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Alabama, with its new and improved secondary, has allowed just 12 touchdown passes this season.
Half came in the first three games, when the revamped secondary was adjusting to new positions, techniques and responsibilities.
Since then? It’s been Operation Lockdown: 13 interceptions against just 6 TD passes allowed.
Their next target is Florida, in Saturday’s SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.
The Gators have hinted that they’re going to open up the offense Saturday, get Treon Harris on the edge and take shots downfield.
That should help. More than half of the TD passes Alabama allowed this season came on scrambles or designed rollouts. Just three times did a QB drop back, set his feet and deliver a TD strike outside of the 10-yard line.
The takeaway after reviewing all 12 TD passes? Want to throw one against Alabama? Good luck. You’ll need it.
A film room breakdown at the TD passes Alabama has allowed this season:
| Team | TD pass | Good design/good fortune |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 6-yard slant/pick to WR | Good design |
| Wisconsin | 3-yard slant to WR | Good design |
| Middle Tenn. | Scramble, 15-yard to wide open WR | Good fortune vs. backups |
| Ole Miss | 66-yard tipped pass to WR Quincy Adeboyejo | Great fortune |
| Ole Miss | Nick Marshall-like rollout, 73-yard to WR Cody Core | Good design |
| Ole Miss | 24-yard TD to WR Laquon Treadwell | Good design |
| Arkansas | 4-yard to WR Drew Morgan, play-action | Great design |
| Arkansas | Scramble, 54-yard to WR Dominique Reed | Good fortune |
| Texas A&M | 3-yard cross to WR Ricky Seals-Jones | Good design |
| Tennessee | Rollout, 11-yard to Josh Smith | Great design |
| LSU | 40-yard to WR Travin Dural, beats blitz | Good design |
| Auburn | 77-yard to WR Jason Smith, tip, catch | Good design, better fortune |
Photos help tell the story of the various breakdowns and good breaks that opponents have needed this season.
Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly bobbled a high snap and heaved an ill-advised prayer as he was being hit. Laquon Treadwell tipped it as he was hit … into the hands of Quincy Adeboyejo, who completed a 66-yard touchdown.
Later in the same game, Kelly’s 73-yard TD pass was a designed rollout that worked because Alabama corner Minkah Fitzpatrick came off Cody Core to help stop Kelly. It was a costly mistake and example of what happens when players don’t do their job.
Arkansas’ Brandon Allen was nearly sacked, scrambled right and found Dominique Reed. The Tide then missed four tackles.
Those were just a few of many good breaks and breakdowns Alabama’s opponents needed this season to score through the air.
Florida’s best hope is to force a few more Saturday.
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
