No team in college football has had to go through quite as much as the Alabama Crimson Tide has in the past ten months. Three new coaches, NCAA sanctions, and one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Not to mention, your first-string and second-string quarterbacks are out with shoulder injuries against a solid Southern Mississippi team.
Thats why Shaud Williams is, in my book, the Tides MVP. We knew that without the top two QBs that there would be pressure on the offense. But early in the first quarter, Shaud Williams took it to the barn, 44-yards out, and from then on, Brandon Avalos knew exactly what he had to do. Run the ball. It gets a little boring, but it is effective, and it won the game for us.
Shaud finished out with 170 yards on 28 carries, and after the game, he shared why he was so effective. Its every running backs dream, knowing youre going to touch the ball 20-plus times. I think people now look at this guy and see that he truly represents this Crimson Tide offense. After three tough losses, all games that could have been won, backs to the wall, Bama still has a heartbeat, thanks to number 21.
All season long, Alabama has looked for that one game where the defense stands up for us and shuts down the opponent. If not for a 15-yard defensive penalty against Freddie Roach in the second quarter that led to a field goal, the Tide was looking at a shutout. But that field goal was all that the Golden Eagles could get.
Bamas 243 rushing yards to USMs 17. That is our rush defense in a nutshell. Everybody contributed. Antwan Odom, of course, seized the run all game long and had one sack. DeMeco Ryans lately has turned into one of Alabamas biggest defensive weapons as he chipped in with a 10-plus tackle performance. And the finishing defensive stat: the Tide forced Southern Miss to punt nine times in the game. But the Tide even gave them trouble in that area.
A fumbled snap on a punt in the fourth quarter for Southern Miss helped out. As soon as the ball was picked up by the USM punter, he looked up and got a face-to-face look at Chris James who wrestled him down with help from Lance Taylor. Then, later in the fourth, it was again Chris James, who blocked punt lying down after a high snap that was returned by Greg McLain all the way out to the 1-yard line. The next play, Shaud Williams scored for the second time on an HB dive up the middle.
But one of the areas in the game that Coach Mike Shula really praised about after the game was the consistency of Tide punter Bo Freelend. He averaged 45.8 yards a kick, his longest, a 55-yarder, and the shortest 39 yards. He has taken a lot of heat in the past week for that consistency, but this performance silenced anyone who doubted him.
The Tide definitely showcased their best special teams performance of the year, and perhaps their best defensive effort as well. It was nothing fancy. Just a play-to-win kind of game. They were better than average in all aspects of the game.
And something that will also put a smile on all Tide fans is the fact that Bama finished with just two penalties. Two. One on defense, the other on special teams. So absolutely no offensive penalties.
Alabama played this game offensively the best way they could with your starting quarterback out. By giving it to Shaud Williams and Ray Hudson. Hudson finished with 76 yards on 18 carries. Even when Southern Miss threw all kinds of blitzes and rushes at them. Thanks again to the always consistent and reliable offensive line. Lets not underestimate the big guys up front.
Four quarters of good, clean football. Something Alabama was in bad need of going down the stretch. They got it. You cannot second-guess anything Alabama did in the game. They did what they were supposed to do, and they got the win. Nothing fancy, but they did it.
Rest easy tonight, celebrate it Sunday, and back to work on Monday. This is a big win for Alabama, but its important what they do with it. Build off of this, and carry it into the next week.
You know you will have your hands full when your opposing quarterback has the name Manning . The Tide shut him down last year, but that was LAST year. Ole Miss is coming off an upset over the Florida Gators and a rout of Arkansas State, and will be ready for the Tide. Definitely.
There is still no word on whether or not Brodie Croyle will be ready for the Rebels, but we all remember what happened last time Alabama faced Ole Miss. A guy by the name of Santonio Beard had a career five-rushing touchdown performance. So, will it matter if Croyle is ready? Its the same Ole Miss defense, they know we will run the ball. Southern Miss knew we would run, too. Look what happened. The gameplan is simple. Get Shaud Williams the ball. And play smart.
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