TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Now they understand.
For months, the doubters have openly wondered about the University of Alabama football team, and looked for ways to question the 2014 Crimson Tide. They didn’t believe that senior quarterback Blake Sims could effectively throw downfield, or that the offensive line could take over a game.
They pointed to all the new starters, including the true freshman at left tackle and the one who was thrust into Saturday’s lineup against Florida at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Either could be devoured on such a big stage, especially against an opponent that on paper was considered more than dangerous.
After the 42-21 victory, though, everyone finally had an idea of this team’s potential.
Although Alabama give up four turnovers, which turned into all three touchdowns for the visitors, the No. 3 Crimson Tide refused to get distracted or flustered as it struggled to take control of the game.
Then, in the second half it finally did and brought its full force down on the Gators (2-1, 1-1 SEC), who never effectively moved the ball and never had an answer for the Crimson Tide’s prolific offense.
“Great win for our team,” Coach Nick Saban said. “Everybody who watched the game could tell that there were some things we did extremely well, and there were things that were sloppy.”
As for the good, Alabama’s offense tallied 648 total yards, the most ever surrounded by a Florida defense. Sims’ 445 passing yards were the second most in Crimson Tide history, junior wide receiver Amari Cooper’s 201 receiving yards on 10 catches were the third-most, and even sophomore running back Derrick Henry had a 100-yard rushing game – most in the second half when Florida ‘s resolve evaporated.
The 400-200-100 trifecta was a Crimson Tide first, and Cooper also had career receiving touchdowns No. 18, 19 and 20 to become Alabama’s all-time leader.
“Cooper and all those guys, we have a lot of team speed. It’s obviously an advantage for us,” junior center Ryan Kelly said. “That was one of the big things this week and that’s what (we worked on) in practice.”
Alabama (4-0, 1-0 SEC) also prepared a couple of special plays it would run if Florida ever showed particular defensive looks. The first occurred on Alabama’s initial snap when junior running back Kenyan Drake was a surprise starter and lined up wide opposite a linebacker. Invoking memories of Tyrone Prothro’s touchdown of the same length against Florida in 2005 the result was an 87-yard touchdown.
“That was all Coach (Lane) Kiffin,” Sims said. “He gets all the credit for that one.”
Kiffin also dialed up the play that led to Cooper running all alone down the middle of the field for a 79-yard touchdown later in the first quarter, although it only tied the game at 14-14.
Drake’s fumble on the Crimson Tide’s second offensive play set up a 28-yard touchdown catch by wide receiver Valez Showers, and senior wide receiver DeAndrew White’s lost fumble on the subsequent possession was returned by safety Keanu Neal for a 49-yard touchdown.
So after just 5 minutes and 34 seconds of play, Alabama was actually down 14-7.
“Some games are going to be like that,” sophomore defensive end Jonathan Allen said. “Some games the defense is going to have to pick up the offense, and I’m sure there’s going to be some games the offense is going to have to pick up the defense.
“I thought we did a really good job this game.”
Although Florida scored again in third quarter after an interception off a deflected ball, the 21 points allowed weren’t indicative of how well the defense played. The Gators finished with 93 passing yards and DeMarcus Robinson, who had 15 receptions against Kentucky last week, was limited by freshman cornerback Tony Brown to two catches for 14 yards.
While quarterback Jeff Diskel completed just 9 of 28 passes, Alabama notched its first two interceptions of the season, by safeties Jabriel Washington and Landon Collins.
Overall, Florida converted a horrendous 2 of 13 third-down opportunities, in contrast to Alabama’s 12 of 16, and its longest drive was seven plays for 31 yards.
“Usually when you’re playing an SEC opponent you can’t give up stuff like that,” senior linebacker Trey DePriest said about the turnovers. “Everyone kept their cool and still went out and did their job.”
Thus the real reason for optimism. Yes, the Crimson Tide handed Florida all of its points and had way too many penalties, 11, which are trademark signs of a young team. But Alabama grew up some Saturday.
Even though it didn’t run at all in the interior during the first half, it did so in the second half en route to a time of possession advantage of 39:16-20:44. When the Gators were on their heels the Crimson Tide kept grinding away with touchdown drives of 16 plays for 66 yards, eight plays for 80, and eight for 60.
Alabama also showed something that last year’s team didn’t at the end, resiliency, and combined with an offense that’s cleared 500 yards every time out its proving to be a potent combination.
“It’s the time that the camera isn’t on us,” Sims said. “It’s the time that we put in, after we put in. Even not just with Amari, it’s all the wide receivers, we put in time after time. When the sun goes down we’re still working, trying to get that commitment that we’re going to get better.”
In short, the Crimson Tide grew up a bit on Saturday, and now really is the team to beat in the SEC this season — not just on paper.
“Obviously we didn’t play like we wanted to in the first half,” senior right tackle Austin Shepherd said. “Everyone saw it. I think we did personally because we just kind of went out there and said, ‘Look, this isn’t us. This isn’t how we play.’ And we turned it around.”
Christopher Walsh has covered Alabama football since 2004 and is the author of 19 books. In his free time, he writes about college football.
