1. Was not a pretty game
This was Alabama’s worst game of the season. Played undisciplined, Tua was off, Alabama made some strange calls on offense to where the Crimson Tide could never quite get into a rhythm. Missouri’s running backs Larry Roundtree and Tyler Badie ran for a combined 89-yards.
Looked worse than the numbers showed and Alabama only allowed 142-yards of passing from Drew Lock, who Saban has a lot of respect for.
The red-zone play calling on offense seemed off and instead of just pounding it on the ground, Alabama seemed to be forcing the pass which Missouri was in good position to defend. This was Tua’s worst night of the season, but he still managed to go 12 of 22 for 265-yards with 3 touchdowns and finished with a rating of 200.7.
2. The Good
Quick drives. Alabama’s longest scoring drive of the night lasted just 3:28. Their fastest drive was 23 seconds. It’s quite incredible how quick this team can put points on the board and it does not get better than Tua Tagovailoa to Jerry Jeudy, that IMO is the most dangerous connection in all of college football.
Though the running backs ran hard. Damien Harris ran for 14 carries for 62-yards, Najee Harris ran for 63-yards, and Josh Jacobs ran for 54-yards. Each looked explosive at times and while I’d like to see a little less dancing from Josh Jacobs, he is still very effective at making people miss. I think we all saw a lot of improvement from Jalen Hurts tonight.
He had some very good deep ball passes that were right on the money, his longest was 44-yards, and he hit on another for 29-yards-yards, in all Hurts was 7 of 8 passing for 115-yards. The play of Savion Smith was much improved and he recorded two more interceptions on the season. Quinnen Williams continues to play lights out as does Isaiah Buggs who recorded his seventh sack of the season. Raekwon Davis played better, but also played undisciplined.
3. Punting is awful
My goodness. DeLong punted one time tonight for 12-yards.
They Said It
Nick Saban
“We did get some guys knocked up. Tua (Tagovailoa) could have gone back in the game. He wanted to go back in the game, but I didn’t think it was worth putting him back in. He sort of tweaked his knee a little bit, the same one he tweaked last week. We don’t think there’s any issues or problems with it. DeVonta Smith pulled a muscle, so he’s going to be day-to-day and probably would be the most questionable guy that we have. The other guys twisted ankles and bruised shoulders, and they may miss a day of practice, but I don’t think it will be an issue for the next game.”
#47 Christian Miller, LB
On how it felt to play so well on defense against good offense:
“I was happy with the way we played. There are still a couple of things we could’ve done a little bit better, but overall we came out and held down to our goal and limited their points. They had a high-powered offense, and we got a chance to show what we can do against a first-round draft pick (in Missouri quarterback Drew Lock). It was a good effort from our defense.”
#8 Josh Jacobs, RB
On playing a role on special teams and offense:
“It’s definitely a lot of fun to be out there and just show my versatility. I just try to go out there and execute everything they ask me to do.”
Missouri Head Coach Barry Odom
Opening statement
“There are things we talked throughout the week on, having this opportunity to, in this environment, to play the best team in the country. We needed the turnover margin to be in our favor. We needed to eliminate explosive plays when our defense was out on the field, and obviously we didn't start that way.
More
10 things you learned from Alabama vs. Mizzou
Final Stats: Alabama 39, Missouri 10
Injury report: Saban gives update on Tua Tagovailoa's 'tweaked' knee
Saban Presser
Post Game Notes from UA
NOTES
GAME CAPTAINS: Alabama’s captains against Missouri were tight end Hale Hentges, defensive back Deionte Thompson and defensive lineman Quinnen Williams.
DEFENSIVE NOTESSAFETY DANCE: Quinnen Williams’ end zone sack of Missouri’s Drew Lock to end the third quarter was Alabama’s first safety since the 2015 SEC Championship Game against Florida. The safety is the first of Williams’ career.
TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS: Alabama’s three forced turnovers (two interceptions, one fumble) against Missouri tonight gives the Crimson Tide at least one forced turnover in 49 of its last 51 games dating to the start of the 2015 season. During the current run, the Crimson Tide has forced 88 turnovers (61 interceptions, 27 fumbles) and returned 21 of those miscues for touchdowns.
POINTS OFF TURNOVERS: With its two post-turnover scoring drives in the first half, Alabama has scored 90 points off 16 opponent giveaways this season, scoring on 14 of the turnovers and intercepting a pass to end the first half against Louisiana on Sept. 29. The Tide defense has directly accounted for 28 points on four interception returns, while the offense has posted 62 points on its 11 post-turnover possessions.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
TAGOVAILOA VS. SEC: In four games against Southeastern Conference opponents this season, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has thrown for 1,177 yards and 13 touchdowns on 55-of-80 passing (.688) for an efficiency rating of 245.96.
