holden 2-20 (10.0) 2
Cameron Latu 3-29 (9.7) 1
Alabama’s High Third-Down Receivers Since 2009
Receptions
- Amari Cooper, 2014, 32
- John Metchie III, 2021, 25
- Jerry Jeudy, 2019, 20
- Calvin Ridley, 2015, 19
- Amari Cooper, 2012, 19
Receiving Yards
- Jameson Williams, 2021, 471
- John Metchie III, 2021 408
- Amari Cooper, 2014, 373
- Jerry Jeudy, 2019, 303
- Amari Cooper, 2012, 293
See Additionally:
The Good, The Dangerous, and The Ugly: Alabama 30, Mississippi State 6
Alabama Offense Sputters Towards State
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