Alabama football impressions: 6 observations from the Georgia game

Heading into last night’s matchup between two heavyweights from the SEC’s top 5, Alabama fans would have been happy with a win of any kind. It took exactly a quarter for those expectations to change such that a seven-point win left some dissatisfied. No matter, Alabama managed to open SEC play and score the nation’s best early-season resume bullet.

It’s fair to say that both the offense and defense showed the full range of their capabilities, for better or for worse. There will be more room for error in most games on the schedule, but Georgia did them a favor by exposing the warts rather than simply taking the shellacking that seemed to be on the menu when MIlroe made it 28-0 made of. And give Georgia credit for its resilience. They are creating their own identity as a second-half monster and will undoubtedly struggle when the play-offs roll around.

But this night belonged to Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide. A few impressions:

Jalen Milroe is showing real growth as a passer.

Milroe will never be the most accurate passer from an accuracy perspective. That’s usually a born skill, just like his athleticism. What impressed me in the early attack was his ability to read the coverage and get the ball out quickly, something he struggled with at times. Alabama fans lamenting the lack of a passing game should have been encouraged by what we saw, especially from Germie Bernard and the tight ends.

Of course, Jalen still likes to throw the deep ball. It’s no coincidence that he returned to it when the game was on the line, and to his emerging favorite target…

Protect Ryan Williams at all costs.

Williams finished with a huge stat line, but it’s the catch above and the YAC double pirouette into the end zone late in the game that show just how special he is. If Alabama can win a national title in Kalen DeBoer’s first season, young Ryan will play a big role. He is clearly the best offensive skill player on the roster, and with the possible exception of Milroe, he seems like the best athlete on the field at all times.

DeBoer makes him return kicks and kicks. As good as Cole Adams looked, I’d just as soon see him perform those duties. Maybe the little mental error that trapped Alabama in its own five late in the game will inspire the coaches to put someone else there. Kendrick Law’s injury will be big here.

Pass protection was excellent.

The big uglies allowed zero sacks on the night and there was very little pressure on the blitz-happy Georgian defense. As a result, Milroe was able to set those pressure packs on fire early in the match. It’s painfully clear at this point that getting Kadyn Proctor back was just as crucial as securing Williams.

The penalties still need to be cleared and there was no interior run game to speak of, but Georgia’s defensive line is always difficult to play against.

Blitzes were well timed and well executed.

Kane Wommack brought some pressure into the match and they came home with some regularity. Beck made some big mistakes while under duress, including his first interception of the same Domani Jackson made a beautiful play and the intentional grounding call from his own end zone. It’s still early enough in the season that Wommack has time to install more exotic stuff, and based on the fourth quarter, they’ll need it.

The secondary had high highs and low lows.

Nothing says boom or bust more than allowing 439 passing yards and three TDs while also intercepting the ball three times. Alabama’s defense capably closed out the passing game, but the deep shoulder material along the sideline was an Achilles heel that almost cost the game. Wommack will have to figure out how to better defend the deep ball. That could very well mean that you have to blitz more to get the ball out.

Scouting the comeback yourself will be a key to the season.

Alabama’s coaching staff clearly did a job in this game. Both sides of the football were able to attack Georgia’s weaknesses, and the first twenty minutes of the game were insanely lopsided as a result. However, Georgia was able to adapt and now Alabama’s staff has more work to do. In addition to the aforementioned secondary issues, Alabama’s offense floundered for more than half the game. Georgia certainly has a great defense, but Jam Miller and Justice Haynes still need more than 11 carries, especially with a big lead. And Georgia was clearly able to shake some of Milroe’s confidence in the early game by taking away the edge runs and chasing him a bit.

There are certainly things we need to work on, but Alabama is now 4-0, will likely be ranked second in the country at worst when the polls come out, and is in the driver’s seat for a spot in Atlanta. There’s still a whole season left and some tough games looming, including a trip to Knoxville in October that’s going to be incredibly tough. If this team continues to develop, the sky is the limit.

Roll tide.