Kent State Golden Flashes

Alabama Football: 3 Takeaways From The Win Over Kent State

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Alabama football team slaughtered Kent State in a shutout this weekend. Some questions remain unanswered, but we did learn a thing or three about this Crimson Tide team.

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Saturday, the Alabama football team played it’s fourth game of the season as they hosted the Kent State Golden Flashes. A game like this is often called a ‘cupcake’ game because of it’s likely easy W. Some say that watching the Tide play an opponent like this would not lend itself to showing off much of what the team can really accomplish.

Head Alabama football head coach Nick Saban could have been holding his cards to save the best of what Bama can do for the meat of the looming SEC schedule. Even if that is the case, we still learned a thing or two (or three, in this case) about what this Crimson Tide team really has to offer.

1. There is some legit depth at running back.

Heading into the season, all of the talk about Alabama football’s running backs focused on one Mr. Bo Scarborough. No one is to blame for it. The guy is HUGE – a veritable Mack Truck in Nike cleats.

Sep 24, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Joshua Jacobs (25) carries the ball against Kent State Golden Flashes. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

That focus changed with the first game of the season when Damien Harris won the starting job. Harris carried the bulk of the workload through the first three Alabama football games of 2016. However, Bama had to move to Plan B in the first drive Saturday when Harris was sidelined with an ankle sprain.

The severity of the injury is still in question and it remains to be seen when Harris will return. But, don’t think for a second that Harris’ injury halted the Tide’s ground attack.

Joshua Jacobs, B.J. Emmons, and Derrick Gore combined for 25 rushes and 193 yards, as well as two touchdowns. Add that to the 54 yards rushing from dual-threat QB Jalen Hurts, and the Alabama running game was a force to be reckoned with.

Let’s hope for a speedy recovery for Harris, and that this running attack continues for the rest of the season.

Scott Cochran really IS worth EVERY PENNY.

Alabama football strength and condition coach Scott Cochran grabbed an impressive raise this past off-season that made him the highest paid S&C coach in the country. At $600,000 per year, he actually makes more than a fair amount of head coaches in college football.

Sep 26, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide strength coach Scott Cochran reacts after a play against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

And he is worth every penny.

On a day when temperatures soared to 96*, the hot Alabama sun reeked havoc on those in attendance at Bryant Denny Stadium. Numerous fans had to have medical attention to help with heat related illnesses. The stadium practically emptied after the first half, as fans sought shelter from the sweltering heat.

But the Alabama football players didn’t miss a beat. Cochran’s “Fourth Quarter Program” was in full effect as the Tide defense was relentless in its victory. They shutout Kent State, relegating the Flashes to only 166 yards of total offense. Cochran’s program made everyone’s ass quit Saturday.

Scott Cochran prepares this team to fight hardest when the game is at its toughest, and they showed no signs of backing down to Kent State…or the Alabama heat.

Vegas really did know what it was talking about.

At 44.5, the line for this game was staggering. IF you talked to most people, (like the guy at the gas station on Skyland an hour before kickoff…true story) there was NO WAY Bama was going to cover. The line actually dropped to 42.5 at game time as bettors kind of thought the same thing.

We all knew Bama would build a sizable lead with the first team, then get the guys on the second, third, and even fourth team some game time experience. Rumor has it, Saban actually called up BamaHammer editor Meredith Hornsby in the stands and told her to start warming up. (She declined the opportunity. Her affinity for Offensive Linemen would have been too much for those on the sideline to handle).

I wasn't gonna say anything, but Saban called and I'm going down to warm up. https://t.co/zF9WyrFe1B

— BamaHammer (@Bama_Hammer) September 24, 2016

The boys on the depth chart hung in there, scoring another TD and maintaining the shutout. Bama covered the line by five and a half points.

Current Line for the Kentucky game this Saturday is -34. Any takers?

Some questions remain unanswered about this team. For example, have they even played their best game yet? The defensive play has been stellar, but when will the offense begin clicking on all cylinders? Are they going to be ready for the upcoming road games at Arkansas and Tennessee? Will they have a game with fewer penalties than their opponents?

We’ll begin to find out the answers to these questions this Saturday as Alabama hosts the Kentucky Wildcats. Kickoff is at 6:00 CDT, with TV Coverage on ESPN.

Until then….Roll Tide!