Ole Miss Rebels

Crimson Tide vs Ole Miss: Three Takeaways from the Game

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

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Here are three quick takeaways from the Alabama Crimson Tide game with Ole Miss held on Saturday. The Tide won, 48-43.

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Okay, so everyone can take a break and breathe after that all-out fist fight Saturday involving the Crimson Tide and the Rebels. I am starting to think that Ole Miss is Alabama’s kryptonite. It was easily 60 minutes of one heck of a ball game. Personally, I think my heart was about to give out after the Rebels had a statement of a first drive.

Alabama may have seen its biggest deficit under Nick Saban, but when has a team under him not risen to the challenge? If there is one way to define Saturday’s ballgame, I would think it safe to say “Alabama Secondary.” Saban and his new defensive coordinator, Jeremy Pruitt, seem to understand how important it is to annihilate a team’s offensive line. Chad Kelly was forced to be perfect, and that he was.

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If there is anything to take away from Saturday, it could probably be narrowed down to three things. First, the game is not over until the clock hits 0:00. Alabama fell tremendously to the Rebels in the first quarter, there is no disputing that. But let’s not forget how hard this new offense Kiffin has designed fought back with resiliency. Jalen Hurts, the true freshman quarterback, has absolutely made his name one that we won’t forget. He led his team to their first SEC victory this season, all the while having all the weight in the world riding on his shoulders. Until the very last down, he fought back and defined himself and his offensive line. It doesn’t have to be pretty, and it doesn’t have to be much, but a win is a win. Like Saban said in last week’s press conference, “it takes what it takes.”

The second takeaway from Saturday is that Alabama needs to establish who we are as a team. More specifically, the Crimson Tide defense is known for nearly being perfect. With that being said, how is it that our defensive backs and safeties got destroyed in the backfield? Either everybody was off Saturday, or we have bigger issues with our top recruited players making rookie mistakes. However, it was the offense that scared me the most. There are only so many times that we can run a jet sweep and expect it to work. Ardarius Stewart and Calvin Ridley are weapons, yet where was the play-action-pass? Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris, all the hype in the world, “dark horse Heisman,” and we don’t even attempt to run the ball? You all are just as confused as I am. I guess the chewing out from Western Kentucky game was not enough for Kiffin. Somehow we found our rhythm in the third and fourth quarters, but there may come a time when we are too late.

Lastly, the third takeaway from the game would be that the season is far from over. Yes, it is always best to take one game at a time, but in this conference, 30 minutes after the ballgame is over, preparation for the next game begins. Saban has a mentality of “it’s a process” and he has enveloped this in his players. Though not having the toughest home schedule, Alabama faces tough opponents on the road this year, and many of them back to back. After ending the two-year curse of losing to Ole Miss, the Tide has new worries to focus on. I can almost guarantee you Arkansas and Tennessee are now the main priorities on Saban’s mind. Alabama remained at number one in the AP and Coaches Polls, but staying there will be the issue.

Alabama takes on Kent State this coming Saturday, where they return home to Tuscaloosa. It will be a sunny and hot game in Bryant-Denny Stadium with kickoff at 11 a.m. Let’s all hope that Saban and Kiffin have figured out what we are going to do on offense and have a sound performance in front of some of the best fans in the country. Roll Tide!

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