Sunday Hangover: Texas A&M

What a second half. 

But as Mrs. Nasty likes to question, "Why do we always have to wait until the second half to get it together?"

Fair point. 

The Aggies had 17 points at halftime, and they ended the game with 20 points. The defense really stepped up in the second half and even did so with one of their leaders in the defensive backfield, Malachi Moore. 

The return of Lawson to the linebacking corps helped. It was good to see him back playing. 

With A&M's stingy run defense pretty much shuttling down the Alabama running attack - and this Alabama team really wants to run the ball - the weight of the offense rested on the shoulders of Milroe. 

And he looked good. He threw for 321 yards, three touchdowns, and one unfortunate interception that was quickly followed by an interception by true freshman safety Caleb Downs. 

A defensive lineman, Tim Keenan, led the squad in tackles. In the second half, the defensive line and backers turned it up a notch and shut down the Texas A&M offense for the most part. 

But if you think back to the first half, A&M had two early drives that only accounted for 3 points. 

The Alabama offense found a weak link in A&M's coverage, which created a great day for Jermaine Burton. He was Milroe's go-to receiver for a good part of the game, garnering 9 receptions for 197 yards and two TDs. 

And Isaiah Bond featured prominently with 7 receptions for 96 yards and a TD. 

The incident that burned the hell out of me is when the refs denied a block, scoop, and score for Chris Braswell. 

They called Alabama on a blindside block, a call that is utter nonsense if you watch the play. All the Alabama player, and I believe it was Dallas Turner, did on the run-back was give an A&M defender a meager side nudge while Braswell was running ahead for the score. 

Total crap. 

Sunday Hangover: Texas A&M

It was a win, but it was an ugly win. 

It's a win nonetheless. 

It came down to a goal line stand at the end. 

With Milroe having so many turnovers, the defense was put in a bad position twice, which resulted in 14 points. 

The Tide had 288 net yards of rushing, which is promising. However, the Aggies stacked the box and limited the Tide offense too often. Milroe rarely threw down the field to loosen up the Texas A&M defense. 

I think Milroe will become a very good quarterback for Alabama, but last night was a trial by fire game. 

I'm very concerned about the Tide's trip to Knoxville next Saturday. I'm sure Saban will keep it very quiet as to whether Bryce Young is going to be available just like he did for this game. 

Sunday Hangover: Texas A&M

What a terrible, non-Saban-like game 

Bad turnovers, one of which was at the goal line. 

Bryce Young looking quite young as a QB

The offense not changing tactics quickly enough to address how the Aggies were blitzing

The defense making some bad mistakes and having busted coverages. 

Dropped balls

WRs who were open not having accurate passes thrown to them

I guess the best way we can look at this game is that it was a wake-up call for the team to bring their best on every single play. 

Alabama is still atop the Western division, but the team has little wiggle room to make the playoffs. They can't lose again. 

If the Tide gets the chance to meet Georgia in the SEC Championship, they need to win or perhaps lose narrowly. 

Sunday Hangover: Texas A&M

Most people will see the lopsided score and assume that Alabama dominated the Aggies. They did, but they did so primarily through the air and via big plays. 

Mac Jones again was smooth as hell because he was protected and he threw the deep ball exceptionally well. 

I have concerns still. 

The Tide is not running the ball well. The offensive line has been strong in pass protection, but I want to see more success in the ground game. For example, the Aggies outrushed the Crimson Tide in a blowout. That's just plain weird. 

In addition, when Alabama is a national championship level team, they stop the run. They did yesterday afternoon to a certain extent, but the defense needs to improve against the run, and the busted coverages are a major concern. 

But on to positives...

It looks like we found a third receiver in John Metchie. With the defense fixating on Waddle and Smitty, he shone yesterday. I know on the one long TD with blew past a cornerback when he was playing the Z receiver. I can't remember where he was slotted on the second long TD. 

Next up is a journey to Oxford to take on the Rebels, who are now led by Lane Kiffin.  

Sunday Hangover: Texas A&M

After A&M's opening drive where they mixed in the run and passing games effectively, I was concerned. Then a couple of Tide touchdowns happened, and the Aggies, for whatever reason, seemed to abandon the running game. 

It's not like Alabama was up that big on A&M, so I don't understand why they didn't stick to the formula that created an impressive first drive of the game. 

The line looked even stronger this game with the addition of Brown at RG and Dickerson moving to Center. Both Harris and Robinson ran well behind them with Harris garnering 114 net yards. 

The receiving corps clicked well with Tua. The Tide loves slant patterns and then runs slant-and-gos off them. 

Jennings and Lewis had really good games on the defensive side of the ball. 

However, I'm still concerned about the defense. 

Sunday Hangover: Texas A&M

I didn't get to watch the game in real time until the second half because I was coaching a fifth grade junior football game. 

The Tide gave up some big runs to Mond, the A&M quarterback, but for the most part the defense played adequately. It was not dominant like the butt-whooping that was Ole Miss, but it was a decent performance. 

