Alabama’s first half against Vanderbilt was a study in extremes: one side of the ball looked lost, the other looked suffocating.
The Crimson Tide offense opened with a flat three-and-out after a pair of failed run plays, and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb didn’t go back to the ground game for the next three drives. Quarterback Keelon Russell, despite reports yesterday that he was likely to miss the game because of an ankle injury, played the entire half. He didn’t appear heavily limited, though he did slip in the backfield more than once.
What Alabama leaned on instead was a quick passing game and throws to the flats, and that plan didn’t hold up well because the Tide struggled to block it. Russell finished the half 14-for-19 for 106 yards, but the production never really turned into rhythm. For much of the half, it was a punt exchange with very little offensive traction.
That changed late. Vanderbilt picked off Russell after a free rusher tipped the pass and the deflection was intercepted, but Alabama answered with its best drive of the half. Daniel Hill got repeated carries and pushed his total to 50 yards on seven attempts, and the Tide finished the possession with a touchdown pass to Marshall Pritchett right as the half ended.
While the offense sputtered, Alabama’s defense was in complete control. Vanderbilt picked up a couple of first downs on its opening series before punting, and after that, there was almost nothing. The Commodores managed just 19 passing yards on 11 attempts and 13 rushing yards for the half.
Even after the interception handed Vanderbilt the ball in the red zone, Alabama’s defense erased the threat by driving the Commodores backward and forcing a 53-yard field goal try.
The bigger question is what Alabama does offensively from here. Vanderbilt’s front seven kept winning snap after snap, and the Tide’s blocking issues made the unit look overwhelmed.
Grubb’s game plan was unusual, Russell was off on enough throws to matter, and he even fell down untouched on a fourth down. Hill had a few strong runs late, but he also had some rough ones.
Trae’Shawn Brown and EJ Crowell each got a couple of carries and were hit in the backfield, though Crowell did manage to make two defenders miss on a 1-yard run.
For Alabama to get anything going, it needs a cleaner answer than what it showed in the first half. Better blocking, more downfield passing, something to keep Vanderbilt from living in the backfield.
Until that happens, every score is going to feel hard-earned. The defense, though, has been exactly what Alabama needed.
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