Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Kent State Golden Flashes 2016

This will be a week for Coach Saban and his team to work on some fundamentals that will be critical before the Tide begins a brutal four-game stretch at Arkansas on October 8. If the Tide expects to reach the playoff again, improvements are required despite a couple of good wins.

The Tide needs to make corrections right now, then get through next week against SEC challenger Kentucky with proof it can avoid as many mistakes. The next week the Tide goes on the road where those mistakes could be fatal. After going to play the improving Hogs, the Tide travels to play a very talented Tennessee team, then hosts Texas A&M, and again goes on the road to LSU. If the mistakes of the past two weeks continue, I predict at least one loss and perhaps two in that stretch of four games. Bama also needs some healing after several players left the Ole Miss game hobbled by knee and foot injuries or wobbly from knocks on the head and dehydration. 

To be corrected based on the season so far, in order (my order, not Coach's order which is likely to be different and better): First, penalties. Too many motion calls, too much holding. Second, stop having first and long or second and long series after series. The Tide began several series against Ole Miss with 1st and 15 or longer after illegal motion or other mishaps. Or we ran a bubble screens or jet sweeps on first down that lost several yards and caused second and long. Third, correct mental errors resulting in missed assignments. The tackle went the wrong way last weekend and allowed the fastest lineman at Ole Miss to hit our QB untouched, at full speed, to separate him from the ball and give up a touchdown. Wide receivers missed blocks that made simple screen passes turn into losses.

So what can we expect this Saturday at 11? The Golden Flashes hail from Kent, Ohio, and play in the Mid-America Conference. They’ve not been doing so well for the past few years under Coach Paul Haynes, who is 10-28 in the past four years and 1-2 this year, with a 27-7 win last week against Monmoth. (I thought they just did political polls.) That was the first Kent State win in seven games going back to last year. They lost in OT to North Carolina A&T 39-36 and Penn State opened the season with a win against them 33-13 (though it was only 16-13 at the half). For perspective, PSU isn't all that good at 2-1 with a loss to Pitt and a squeaker over Temple by 7 (who in turn is only 1-2 with a loss also to Army by 15).

This will not be like playing defending Conference USA champs Western Kentucky. Kent State will be overmatched, with little depth and without a winning tradition. They are averaging only 299 yards this year and simply will not move the ball on Bama with any consistency. The only thing interesting from Kent State’s side will be watching their safety Nate Holley (whose twin is a receiver on the team) lead all tacklers, unfortunately for them he will be making those tackles by pushing Jalen Hurts and wide receivers out of bounds 15 or 20 yards down the field too often. Holley leads the nation in solo tackles and may keep that stat going because the guys in front of him will not be stopping the Bama running game very well.

Kent State had 235 yards on the ground last week, but had not reached that level in its past ten games so don't expect it to happen against the Tide. Their red-shirt freshman QB Mylik Mitchell is just learning to run the system, though improving it seems. They have two rushing TDs this year, but I would be very surprised to see one this week even against the third team Defense that we will see a lot of in the fourth quarter. Bama leads the nation since 2005 in fewest rushing TDs.

I hate to ever disrespect any opponent and I rarely do. I mean no disrespect for Kent State, but this is simply an unfair matchup. Although KS O line is seasoned with 105 starts among them, they also have yielded 12 sacks for minus 86 yards in three games. Expect that streak of four per game to be matched or exceeded. The right side of their line is young, so look for Tim Williams to have a big game.

With Bama's running game finally getting on track, look for some pounding followed by deep throws. Look for Bama to put KS in third and long because of a stout run defense. Bama will play a lot of folks, perhaps correct some mistakes, and allow a few players to heal up and play a minimal amount of time.

So let me get on to the score now:

Bama defense 7, Kent State 0 plus Bama offense 52, Kent State 0 for a total of Bama 59 Kent State 0.

Here are a few things fans might watch for:

  Watching Bo Scarborough or BJ Emmons run the ball for 100 yards as the backup guy.

  Seeing Bama block a field goal.

  Watching Hurts run for a 50 yard touchdown.

  Seeing Cam Sims bust his butt to get playing time, with ArDarius still recovering.

   Another punt return for a score.

   Watching Blake throw a couple of touchdown passes.

RUNNING TALLY OF SEASON PREDICTIONS:
Prediction: Bama 38/USC 20 Actual: Bama 52/USC 6 (who could have imagined this)
Prediction: Bama 42/WK 10 Actual: Bama 38/WK 10 (good week)

Prediction: Bama 34/Ole Miss 20 Actual: Bama 48. Ole Miss 43 (should have been 36 and a 12 point spread)

Prediction: Bama 59/Kent State 0