Every Monday we present “Tide Takes,” where we’ll get into a different topic on the Crimson Tide, break down the previous game, preview the upcoming game, and everything in between.
This week, Alabama found a way to win against Ole Miss, and the Crimson Tide seem to be establishing an identity that they can build off of moving forward:
We’ll address the bad first. This offense has problems, and they are problems that will persist for the rest of the season. This Crimson Tide team is never going to have a potent passing attack that strikes fear in the heart of a defense like fans have grown accustomed. It struggles in the red zone, it is still committing sloppy penalties, and there was a very ugly turnover in the end zone by quarterback Jalen Milroe.
But Alabama found a way to win last Saturday against Ole Miss by finding its identity. To win games, this team must run the ball successfully, and it must play outstanding defense. It’s a formula that has been tried and true in the game of football for as long as the game has been around, and it’s how this team is going to find success this season.
One of the unsung heroes from the game was linebacker Jihaad Campbell. He stepped up tremendously after Deontae Lawson went out of the game with a nasty looking ankle injury and the Crimson Tide defense did not miss a beat.
It was the kind of defensive performance from Alabama that felt like a turning back of the clock to the days when Kirby Smart was around in Tuscaloosa.
You also have to give a lot of credit to Milroe in this one. He recovered from a brutal early interception to play his best half of football of his entire career. To say Milroe has been doubted would be an understatement.
But he took back the starting job after a game last week that pretty clearly displayed that, for better or worse, he is the best option to help this team win games. And while he wasn’t perfect, he did what he needed to do.
Milroe finished 17 of 21 for 225 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
The signature play came midway through the third quarter, when Milroe took a huge hit after dropping a dime in the back of the end zone to freshman receiver Jalen Hale. It put Alabama up two scores and Milroe popped back up to celebrate with his teammates. Despite his limitations as a passer, Milroe is the undisputed leader on this team and the team loves and respects him.
It remains to be seen what the ceiling of this Alabama team is with back to back road games coming up. But defense and a good running game travel well, and Alabama seemed to take the first step toward improving as a team.
Is this team good enough to compete for a championship? That question has yet to be answered. Alabama must take things one game at a time, and Saturday’s victory was a great first step.
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