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Another domino fell as Alabama trudges toward a potential SEC West title with a 24-21 victory over Arkansas on Saturday at Bryant-Denny, the 200th triumph at Alabama for head coach Nick Saban.
It may not be the dominant fashion of past seasons, but it is becoming clearer with every week that the Tide is the class of their division — one decidedly down in comparison to past seasons. Leave it, then, to the Tide to do the necessary things to come out on top: play solid defense, and do enough on offense.
A top-5 defense in the conference coupled with developing quarterback Jalen Milroe — who continues to gain confidence in his passing abilities (he threw for 215 yards and 2 TDs in the 1st half) — has been the formula that finds Alabama as the SEC West’s lone undefeated team in conference play.
Player of the Week: Will Reichard
Alabama’s graduate placekicker became the SEC all-time leading scorer. Already Alabama’s all-time leading scorer, Reichard increased his totals with a field goal and 3 PATs to 484 career points, 75 field goals and an Alabama-record 261 made PATs.
Reichard is perfect on the season. He has made all 13 FG attempts and is 21-for-21 on PATs.
He’s climbing the NCAA’s career scoring list. Reichard ranks 7th, chasing Navy QB Keenan Reynolds (530 points). He is also 3rd on the Alabama career FG list behind Leigh Tiffin (83) and Philip Doyle (78).
Freshman of the Week: Caleb Downs
It’s becoming a broken record, but Downs keeps turning in big games for the Alabama defense. Downs totaled a team-high-tying 7 tackles, including a team-best 6 solos.
Biggest surprise: Near 2nd-half collapse
The 2nd half has traditionally been Alabama’s. Depth and talent level has been the key. This season is no different. Alabama had outscored the opposition 103-34 in the 2nd half prior to Saturday’s contest. But Arkansas put a scare in the Tide, outscoring the hosts 15-3 over the final 2 periods to turn what looked to be a laugher into a real nail-biter at the end.
It’s only the 2nd time this season that Alabama was outscored in the 2nd half. Texas held a 21-18 edge in the 2nd half of the Longhorns’ 34-24 victory over the Tide. It was also only the 2nd time this season that Alabama did not score a touchdown over the final 2 quarters. The other was the Mississippi State game, when the Tide took their foot off the gas pedal after rolling to a 31-10 lead at halftime.
Biggest concern: Still the running game
There were brief signs of life in the 3rd quarter, but overall, the Alabama running game continues to be a liability. The Tide rushed for 59 yards before halftime. They came to life in the 3rd quarter, piling up 108 of their 177 rushing yards.
But the running game went to sleep in the final quarter at a time it was needed most. Alabama rushed for 10 yards in the 4th quarter and was unable to put the game away. That has to change over the final push of the season if Alabama is to get to Atlanta and beyond.
Developing trend: Doing just enough
The Tide is 4-0 in conference play, 6-1 overall. They sit alone atop the SEC West. But that perch is as precarious as can be. For the faint of heart, this is not a healthy run for Alabama.
Yes, the Tide are doing what is necessary to survive week to week, and maybe when all is said and done, that will be enough to win the West. But is it enough to beat a team like Georgia in a championship game situation? It’s not looking good in that regard.
At some point, the Tide must get to the next level. Can they get there? What will it take? Those are questions that will be fascinating to monitor down the stretch.
Key stat: 23.8-yard receiving average
Milroe completed only 10 passes. But he threw for 238 yards, and that proved to be the difference in the game. His first 3 completions of the game went for a 79-yard touchdown to Kobe Prentice and completions of 44 and 25 yards. For the game, Milroe completed 5 passes of 25 yards or more, including a 29-yard TD pass to Amari Niblack.
First impression about Week 8: TSIO
The 3rd Saturday in October means Tennessee. The Tide host the Vols at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday at Bryant-Denny.
What else needs to be said about this heated rivalry? It’s another game that will test the Tide, another opportunity for Alabama to reach its potential. It still hasn’t played its best game, and Saturday would be the perfect time to do just that.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
