re: Bama Football Tidings

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Alabama Football News - WATCH: Could true freshman, Darrian Dalcourt, start at center for the Tide in the near future? By TouchdownAlabama.com Alabama football has made several changes to their offensive line through two games and in their last matchup against New Mexico State, true freshman, Darrian Dalcourt, spent some time at the center position.

Could this lead to Dalcourt starting at center for the Tide as they continue to shift through lineman combinations? Cole C.. also says that he believes Dalcourt will be the starter before the season ends.

Touchdown Alabama’s Scouting/Recruiting analyst, Justin Smith, breaks down Dalcourt’s game.

WATCH FULL VIDEO HERE: 3:40

Nick Saban updates OL injuries, Josh Jobe on SEC teleconference (BOL | full transcript)



Note: Saban also talked about other topics not mention in the article title.

Jerry Jeudy leads SEC in receptions per game (Photo: John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports)

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Alabama Leads SEC In Important Statistics By Kirk McNair The adage that “Statistics are for losers” is true only in a limited context, but after only two games into the 2019 college football season it’s reasonable to suggest that statistics mean little more than a starting point for comparison later. In that respect, statistics are akin to early college football polls, merely of interest.

The only “statistic” that matters, we often hear, is the won-loss record. Going into the third week of Southeastern Conference football play, Alabama is 2-0. This week the Crimson Tide goes to South Carolina (1-1) to open league play. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. EDT (2:30 central time) with CBS televising the game.

Here are some statistical comparisons between Bama and the Gamecocks:

Starting with the most important of statistics, Alabama leads the SEC in scoring at 52 points per game and in scoring defense, allowing 6.5 ppg. South Carolina is fourth in scoring, 46 ppg, seventh in scoring defense, 17 ppg.

The Gamecocks lead the league in rushing at 310.5 yards per game with Bama fourth at 231.5 ypg. On defense, the Tide is fifth, allowing 104 ypg, SC 10th, giving up 155.
Jerry Jeudy leads SEC in receptions per game (Photo: John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports)

Alabama is second in passing offense, 326 ypg, South Carolina 11th, 212 ypg. On defense, the Tide is second, allowing 129 ypg, the Gamecocks ninth, giving up 220 ypg. In passing efficiency, Bama is second, SC 10th, and in pass defense efficiency Alabama is first, South Carolina seventh.

The Tide leads the conference in both total offense (557.5 ypg) and in total defense (233 ypg) with the Gamecocks tied for second in offense (522.5 ypg) and 12th in defense (375 ypg).

Alabama Coach Nick Saban is likely not alone in considering three statistical categories to be of great importance. They are third down success, turnover margin, and Red Zone (inside the 20-yard line) efficiency.

The Tide is third in the league in converting (either a first down or touchdown) on third downs, 13-26 opportunities for 50 percent. The Gamecocks are 11th in the SEC at 7-19 for 36.8 percent. On defense, Bama is tied for second, allowing 7-27 for 25.9 percent, SC tied for sixth, 11-33 for 33.3 percent.

Alabama is tied for the lead in the SEC in turnover margin with 3 interceptions and 3 fumble recoveries against 1 lost fumble and no passes intercepted for plus 5. South Carolina is tied for seventh with four takeaways (1 fumble recovery, 3 interceptions) and 4 turnovers (1 fumble lost, 3 passes intercepted).

In the Red Zone, both the Tide and Gamecocks have been perfect. In 8 opportunities, SC has made 6 touchdowns and is 2-2 on field goals. Bama is 6-6, all touchdowns. Alabama is tied for first in Red Zone defense, opponents having made 1 TD and 1 FG in four trips inside the Tide 20. South Carolina is 11th having allowed 5 scores (2 TDs, 3 FGs) in six opportunities.

Two statistics that may or may not be important are sacks and time of possession.

Both Bama and SC have turned in four sacks, tied for ninth in the SEC, with Alabama tied for first in allowing only one sack, South Carolines sixth in allowing three sacks.

The Tide is third in time of possession, 32:17 per game, the Gamecocks 14th, 26:05.

In individual statistics, Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy leads the SEC in receptions per game with 18 in the Tide’s two outings. He’s also among several tied for the conference lead with four touchdowns scored.

Kevin Harris of South Carolina is the league’s top scorer with three TDs in one game.

Will Reichard of Bama (14-14) and Parker White of SC (7-7) are among a number of SEC extra point kickers who have been perfect.

Patrick Surtain II of Alabama and Jaycee Horn of South Carolina are tied for the league lead with two caused fumbles.

