Bama appears poised for another SEC run
Alabama’s 59- 0 road demolishing of Vanderbilt on Saturday marked the Crimson Tide’s 68th consecutive win against unranked opposition, their 22nd consecutive victory over the Commodores, and their 19th straight triumph over an SEC East team.
In simpler and more relative terms, Alabama set the tone for what could be another dominating run through the Southeastern Conference.
“I think we learned something today by the way we competed,” Tide coach Nick Saban said early Saturday evening. “That’s really what you have to be able to do in this league to play with consistency. We’ll play another good team next week and another good team the week after that.”
Alabama returns to Bryant-- Denny Stadium this week to face Ole Miss, the only program to play the Tide within single digits last season. The Rebels jumped out to a 24-3 lead in last year’s game in Oxford, but then Alabama used a 45-6 run to take command at 48-30 before the hosts scored the final 13 points.
The 1978 national champions were the last team in program history to sweep through conference play with double-digit victories, but this year’s squad certainly has that potential if Saturday’s massacre inside Vanderbilt Stadium was any indication. Alabama racked up 677 yards to just 78 by the Commodores, with that 599-yard differential breaking the program record of 544 that was recorded during a 77-6 whipping of Virginia Tech in 1973.
“This was a positive step forward, for sure, but you can’t be perfect,” sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts said. “There is always something you can work on.”
Hurts had a very quiet day by his standards, finishing 9- of-17 passing for 78 yards and rushing nine times for 48 yards. He guided an offense, however, that set a Saban-era rushing record with 496 yards and had its top five tailbacks — Damien Harris, Bo Scarbrough, Najee Harris, Josh Jacobs and Brian Robinson Jr. — each averaging at least 7 yards per carry.
Saban was quick to credit the offensive line for dominating a defense that was ranked No. 1 nationally entering the game, and Alabama’s linemen admitted they were not lacking in motivation.
“We were challenged last week about not getting any movement,” left guard Ross Pierschbacher said. “We were tired of hearing that and kind of shut everyone up.”
Alabama’s devastation was thorough. It consumed 42 minutes and 55 seconds of possession time, which was helped by a 9- of-15 success rate on third- down conversions. The Commodores, meanwhile, were just 1-of-10.
The Tide also set a program record with 38 first downs, and another school standard they hope to continue this week is their streak of 30 consecutive quarters without a turnover. Alabama’s last miscue occurred in the second quarter of last November’s 30-12 win over Auburn.
“I think our passing game was better today,” Saban said. “We were able to convert some third downs by passing the ball. To keep the ball for almost 50 plays in the first half and then come out with an 11- or 12-play drive — if we can continue to do that, it will help us become the team we want to be down the road.”
Said Scarbrough: “I think we did pretty good, but there are still some things we need to clean up to become a complete team.”