Alabama's weak spot surprisingly saved their College Football Playoff hopes in sloppy win over South Carolina
Alabama somehow held on to pull off the 27-25 victory over South Carolina on Saturday, but it wasn't pretty. Quarterback Jalen Milroe threw two interceptions. The run game couldn't average even three yards per carry. A failed onside kick recovery almost cost the Crimson Tide the ball game late. So after all of that, what […]
Alabama somehow held on to pull off the 27-25 victory over South Carolina on Saturday, but it wasn't pretty. Quarterback Jalen Milroe threw two interceptions. The run game couldn't average even three yards per carry. A failed onside kick recovery almost cost the Crimson Tide the ball game late. So after all of that, what went right to help Alabama actually win?
Surprisingly, it was Alabama's one major weak spot they have struggled with all season that actually ended up saving the day and ultimately their College Football Playoff hopes. Alabama's pass rush has struggled to gain much traction all year long, but on Saturday it was the one huge difference in the game for Kalen DeBoer's struggling squad.
Heading into Week 7 action Alabama ranked 11th in the SEC and 73rd among all FBS schools in pass rush pressures. They had just 10 sacks in five games. That's not exactly what Alabama typically gets from their pass rush, but today was different.
Very early in the game Alabama started bringing pressure against South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers. It began with Sellers just being flushed from the pocket a couple times on the first and second drive. But then Quandarrius Robinson pulled off the first sack, leading to a long 3rd and 21 for LaNorris Sellers and South Carolina. From then on out, the entire pass rush unit looked like they completely unlocked themselves.
Shortly after Robinson's first big play in the back field, defensive lineman Tim Smith created a huge sack on 3rd and 3 to force a long fourth down conversion attempt that led to a fumble and turnover. Smith initially drew a double team, faking an outside move to force more of a one-on-one with the left tackle, then chopped back inside for the ferocious sack (as you can see in the post below).
After that Tim Smith sack, Alabama's pass rush was neutralized by a more run-heavy approach from South Carolina on the next two drives. However, just before halftime linebacker Jihaad Campbell came up with a huge strip sack that forced a fumble and turnover in Alabama territory. Campbell continues to dominate as the consistent lone bright spot every single week, even when the defense shows imperfections overall.
While South Carolina did make a couple nice big plays down the stretch, Alabama's pass rush continuously got into Sellers face. Even Jah-Marien Latham, who has struggled all year to bring pressure, grabbed a sack. Pressure and pursuit from multiple defenders forced both of Sellers' fumbles. The Tide just kept finding themselves forcing pressure on what felt like every snap late in the game, including pressures on four of the final five plays of defensive plays of the game for Alabama.
The first big pass rush play late came when Quandarrius Robinson sacked LaNorris Sellers, but committed a face mask penalty, leading to the long Nyck Harbor touchdown on the next play. However, Robinson immediately and totally redeemed himself on the two-point conversion attempt from South Carolina that would have tied the game for the Gamecocks. Sellers began to roll right off the snap. Robinson quickly diagnosed the play, sprinted through the line and got a hand in Sellers' face, leading to the critical overthrow and incompletion.
Then finally, on the last play of the game, Keon Sabb–a key defensive back and the leader in tackles on the day for Alabama–rushed off the edge on a blitz, almost tackling Sellers, forcing a bad throw that led to Domani Jackson's interception to end the game.
Pressure was coming from everywhere and everyone for Alabama. The pass rush–what looked like a real weak spot coming into the weekend–seriously gave the Crimson Tide the victory in the end by coming up big time on the most critical plays of the game.
There may have been several aspects that were still sloppy for Kalen DeBoer's Alabama team, but the pass rush was not one of them. If the Tide can continue figuring out their pass rush, defensive coordinator Kane Wommack may be able to get the defense back on track as they pursue a College Football Playoff bid.
Jalen Milroe drags Alabama to season-saving win against South Carolina after shaking off rough start
The Alabama Crimson Tide were pushed to the brink of another loss as South Carolina had a go-ahead field goal lined up with a few minutes left in the game. Despite a furious comeback attempt that gave South Carolina a chance to take the lead at the end, it was Jalen Milroe and the Tide […]
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