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Believe it or not, there are things that you can learn from Alabama playing in a state of New Mexico. There are opportunities for a staff to learn, for young players to gain experience. But once again, after Alabama shipped the state of New Mexico 62-10 on Saturday, the question was put to Nick Saban.
"What do you get from a game like this?"
This question does not automatically mean that Alabama intentionally schedules fewer oppositions – and with all due respect that I have to the State of New Mexico, which has continued to test for 60 minutes under a heat exhausting – he is not one of the top 25 players. They were destroyed by the state of Washington and now by Alabama. But since the summer, when opening the first game against (Power 5) Duke, Saban has probably answered 999 questions about planning. We can forgive him for thinking that the thousandth question was directed in that direction.
At some level, there is no pleasure for a segment of non-Alabama fans whose only interest is to see someone beat Alabama. The Crimson Tide could schedule road games off the conference in Ohio State, Oklahoma and Clemson, and then reserve a seat in November for the leader of NFC South. They could also refuse to participate in the SEC rotation and demand instead to play against Georgia or Florida (on the road, of course) and there would always be criticism.
One last time, Greg Byrne's mobile phone does not buzz wildly with calls and text messages offering the home and home of Power Five. When he receives such a text, he responds – Texas, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, etc. As we said in Atlanta last week, Alabama is looking for a Chick-Fil-A 2025 kickoff game that would give UA a total of 10 Power Five games that year. Whenever the legislation regarding a nine – game SEC schedule is proposed, Alabama will vote in favor of it. Until now, such proposals have been rare at Destin. There is simply not much more to say.
But if the question is not a planned aggression, but a query on what Alabama has learned, some information was revealed Saturday.
On the one hand, while Alabama has a lot of young talent, this talent is far from having formed a coherent group. Yes, the offense is explosive because few teams, Top 25 or not, can cover the recipients of Alabama or prevent Tua Tagovailoa to find them. The halves were more handsome than during the first week, whether it was Najee Harris, Brian Robinson or attractive rookie Keilan Robinson, who dominated all Aggie defenders on a spectacular 74-yard touchdown . The offensive line was mixed because the two regular centers (Emil Ekiyor and Chris Owens) were out, so the work continues and it will still take in South Carolina.)
Frankly, the fourth quarter was a disaster, not at all "affect the outcome" but in terms of fierce competition on a hot day. When Saban says he did not like the "approach" in attack or defense after Alabama started to replace him, these words are a warning. But at least Saban knows it now. He saw Mac Jones, who looked more handsome with Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III in the match. He knows that there are situations where the backup defense can put 13 players on the field. He learned things, just like Jim Harbaugh learned them against Army or James Franklin learned things against Buffalo.
Was it the most exciting and memorable match of the weekend? No.
Is it a step to play exciting and memorable games at the end of the season? Probably.
Contact Cecil Hurt at [email protected] or via Twitter @cecilhurt
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