(3) Alabama 22 - (21) Ole Miss 3 : Let me rectify the Heisman conversation that was generated in the preseason: Snead out, Ingram in. 'Bama RB Mark Ingram has been a force this season and combined with that defense puts up a stingy game plan that eats up minutes and teams.
I'll start with the bad news first. Ole Miss is not even close yet. Yes they have talent, but that is all it is at the moment. Raw talent. Especially on offense. The defense was scrappy and had to be on the field far longer than their offense should have allowed. But that offense? Holy crap. QB Jevan Snead shouldn't even have the word NFL Draft in his vocabulary this season. He's got some tools, but he's just not ready yet. I'm also not too sure this coaching staff knows what they want to do yet. Some series seemed dedicated to the pass, while others seemed exclusively to the run. Take a lesson from across the field, choose a path and adjust accordingly. Alabama knew they wanted to run the ball and did so. They tried to sprinkle in the pass as a compliment (with little success). But as a whole they stuck to their plan. And the media needs to take some of the responsibility for this Ole Miss stuff. They blew up Ole Miss at the end of last season and the beginning of this year to the point that those kids had to almost be perfect this season. Sometimes we forget that perspective because as quickly as the media will build you up in this sport, they will tear you down even quicker.
The good news that came out of this one for you SEC fans is that Alabama is good. I know, I know they only scored one offensive TD (and they are going to have to get that vertical passing game in shape). But they realized what they had to do to win the game and did it. Much like Florida vs. LSU later that evening. Solid kicking game from K Leigh Tiffin, and that defense, jeez. I'm not sure there is a better one in the nation. In fact, as of right now there isn't. The Sabanator has that defense looking scary. Reeeeally scary.
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