Texas A&M can’t say it wasn’t warned. Earlier this week, Jaylen Waddle heaped praise on fellow Alabama wide receiver John Metchie III, stating that the sophomore has some “sneaky speed to him.”
It didn’t take long for the Aggies to find that out the hard way. Three plays into Alabama’s first drive, Metchie found himself on the other side of a deep ball from Mac Jones, securing the pass in stride for a 78-yard touchdown to put the Crimson Tide on the board first.
“I told you about his sneaky speed,” Waddle said smiling, “He got to showcase that today.”
Metchie posted a game-high 181 yards and two touchdowns on five catches, all career highs. His 78-yard score was followed by a 63-yard touchdown pass from Jones in the fourth quarter as No. 2 Alabama put the finishing touches on a 52-24 victory over Texas A&M.
“We always thought Jonathan is a real threat,” head coach Nick Saban said. “He got the opportunities today. I think you’ll see different guys out of this group of guys get those opportunities on various days. He had one other one that we overthrew or else it would have been a big play.
“Very capable guy. Worked very hard, and I think this is something that’s going to really help his confidence and also something that’s going to help us develop confidence with his teammates. We need as many weapons as we possibly can, so I’m excited to see him have a good day today.”
After recording just four receptions for 23 yards as a reserve last season, Metchie stepped into a starting role this year alongside Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith. So far, that trio has caused nightmares for opposing secondaries.
Waddle hauled in five receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown against Texas A&M, bringing his season totals to a team-high 276 yards and three scores on 13 catches. Metchie is second on the team with 223 yards and two touchdowns on seven receptions, while Smith has a team-high 14 catches for 152 yards and a score.
Daniel Wright showed his mental fortitude
Daniel Wright had the Alabama message boards stirring with discontent early on. On Texas A&M’s third drive of the game, the safety failed to push Ainias Smith out of bounds on the left sideline, allowing the Aggies back a free run at the end zone for a 47-yard score.
The weak tackle attempt continued a growing trend for Wright, who tallied a team-high three missed tackles against Missouri despite also leading the Tide in stops with 11 that game. Saturday’s error proved to be a costly one as well.
Smith’s touchdown cut Alabama’s lead to 14-7 late in the first quarter. An interception on the Tide’s next possession was then followed by a game-tying touchdown a play later as Aggies quarterback Kellen Mond hit Ryan Renik for a wide-open 17-yard score.
Just when it seemed Wright was destined for scapegoat status, he came up with perhaps the game’s clinching play. After Alabama retook the lead on a touchdown run from Harris midway through the second quarter, Wright stepped in front of a third-down throw from Mond, returning the interception 47 yards for a touchdown to give the Tide a commanding 28-14 lead with 6:19 left in the half. Alabama never looked back from there.
“He made a big play,” Saban said. “It’s always great to get an interception when you’re playing DB. To run it back for a touchdown is even greater. He missed that tackle on the sideline, and we do sideline tackle all the time. I just didn’t like the way he approached and finished. He should have got the guy out of bounds. He didn’t… D-Wright is a playmaker, but he’s also a guy who has to really stay focused on his job, and that’s something we’re going to continue to work on.”
The defense needs more dicipline
Alabama’s defense has flashed its potential early this season. Unfortunately for the Tide, it’s also shown its inexperience. Alabama has given up 43 points over its first two games, an average of 21.5 points allowed which is roughly three points worse than last year.
So far, most of the issues have had more to do with lack of discipline than any dip in talent. Alabama’s first touchdown against Missouri came in a coverage breakdown as the Tide failed to pick up running back Tyler Badie on a 54-yard touchdown pass from Shawn Robinson.
Saturday’s mishaps featured much of the same story. Texas A&M’s first two scores came on defensive lapses as Smith was left wide open on the first touchdown while a miscommunication left Renik unguarded on the second.
“Two of those plays, they were just missed assignments, I feel like,” linebacker Christian Harris said. “We’ll look back at it on Monday and get back right for next week.”
Added Saban: “Just a lot of mental errors. Not necessarily anything physically is an issue or a problem. ... It’s not like we can’t do it, we’re just not doing it correctly.”
