Sunday Hangover: Texas

There isn't enough beer or bourbon in the world to erase that performance from the Crimson Tide last night from my memory. 

It was a bipolar game from Alabama--mostly on the depressing side. 

The lot was made about the penalties from the broadcasters during the game because of the terrible amount of penalties in the previous matchup. It's true penalties were a factor. 

However, the main factors that lost that game were giving up big pass plays, the state of the Tide's pass blocking, and quarterback decision making. 

Alabama gave up too many explosive plays in the passing game. It's that simple. There are the two bombs for touchdowns, which were great throws by Ewers, but there were also intermediate passes with the TE and other receivers roaming free. 

The Tide has talented personnel in the secondary along with a number of veterans, but Sark, like I expected him to, targeted the green players. 

The offensive line play has to get better, especially at pass blocking. Left tackle Proctor surely has a game that will make him get better by working harder, but he had a horrible game. It was bad. I was surprised he didn't get pulled and replaced in the game. 

While pass blocking was poor, Milroe didn't exactly distinguish himself by passing the ball to open receivers. Sure, he was pressured, but in the first half especially he acted like he was looking to run more than actually passing the ball. 

At least from what I read from the armchair quarterbacks on the Huddle forum of TiderInsider, it sounds like there were receivers open. Milroe was just too quick to run. 

I got frustrated at times from the play calling of both the offensive and defensive coordinators although I wonder how much of the offensive problems last night rest more with the play of the offensive line and the quarterback. 

I got pissed a number of times when we only rushed three on third and long, and Texas easily picked up a first down because Ewers had all kinds of time. Even with rushing four or five, the Tide usually didn't get enough pressure on the Texas QB. 

But what a lot of people will focus on are Milroe's interceptions. They were terrible reads. Texas translated two interceptions to 10 points. 

The Tide lost to the Longhorns by 10 points. 

I don't know if the quarterback competition is back on, but I have to think the coaches are thinking about it based on what they saw Milroe do--both good and bad--last night. 

My son is a big proponent of Simpson getting a shot. 

I agree with him.