The No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide entered Saturday night aiming to honor former head coach Nick Saban by avenging one of its worst performances in his tenure and defeating the South Florida Bulls emphatically moving on to Week 3. Instead, the Crimson Tide leaves Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium with spools of correctable film in a 42-16 win over the Bulls.
Let’s dive into what South Florida did to give Alabama so many fits, who stood. out for the Crimson Tide and what the team needs to improve on heading into the biggest non-conference game of the year.
1. South Florida Drives But Settles For Field Goal 2. Alabama’s Line Hinders The Offense Part 1
The Crimson Tide enter Week 2 with some unusual circumstances upfront. Starting left tackle Kadyn Proctor is still hurt after leaving warmups in Week 1 and backup Elijah Pritchett isn’t 100 percent either after getting a small injury in the first week’s game. So who does Alabama play? Does Wilkin Formby move from right to left and Mile McVay step up at right tackle? Does McVay or Naquil Bertrand play left tackle or would you consider kicking Tyler Booker to the outside and playing Geno VanDeMark at guard? The last option is exactly what they did as Booker made his first start at left tackle for the Crimson Tide, but let’s just say it was a long night up front.
3. Tim Keenan Wrecks the South Florida Offense4. Jalen Milroe Is The Best Athlete On The Field 5. South Florida Misses Two Deep Shots6. Creative South Florida Rushing Makes Milroe Uncomfortable7. Quandarrius Robinson Picks Up Second Sack of Season 8. Alabama’s Line Hinders The Offense Part 29. Quarterback Run Puts More Points Up For South Florida
The Bulls utilized four called quarterback runs and an additional scramble to get to the doorstep but couldn’t punch it into the endzone. Byrum Brown utilized QB-draw, read-option and QB-counter to move the ball. Nick Saban traditionally had trouble with dual-threat quarterbacks, are we seeing signs of vulnerability in Wommack’s 4-2-5?
10. Alabama Overcomes More Sloppiness To Extend Lead11. Alabama Buckles Down For Three-And-Out12. Another Alabama Penalty Negates A Touchdown
The Crimson Tide take over with 2:33 to play in a half that’s gone poorly, at best. Alabama has a chance to march the field and score a touchdown to extend its lead to 15 points but once again a penalty knocks the operation off track.
13. Alabama’s Defense Responds Again To Adversity
The half opens with Kendrick Law fumbling away the kickoff return to the Bulls throwing the Alabama defense on the field unexpectedly. Luckily the veteran leadership gets the Tide off the field in just four plays giving the offense another chance to seize control of the contest.
14. Another USF Twist Impacts Jalen Milroe15. The Defense Continues to Be Stingy16. Jam Miller Caught the Fumbling Bug
Jam Miller really struggled on this two-play drive. The Alabama tailback was stuffed on first down and on second down he fumbled away possession after picking up six. Credit the Bulls for continuing to fight and condemn the Crimson Tide for playing with its food. Miller didn’t do anything wrong in his fumble, the USF defender just got his helmet to the ball as they were playing hard all night.
17. Byrum Brown Brings USF Back To Within One
The USF quarterback completed one of his longest passes of the night in 14 yards, utilized two quarterback runs and finally got the Bulls into the endzone. The South Florida pace looked like it won the drive as the Crimson Tide looked a little ragged at the point of attack, allowing 25 yards on the ground of the 39-yard drive.
18. Alabama Offense Keeps Flirting With Trouble19. Tim Keenan’s Strong Game Continues With a Sack20. Alabama’s Pass Protection Under a Microscope
The Crimson Tide offense just cannot get things going as penalties and protection issues continually hamper their efforts. That’s no different on this drive as Jalen Milroe is forced to throw it away on third down, but look at what the Tide is doing up front,
South Florida brings five, with a late sixth after Justice Haynes stays in to protect. Alabama leaves Haynes in, but turns left guard Geno VanDeMark to help the center, right guard and tackle with three rushers, leaving Haynes, a running back, one-on-one with a South Florida defensive lineman. The young tailback steps in for the block but is knocked back starting Milroe’s movement off his spot and thus wasting another drive.
21. Alabama Defense Aided By Two Holding Calls
The Alabama defense has been playing its tail off and continues to do so against South Florida despite minimal offensive support. The Tide is ready for Byrum Brown’s QB-draw on first down and gets a clutch holding penalty called on second backing the Bulls way up. It’s Tim Keenan, once again, on third down getting interior pressure, forcing Brown out of the pocket and into a tough throw. Keenan’s effort draws a penalty and Alabama gets off the field again.
22. Long Alabama Drive Ends In Pain Again23. Justin Jefferson’s Explosiveness Gets Alabama Off the Field
The Bulls still have a chance as it’s just a one point game in the fourth quarter after South Florida recovered the fumbled snap.
The drive opens with Damon Payne and Jordan Renaud setting the tone and stopping the running back for no gain. Payne anchors nicely and refuses to be moved off the line.
Jordan Jefferson makes a shoestring tackle on Byrum Brown on second down to keep the defense in it and then comes back on third down covering a leaking running back in pass protection. His speed is evident when he chases down the tailback and stops him before he makes the first down marker.
24. Milroe To Prentice To Start to Break The Game Open25. South Florida Settles For a Field Goal
The South Florida Bulls weren’t phased by falling behind by eight on the road as they stormed down the field going 71 yards on eight plays to kick a field goal. The Bulls got onto Alabama’s edges and hit a few bigger runs before Alabama buckled down in the redzone giving Alex Golesh a difficult choice, Go for it on fourth and goal or kick the field goal to keep it a one-score game.
26. Alabama Makes a RT Change and Hollywood Scores Again27. Jam Miller Gives South Florida The Dagger
Alabama ran two plays to the right side behind new right tackle Elijah Pritchett to essentially end the game. While Pritchett was the obvious change, the impressive execution came from Jaeden Roberts and Parker Brailsford pulling around the right side. Add a mix of speed and balance and 56-yards later Jam Miller is in the endzone.
28. Alabama’s Defense Tough to the End
The last two USF drives are combined to one clip as it’s more of the same. Byrum Brown is a good athlete but struggles to pass the ball accurately and the Crimson Tide forces two turnovers on downs thanks to keeping him in the pocket and making him pass.
29. Justice Haynes Puts The Icing On The Cake
For the third straight drive, the Crimson Tide scored with Elijah Pritchett playing right tackle. You’ll notice on the touchdown run how he sets and holds the edge allowing the guards an easy time to pull around him. Haynes has special balance and the home crowd heads to the house with smiles on their faces.
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Publish date : 2024-09-09 03:54:00
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