Through 6 games, precisely half of the regular season, the Alabama Crimson Tide are undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country.

One would think this is a pretty meaningless exercise, grading each unit of the Tide. Because being undefeated and No. 1 would mean all As, right? My 7th-grader certainly abides by that form of logic, but it isn’t quite that easy.

As we have said all season, this is an imperfect perfect season so far. Thus, just like my pre-teen daughter, it is time to check the grades at the semester break!

Quarterback: A+

Perhaps you’ve heard of Tua Tagovailoa. Left-hander. Wears 13. He’s pretty good.

Alabama’s sweet Hawaiian prince has managed to put together an even better first half of his junior season than he did his sophomore campaign. Through 6 games of 2018, Tagovailoa was 76-of-101 (75.2 percent) for 1,495 yards and 18 touchdowns with no interceptions. Through 6 games this season, Tagovailoa is 134-for-182 (73.63 percent) for 2,011 yards and a mind-boggling 27 touchdowns with 1 interception.

The only nitpick would be that 1 pick, of course. Staring down Jerry Jeudy late in the first half against Texas A&M, Tagovailoa didn’t see safety Demani Richardson — who poached the TD attempt with ease.

Still, call it a 99 percent for Tagovailoa so far. He is the best quarterback in the country*.

* – not named Jalen Hurts?

Running backs: B-

This is well-chronicled ground, as we literally started the season wondering where the heck Alabama’s running game went and have begrudgingly accepted the fact that said running game appears to be playing second fiddle in 2019.

Don’t misunderstand. Najee Harris (74 carries for 451 yards and 1 touchdown) and Brian Robinson Jr. (56 carries, 249 yards and 3 TDs) have combined to offer a quite serviceable rushing unit.

But Alabama’s inability to grind out games in the second half — to do what coach Nick Saban calls “taking the air out of the ball” — has been a problem in 2019. Scoring too quickly via the air means fewer 14-play drives that take 7 minutes.

Wide receivers: A+

Wow. Jerry Jeudy, DeVonta Smith, Henry Ruggs III and Jaylen Waddle are Alabama’s Rolling Stones. They’re the best unit in college football today, and could well end up being the best WR unit the Crimson Tide have ever had.

Simply put, they make Tagovailoa look good, and he makes them look good right back. Shoot, even Smith’s right hook thrown last week would make Mike Tyson proud. When you can play Rock, Paper, Scissors during games to decide who is going to run preferred routes, well, you’re doing something right.

Offensive line: B

This grade comes partially in tandem with the issues with the running game, as Alex Leatherwood, Evan Neal, Chris Owens, Landon Dickerson and Jedrick Wills Jr. can be graded primarily on how well they pave the way for Tide running backs.

What ticks the front-line beef up a notch is its level of protection on Tua Tagovailoa. The Tide junior QB has been sacked 7 times in 6 games — twice each by Ole Miss and South Carolina, and not at all by New Mexico State. Tagovailoa had only been sacked twice through 6 games last year, so the OL has regressed slightly by that standard. We lump tight end Miller Forrestall in here as a blocker, as he surely hasn’t shown much in the way of pass-catching ability.

Defensive line: B+

Defensive ends Justin Eboigbe and Raekwon Davis, and nose guard DJ Dale and have played well — as Davis is 4th on the team in total tackles with 27. But Alabama’s 3-4 defense doesn’t require a lot of statistical output from its combined 916 pounds of starting defensive line. Their job is to bottle up the holes and allow linebackers to do work.

Mission, largely, accomplished.

Linebackers: B

As chronicled during the early part of the season, preseason losses to middle linebackers Dylan Moses and Joshua McMillon to injury meant sudden starts for freshmen Shane Lee and Christian Harris alongside senior Anfernee Jennings and Terrell Lewis. Lee has shined, with 38 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1,5 sacks. Harris has been platooned some with sophomores Jaylen Moody and Ale Kaho, but he still has 26 total tackles and 4 tackles for loss.

Jennings has blossomed, with 37 tackles, 7 tackles for loss and 4 sacks — tied for the team high with Lewis (who has 10 total tackles and 6 tackles for loss). Collectively, they are a very capable group that any team in the SEC would covet. Oh, what could have been though had Moses and McMillon been roaming the middle …

Defensive backs: A-

Cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and Patrick Surtain II, free safety Xavier McKinney and strong safety Shyheim Carter have been the strong suit of the defense for the Tide almost all season — allowing only 202.8 yards per game in the air. Diggs leads the team with 2 interceptions. McKinney leads the team with 30 solo and 47 total tackles. Surtain and Carter each have a team-high 5 pass breakups. And collectively they average an interception a game.

Special teams: C+

Where the heck do you begin here? On one hand (aka the Crimson-Colored Glasses side), the kickoff and punt return effort against Texas A&M is definitely A-worthy and has the Tide averaging a robust 22.2 yards per punt return.

On the other hand, Alabama is without question the goalpost-hittingest team in college football history — as Joseph Bulovas has been rattling iron the same way Will Reichard was doing before he injured himself kicking his tee. Extra points are a challenge. Short field goals are an adventure. And throwing into triple coverage in the end zone will end up being the preferred attempt over a 50-plus-yarder eventually.

And punter Skyler DeLong has been Very DeShort during Reichard’s absence, averaging only 33 yards a punt. Touchbacks? Only 28-of-54.

Waddle carving up the Aggies on punt returns and Kaho blocking a punt that ended up returned for a short touchdown are about the only things that keep this from requiring summer school.

Overall: A-

Again, did we mention Alabama is 6-0 and beating teams by an average of 51-17? Did we mention they de-pantsed No. 24 Texas A&M on the road? even with the issues slowing games down late and the 60-minute carnival ride that is the kicking game, Alabama is No. 1 for a reason.

Imagine how good the Crimson Tide could be if they put it all together one game?