Alabama Crimson Tide vs Fresno State Bulldogs

Before we get to the Fresno State game, which will not likely be very close, let’s talk about what happened last week against Florida State. The Tide won and I’m very happy to start a season against a number three team and win by a nice margin. But at the time it was happening, I was not as happy as I hoped to be. The Tide did get 60 of 61 first place votes in the AP and retained it #1 spot. (Ohio State is #2 and Clemson moved up to #3.)

One part of me was sorely disappointed in what appeared to be an incredibly vanilla Tide offense. But the Tide did beat the preseason number 3 team 24-7 despite losing two starting linebackers for the season and suffering two other serious injuries that will cause players to miss a game or two.  I’m trying not to whine about a win, but part of me is apprehensive about the playbook I saw.

Christian Miller and Terrell Lewis are lost for the year at LB, and I thought Miller would be the breakout star on this defense. Rashaan Evans with a groin pull and Anfernee Jennings with a bad ankle are both out for at least this week or more. That’s a lot to lose in one game.

But even with those injuries making us thin on prepared players for the second half, the D gave up no points and only 65 yards in the final two quarters. And the Noles made only 40 rushing yards on 27 attempts, so the nay-sayers about this D-line not having the same talent as last year may have to reconsider. Time will tell.

The good news is that once again Bama set themselves up as the team by which others are measured. And an ugly win, if there is such a thing, is a win. It feels a bit silly to think that beating a number 3 team, with great players and a good coach, can be ugly.

What I didn’t like

Seeing Fitzpatrick get beat on a fade pass for a touchdown

Two missed field goals that were makeable

No 100 yard rushers

Nothing about the offense that was creative. It’s like the new OC threw out the baby with the bath water. Kiffin might not run have enough in the right situations for some of us, but he had imagination. Unless memory fails me, I saw this week:

            No jet sweep

            No screen passes

            No bubble screens

            No reverse of any kind

            No misdirection at all

            No run option passes  

Only 13 First downs

4.1 yards average rushing

A shanked punt

3 of 16 on third downs

15 runs by the QB, instead of maybe half a dozen

Only ONE receiver with a catch

No Robert Foster, no Jeudy, no Ruggs, No Smith

What I did Like

Two interceptions

A blocked field goal to avoid losing momentum at the half

A 55-yard pass to Ridley in stride for a TD

A blocked punt (by the starting RB Harris!)

Levi Wallace (a walk-on, now on scholarship) contributing on D with an INT and 2 tackles

Shaun Dion Hamilton BACK with 8 tackles and a sack (I believe he could have made THE difference in the Championship game had he been able to play last year.)

Harris at 9 for 73, 8 yards a carry and a TD against an awesome D

4/4 in the Red Zone scoring

A score in all four quarters

Rashaan Evans with 5 tackles

9 tackles for a loss of 32

Fresno State may improve with a good new coach

Here’s what you’ll see this week. A team that plays in the Mountain West Conference. For reference, that’s teams like UNLV, San Diego State, Hawaii, Boise State, and Wyoming. Fresno has lost its last seven against Power Five teams, by an average of 34.

Coming off a 1-11 season, they managed a 66-0 win over Incarnate Word. For context, this team (which mostly plays schools that seem to have at least two directional words in their name, like South East or West South or North West) had a record or 6/5, 2/9 and 3/8 in its last three seasons. So don’t let that win fool you.

What’s worse, the team lost that was terrible lost its best RB and only has one starter back on the line.

It appears they have a decently talented QB (16/29 for 246 last week), but he’s no Derek Carr of the Raiders who played there a few years ago. He did throw for over 2,000 yards last year  but with a mediocre 13/10 ratio in TD/INTs. He’s not a runner and had 122 yards last year on 77 runs, mostly I assume when flushed from the pocket but I have seen no tape. Behind him is a freshman RB and in front of him is a largely questionable line. The RB is only 5’8” and 170. I question how he will hold up against the Bama front seven for an entire game. The line appears to consist of a good, seasoned center flanked by a walk-on, a freshman, a JUCO transfer and a senior with little playing time and only one start. The starting RB had 9 carries for 60 yards against IW. The defense is decent for their league, but will not likely slow the Tide.

A few notables to watch: the leading receiver KeeSean Johnson who had six TDs last year off 66 catches and 773 yards. Also watch for

The best they have going for them is they are coached by Jeff Tedford, someone I have long admired. He coached Cal for about a dozen years before a brief stint in pro coaching, often achieving ranking as high as top ten in a hard conference. At one point I thought he should be on the Bama consideration list before Saban.

Bama Linebacker situation

As for Bama, the outside linebacker situation is worth a mention, since the top three are gone for now. And these three replaced two that were drafted. But don’t despair as this group is deeeeep.  Jennings is likely out for this game and Miller and Lewis for the season at outside LB. To find experience, reports this week said DeShawn Hand was working with the group as well as LaBryan Ray. That would require a certain formation where there is really only one outside LB, but it has happened. The senior Hand is a scary giant at 6’4” and 288 in that position. He’s a force in the running game. Remember he was the number one strong-side DE in the nation as a unanimous 5-star All-American. Ray is another giant, who was the number one player in Alabama last year in high school and number one strong-side DE nationally in his class. He goes 6’5” and 272. He has 1245 tackles as a senior. A brute.

We could see also Mekhi Brown (6’5, 241 lb. redshirt soph). He played a little on special teams and made it to a game or two last year. Was highly recruited by Notre Dame and STandford in addition to Bama and Auburn. Unanimous 4-star and rated as high as the #5 weakside LB by one service. He can play and perhaps star.

And there is always Ben Davis, the consensus five-star who was named by four rating services as the top inside linebacker in the nation as a senior two year ago. He redshirted last eyar due to all the talent, but he could rise up and be a star. He would be my pick of this entire group.

James Mosley is likely to share time there. He’s a walk-on who earned a scholarship. And yes, the brother of CJ Mosley. The redshirt junior has appeared in a handful of games. Despite all the highly credentialed talent wanting the position, he could start. Saban likes guys with big hearts that are fearless.

A fun thing or two

 I hope to see former walk-on Levi Wallce do well and play more. He’s earned it. Remember last year he stepped in and did a decent job to hel preserve a win  in the Iron Bowl when Humphrey was injured. Last week, he came in after Trevon Diggs made rookie mistakes. The he proceed to make two tackles, break up a pass and make an important interception. Good job, young man. Your daddy that made you walk on would be proud.

 I also hope and expect to see Tua Tagovailoa play and hope it’s early enough he still gets to pass a few times. Also plan to see Najee get at least 8-10 carries and two TDs.

My prediction

The Fresno State Bulldogs will not score. And despite having a couple of decent defensive ends with speed and size, the middle is anchored by a guy who had no stats last year. Bama will run for 300, pass for 250 and score half a C-note. Bama will score early and often despite liberal subs. Ten freshmen will play by early in the fourth quarter, but either the 3^rd or 4^th tailback will run for 75 yards as his fresh legs will outmatch anything left on the Bulldog sideline.

Final Score: Bama 52/Fresno State 0

P.S. QB transfers from Bama did not land on their feet very well. Del Rio didn’t start at Florida on a losing team. David Cornwell sat on the sidelines as his team was clobbered at Nevada. Cooper Bateman was converted to receiver but had no catches. Blake Barnett played only enough to be 2 of 3 passing for 21 yards at Arizona State.