After Action Review: Alabama
An After Action Review, or AAR, is a US Army evaluation tool used to analyze an intended mission/action. Let’s apply this method to the Kentucky-Alabama football game:
WHAT WERE INTENDED RESULTS?
-- Win the football game
WHAT WERE ACTUAL RESULTS?
-- Lost the football game, 34-6
WHAT CAUSED OUR RESULTS?
-- Faced a superiorly talented opponent.
-- Unable to establish offensive rhythm, excessive turnovers, and inconsistent quarterback play.
-- Lack of line-of-scrimmage effectiveness and depth.
WHAT WILL WE SUSTAIN? IMPROVE?
SUSTAIN:
-- Resolve
Kentucky did not show fear and did not back down from its opponent.
-- Run game
UK established the run and stayed true to its offensive identity even after adverse scenarios.
-- Run defense
Held Alabama to 58 fewer rush yards (173) than its season average (246).
-- Eager and mostly youthful linebacker play
Sophomore Jordan Jones: 8 tackles, 1 tackle for loss. Freshman Eli Brown 7 tackles, Junior Di’Niro Laster: 4 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 fumble recovery, Sophomore Josh Allen: 4 tackles, 1 TFL.
-- Beginning stages of elite safety play from Mike Edwards
Mike Edwards is currently the SEC’s 4th leading tackler (43-8.6 per game). Vs Alabama: 12 tackles, 2 pass breakups.
-- Special Teams
UK special teams finished the game with a positive 35 yards. Eddie Jackson’s 17 yards return threatened, but didn’t materialize. Kicker Austin MacGinniss: 2-2 FG’s. Punter Grant McKinniss: 44.7 average with a long punt of 61 yards.
IMPROVE:
-- Tackling
Kentucky continued to miss tackles in the opponent’s backfield as it failed to take advantage of tackles for loss and QB sack opportunities.
-- Quarterback Ball Security
Stephen Johnson fumbled 3 times, losing 2. All 3 fumbles occurred at precarious times.
-- Running back rotation
Benny Snell Jr had been a bright spot for Eddie Gran. Snell finished the game with just 8 carries for 33 yards.
-- Pass defense
Alabama quarterbacks: 25-38, 315 yards, 2 touchdowns. Zone pass coverage has at times been a liability. It has improved, but reared its ugly head during a contested period of the football game. Cornerbacks were somewhat exploited, but this cannot be solely judged as a CB issue only. Second half pass rush all but disappeared which significantly influenced the situation. QB Jalen Hurts was afforded 4-6 seconds to dissect the secondary followed by passes to All American WR Calvin Ridley.
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