Malachi Moore proves he’s a star in the making
One of the brightest spots on Alabama’s defense came from its new Star. Making his second start, true freshman Malachi Moore recorded his first career interception while also chipping in six tackles and a team-high two pass breakups. The performance is a big step up from Moore’s first career game against Missouri where he earned a 49.5 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus, allowing three receptions for 43 yards.
“I played DB, so I know that when you get an interception it boosts your confidence in a lot of ways,” Saban said. “But Malachi was a lot better today in terms of everything that he did. A young player from Week 1 to Week 2, seeing the mistakes — Malachi’s one of those guys knows how to learn. He uses all the opportunities when he makes a mistake to learn and understand, and I think he understands the big picture really well. I think getting an interception today was probably big for his confidence.”
Moore, a former four-star recruit is the first true freshman to man the Star position for Alabama since Minkah Fitzpatrick helped the Tide to a national championship in 2015. While he still has some room to grow, the Trussville native appears to be earning the trust of both his coaching staff and fellow players.
“Malachi’s a great player,” Harris said. “He comes in every single day in practice. He’s going up against receivers like Waddle and Smitty everyday. We know we have the best receivers in the country, and whenever we come to a game, we have all the confidence in our guys to do their job. That was his opportunity to make a play, and he made it. It doesn’t surprise me. I was expecting it.”
Field goal streak finally snapped
Field goals are a sore subject for Alabama. By now Tide fans seem to have accepted their fate. Alabama kickers have been somehow magnetically drawn to the uprights while their opponents’ kicks sail straight down the middle.
That is until Saturday.
Texas A&M kicker Seth Small provided the rarest of rares as his 37-yard attempt in the first quarter went wide left. The miss marked the first time since 2018 an opponent missed a field against the Tide ending a streak of 25 straight makes. Former Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship was the last kicker to miss a field goal before Saturday, failing to connect on a 30-yard attempt during the 2018 SEC Championship Game. Last season, the Tide saw its opponents go a perfect 20-for-20 on field-goal attempts.
So far, 2020 has left Alabama’s kicking game unscathed. While the Tide has played just three games so far this calendar year, it has yet to miss on a field goal (2 of 2) or an extra point (17 of 17). That’s certainly a change from the past two years where Alabama missed a combined 25 kicks.
It didn’t take long for the Aggies to find that out the hard way. Three plays into Alabama’s first drive, Metchie found himself on the other side of a deep ball from Mac Jones, securing the pass in stride for a 78-yard touchdown to put the Crimson Tide on the board first.
“I told you about his sneaky speed,” Waddle said smiling, “He got to showcase that today.”
Metchie posted a game-high 181 yards and two touchdowns on five catches, all career highs. His 78-yard score was followed by a 63-yard touchdown pass from Jones in the fourth quarter as No. 2 Alabama put the finishing touches on a 52-24 victory over Texas A&M.
“We always thought Jonathan is a real threat,” head coach Nick Saban said. “He got the opportunities today. I think you’ll see different guys out of this group of guys get those opportunities on various days. He had one other one that we overthrew or else it would have been a big play.
“Very capable guy. Worked very hard, and I think this is something that’s going to really help his confidence and also something that’s going to help us develop confidence with his teammates. We need as many weapons as we possibly can, so I’m excited to see him have a good day today.”
After recording just four receptions for 23 yards as a reserve last season, Metchie stepped into a starting role this year alongside Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith. So far, that trio has caused nightmares for opposing secondaries.
Waddle hauled in five receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown against Texas A&M, bringing his season totals to a team-high 276 yards and three scores on 13 catches. Metchie is second on the team with 223 yards and two touchdowns on seven receptions, while Smith has a team-high 14 catches for 152 yards and a score.
Daniel Wright showed his mental fortitude
Daniel Wright had the Alabama message boards stirring with discontent early on. On Texas A&M’s third drive of the game, the safety failed to push Ainias Smith out of bounds on the left sideline, allowing the Aggies back a free run at the end zone for a 47-yard score.
The weak tackle attempt continued a growing trend for Wright, who tallied a team-high three missed tackles against Missouri despite also leading the Tide in stops with 11 that game. Saturday’s error proved to be a costly one as well.
