Alabama head coach Nick Saban speaking after being presented the Old Leather Helmet for Alabama’s 35-10 win over Virginia Tech, (Photo by Brett Hudson)
A search to find a 25-point win surrounded with such negativity could go on for years. The feeling was just that, more questioning than elation, after Alabama’s 35-10 win over the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.
Why? Because the Crimson Tide offense only scored 14 of those 35 points. In the process, the Hokies held Alabama to just 96 rushing yards, a meager 30 in the first half, and also sacking Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron four times.
“They moved on us up-front, we whiffed a few times because they have good quickness, and they overloaded a side and would slant back, so they were running us down from the backside because they weren’t getting cut off,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said. “They just outplayed us up-front, if you want to know the truth.”
That includes in pass protection, where Saban saw less-than-satisfactory play as well.
“(Virginia Tech defensive end James Gayle) gave us a lot of problems in pass protection,” Saban said. “We were soft, we didn’t have a solid pocket, our quarterback didn’t feel comfortable.”
Where did that come from?
The offseason is just as much of a talent concealer as it is revealor. Starting jobs around the country are given to those that have earned them and thus thrusting the winners into the spotlight. Some of those winners are, luckily, concealed by a lack of knowledge, making their first game or two complete blindside blows.
Virginia Tech used that to its advantage, installing a pistol option run game that Alabama had no idea was coming. And running it well, scoring its only touchdown out of the idea.
“They didn’t do anything on offense that we practiced against,” Saban said. “We didn’t know they were going to use the option run. They ran a lot of option plays, a lot of two-back option plays. Luckily, our players have played against it before and our guys did a great job of adjusting in the game.”
This out-of-nowhere gameplan forced the defense to adapt on the fly, a feat Alabama accomplished on route to holding the Hokies to 76 rushing yards on 32 carries.
“I got to give credit to the front seven,” safety Vinnie Sunseri said. “They did a great job of making those adjustments for the most part and we were able to adapt on the fly really quickly. With (linebacker) C.J. Mosley in the front seven, you can’t go wrong: he makes all of the corrections and the checks and the defensive line and the linebackers just go with him.”
Mosley added, “That was one of our main goals coming into this game: stopping the quarterback and dominating the line of scrimmage. We pride ourselves on stopping the run and we did a good job of that because of our run contain. That’s the main thing, communicating our gameplan.”
Those numbers exclude one outburst of 77 yards for a touchdown that irked the defense.
“We can’t do that,” Sunseri said. “That one big touchdown run can lead to another big touchdown run and give them momentum. We pride ourselves on stopping the run and making them complete tough passes and we have a lot of little things to correct.”
But, overall, Saban let the transgression go.
“Other than the 77-yard run where we got out of position on a stunt and the secondary didn’t squeeze the ball properly, I thought the defense did a pretty good job all night,” Saban said.
…and where did he come from?
Alabama punter Cody Mandell started the second quarter by pinning Virginia Tech to its own 32-yard line, giving the Hokies offense the ball down just seven points. A score ties the game.
A Virginia Tech score, that is. Sunseri started the play at his base depth, standing near the first down marker seven yards away from the line of scrimmage on second down. He surveyed the situation and came creeping towards the line of scrimmage. He’s seen this look before.
“It was just film study,” he said. “They showed that play a couple times during the week in meetings, and when I saw the play I jumped in and was able to make a play.”
Sunseri jumped a slant route from Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas and intercepted it, running it 38 yards back to the endzone untouched. The Tide went from one mistake away from a tie ball game to nearly assured a halftime lead.
“It was a great play and a big momentum shift,” Sunseri said.
Taking on Hokies and complacency
While dishing on subjects like the offensive line, Virginia Tech’s offensive scheme and the defensive performance, Saban had one clear message for the entire team, regardless of position grouping or side of the ball.
“I think our players also need to learn you can’t be satisfied with what you are,” Saban said. “You have to be relentless as a competitor, you have to work hard every day for the next challenge.”
Saban is turning to the greats in the world of sports to get that message across, even the greatest of all-time in a different sport.
“We actually showed our team video of Michael Jordan in 1998, whenever has last championship was, and they were down three with a minute left and he was making all of the plays,” Saban said. “What did he have to prove? That was his sixth championship. The third time he won three in-a-row. That guy was playing at 35 years old like there’s no tomorrow.
“I think it’s interesting that, for a guy with nothing to prove, he’s out there playing like he has everything to prove.”
Saban hopes his team can adopt a similar attitude going into next week’s bye week to improve before the continuation of the season.
“That’s what our team needs to do, that’s what we need to do as a team so that we can make the improvement we need to make,” Saban said. “We have a bye week coming up. Certainly we’re going to look at this film and make corrections. If we’re going to be a good football team, we’re going to have to improve as a football team.”