TWO OVER 100: With 100-yard receiving performances by DeVonta Smith (100) and Jerry Jeudy (147) tonight, Alabama has now recorded three consecutive games with multiple 100-yard receivers (Jaylen Waddle, 138; Henry Ruggs III, 116 vs. UL & Jerry Jeudy, 135; Irv Smith Jr., 123 at Arkansas). Prior to this steak, Alabama had only seen multiple receivers have 100-yard or more receiving yards in the same game five times in program history and only once in the Nick Saban era before this season.
TUA AT THE HELM: Sophomore Tua Tagovailoa has directed 52 drives as the Tide’s starting quarterback this season with 34 resulting touchdowns (65.3 percent) and five culminating in field goals for 36 total scoring drives (69.2). In those drives, the Tide offense is 24-for-37 on third down conversions, accounting for 2,580 yards on 263 snaps for an average of 9.81 yards per play and 250 of the 332 points scored by the UA offense.
TAGOVAILOA FIRST HALF TOUCHDOWN PASSES: With his three first-half touchdown passes tonight, Tua Tagovailoa joins Johnny Manziel as the only SEC quarterbacks to throw three or more scoring passes in the first half of three consecutive conference games. Tagovailoa found the end zone three times against Texas A&M on Sept. 22 and four times at Arkansas on Oct. 6.
LAST THREE FIRST HALVES FOR TAGOVAILOA: Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa is 30-for-40 with 727 yards passing and nine touchdowns in the first half of his last three games for a passing efficiency rating of 301.92.
DAMIEN HARRIS NOW 10TH ON UA CAREER RUSHING LIST: With 62 yards rushing tonight, senior Damien Harris has 2,617 yards on the ground for his career, moving him into 10th place on the UA career rushing chart. Dennis Riddle (1994-97) is ninth with 2,645 yards.
LONG TOSS: With Tua Tagovailoa’s 57-yard pass to DeVonta Smith and his 81-yard touchdown strike to Jerry Jeudy tonight, Alabama has 11 pass plays of 50 yards or more in seven games this season – nine thrown by Tagovailoa, and one each by Jalen Hurts and Mac Jones.
DRIVES UNDER A MINUTE: With three first-half scoring drives of 23, 52 and eight seconds, 18 of the Crimson Tide’s scoring drives this season have lasted less than a minute with nine lasting less than 30 seconds. Alabama led the nation in scoring drives under a minute with 15 entering the Missouri game.
FIRST HALF TOTAL OFFENSE: With 358 total yards in the first two quarters, Alabama is now averaging 373.1 yards in total offense in the first half this season (2,612 yards in seven games). The Tide has racked up 340 or more total yards in the first half in six of seven games this season – 340 vs. Louisville, 395 vs. Arkansas State, 418 at Ole Miss, 357 vs. Louisiana and 463 vs. Arkansas.
FIRST HALF SCORING: Through seven games this season, Alabama is outscoring its opponents, 268-44 (38.3-6.3), in the first half. That total includes a 137-31 (19.6-4.4) first quarter advantage and a 128-13 (18.3-1.9) difference in the second quarter.
THIRTY FOR SIX: Alabama has now scored 30 or more points in the first half of six consecutive games dating back to the Arkansas State game on Sept. 8, the longest streak in the FBS since Baylor from 2012-13.
OPENING DRIVE TOUCHDOWNS: Tua Tagovailoa’s 81-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Jeudy on Alabama’s first possession against the Tigers was the Crimson Tide’s seventh-straight opening-drive touchdown this season.Alabama has now won 22-straight games when scoring a touchdown on its first offensive possession of a game. The Tide’s last loss after finding the end zone on its first drive was to Oklahoma in the 2014 Allstate Sugar Bowl.
SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE 500+ YARD TOTAL OFFENSE GAME: Alabama’s 564 yards in total offense against Missouri marks the seventh time the Crimson Tide has topped 500 yards this season and the 19th time in the last 51 games dating to the start of the 2015 campaign. This is Alabama’s first seven-game run of 500-yard total offense performances in program history.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
WELCOME BACK: Skyler DeLong’s third quarter punt tonight was Alabama’s first punt attempt in 10 quarters, dating to the Texas A&M game on Sept. 22, a span of 156 minutes.
