I was concerned after the first successful drive of the Razorbacks. The Tide defense wasn't getting much pressure on quarterback Tyler Wilson, and they were giving up conversions on third on long.
Adjustments were made, and Alabama won 38 to 14.
A constant in the game though was that the Tide made Arkansas one dimensional. The Razorbacks didn't have any semblance of a ground game. They didn't have much of a vertical passing game either.
While I still think McCarron scored a touchdown on first and goal with a quaterback sneak, how the Arkansas D held up against Alabama at the goal line is disconcerting. After McCarron presumably didn't score on first and goal, the Tide went backwards on second and third down.
What Alabama did to Arkansas is exactly what other teams are going to do the Tide: attempt to shut down the running back tandem of Richardson and Lacy. Thankfully, both running backs had solid games versus the Hawgs, but there's going to be a game where the passing game is going to be relied on more heavily, and McCarron better be ready whether it's next week versus Florida in the Swamp, when Tennessee comes to Tuscaloosa, or when LSU, whose defense is scary good, visits T-Town in November.
Yesterday's game provided a lot of variety in the way of scoring: a fake field goal that turned into a touchdown pass to Williams, a pick six by Menzie, a fantastic punt return for a touchdown by Maze, and a dump-off pass to Richardson that went for a long touchdown.
C. J. Mosley going down with an injury to his elbow is a major concern going into the Florida game, however. He's arguably the Tide's best linebacker against passing-oriented/spread teams. From what I could tell, the youngster Adrian Hubbard filled in for Mosely and did a good job, but if Mosley isn't available, that's an important factor with the Gators' two very quick running backs who will go out for pass patterns in Gainesville Saturday.
Regardless, good luck to Arkansas the rest of the way, especially against Auburn and LSU.
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