{"id":78545,"date":"2022-09-26T12:23:11","date_gmt":"2022-09-26T12:23:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/rewinding-alabama-win-with-bonus-notes-explaining-offensive-play-calling\/"},"modified":"2022-09-26T12:23:11","modified_gmt":"2022-09-26T12:23:11","slug":"rewinding-alabama-win-with-bonus-notes-explaining-offensive-play-calling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/rewinding-alabama-win-with-bonus-notes-explaining-offensive-play-calling\/","title":{"rendered":"Rewinding Alabama win with bonus notes, explaining offensive play calling"},"content":{"rendered":"
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There are some who won’t admit it, but the September segment of Alabama’s schedule — Texas excluded — amounted to a preseason slate.<\/p>\n

That changes this week with a trip to No. 20 Arkansas in the first of three straight against ranked opponents. Before testing the 15-game winning streak against the Razorbacks, Alabama pushed the number to 23 straight wins over Vanderbilt on Saturday night. The 55-3 win was an all-out offensive blitz with 628 Crimson Tide yards to 129 for the Commodores.<\/p>\n

Before turning the page to Arkansas, let’s take our weekly Sunday look back at Saturday’s action. This week, we’ll add extra focus to some of the play-calling questions I’ve seen on social media.<\/p>\n

— Thought it was notable that Alabama opened with a quick throw to Jermaine Burton after the Georgia transfer had three catches in the previous two games. It’s hard to tell exactly if it was a read or designed to go his way since Vanderbilt’s soft cornerback coverage on outside receivers left the door open for quick shots all evening.<\/p>\n

— Even more notable, Jase McClellan got all the first-quarter carries even when Jahmyr Gibbs was on the field. Just a theory but Alabama could be throwing a lot of formations and personnel groups to upcoming opponents as they crunch film.<\/p>\n

— Alabama had 29 passing attempts and eight carries in the first half. It’s easy to say that’s a horrible balance, hand up, I was among those. Plow after the game addressed that by explaining a little more of the take-what-they-give-you offensive scheme. \u201cWe don’t just call running plays,\u201d Saban said. \u201cA lot of the plays that ended up being passes, were called runs. So I’m concerned about how we move the ball because we’re going to take the defense gives. So if they’re playing to stop the run, we’re gonna throw. If they’re playing split safeties and they’re playing soft, we’ve gotta be able to run it. So it’s not a matter of what the stat sheet says.\u201d<\/p>\n

— Henry To’o To’o was not fooled by the Wildcat formation on third-and-1 on the opening possession. He timed the snap perfectly and shot the A-gap untouched for a big tackle for loss. Plow praised his instinct after the game.<\/p>\n

— The fascinating number with Alabama’s otherwise dominant defense is one. Through four games, it created just one turnover — Will Anderson’s Pick 6 against ULM. Only four of 131 FBS teams have one or fewer takeaways, a list that includes Notre Dame, Stanford and a Fresno State team with zero turnovers created. Alabama is one of 13 teams without a fumble takeaway.<\/p>\n

— That said, Alabama is tied for the national lead with just two touchdowns allowed. Iowa and Illinois are the other two.<\/p>\n

— The second Alabama possession was the epitome of take-what-they give. Watching from the press box, I noted Vanderbilt’s corners were a good 10-12 yards off Ja’Corey Brooks lined up wide near the Vandy sideline. Brooks knew to run a few yards and camp out for the quick pass. Young later called those \u201cfree access throws\u201d with such soft coverage. Completions of 16 and 26 yards on very similar plays opened the drive. A 6-yarder on a different play to Brooks set up the 21-yard touchdown pass in which her ran right past the corners. Young was 4-for-4 for 68 yards, all to Brooks on that drive. \u201cJust a really smart player,\u201d Young said of Brooks. \u201cReally instinctual, consistent. I know where he’s going to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

— Vanderbilt did practically nothing on offense but found momentary success on the second drive that ended with a field goal. They tested the edges of Alabama’s defense with quick WR screens and a jet sweep before a back-shoulder throw was the longest play of the game. It went for 22 yards with Terrion Arnold in coverage. A Ray Davis four-yard run represented Vandy’s only third-down conversion on a night it finished 1-for-13.<\/p>\n

— Saban noted Alabama’s ability to limit big plays as a big reason it has allowed just two touchdowns in four games. Opponents have just eight plays of 20-plus yards so far — tied for the fourth-fewest nationally. Tulane’s allowed just five.<\/p>\n

— Good for former Alabama kicker Joseph Bulovas for scoring the first points in three Vanderbilt games against the Tide. It was n’t always a smooth ride in his time in Tuscaloosa but he nailed the 40-yarder Saturday and had two game-winners last year for the Commodores.<\/p>\n