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Breaking down Alabama-South Carolina, Tide running game By Matt Zenitz | mzenitz@al.com In advance of Alabama’s SEC opener against South Carolina, Lauren Sisler and I sat down to discuss the game.

In the video, which is included at the top of this page (MOVED TO BOTTOM), we talk about the Crimson Tide running game, freshman kicker Will Reichard and the tough matchup the interior of Alabama’s offensive line has this week.

Matt Zenitz is an Alabama and Auburn reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mzenitz.

SEC Insider: Analyzing Alabama's ground attack, offensive line as SEC play begins
5:27
Alabama Crimson Tide on AL.com
Published on Sep 10, 2019
In this week's SEC Insider, AL.com's Matt Zenitz and Lauren Sisler preview Alabama's game with South Carolina by focusing on the Tide's rushing attack, offensive line and kicking game. (Wesley Sinor / wsinor@al.com)

Alabama receiver Jerry Jeudy
4:02

TideSports
Published on Sep 11, 2019
Crimson Tide receiver Jerry Jeudy talks to the media on Monday, Sept. 2, 2019 on his fast start to the season

The best is yet to come for Tua Tagovailoa? Gary Danielson sees Alabama QB growing in Steve Sarkisian's system Michael Wayne Bratton

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Tua Tagovailoa nearly won the Heisman Trophy last fall during his first season as Alabama’s starting quarterback but lead CBS analyst Gary Danielson believes this year’s version of Tagovailoa could prove to be much better by season’s end.

On the surface, that comment may be hard to comprehend considering all of Tagovailoa’s success in 2018 but when things got tough down the stretch last fall, Alabama’s first-year quarterback didn’t perform well enough for the Crimson Tide to win it all. Some of those struggles can be attributed to injuries but the way Danielson saw it, Alabama’s offense was lacking in substance when opposing defenses took away the Tide’s RPOs on the field.

During a recent CBS teleconference, Danielson explained his thoughts on why Alabama’s passing game struggled at times late last season.

“It was too easy,” Danielson said according to AL.com. “Too many RPOs. Too many open receivers. Not enough of those gutsy plays that Alabama teams have made in the past with the Greg McElroys and AJ McCarron where they had to have that fourth-quarter drive or first-down pass where you had to be clutch. And, it caught up with them against Georgia.

“And against Clemson, when the RPOs were taken away, they didn’t really have anywhere else to go. I think Nick (Saban) made an incredibly smart move in re-vamping his offense and getting more NFLish, and the major beneficiary of this is going to be Tua.”

To correct this issue, following the departure of offensive assistants Mike Locksley, Dan Enos, Brent Key and Josh Gattis this offseason, Saban rehired Steve Sarkisian to run the offense in Tuscaloosa. According to Danielson, that will prove to be an excellent hire for Tagovailoa by season’s end.

The signs are already there, according to the CBS analyst.

“You can already see it,” Danielson said. “(Tua) is handling the progressions better. He’s taking first-down throws instead of AAU throws. I like to call them AAU throws because it is all flash and dash, and there aren’t consequences if you don’t make the big throw. …

“He’s going to have to stay healthy for his team, and he’s going to have to manage it more like Jake Fromm manages his team for Alabama to get into the championship, which is how they get measured.”

That’s an interesting observation from Danielson, who has been studying up Tagovailoa in anticipation for Alabama’s upcoming trip to Columbia to take on South Carolina. The nation’s No. 2 team is set to play the Gamecocks Saturday, Sept. 14 at 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. CT on CBS.

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Michael Wayne Bratton
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com

Bama Defense Readies For Gamecocks
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Travis Reier
Published on Sep 10, 2019
Tuesday, September 10, 2019.

Antonio Alfano

kind of worried about him

Word is that Jobe hasnt graded well, and maybe is pressing... bad thing is that he is/was holding off a very talented group of new guys. At Bama you either lead or get out of the way.

Alfano, seems to not like the lack of playing time and the heat *Kyle H. Both sound suspect. The fact that he had discipline issues in HS, and had been touted as having changed into this incredible hard worker...may have been short sighted. Seems he has talked to Saban about transfer... (not sure of the sauces here) and Saban thinks he should stick it out in T'town... trying to think of guys like this that excelled when they transferred??? Sheffield maybe, but most dont will watch Anoma at Houston.
Would be nice to see him buckle the chin strap and hick up his jock get back to work and prove his naysayers wrong.. become the player his prospect hype indicated; but once a player who everyone (including himself) thought would come in an Play Bunches, doesnt crack the rotation...well, they get into a downward spiral that is difficult to eject themselves from....