If anyone was hoping Alabama would take a step back on offense without Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback, those people are likely sorely disappointed after the first 2 weeks of the SEC season.

Mac Jones is now entrenched as the starter, and he is proving this Crimson Tide attack can be as lethal as ever with him at the helm.

“Everyone wants to talk and say Alabama’s not back and I think we’ve proved the first two games we’re improving and we just have to continue to do that” said Jones after the dominant 52-24 win over Texas A&M on Saturday.

Jones connected on 20-of-27 passes for 435 yards and 4 touchdowns on Saturday, with 1 interception. If the names were taken out of the box score from that performance, one could be forgiven for thinking it was still Tagovailoa slinging the ball around for Alabama.

Even though Jones led the way in the back end of last season for Alabama following Tagovailoa’s season-ending injury, many had written in former 5-star freshman Bryce Young as the eventual starter in Tuscaloosa. Jones’ comments after the game showed a maturity that has blocked out the outside noise, and helped Alabama average 45 points through the first two games of the season.

“You can’t go in there and be emotional and stuff,” said Jones. “Just do your job. That’s what I tell everybody. And I think the defense would say the same.

“Just do your job every play and don’t make it emotional. Just play with emotion but don’t be emotional.”

Jones and the Alabama offense will have another chance to put up big numbers next Saturday, when they face an Ole Miss defense that has allowed 51 and 41 points in the first two games, respectively to Florida and Kentucky.