Texas A&M quarterback Kenny Hill (7) runs the ball against Texas A&M during their game on Saturday, Oct, 18, 2014, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama quarterback Blake Sims didn’t hesitate after Saturday’s 59-0 drubbing of Texas A&M when asked whether the Crimson Tide’s offensive or defensive production was more eye-popping.
“I think the zero was more impressive,” Sims said. “If you don’t have the defense we have, you don’t have the opportunity to put the points up like that. Landon Collins and Trey DePriest do a great job letting the defense know that if we’re not working hard through the week, we’re not going to get the results.”
The Crimson Tide got more than enough results against an Aggies offense that entered Bryant-Denny Stadium ranked fourth nationally with 564.9 yards a game. Texas A&M managed just 172 yards against Alabama, with 122 coming after Sims threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper to make it 52-0 at the 11:47 mark of the third quarter.
Texas A&M was held to eight first downs and converted just 2 of 13 third-down opportunities into first downs.
“This is the best we’ve played against this kind of offense,” Tide coach Nick Saban said. “We had to make some adjustments, and the players did a really good job of being physical and breaking on the ball. It really affected the game, and I really think we affected the quarterback with our pass rush.
“The best thing that we did was affect their quarterback with four guys rushing.”
Alabama racked up nine tackles for loss, including six sacks.
“I couldn’t have imagined this,” linebacker Ryan Anderson said after tallying a team-high six tackles and a tackle for loss. “Texas A&M has a really explosive offense, and they’ve got a lot of talent. Shutting them out feels good.”
Texas A&M moved to Alabama’s 17-yard line late in the third quarter before the drive was snuffed by a Reggie Ragland interception. A 75-yard kickoff return by Trey Williams with 4:16 remaining gave the Aggies a first-and-10 at Alabama’s 23, but four plays against the Tide reserves netted zero yards.
“That was fantastic,” Collins said. “We expected them to hold them, and they did a great job.”
Message received
Alabama’s offensive line, which was again without the services of starting center Ryan Kelly, caught its share of criticism after the Crimson Tide netted just 66 rushing yards in last week’s 14-13 escape of Arkansas. After helping pave the way for 298 rushing yards Saturday on an offense that racked up 602 overall, the Crimson Tide big boys were earning praise.
“We had a little gathering with the offensive line this week,” Saban said. “I said, ‘Look, guys, you’re starting to feel the pressure, and you’re getting criticized. You’re not being the sergeant at arms that we need you to be in terms of how you control and how you dominate the line of scrimmage.’
“I told them, ‘I believe in you, and I trust in you. Other than the center, we have the same offensive line that had great production early in the season, and I believe we can do it again.'”
Redshirt freshman Bradley Bozeman had a much better second career start at center on a line that did not commit a single penalty. Alabama was not flagged all afternoon.
“We had been having a tougher time lately, and we used that as motivation,” left guard Arie Kouandjio said. “The meeting was fairly straightforward. Coach Saban came in and told us how he felt, but we knew how he felt.”
Tide tidbits
Alabama’s 35 second-quarter points were the most by the Crimson Tide in any quarter ever. … Right tackle Austin Shepherd and defensive end Jonathan Allen left the game with injuries, but Saban said they would be fine. … T.J. Yeldon had two rushing touchdowns and now has 30 for his career (Mark Ingram set the school standard at 42 in 2008-10). … Representatives from the Sugar, Citrus, Chick-fil-A and Texas bowls were in attendance.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.