Smith’s touchdown cut Alabama’s lead to 14-7 late in the first quarter. An interception on the Tide’s next possession was then followed by a game-tying touchdown a play later as Aggies quarterback Kellen Mond hit Ryan Renik for a wide-open 17-yard score.
Just when it seemed Wright was destined for scapegoat status, he came up with perhaps the game’s clinching play. After Alabama retook the lead on a touchdown run from Harris midway through the second quarter, Wright stepped in front of a third-down throw from Mond, returning the interception 47 yards for a touchdown to give the Tide a commanding 28-14 lead with 6:19 left in the half. Alabama never looked back from there.
“He made a big play,” Saban said. “It’s always great to get an interception when you’re playing DB. To run it back for a touchdown is even greater. He missed that tackle on the sideline, and we do sideline tackle all the time. I just didn’t like the way he approached and finished. He should have got the guy out of bounds. He didn’t… D-Wright is a playmaker, but he’s also a guy who has to really stay focused on his job, and that’s something we’re going to continue to work on.”
The defense needs more dicipline
Alabama’s defense has flashed its potential early this season. Unfortunately for the Tide, it’s also shown its inexperience. Alabama has given up 43 points over its first two games, an average of 21.5 points allowed which is roughly three points worse than last year.
So far, most of the issues have had more to do with lack of discipline than any dip in talent. Alabama’s first touchdown against Missouri came in a coverage breakdown as the Tide failed to pick up running back Tyler Badie on a 54-yard touchdown pass from Shawn Robinson.
Saturday’s mishaps featured much of the same story. Texas A&M’s first two scores came on defensive lapses as Smith was left wide open on the first touchdown while a miscommunication left Renik unguarded on the second.
“Two of those plays, they were just missed assignments, I feel like,” linebacker Christian Harris said. “We’ll look back at it on Monday and get back right for next week.”
Added Saban: “Just a lot of mental errors. Not necessarily anything physically is an issue or a problem. ... It’s not like we can’t do it, we’re just not doing it correctly.”
Malachi Moore proves he’s a star in the making
One of the brightest spots on Alabama’s defense came from its new Star. Making his second start, true freshman Malachi Moore recorded his first career interception while also chipping in six tackles and a team-high two pass breakups. The performance is a big step up from Moore’s first career game against Missouri where he earned a 49.5 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus, allowing three receptions for 43 yards.
“I played DB, so I know that when you get an interception it boosts your confidence in a lot of ways,” Saban said. “But Malachi was a lot better today in terms of everything that he did. A young player from Week 1 to Week 2, seeing the mistakes — Malachi’s one of those guys knows how to learn. He uses all the opportunities when he makes a mistake to learn and understand, and I think he understands the big picture really well. I think getting an interception today was probably big for his confidence.”
Moore, a former four-star recruit is the first true freshman to man the Star position for Alabama since Minkah Fitzpatrick helped the Tide to a national championship in 2015. While he still has some room to grow, the Trussville native appears to be earning the trust of both his coaching staff and fellow players.
“Malachi’s a great player,” Harris said. “He comes in every single day in practice. He’s going up against receivers like Waddle and Smitty everyday. We know we have the best receivers in the country, and whenever we come to a game, we have all the confidence in our guys to do their job. That was his opportunity to make a play, and he made it. It doesn’t surprise me. I was expecting it.”
Field goal streak finally snapped
Field goals are a sore subject for Alabama. By now Tide fans seem to have accepted their fate. Alabama kickers have been somehow magnetically drawn to the uprights while their opponents’ kicks sail straight down the middle.
That is until Saturday.
Texas A&M kicker Seth Small provided the rarest of rares as his 37-yard attempt in the first quarter went wide left. The miss marked the first time since 2018 an opponent missed a field against the Tide ending a streak of 25 straight makes. Former Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship was the last kicker to miss a field goal before Saturday, failing to connect on a 30-yard attempt during the 2018 SEC Championship Game. Last season, the Tide saw its opponents go a perfect 20-for-20 on field-goal attempts.
So far, 2020 has left Alabama’s kicking game unscathed. While the Tide has played just three games so far this calendar year, it has yet to miss on a field goal (2 of 2) or an extra point (17 of 17). That’s certainly a change from the past two years where Alabama missed a combined 25 kicks.
