It is hard to honor a Nick Saban request when everyone knows how good this team is; nevertheless, here we go.
Alabama football earned a 45-23 win over Texas A&M, but the performance was not up to his liking. Per the Crimson Tide’s head coach, he said the team “did not control the game.” For those who care to dive inside the numbers, Saban does have a point in terms of rush defense. Alabama, who prides itself on stopping the run, gave up 100 yards to Aggies’ quarterback Kellen Mond. Though a fierce pass rush dropped him to 98 yards, Saban was very concerned with the big plays he turned in – including a 9-yard touchdown run.
“You have to be able to finish the game,” he said. “They (Texas A&M) should never get the ball back at the end of the game. One of these days, we are going to be in a situation where a team goes two minutes to score and win the game. There is certainty a lot of things we want to work to improve on, but I am proud of the way our team competed in the game. It was a physical game.”
After touching on topics that ranged from the Tide’s offensive line to freshman cornerback Patrick Surtain II, the question that fired Saban into his challenge toward the media was concerning the offense.
Upon being asked on whether this year’s team was the best he has ever had offensively, he started off giving a typical Saban answer (bringing up past teams that were good) but then dove into stating how the press needs to start covering Alabama in its fullness.
“We have a good team, but our team needs to do a lot of things to improve,” he said. “If what our team has accomplished to this point makes them in any way not take into account the kind of team we have to play in the future, and they underestimate what we need to do to improve so that we can become a better team and don’t just take things for granted, aight, that we’re going to show up because we have an Alabama uniform on and win the game… It’s not going to happen that way. It’s going to be everybody’s choice in the organization. I would appreciate it if you would, you know, sort of look at some of the things we didn’t do so well, and write about that. So maybe I can show it to some of the players and say ‘Look here man. Here is something you can do later.’”
Well Saban, you asked for it.
This team did not run the ball well at all. Alabama is known for its rushing attack to set up its passing game, and the offensive line did not generate a push. He’s totaled 1,000 yards in each of the last two seasons, but it seems like Damien Harris and company struggled getting three yards each time against the Aggies. The passing game was good (aside from a few throws) and a strong pass rush showed up; nonetheless, more consistency needs to be seen from Skyler Delong.
As for the secondary, it kept Jhamon Ausbon from touching the ball.
And while that was good, seeing tight end Jace Sternberger was not as he was wide open for a 24-yard touchdown reception from Mond. Last, but not least, at least the Tide has found a kicker in Joseph Bulovas.
He nailed a 47-yard field goal in the win.
Alabama will have Sunday and Monday of next week off for rest, but will return to practice on Tuesday to prepare for Louisiana Rajan Cajuns.
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
