For the 2018 University of Alabama football season, TideSports’ Terrin Waack will provide select stellar stats, obscure facts and notable quotes from the most recent game to show how the Crimson Tide uses “The Process” against its opponents.
No. 1 Alabama defeated Louisiana-Lafayette 56-14 at Bryant-Denny Stadium last Saturday in front of 101,471 people.
Stellar stats
• All three of Alabama’s quarterbacks played, and all three of Alabama’s quarterbacks threw a touchdown pass. Tua Tagovailoa had two. Jalen Hurts and Mac Jones each had one.
• For the fifth game in a row, the Crimson Tide scored on its first offense drive. The team can thank running back Josh Jacobs and his 9-yard run for keep that streak alive against the Ragin’ Cajuns.
• Alabama coach Nick Saban is now 14-0 against former assistant coaches. Billy Napier was an offensive analyst at UA in 2011 and then the wide receivers coach from 2013-16. Thirteen of those 14 wins have been by double digits. The sole single-digit win was against Kirby Smart and Georgia in the College Football Playoff National Championship game last season, which Alabama won by three points in overtime.
• Alabama picked up more than 500 yards of total offense and scored more than 45 points for the fifth game in a row this season, which are both firsts for the Crimson Tide. It totaled 608 offensive yards and 56 points against the Ragin’ Cajuns.
Obscure facts
• Repeat after me: Alabama missed a field goal. Placekicker Joseph Bulovas botched two attempts, one from 24 yards out and the other from 31 yards out. Between him and Austin Jones kicking, the Crimson Tide has made just five of its nine tries. Any game that saw more than one kick also saw at least one miss.
• The Crimson Tide has had an NCAA-best 13 scoring drives last less than a minute this season.
• Alabama’s backup, backup quarterback threw the second-longest touchdown pass in school history. Jones’ 94-yarder to wide receiver Jaylen Waddle only trails AJ McCarron’s 99-yarder to Amari Cooper in 2013, which technically can’t be topped anyway.
• The Crimson Tide has now won 22-consecutive games at Bryant-Denny Stadium, its second-longest home winning streak in program history. Alabama had 24 back-to-back win from Sept. 18, 1971 to Nov. 9, 1974, but that included BDS and Legion Field.
The spread
OddSharks.com had Alabama as a 49-point favorite. For the second game in a row, the Crimson Tide did not cover the spread. It won by 42 points.
Quoting Nick Saban
On the second-team defense’s performance and giving up two touchdowns…
“We have too many guys on that group that really have to learn how to complete, they have to learn how to prepare and they have to figure out what it takes to play major college football.”
Quoting the Crimson Tide
Defensive back Xavier McKinney on going up against wide receiver Jaylen Waddle in practice…
“Man, it sucks because you miss a tackle. … He makes you better, though, because he’s good in open field, so when you’re going open field with him, you got to be on your ps and qs and make sure your technique is right so you’re able to make the tackle.”
Quoting the opponent
Louisiana-Lafayette coach Billy Napier on Alabama being a different beast to play against…
“It’s a product of lots of hard what is what it is. I’m not just talking about how they practice, how they train and how they prepare, but it’s a product of recruiting at a really high level. It’s a product of precision in how you evaluate players, not only the physical dimensions – the speed, the measurable, but also the intangibles. It’s a product of consistency and routine. It’s a product of years and years of improving routine from player development.”
GAME LEADERS
Top 3 rushers
1. ULL: Trey Ragas, 16 carries for 111 yards and a touchdown
2. ULL: Elijah Mitchell, 11 carries for 85 yards
3. UA: Najee Harris, 11 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown
Top 3 receivers
1. UA: Henry Ruggs III, five receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns
2. UA: Jaylen Waddle, three receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns
3. UA: Jerry Jeudy, two receptions for 58 yards
Top 3 passers
1. UA: Tua Tagovailoa, 8-8-0 for 128 yards and two touchdowns
2. UA: Jalen Hurts, 4-6-0 for 118 yards and a touchdown (sacked once)
3. UA: Mac Jones, 1-2-0 for 94 yards and a touchdown
Top 3 defenders
1. UA: Deionte Thompson, seven total tackles
2. ULL: Jacques Boudreaux, seven total tackles
3. UA: Joshua McMillon, six total tackles
NEXT UP
Alabama (5-0) is hits the road to play Arkansas on Saturday at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The game will kickoff at 11 a.m. and air on SEC Network.
