Alabama’s Offense: Rolled out of the Title Game
In the SEC Championship Game, Alabama’s offense felt like a box of chocolates and unfortunately, some of the chocolates were just bad. This article isn’t about getting out-athleted or out-schemed by a good Georgia team. This is about self-inflicted wounds. Mental errors. Questionable designs. Poor execution in moments that matter.
Those things will get you beat in an SEC Championship game. And if they persist, they’ll get you bounced early in the playoff by any sound, well-coached team.
The Stuff That Can’t Happen
Let’s get this out of the way early. On 2nd & 4 a simple miscommunication or blown assignment results in a 6-yard loss on the quarterback. On the very next play, Alabama doubles down with another breakdown, this time on the snap count.
That’s not a talent issue. That’s not Georgia “being Georgia.” That’s an operational failure late in the season.
[91 – Wide] Busted play
[92 – Wide] False start
These are mistakes that should be extinct by December.
Run Schemes Gone Wrong
I love forcing corners to tackle. I love stressing the perimeter. But there’s a difference between stressing a defense and actively helping it.
First drive. Third-and-2. Alabama lines up in an unbalanced set, sends the WR in orbit motion, and runs a sweep to the field.
Up front? Pretty solid.
The tackle reaches and seals the edge defender inside.
The wing climbs to the walked-down linebacker.
The guard can’t quite free himself to the box backer — not ideal, but survivable.
Here’s the problem: the blocking structure.
The outside WR works to the free safety, who’s aligned 16 yards off the ball and bailing. Meanwhile, the corner is sitting at 6 yards, flat-footed, and is an immediate threat to the play.
The corner triggers downhill untouched and makes the tackle on the edge.
That’s a design issue. You can’t ignore the most dangerous defender to block someone who isn’t involved on 3rd & 2
What’s worse than leaving a corner unblocked?
Leaving a Georgia edge defender unblocked and running a jet sweep straight at him. Into the boundary.
Yes, I see the counter look. Yes, I understand you’re hoping the end squeezes. But hope is not a plan in an SEC title game. You’re asking a lot for very little margin.