Alabama has gotten out to a quick 4-0 start on the season with notable wins over Miami and Florida at the Swamp. However, Ole Miss will be a different animal altogether.
After last year’s match up, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin is the former Nick Saban assistant with the biggest motivation to beat his previous boss. Saban has never lost to a former assistant before, boasting an impressive 23-0 record against his “disciples.”
What is even more impressive is that only three games of the 23 were within 14 points. Kiffin’s 2020 Ole Miss team played Alabama tight for nearly the whole game before the Tide extended their lead to 15 by the time the clock hit zero.
Saban’s head stayed high, while Kiffin’s was hung downward after the hard-fought loss.
The Rebels are coming to Bryant-Denny to finally bring down the mighty Tide. Here are three things that Bama needs to do to keep Saban’s streak alive.
Keeping their defense sound
Alabama needs to take control of this game starting on the defensive line. Their linebackers are elite, and the secondary has been improving each and every week.
While the defensive line has played well, they need to put as much pressure as possible on Heisman hopeful quarterback Matt Corral. Corral picked apart Alabama’s defense last season through the air but also found good yardage on the ground.
Overall, if Alabama’s defense is able to stay sound and keep their integrity, Ole Miss should have their worst offensive output of the season. Big games give way for players to play outside of their assignments by getting caught up in the moment.
That cannot happen this week, especially in the secondary and on the line. Matt Corral will be looking to throw to receivers in the sweet spot between the linebackers and safeties all night. If Demarcco Hellams and Jordan Battle worry about getting beat deep, then Ole Miss will be content to play pitch and catch in the middle as long as they can.
On the other side, the defensive line for Bama has to hold the edge and not get too far in the backfield. If Corral has a collapsing pocket behind him he will scramble forward as much as they let him.
Dual threat quarterbacks are a thorn in Alabama’s side, but after defeating Miami’s D’Eriq King and Florida’s Emory Jones, they are ready for Mississippi’s dynamic signal caller.
Slow the game down
That’s right, slow the game down. It is known that Alabama doesn’t slow the game down for anybody because if there is a chance to keep scoring, they will.
Alabama is a fast-tempo high-scoring machine these days, but Ole Miss has the number one offense in the country. Quick play on offense leads to an exhausted defense, and with Kiffin’s offense, they will need a rest any chance they get.
If Alabama wants to score quickly and often, they might still win the game, but if the Tide wants to guarantee a win today, they will need to limit the Rebel’s offensive snaps.
The best way for Alabama to do this is to run the ball — something that Saban used to have as a staple in his offenses back in the day. However, that has not been the case in recent years.
Run the ball well
Brian Robinson, Jr. is the key to this game. Robinson currently has 208 rushing yards on the season. Yet, if Alabama wants to wear out the Ole Miss defense, they need to put a bigger emphasis on keeping the ball on the ground.
Controlling the time of possession and limiting the amount of time Corral has the ball in his hand, will be the key to a Crimson Tide victory. If Robinson can get to 100 rushing yards in this game, Alabama will be rolling to a 5-0 start.
Bryce Young should be able to get a few quarterback runs in this game as well to keep the Rebs on their toes. If Alabama can keep the Ole Miss linebackers five to seven yards off the ball for most of the game, the passing game will open up.
However, it all starts with putting together long drives that are formulated with a heavy dose of Robinson and the Tide’s running back room as a whole.
Saban’s Tide will welcome Ole Miss and Kiffin into their house at 2:30 p.m. CT in a game that means a lot to both of these teams with high-powered offenses facing off in what should be a shootout in Tuscaloosa.
Hayden Crigler is a contributing college football and college basketball writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him through email: [email protected] or on Twitter: @hayden_crigler.
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