This was Alabama’s worst game of the season. Played undisciplined, Tua was off, Alabama made some strange calls on offense to where the Crimson Tide could never quite get into a rhythm. Missouri’s running backs Larry Roundtree and Tyler Badie ran for a combined 89-yards.
Looked worse than the numbers showed and Alabama only allowed 142-yards of passing from Drew Lock, who Saban has a lot of respect for.
The red-zone play calling on offense seemed off and instead of just pounding it on the ground, Alabama seemed to be forcing the pass which Missouri was in good position to defend. This was Tua’s worst night of the season, but he still managed to go 12 of 22 for 265-yards with 3 touchdowns and finished with a rating of 200.7.
2. The Good
Quick drives. Alabama’s longest scoring drive of the night lasted just 3:28. Their fastest drive was 23 seconds. It’s quite incredible how quick this team can put points on the board and it does not get better than Tua Tagovailoa to Jerry Jeudy, that IMO is the most dangerous connection in all of college football.
Though the running backs ran hard. Damien Harris ran for 14 carries for 62-yards, Najee Harris ran for 63-yards, and Josh Jacobs ran for 54-yards. Each looked explosive at times and while I’d like to see a little less dancing from Josh Jacobs, he is still very effective at making people miss. I think we all saw a lot of improvement from Jalen Hurts tonight.
He had some very good deep ball passes that were right on the money, his longest was 44-yards, and he hit on another for 29-yards-yards, in all Hurts was 7 of 8 passing for 115-yards. The play of Savion Smith was much improved and he recorded two more interceptions on the season. Quinnen Williams continues to play lights out as does Isaiah Buggs who recorded his seventh sack of the season. Raekwon Davis played better, but also played undisciplined.
3. Punting is awful
My goodness. DeLong punted one time tonight for 12-yards.
They Said It
Nick Saban
“We did get some guys knocked up. Tua (Tagovailoa) could have gone back in the game. He wanted to go back in the game, but I didn’t think it was worth putting him back in. He sort of tweaked his knee a little bit, the same one he tweaked last week. We don’t think there’s any issues or problems with it. DeVonta Smith pulled a muscle, so he’s going to be day-to-day and probably would be the most questionable guy that we have. The other guys twisted ankles and bruised shoulders, and they may miss a day of practice, but I don’t think it will be an issue for the next game.”
#47 Christian Miller, LB
On how it felt to play so well on defense against good offense:
“I was happy with the way we played. There are still a couple of things we could’ve done a little bit better, but overall we came out and held down to our goal and limited their points. They had a high-powered offense, and we got a chance to show what we can do against a first-round draft pick (in Missouri quarterback Drew Lock). It was a good effort from our defense.”
#8 Josh Jacobs, RB
On playing a role on special teams and offense:
“It’s definitely a lot of fun to be out there and just show my versatility. I just try to go out there and execute everything they ask me to do.”
Missouri Head Coach Barry Odom
Opening statement
“There are things we talked throughout the week on, having this opportunity to, in this environment, to play the best team in the country. We needed the turnover margin to be in our favor. We needed to eliminate explosive plays when our defense was out on the field, and obviously we didn't start that way.
More
10 things you learned from Alabama vs. Mizzou
Final Stats: Alabama 39, Missouri 10
Injury report: Saban gives update on Tua Tagovailoa's 'tweaked' knee
Saban Presser
Post Game Notes from UA
NOTES
GAME CAPTAINS: Alabama’s captains against Missouri were tight end Hale Hentges, defensive back Deionte Thompson and defensive lineman Quinnen Williams.
DEFENSIVE NOTESSAFETY DANCE: Quinnen Williams’ end zone sack of Missouri’s Drew Lock to end the third quarter was Alabama’s first safety since the 2015 SEC Championship Game against Florida. The safety is the first of Williams’ career.
TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS: Alabama’s three forced turnovers (two interceptions, one fumble) against Missouri tonight gives the Crimson Tide at least one forced turnover in 49 of its last 51 games dating to the start of the 2015 season. During the current run, the Crimson Tide has forced 88 turnovers (61 interceptions, 27 fumbles) and returned 21 of those miscues for touchdowns.
POINTS OFF TURNOVERS: With its two post-turnover scoring drives in the first half, Alabama has scored 90 points off 16 opponent giveaways this season, scoring on 14 of the turnovers and intercepting a pass to end the first half against Louisiana on Sept. 29. The Tide defense has directly accounted for 28 points on four interception returns, while the offense has posted 62 points on its 11 post-turnover possessions.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
TAGOVAILOA VS. SEC: In four games against Southeastern Conference opponents this season, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has thrown for 1,177 yards and 13 touchdowns on 55-of-80 passing (.688) for an efficiency rating of 245.96.
