Be careful doubting Alabama, plus other notes
Some Friday morning notes:
Be careful doubting Alabama
This is starting to feel like 2015, right?
Months before Alabama won the national championship during that 2015 season, but there was September feedback similar to what you’ve seen and heard since the Crimson Tide’s 31-29 victory over Florida last week.
Alabama is vulnerable.
Alabama has cracks in the armor.
Alabama isn’t elite anymore.
As was the case in 2015, it’s somewhat overblown.
Is Alabama as invincible as last season’s historically dominant national championship squad, which outscored opponents by an average margin of 48-19? No. That’s a byproduct of losing eight players who were top-50 picks in the 2021 NFL draft.
Nevertheless, can you name a team you’d feel confident betting on in a head-to-head matchup with the Crimson Tide? Probably not, especially considering the early play of new starting quarterback Bryce Young.
Young, the highest-ranked recruit at that position in Alabama history, threw for 344 yards and four touchdowns in a season-opening 44-13 win over then-No. 14 Miami, then for 240 yards with three scoring passes and no interceptions against Florida.
While the Gators ended up losing by two, don’t forget that Alabama led 21-3 at the end of the first quarter. In the end, it still was a road win over a team ranked No. 11 in one of the toughest road environments in the nation.
The Crimson Tide has outscored its first two FBS opponents — Miami and Florida — by a combined total of 48-12 in the first half.
“As we know, they have a great team, great players,” said Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, whose No. 13 Rebels face Alabama next week. “I wish the media would stop upsetting Coach Saban by saying this is a weak team or has weaknesses. I mean, they went on the road into a top-10 team, into the Swamp, and won with a freshman quarterback. Got an early lead and hung on at the end, and now all of a sudden it’s not a good team and they have weaknesses and they can’t stop people? It doesn’t really help us a lot, being around there knowing how that place works.”
Not the same old Texas Tech defense
Until last week, FIU star running back D’Vonte Price had a streak of five consecutive 100-yard rushing games against FBS opponents.
The team that ended the run? Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders limited Price — one of the nation’s top senior running backs — to 51 yards and an average of 3.4 yards per carry during a 54-21 win.
It was the latest indicator that this isn’t your typical Texas Tech defense. After ranking among the bottom three in the Big 12 in total defense in 10 of the past 11 seasons, including second-worst last season, Tech’s defense has been a key to the team’s 3-0 start.
Led by third-year coordinator Keith Patterson, the defense has allowed just 248.5 total yards per game in two games against FBS teams (the victory over FIU and a 38-21 win over Houston in Week 1). Only eight teams nationally have allowed a lower average in games against FBS opponents.
In the win over Houston, the Red Raiders held Cougars running back Mulbah Carr to 37 yards and 2.8 yards per carry. Houston quarterback Clayton Tune, meanwhile, threw for just 174 yards and had four interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown.
Michigan legend helping to revitalize Wolverines’ rushing attack
Can you name the last Michigan running back to rank in the top-10 nationally in rushing? The answer: Mike Hart in 2006.
Now, 15 years later, Hart is helping the No. 19 Wolverines re-establish themselves as one of the nation’s top running teams.
In his first seasons as Michigan’s running backs coach, Hart helps oversee a unit that is No. 1 nationally in rushing offense (350.3 yards per game) and rushing touchdowns (15). It comes after Michigan ranked 95th nationally in rushing offense (131.5 yards per game) during a 2-4 season in 2020.
Sophomore Blake Corum and senior Hassan Haskins are in the top 35 nationally in rushing — Corum at No. 3 and Haskins at No. 35. Corum has broken out after getting just 26 carries as a freshman in 2020. He has rushed for at least 111 yards and accounted for multiple touchdowns in each of the Wolverines’ first three games, including 171 yards and three touchdowns during a 31-10 win over Washington in Week 2.
Hart joined Michigan’s staff after three seasons as Tom Allen’s running backs coach at Indiana. Hart also was the Hoosiers’ associate head coach last season.
“I’ve tracked his career, and at different times thought about reaching out to see if we can bring him here,” said Rutgers coach Greg Schiano, whose Scarlet Knights play at Michigan on Saturday. “I think he’s an excellent coach. That room is doing a great job. Certainly talented players, but I think it’s more than that.”
Nation’s No. 1 pass defense
In a one-week span, New Mexico quarterback Terry Wilson went from having one of the best performances of his career (381 yards and three TDs in a win over New Mexico State) to having one of the worst. It came courtesy of a Texas A&M defense that’s been causing big-time problems for opposing offenses and quarterbacks.
Wilson, a Kentucky transfer, was 10-of-23 for just 33 yards and an interception in a 34-0 loss to Texas A&M. He became the third consecutive quarterback to fail to reach even 100 yards passing against Mike Elko’s defense and T.J. Rushing’s secondary.
Entering Saturday’s matchup with No. 16 Arkansas, No. 7 A&M has limited its opponents — Kent State, Colorado and New Mexico — to an FBS-low 77.3 passing yards per game. In addition, the Aggies have posted four interceptions and have yet to yield a touchdown pass. A&M is one of five teams yet to allow a TD through the air.