Bama offense still developing as October comes
Alabama seems to have settled on its quarterback after the first month of the season.
The Crimson Tide’s offensive identity remains a work in progress.
Fifth-year senior Jake Coker completed 17 of 31 passes for 158 yards and three touchdowns inside Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday in a 34-0 skunking of the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Redshirt sophomore Cooper Bateman, who started the previous week’s 43-37 home loss to Ole Miss, entered Saturday’s game with four minutes and 45 seconds remaining.
“I loved it,” Coker said Saturday night while surrounded by reporters. “Any time you get to play a whole lot, it’s a good time, so I was excited about it. I thought I got better, but at the same time, I had mistakes. I got other guys in the wrong position, and that was my fault, so I’ve got a long way to go.”
Coker, who transferred last year after backing up Jameis Winston at Florida State, did throw an ugly interception against the Warhawks. That served as the lone turnover of the game for the Crimson Tide, who committed five turnovers against the Rebels, including two Coker interceptions and one in the final three minutes.
Alabama coach Nick Saban said in his news conference that Coker’s passing line should have been around 22-of-31.
“He had four drops in the first half — four balls that were just flat dropped,” Saban said. “You couldn’t throw them any better, so if he was 10-for-21, that means he was 14-for-21. He was not perfect, but I thought he played well in the first half. We dropped a ball in the second half, so he should have been 8-for-10.
“I think it helps when we go no-huddle and the other team gets a little tired. They don’t play quite as aggressively, and that is always helpful, but I am just pleased with the way Jake played today in both halves.”
Coker is 68-of-123 this season
“HE (COKER) WAS NOT PERFECT, BUT I THOUGHT HE PLAYED WELL IN THE FIRST HALF.”
—NICK SABAN
(55.3 percent) for 786 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions. Bateman has been more accurate, completing 30 of 40 passes (75.0 percent), but for only 244 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Bateman had averaged 13 attempts through the first three games but was 1-of-1 for 8 yards against ULM.
Alabama’s defense suffocated the Warhawks and was never in danger of losing. Yet the Crimson Tide posted just 303 yards of total offense, by far their lowest of the season. In the impressive 35-17 opening win over Wisconsin, the Crimson Tide rushed for 238 yards and passed for 264, a total of 502.
“We’ve done a lot of different things so far this year, and I think some of them are good,” Saban said. “We’ve been averaging over 500 yards a game, and everybody has been complaining about the offense. We didn’t have 500 yards today because we were probably a little more conservative than we needed to be, but that was a little by design.
“We’re going to have to do more things more efficiently against a good SEC team, no doubt.”
The No. 13 Crimson Tide (3-1) are 0-1 against good SEC teams this season and travel to No. 8 Georgia (4-0, 2-0) this week. Alabama was picked at SEC Media Days this summer to win the Western Division, while the Bulldogs were the choice in the East.
“It’s just another game,” Coker said, “and we’ll be ready for it.”
Tide tidbits
Saturday was a big day for two Tide freshman defensive backs, with Ronnie Harrison collecting his first interception and Minkah Fitzpatrick notching a career-high seven tackles. … Junior tailback Derrick Henry has gone nine straight games with at least one rushing touchdown.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.