What I've been consistently impressed with so far this season is how Irv Smith Jr. is becoming a major weapon for the offense. And heck, the other main tight end, Hentges caught two passes, both for touchdowns. 

As a running game goes, the running backs and offensive line had a fairly pedestrian day. 

Look for that to change when Alabama hosts the Ragin' Cajuns of Louisiana-Lafayetter this coming Saturday.

Sunday Hangover: Texas A&M

The Aggies played the Crimson Tide tough last night. Besides a few big plays in the running game, Texas A&M played well against the Alabama run game. 

Texas A&M had two really nice drives, and their freshman QB hit Kirk for a TD on fourth down (if I remember right) by scrambling to his right and hitting the receiver perfectly. 

Hurts had a good game--56 yards running and 123 yards passing. 

Damien Harris had that long 75-yard scamper for a touchdown, but the more impressive run was when he got it to the 1-yard line in the first half. 

Isaiah Buggs was absolutely on fire on the defensive side of ball. He played just as well if not better than Hand, who he was filling in for. 

Coach Saban summed up the game well with this statement: “I don’t think we played very well in the second half. We didn’t do a very good job of controlling the ball on offense. We turned it over and gave them opportunities. You’ve got to give (Texas A&M) credit for hanging in there and playing hard at the end. We were ahead 24-3 in the game, and you’re supposed to go put the game away. We didn’t do it."

Next game is a home gig against the Razorbacks of Arkansas. 

Sunday Hangover: Texas A&M

It was another big win for the Crimson Tide yesterday. Texas A&M is a difficult team, but the Tide made them one dimensional by shutting down their running game. A&M's one running back, Ford, gained more yards than I liked, but the D pretty much made Trevor Knight pass the ball and limited his running, which had to be a huge priority yesterday. 

Alabama let the Aggies hang around by kicking two field goals and missing one, so when A&M went up 14 to 13, I got nervous. 

But the Tide offense finally started capitalizing on its opportunities and scored twenty unanswered points, with one touchdown being another scoop-and-score by Jonathan Allen. 

The horrible loss was that Eddie Jackson broke his leg and will be out for the rest of the season. He's an All-American type player at safety and an outstanding punt returner. He was the leader in the secondary. 

Losing Jackson stinks. 

The Tide will have an off week to prepare for playing LSU in Baton Rouge.

Sunday Hangover: Texas A&M

41-23. 

Texas A&M only scored a touchdown the traditional way after Cyrus Jones fumbled a punt in Alabama territory. The other score was a punt return. The rest were field goals. 

The Tide offense only scored 20 points in the game. The defense actually outscored the offense with three pick-6s: two by Minkah Fitzpatrick and a massive 93-yard pick-6 by Eddie Jackson. 

On the offensive side of the ball, when the Tide had it, my frequent refrain during the game was, "Just run the ball."  

And they did. Derrick Henry amassed a career-high 236 net yards and two touchdowns. 

Early in the game, the Aggies dared them to run by playing their nickel defense, which surprised the heck out of me.

Jacob Coker displayed a game manager type performance in the game, which resulted in a W. 

I hope Kenyan Drake's leg bruise heals up for the Tennessee game, or else we'll see Damien Harris get some significant snaps in the upcoming game. He better be ready.

Sunday Hangover: Texas A&M

Yesterday's game was like if you combined the offensive performance of the Tide in the 2012 BCS National Championship and the defensive performance of the Tide in the 2011 BCS National Championship.

The Crimson Tide dominated the Aggies yesterday afternoon. 

Halfway through the second quarter it was clear Alabama had broken the spirit of Texas A&M. 

The recently maligned offensive line played well. They paved the the way for 298 net yards rushing and a grand total of 602 net yards gained. Yeldon had a great game (13 for 114 yards), and Derrick Henry amassed 70 yards on 7 carries. Both Tenpenny and Jones got playing time starting in the third quarter. And Blake Sims looked much more comfortable than he did in the two previous games. 

Amari Cooper was back to his old self -- 8 catches for 140 yards and 2 TDs. Alabama still needs to create a consistent set of foils for Cooper. TE O.J. Howard is certainly a player Tide fans want to see emerge as a consistent threat. DeAndrew White has a solid track record. I'm interested in seeing what Chris Black can do, and both true freshman Cam  Sims and redshirt freshman ArDarius Stewart got some playing time. 

As much as the performance by the offense provides hope, I was most impressed by the defense. Alabama's D held A&M to 8 first downs, 31 net yards rushing, and 172 net yards gained. As would be expected with those numbers, Alabama won time of possession, 36:31 to A&M's 23:29. 

My only complaint about the game is most of the kickoffs weren't touchbacks. With that said though, coverage was solid, especially the play of LB Reuben Foster, who reminds me of a violent brick running down the field. 

Next up is the Tide visiting Knoxville to take on the Tennessee Volunteers. Despite their record, the Vols are an improved team, most significantly on the defensive side of the ball. They're going to upset someone this season, and I hope it's not Alabama.