Alabama junior tight end Irv Smith Jr. had two catches for 123 yards and a touchdown in last weekend's 65-31 victory at Arkansas.In its three games against Southeastern Conference opposition so far this season, Alabama has required just five snaps from its offense to record its opening touchdowns.
The Crimson Tide needed three plays to cover 72 yards in their 62-7 rout of Ole Miss on Sept. 15, and they've since produced first-play touchdown strikes in wins over Texas A&M and Arkansas. Their first score against Texas A&M occurred from 30 yards out and was set up by a Mack Wilson interception of Kellen Mond, and their first score last Saturday at Arkansas came via a 76-yard pass from Tua Tagovailoa to tight end Irv Smith Jr.
"It was exciting, and I kind of had a feeling I was going to get the ball on the first play," Smith said this week in a news conference. "Any play that's called, we have the opportunity to score with the players we have and the schemes that we have set up. It was a little flat route that turned into 70 yards."
Smith broke free down the right sideline and credited blocks by sophomore receivers Jerry Jeudy and DeVonta Smith for helping turn a first-down gain into six points. While those blocks absolutely played a role in his score, so did the speed displayed by the 6-foot-4, 241-pound junior from New Orleans.
Affirming a reporter's question this week about his 40-yard dash time of 4.5 seconds, Smith quickly added that he "may be 4.4 someday."
What Smith clearly represents at the moment is another dangerous weapon for an Alabama attack that has averaged 567.5 yards and 56 points a game without having to extend much energy during the fourth quarters. Smith had two catches for 123 yards within the first five minutes against the Razorbacks, and he has 16 catches for 332 yards (20.8 yards per reception) and three touchdowns through Alabama's 6-0 start.
His 332 yards rank second on the team behind Jeudy, which isn't too shabby for the former three-star member of Alabama's 2016 class that contained three five-star signees and 13 four-star signees.
"We knew Irv was a really good athlete when we recruited him," coach Nick Saban said this week as the Tide prepared to host Missouri (3-2, 0-2) on Saturday night. "He was a good blocker in high school, and he was a good receiver. I think he's gotten better and better and better since he's been here, and he's obviously been very productive for us this year.
"Hopefully, he'll be able to continue that throughout the course of the season."
Smith's father played at Notre Dame and then spent seven seasons in the NFL, with his final five with the New Orleans Saints. He had 183 career receptions as a professional for 1,788 yards and 15 touchdowns, and his son is certainly creating his own legacy in the SEC.
Alabama's most recognized tight end of the Saban era is O.J. Howard, who was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the 19th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft. Yet should Smith replicate his numbers from the first half of the season in the next six games, he would finish the regular season with 664 yards.
That's more than Howard, who never got to play with Tagovailoa, compiled during Alabama's 15-game seasons in 2015 (602 yards) and 2016 (595).
"This offense is a lot of fun," Smith said. "The coaches and quarterbacks are doing a great job of getting everyone involved. Everyone can make plays, and everyone has opportunities to do that. When your time is called, you have to make the most out of it.
"I've always wanted to make the most of my opportunities, and it's going great so far."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.