Why Alabama Turnovers the Key Statistic to Watch: 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 2

This is most likely probably the most shocking statistic you may see about Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Will Anderson Jr., who could also be the very best defender in school soccer this season. 

Out of his 190 profession tackles, together with 56 for a loss and 30.5 sacks, he has the identical variety of compelled fumbles as interceptions: One. 

Sure, for his Crimson Tide profession, all 36 video games.

It’s kind of of an aberration, certain, and likewise speaks volumes about how gamers typically have little management over some statistics particularly. 

However when contemplating the keys to the Crimson Tide’s stretch run, as November is as soon as once more the pivotal month for Alabama’s possibilities of reaching the SEC Championship Sport and making the School Soccer Playoff, turnovers must be on the prime of the record. 

Alabama’s performed eight video games up to now. 

It is created eight turnovers. 

That is it. 

It isn’t slightly below common, it is on tempo to simply be the bottom by an Alabama through the Nick Saban period. 

To offer a thought of how uncharacteristic that is, take into account the next: 

• Since 2007, the Crimson Tide has averaged 24 turnovers gained a season, which breaks all the way down to 16 interceptions and eight fumble recoveries. 

• It is had at the very least 20 each season minus one, 2013. 

• Alabama has compelled at the very least one turnover in 96 of the final 107 video games, relationship again to the beginning of the 2015 season). Throughout that stretch, the Crimson Tide has compelled 168 turnovers (109 interceptions, 59 fumbles) and returned 40 of these miscues for touchdowns.

Though Alabama has compelled at the very least one turnover in six straight video games heading into its bye, it is nonetheless tied for 99th within the nation in turnovers gained, and when the Crimson Tide’s 11 turnovers misplaced its tied for ninetieth in turnover margin. 

A few of it has to do with Alabama’s opponents. Utah State and Louisiana-Monroe performed so conservatively they opted for a take-no-chances method and principally concede the sport. They misplaced by a mixed rating of 118-7.

Thanks partly to the switch portal, the Crimson Tide has seen extra veteran quarterbacks, who’re much less susceptible to creating errors. 

Additionally, Mike Leach had Will Rogers throwing rather a lot sideline passes, and makes an attempt below the protection — performs that just about by no means end in pickoffs. 

Alabama did not have an interception towards the Bulldogs, however the defenders broke up a whopping 15 move makes an attempt, with cornerbacks Eli Ricks and Kool-Help McKinstry each notching 4. 

The Crimson Tide was known as for a pair of pass-interference penalties, though Saban may nonetheless be arguing one, nevertheless it’s onerous to argue towards the outcomes. 

Mississippi State managed simply 231 passing yards, averaging 7.7 yards per completion, and three.78 per try. The longest completion was 21 yards to Austin Williams.

Alabama is not going to bemoan not having multiple turnover gained within the sport when it got here inside seconds of notching a shutout, nor ought to it. 

Nonetheless, there are simply seven gamers on the Alabama roster who’ve been credited with a compelled fumble throughout their Crimson Tide careers: Henry To’oTo’o, DeMarcco Hellams, Jaylen Moody, Anderson, Malachi Moore, Chris Braswell and Tim Smith.

Each one in every of them is on the lookout for the second. Solely Braswell and Hellams have one this season. 

In the meantime, the gamers on the present roster have collectively collected 71.5 sacks.

As for interceptions, the Crimson Tide’s lively chief is security Jordan Battle with 5. Nevertheless, Battle does not have one this season (Anderson, Terrion Arnold and Hellams have Alabama’s three pickoffs this season) as opponents have largely shied away from him. 

Alabama Energetic Turnover Leaders 

Interceptions 

Battle 5
Hellams 4
Moore 4
Brach 2

Fumble Recoveries

DJ Dale 2
Justin Eboigbe 2
Tim Smith 2
Dallas Turner 2

Which may be more durable to do from right here on out as Alabama made some changes final week together with plugging Ricks in as a starter.

Furthermore, the bye ought to provide the Crimson Tide defenders each an opportunity to relaxation and kind of reset for the stretch run. That ought to assist each the beat-up linemen and the pass-rushers. 

However contemplating this was presupposed to be a group of ballhawks, the Crimson Tide cannot afford to squander its probabilities from right here on out. 

See Additionally:

The Stat Nick Saban is ‘Emphasizing like Loopy’ throughout Tennessee Week

Take 1: Does Alabama, Bryce Younger Have a Go-To Receiver?

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