Alabama football did what it was supposed to on Saturday, beating Middle Tennessee State, 56- 7 at Bryant- Denny Stadium. The Conference USA Blue Aggressors did n’t put up much of a fight throughout the game and the Crimson Tide ran roughshod.
Before focus turns to the Texas game coming week, then’s three takeaways from Saturday’s 56- 7 Alabama palm.
Quarterbacks
Jalen Milroe had his eyes up, indeed as the snap from the MTSU 21- yard line rolled toward him. When he recovered, he headed downfield, dancing around the Blue Raider defense before turning what looked like a sure sack into a touchdown run.
It was the first time the first score of an Alabama season has been a quarterback run since Brian Brugdorf did it in 1995 against Vanderbilt. Besides that, Milroe completed his first seven passes of the day, for 52 yards before eventually throwing an incompletion under constraint in the alternate quarter after a protection breakdown.
Milroe did everything he demanded to do to cement his status as top quarterback in the first half. He finished 10- for- 13 end, for 112 yards and a touchdown.
That touchdown was a 47- yard, impeccably placed deep gamble to Isaiah Bond. In the first drive of the alternate half, Milroe dropped a 48- yard pass into Jermaine Burton’s hand for another touchdown.
Overall, Milroe did exactly what Alabama suckers were hoping to see from Bryce Young’s relief. And Tyler Buchner was n’t bad in relief either once the Tide had erected a 42- 0 lead, rushing for a nine- yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Points, points, points
With Bill O’Brian off to run the New England Loyalists, Tommy Rees was guiding his first game as Alabama’s obnoxious fellow. Coming in, the question about Rees was how important of his Notre Dame system he ’d be suitable to apply in Tuscaloosa.
It was n’t the full obnoxious attack that the Fighting Irish ran under Rees last season. But he did make further use of tight ends.
That was especially apparent on Milroe’s alternate touchdown run in the alternate quarter. Milroe faked a handoff to Jase McClellan and took off to his right side.
After Milroe got past the first position, it was him, an MTSU guard back and tight Amari Niblack on the outside. Niblack, nowhere near the Crimson Tide’s stylish blocking tight end, made that one impeccably, putting the Blue Raider on the ground as Milroe galloped into the end zone.
Alabama also did n’t have one shining star offensively. The Tide used benefactions from the McClellan, Roydell Williams, Isaiah Bond, Kobe Prentice and further.
This time’s offense contrasts with the 2022 Crimson Tide’s which was carried at times on the reverse of Bryce Young.
Dominating defense
Nick Saban might not say it, but it was the Middle Tennessee State game. The real test comes coming week when Texas arrives at Bryant- Denny Stadium.
Still, the defense looked excellent. Up front, the Crimson Tide applied pressure on Blue Raider quarterback Nick Vattiato, forcing him into inadequately- timed throws and bad opinions.
MTSU did n’t manage to score until just 32 seconds remained in the third quarter. Alabama clamped down on both the Blue Aggressors ’ ground and end game.
Kevin Steele was also in his first game as protective fellow, though he was Saban’s first DC when he came to Alabama and served in another part with the Crimson Tide defense in 2013 and 2014. Steele’s group looked aggressive and made the plays it demanded to, including an interception by UAB transfer Jaylen Key.
Again, the real test probably comes coming week. But the defense acquitted itself nicely in the warm- up.
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