TWO OVER 100: With 100-yard receiving performances by DeVonta Smith (100) and Jerry Jeudy (147) tonight, Alabama has now recorded three consecutive games with multiple 100-yard receivers (Jaylen Waddle, 138; Henry Ruggs III, 116 vs. UL & Jerry Jeudy, 135; Irv Smith Jr., 123 at Arkansas). Prior to this steak, Alabama had only seen multiple receivers have 100-yard or more receiving yards in the same game five times in program history and only once in the Nick Saban era before this season.
TUA AT THE HELM: Sophomore Tua Tagovailoa has directed 52 drives as the Tide’s starting quarterback this season with 34 resulting touchdowns (65.3 percent) and five culminating in field goals for 36 total scoring drives (69.2). In those drives, the Tide offense is 24-for-37 on third down conversions, accounting for 2,580 yards on 263 snaps for an average of 9.81 yards per play and 250 of the 332 points scored by the UA offense.
TAGOVAILOA FIRST HALF TOUCHDOWN PASSES: With his three first-half touchdown passes tonight, Tua Tagovailoa joins Johnny Manziel as the only SEC quarterbacks to throw three or more scoring passes in the first half of three consecutive conference games. Tagovailoa found the end zone three times against Texas A&M on Sept. 22 and four times at Arkansas on Oct. 6.
LAST THREE FIRST HALVES FOR TAGOVAILOA: Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa is 30-for-40 with 727 yards passing and nine touchdowns in the first half of his last three games for a passing efficiency rating of 301.92.
DAMIEN HARRIS NOW 10TH ON UA CAREER RUSHING LIST: With 62 yards rushing tonight, senior Damien Harris has 2,617 yards on the ground for his career, moving him into 10th place on the UA career rushing chart. Dennis Riddle (1994-97) is ninth with 2,645 yards.
LONG TOSS: With Tua Tagovailoa’s 57-yard pass to DeVonta Smith and his 81-yard touchdown strike to Jerry Jeudy tonight, Alabama has 11 pass plays of 50 yards or more in seven games this season – nine thrown by Tagovailoa, and one each by Jalen Hurts and Mac Jones.
DRIVES UNDER A MINUTE: With three first-half scoring drives of 23, 52 and eight seconds, 18 of the Crimson Tide’s scoring drives this season have lasted less than a minute with nine lasting less than 30 seconds. Alabama led the nation in scoring drives under a minute with 15 entering the Missouri game.
FIRST HALF TOTAL OFFENSE: With 358 total yards in the first two quarters, Alabama is now averaging 373.1 yards in total offense in the first half this season (2,612 yards in seven games). The Tide has racked up 340 or more total yards in the first half in six of seven games this season – 340 vs. Louisville, 395 vs. Arkansas State, 418 at Ole Miss, 357 vs. Louisiana and 463 vs. Arkansas.
FIRST HALF SCORING: Through seven games this season, Alabama is outscoring its opponents, 268-44 (38.3-6.3), in the first half. That total includes a 137-31 (19.6-4.4) first quarter advantage and a 128-13 (18.3-1.9) difference in the second quarter.
THIRTY FOR SIX: Alabama has now scored 30 or more points in the first half of six consecutive games dating back to the Arkansas State game on Sept. 8, the longest streak in the FBS since Baylor from 2012-13.
OPENING DRIVE TOUCHDOWNS: Tua Tagovailoa’s 81-yard touchdown pass to Jerry Jeudy on Alabama’s first possession against the Tigers was the Crimson Tide’s seventh-straight opening-drive touchdown this season.Alabama has now won 22-straight games when scoring a touchdown on its first offensive possession of a game. The Tide’s last loss after finding the end zone on its first drive was to Oklahoma in the 2014 Allstate Sugar Bowl.
SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE 500+ YARD TOTAL OFFENSE GAME: Alabama’s 564 yards in total offense against Missouri marks the seventh time the Crimson Tide has topped 500 yards this season and the 19th time in the last 51 games dating to the start of the 2015 campaign. This is Alabama’s first seven-game run of 500-yard total offense performances in program history.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
WELCOME BACK: Skyler DeLong’s third quarter punt tonight was Alabama’s first punt attempt in 10 quarters, dating to the Texas A&M game on Sept. 22, a span of 156 minutes.
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