Rushing yardsper game: 246.25 (18th nationally, 2nd in SEC)
Passing yards per game: 237.3 (66th, 6th)
Total yards per game: 483.5 (31st, 3rd)
Points per game: 46.5 (8th, 1st)
Rushing yards allowed per game: 67.5 (5th, 1st)
Passing yards allowed per game: 212.8 (55th, 5th)
Total yards allowed per game: 280.3 (15th, 2nd)
Points allowed per game: 14.8 (16th, 2nd)
Turnover margin: +2 (t-35th, t-5th)
1. Alabama has scored 186 points in the first 4 games of the season, the most points in the first four games of the season since 1921. They scored 211 points in that season, thanks mainly to a 95-0 win over “Bryson of Tennessee,” it says in the media guide. I believe that is “Bryson College,” in Fayetteville, Tennessee, which only existed from 1919-29. This is even more impressive when you consider Alabama has a freshman quarterback and had lost a Heisman running back from last season.
2. Kent State gained 47 yards on its first play yesterday. After that, it took them 34 more plays to gain a combined 47 yards again. That finally happened on the first play of the fourth quarter. The biggest factor behind that was how quick the defense got off the field. Kent State got only 2 first downs against Alabama’s starting defense: The one on the 47-yard run, and one on a 15-yard facemask penalty against Jonathan Allen. Other than that, every drive against the starting defense was three-and-out or a turnover.
3. The starting offense (including when Barnett was with the first team) had ten possessions yesterday. It scored six touchdowns, kicked two field goals, ran out the clock with 27 seconds until half, and punted once. Really efficient day for Alabama on both sides of the ball all afternoon. Put another way, Kent State averaged 3.92 plays per possession, and Alabama averaged 6.83.
4. Kent State had zero penalties yesterday. For the season, Alabama’s opponents have been flagged a total of 14 times for 127 yards, or 31.8 yards per game. The only teams whose opponents are being penalized for fewer yards per game are Boston College, Purdue, Washington, and Georgia State. There are 124 teams whose opponents are being penalized more than Alabama’s.
5. If you’re wondering what’s up with Calvin Ridley, chill out a bit. He has 20 receptions for 224 yards and a touchdown. Only Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough have more offensive touches than Ridley this year (Scarbrough has 24 carries and 1 catch). Through his first four games last year, Ridley had 17 receptions for 125 yards and one touchdown. Yes, Ridley only had one catch yesterday. But he also was limited after getting banged up on that throw to the end zone. If there’s a time for him to only have one catch, it’s against Kent State.
6. That was the 18th shutout of the Nick Saban era at Alabama (the Tide has never been shut out under Saban). That means Alabama is averaging a shutout in 16.5% of its wins under Saban and in 14.2% of its games overall under Saban. The combined score in those shutouts is 661-0, an average of 36.7-0.
Passing yards per game: 237.3 (66th, 6th)
Total yards per game: 483.5 (31st, 3rd)
Points per game: 46.5 (8th, 1st)
Rushing yards allowed per game: 67.5 (5th, 1st)
Passing yards allowed per game: 212.8 (55th, 5th)
Total yards allowed per game: 280.3 (15th, 2nd)
Points allowed per game: 14.8 (16th, 2nd)
Turnover margin: +2 (t-35th, t-5th)
1. Alabama has scored 186 points in the first 4 games of the season, the most points in the first four games of the season since 1921. They scored 211 points in that season, thanks mainly to a 95-0 win over “Bryson of Tennessee,” it says in the media guide. I believe that is “Bryson College,” in Fayetteville, Tennessee, which only existed from 1919-29. This is even more impressive when you consider Alabama has a freshman quarterback and had lost a Heisman running back from last season.
2. Kent State gained 47 yards on its first play yesterday. After that, it took them 34 more plays to gain a combined 47 yards again. That finally happened on the first play of the fourth quarter. The biggest factor behind that was how quick the defense got off the field. Kent State got only 2 first downs against Alabama’s starting defense: The one on the 47-yard run, and one on a 15-yard facemask penalty against Jonathan Allen. Other than that, every drive against the starting defense was three-and-out or a turnover.
3. The starting offense (including when Barnett was with the first team) had ten possessions yesterday. It scored six touchdowns, kicked two field goals, ran out the clock with 27 seconds until half, and punted once. Really efficient day for Alabama on both sides of the ball all afternoon. Put another way, Kent State averaged 3.92 plays per possession, and Alabama averaged 6.83.
4. Kent State had zero penalties yesterday. For the season, Alabama’s opponents have been flagged a total of 14 times for 127 yards, or 31.8 yards per game. The only teams whose opponents are being penalized for fewer yards per game are Boston College, Purdue, Washington, and Georgia State. There are 124 teams whose opponents are being penalized more than Alabama’s.
5. If you’re wondering what’s up with Calvin Ridley, chill out a bit. He has 20 receptions for 224 yards and a touchdown. Only Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough have more offensive touches than Ridley this year (Scarbrough has 24 carries and 1 catch). Through his first four games last year, Ridley had 17 receptions for 125 yards and one touchdown. Yes, Ridley only had one catch yesterday. But he also was limited after getting banged up on that throw to the end zone. If there’s a time for him to only have one catch, it’s against Kent State.
6. That was the 18th shutout of the Nick Saban era at Alabama (the Tide has never been shut out under Saban). That means Alabama is averaging a shutout in 16.5% of its wins under Saban and in 14.2% of its games overall under Saban. The combined score in those shutouts is 661-0, an average of 36.7-0.
