Started By
Message
Nick Saban's Tenure in Review: Season #15 - 2021 Alabama Crimson Tide
Posted on 7/12/24 at 8:23 am
Posted on 7/12/24 at 8:23 am
After the glorious national championship season of 2020, offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian left for the head coaching job at Texas and Alabama hired former NFL head coach Bill O'Brien to replace him. On top of that, Alabama was able to pick up Ohio State WR Jameson Williams in the transfer portal while giving him redshirt freshman QB Bryce Young to throw to. Despite Young's Heisman campaign and the prolific numbers put up by the offense, this was the first season where Alabama fans could tell that things were starting to slow down a little in Tuscaloosa.
Nevertheless, the Alabama Crimson Tide persevered despite multiple "down" games throughout the regular season, and were even leading eventual national champion Georgia in the national championship game in the fourth quarter. Injuries on the offensive side of the football, particularly to WRs John Metchie III and Jameson Williams, would end up costing the Crimson Tide in those final 15 minutes, however.
2021 Alabama Crimson Tide
Overall Record: 13 wins, 2 losses
SEC Record: 7 wins, 1 loss (1st in SEC West)
AP Poll Finish: #2
Coaches Poll Finish: #2
Offensive Coordinator: Bill O'Brien
Defensive Coordinator(s): Pete Golding/Charles Kelley
Permanent Captains: Will Anderson Jr., Phil Mathis, Evan Neal, and Bryce Young
Consensus 1st Team All-Americans: Bryce Young (QB), Evan Neal (T), and Will Anderson Jr. (LB)
1st Team All-SEC: Bryce Young (QB), Brian Robinson Jr. (RB), Jameson Williams (WR), Evan Neal (T), Will Anderson Jr. (LB), and Jordan Battle (S)
Heisman Trophy: Bryce Young (WINNER); Will Anderson Jr. (CANDIDATE - #5)
Total Offense: 488.2 YPG (#7)
Total Defense: 304.1 YPG (#7)
Average Talent Ranking on Roster: 3.25 (Per Rivals)
Schedule
LINK ]vs. #14 Miami (W) 44-13 [Atlanta, GA]
vs. Mercer (W) 48-14
@ #11 Florida (W) 31-29
vs. Southern Miss (W) 63-14
vs. #12 Ole Miss (W) 42-21
@ Texas A&M (L) 38-41
@ Mississippi State (W) 49-9
LINK ]vs. Tennessee (W) 52-24 [Homecoming]
vs. LSU (W) 20-14
vs. New Mexico State (W) 59-3
LINK ]vs. #21 Arkansas (W) 42-35 [Senior Day]
LINK ]@ Auburn (W) 24-22 [OT]
LINK ]vs. #1 Georgia (W) 41-24 [2021 SEC Championship Game]
LINK ]vs. #4 Cincinnati (W) 27-6 [2021 Cotton Bowl]
LINK ]vs. #3 Georgia (L) 18-33 [2022 CFP National Championship Game]
Leading Passer
Bryce Young
366-547 66.9 Pct 4,872 Yds 47 TDs 7 INTs
Leading Rusher
Brian Robinson Jr.
271 Att 1,343 Yds 5.0 Avg 14 TDs
Leading Receiver
Jameson Williams
79 Rec 1,572 Yds 19.9 Avg 15 TDs
Nevertheless, the Alabama Crimson Tide persevered despite multiple "down" games throughout the regular season, and were even leading eventual national champion Georgia in the national championship game in the fourth quarter. Injuries on the offensive side of the football, particularly to WRs John Metchie III and Jameson Williams, would end up costing the Crimson Tide in those final 15 minutes, however.
2021 Alabama Crimson Tide
Overall Record: 13 wins, 2 losses
SEC Record: 7 wins, 1 loss (1st in SEC West)
AP Poll Finish: #2
Coaches Poll Finish: #2
Offensive Coordinator: Bill O'Brien
Defensive Coordinator(s): Pete Golding/Charles Kelley
Permanent Captains: Will Anderson Jr., Phil Mathis, Evan Neal, and Bryce Young
Consensus 1st Team All-Americans: Bryce Young (QB), Evan Neal (T), and Will Anderson Jr. (LB)
1st Team All-SEC: Bryce Young (QB), Brian Robinson Jr. (RB), Jameson Williams (WR), Evan Neal (T), Will Anderson Jr. (LB), and Jordan Battle (S)
Heisman Trophy: Bryce Young (WINNER); Will Anderson Jr. (CANDIDATE - #5)
Total Offense: 488.2 YPG (#7)
Total Defense: 304.1 YPG (#7)
Average Talent Ranking on Roster: 3.25 (Per Rivals)
Schedule
LINK ]vs. #14 Miami (W) 44-13 [Atlanta, GA]
vs. Mercer (W) 48-14
@ #11 Florida (W) 31-29
vs. Southern Miss (W) 63-14
vs. #12 Ole Miss (W) 42-21
@ Texas A&M (L) 38-41
@ Mississippi State (W) 49-9
LINK ]vs. Tennessee (W) 52-24 [Homecoming]
vs. LSU (W) 20-14
vs. New Mexico State (W) 59-3
LINK ]vs. #21 Arkansas (W) 42-35 [Senior Day]
LINK ]@ Auburn (W) 24-22 [OT]
LINK ]vs. #1 Georgia (W) 41-24 [2021 SEC Championship Game]
LINK ]vs. #4 Cincinnati (W) 27-6 [2021 Cotton Bowl]
LINK ]vs. #3 Georgia (L) 18-33 [2022 CFP National Championship Game]
Leading Passer
Bryce Young
366-547 66.9 Pct 4,872 Yds 47 TDs 7 INTs
Leading Rusher
Brian Robinson Jr.
