Alabama walked out of Lexington with a 45-17 win over Kentucky in Week 2, and the final score did a lot of the heavy lifting for them. The Crimson Tide finished strong, but the first half was messy enough to leave a clear to-do list before Saturday’s home game against Florida State.
That matters because Kentucky is a solid team, just not the kind of opponent Alabama is chasing at the top of the sport. If the Tide are going to keep moving toward that level, the offense has to keep sharpening. A young unit took some lumps on the road, and now it gets another chance to clean things up against a Florida State team Alabama will face as a massive home favorite with revenge on its mind.
The biggest issue starts with Keelon Russell, who has to protect the ball better. In his first road start, the sophomore phenom turned it over three times, throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble.
One of those picks came at the goal line and turned into an easy Kentucky pick-six. Even after settling in a bit more after halftime, he still had a turnover-worthy throw early in the third quarter that could have been intercepted.
Mistakes are part of the deal with a young quarterback, but Alabama can’t keep living on the edge like that. Russell has the talent, and this kind of night may end up helping him in the long run, but the ball security has to improve.
Florida State’s beleaguered secondary could give him the chance to bounce back.
Alabama also needs its run game to show up earlier. The ground attack finally found life in the second half, and the difference was obvious.
After managing just five rushing yards in the first half, with sacks and negative plays dragging everything down, the Tide piled up 150 rushing yards after the break. That surge helped Alabama control the game and fuel 32 unanswered points over the final 30 minutes.
A run game like that is the quarterback’s best ally, and Ryan Grubb would be smart to lean on it right away this week. Easy play-action looks would help Russell settle in, and the offensive line, along with Daniel Hill and the backs, appears to be trending in the right direction.
With Michael Carroll expected back, Alabama has a chance to come out and establish itself early.
Then there are the penalties, which remain too much of a drag on the offense. Alabama was flagged eight times against Kentucky, though only one of those penalties came after halftime.
Once the Tide cleaned things up, the whole operation looked much sharper and the dominance followed. Still, against Florida State, the goal should be a full 60 minutes without the sloppiness that showed up early last week.
The offense has been messy through two games, and while Alabama expected to lean on its defense early, Week 3 is the kind of game where the Tide need to start putting the pieces together on offense.
In Other News...
Alabama Faces One Big Receiver Question Before Florida State
Alabamas opening stretch has already brought a few roster changes into focus, and the receiver room is one of the more interesting ones as the Crimson Tide prepare for Florida State. Noah Rogers has yet to play this season while working back from a lower-body injury, but he appears to be nearing a return at a time when Alabama is still sorting out how its newer faces fit into the offense.
Florida State comes into the matchup carrying plenty of its own uncertainty after firing its athletic director, and the pressure around Mike Norvell only adds to the stakes of the game. For Alabama, the question is less about the headline outside the program and more about how quickly Rogers can get back on the field and give the Tide another option before a challenging early-season test. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Past Jeremy Pruitt Interest Is Suddenly Back In Focus
Jeremy Pruitts fight with the NCAA has returned to the spotlight in Alabama, where the state Supreme Court heard oral arguments in his lawsuit this week. The former Tennessee coach is challenging the NCAAs authority to handle the case in Alabama, putting a legal dispute tied to his firing and the punishment that followed back in front of a court with real implications for his coaching future.
Pruitt is seeking $100 million over the penalties he says stemmed from the NCAAs actions, including the six-year show-cause order that has limited his employment opportunities. The justices did not rule from the bench, so the case now moves into another waiting period while the court considers how to handle a dispute that Alabama fans have followed from the start because of where Pruitts career once intersected with their program. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Gets A Needed O-Line Boost Before Florida State
Alabamas offensive line should get a timely lift heading into the Florida State game, with right guard Michael Carroll expected to be available after sitting out the previous matchup because of an injury. The freshman All-America pick has been back in practice, and his return would give the Tide a more settled look up front at a point in the season when every piece matters.
Carrolls presence also matters because Alabama is preparing for a Florida State team that can challenge defenses on the ground, putting even more pressure on the Tide to be firm at the point of attack. Getting him back gives Alabama a better chance to handle those physical demands and keep its offensive plans on schedule in a matchup where line play could shape the day. [Read more 🡒]