0 of three
Rogelio V. Solis/Related Press
Slice Saban might now not indulge in been on Alabama’s sideline Saturday, nonetheless that failed to kill the Crimson Tide from getting some Iron Bowl revenge without their head coach. After shedding to Auburn final season, Alabama rolled to a 42-13 rob at Bryant-Denny Stadium to present a pick to to 8-0 and continue its push toward the SEC Championship Game.
Without Saban, who missed the sport after making an attempt out obvious for COVID-19, the Crimson Tide restful built an 18-level lead by halftime and gathered 445 total yards of offense. Alabama has obtained all its games by as a minimal 17 aspects, and it has scored as a minimal 41 aspects in all nonetheless its season opener (when it beat Missouri 38-19).
The Crimson Tide are the staunch undefeated crew within the SEC, they typically’re seemingly going to be dealing with Florida for the SEC title Dec. 19. They are additionally seemingly to be heading to the College Soccer Playoff, as they’re ranked No. 1 within the CFP rankings.
Here are three takeaways from Alabama’s rob Saturday.
1 of three
John Raoux/Related Press
Alabama redshirt junior quarterback Mac Jones is amongst the end contenders to rob the Heisman Trophy, and he had one in every of his simplest showings yet in opposition to Auburn. Jones went 18-of-26 for 302 yards and a occupation-high five touchdowns, helping the Crimson Tide assemble a gargantuan early lead in opposition to the Tigers.
Right by Alabama’s 8-0 birth, Jones has passed for 2,728 yards, 23 touchdowns and three interceptions. His 230.3 passer rating in opposition to Auburn changed into once his second-simplest of the season, and it changed into once the fifth time he passed for more than 300 yards this yr.
Jones keeps excelling whereas leading a dominant Crimson Tide offense, nonetheless Saban (who watched Saturday’s game from dwelling) remains targeted on constant development.
“I thought Mac performed no doubt, no doubt properly,” Saban acknowledged, per AL.com’s Mike Rodak. “I am sure that after we eye on the film, all people will watch some things they might indulge in done better, and that’s what we favor to focal level on shifting forward—what now we indulge in to realize to present a pick to. He absolutely made the performs he essential to receive on the new time.”
If Jones performs even better, he might edge Florida quarterback Kyle Trask to change into the first quarterback in Alabama historic past to rob the Heisman.
2 of three
L.G. Patterson/Related Press
In Week 12, Alabama senior wide receiver DeVonta Smith situation the SEC story for occupation receiving touchdowns, notching his 32nd and 33rd occupation scoring grabs in a rob over Kentucky. On Saturday, Smith added to his story, scoring two more touchdowns to push his occupation total to 35.
Or now not it is now not a surprise when Smith has a gargantuan game, and he had one other in opposition to the Tigers. He had seven receptions for 171 yards, scoring on a 66-yard pass within the first quarter and a 58-yard pass within the third. It changed into once the fifth time within the past six games that Smith had as a minimal 144 receiving yards.
When Smith’s time at Alabama is over, he’s now not most sharp going to head down as one in every of potentially the most straightforward wide receivers in program historic past, nonetheless he’ll be one in every of its most sharp players of all time. And he’s seemingly going to take care of extending his SEC story the remainder of the season, inserting more distance between himself and worn Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper, who had 31 occupation touchdown receptions.
The Crimson Tide are quickly going to be dealing with more difficult opponents, nonetheless or now not it is unlikely that can slack Smith. Genuinely, he is on the overall a gargantuan motive why this ends up being a particular season for Alabama.
3 of three
L.G. Patterson/Related Press
Alabama’s defense had a gargantuan day in opposition to Auburn. The Crimson Tide compelled a pair of turnovers (interceptions by novices defensive backs Brian Branch and Malachi Moore) and held the Tigers to 347 total yards. Auburn’s most sharp touchdown changed into once a 1-yard inch by sophomore quarterback Bo Nix with 4 minutes, 39 seconds final within the sport.
Going support to the second half of its game in opposition to Georgia on Oct. 17, Alabama has given up most sharp 33 aspects in its past 18 quarters. Right by that stretch, the Crimson Tide had a shutout rob over Mississippi Voice on Oct. 31 and held Kentucky to about a aspects Nov. 21.
“I judge that our complete defense has assemble of improved and gelled collectively as a unit,” Saban acknowledged, per Joey Blackwell of Bama Central. “All 11 guys taking part in better—I judge we play a small bit better within the support end than what we had been taking part in at the initiating build. We obtained a small bit better pass inch, I judge we’re the utilization of more players now which I judge enhances all people’s opportunities to indulge in a position and be in a space to exit there and make a contribution.”
Alabama’s defense is going to indulge in some mighty challenges forward, equivalent to a possible matchup in opposition to Florida within the SEC Championship Game. But when the Crimson Tide withhold the momentum from their recent performances, they favor to restful continue to make obvious outcomes.