271 Att 1,343 Yds 5.0 Avg 14 TDs
Leading Receiver
Jameson Williams
79 Rec 1,572 Yds 19.9 Avg 15 TDs
This post was edited on 7/12/24 at 3:47 pm
4
Posted on 7/12/24 at 9:31 am to RollTide1987
Simultaneously a team that I was surprised ended up a few plays from winning a national title and a team that I'm 100% certain would have won the national title if Metchie and Jamo didn't go down to non-contact injuries in the two games against Georgia.
This was ironically probably Golding's best defense at Alabama but it still had several absolute turd performances.
This was ironically probably Golding's best defense at Alabama but it still had several absolute turd performances.
Posted on 7/12/24 at 10:43 am to RollTide1987
That SECG is probably one of my favorite memories as a fan. Everyone, literally everyone, said Bama does not have a shot at beating UGA in ATL especially after that 4 OT win in Jordan-Hare.
Bryce played one of the best games I've ever seen a QB play. Such a shame Jamo and Metchie got hurt in time for the natty.
Bryce played one of the best games I've ever seen a QB play. Such a shame Jamo and Metchie got hurt in time for the natty.
Posted on 7/12/24 at 10:52 am to JoeKinesKhakis
The Mathis injury in the 4th quarter was huge for UGA as well.
Posted on 7/12/24 at 11:12 am to RollTide1987
Will never understand why Saban settled so quickly for BoB. Was the worst hire of his tenure and it came at a time where you would think he would have his pick of OCs.
2021 was where some cracks started to show. We started playing down to opponents. First time since 2007 that we lost to an unranked opponent. Almost got beat by a terrible LSU team at home. Let a middling Arkansas team hang around until the end. Barely survived at Florida thanks to the clock. Needed a miracle Heisman drive to beat a putrid Auburn team. Very unSaban-like performances.
Yet there’s no doubt we would’ve won the championship if either Williams or Metchie stay healthy. UGA fans get triggered by that and start yelling Colt McCoy, but the difference is we had already proved we were several TDs better. If we could’ve gotten another TD on the board, that same doubt that shows up every other time we play them would’ve crept right back in UGA’s mind.
2021 was where some cracks started to show. We started playing down to opponents. First time since 2007 that we lost to an unranked opponent. Almost got beat by a terrible LSU team at home. Let a middling Arkansas team hang around until the end. Barely survived at Florida thanks to the clock. Needed a miracle Heisman drive to beat a putrid Auburn team. Very unSaban-like performances.
Yet there’s no doubt we would’ve won the championship if either Williams or Metchie stay healthy. UGA fans get triggered by that and start yelling Colt McCoy, but the difference is we had already proved we were several TDs better. If we could’ve gotten another TD on the board, that same doubt that shows up every other time we play them would’ve crept right back in UGA’s mind.
This post was edited on 7/12/24 at 11:16 am
Posted on 7/12/24 at 11:22 am to FairhopeTider
quote:
If we could’ve gotten another TD on the board
Agiye Hall's dropped pass still haunts me
Posted on 7/13/24 at 10:50 pm to FairhopeTider
quote:
Will never understand why Saban settled so quickly for BoB. Was the worst hire of his tenure and it came at a time where you would think he would have his pick of OCs.
That might have been the first time Saban really had to deal with questions over his age and how long was he going to continue to coach. Did it end up being worth it for Tommy Rees to leave his Alma Mater ND to coach under Saban for one year?
Posted on 7/14/24 at 2:17 am to RollTide1987
That NC game was the biggest load of horse shite and virtually a freebie for UGA. That's the one loss I'll never get over for the simple fact that the injury gods handed UGA that game on a silver platter.
Page 1 of 1
Latest Alabama News
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News