The Play That Changed Everything for Alabama QB Jake Coker

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — He was on the ground, but Jake Coker knew what had happened by the roars coming from the University of Alabama section, and the silence from the rest of Sanford Stadium.

His reaction was almost as good as the 45-yard touchdown. The senior quarterback triumphantly raised his arm, and followed it with an arm pump, a body bump with reserve tackle Lester Cotton and a lot of smiles on the sideline.

“I think there’s a video going around of him celebrating,” senior center Ryan Kelly said. “We were just so pumped up because you work on those plays the entire week and when we’re taking shots like that it’s awesome.

“Things like that just bring the offense together even more.”

Even though it occurred in the second quarter for a 38-10 victory, the play that may have changed everything for Coker was also the one that signaled Alabama’s showdown against No. 8 Georgia wouldn’t just be a victory, but a rout. 

Alabama was already taking it to Georgia physically, but the results weren’t showing up on the scoreboard. An early 50-yard completion to true freshman Calvin Ridley had been the game’s first big offensive play, but the drive stalled after three five-yard penalties (false start, illegal formation and substitution infraction).

Nevertheless, that and the 24-yard pass to Richard Mullaney into the red zone snapped Coker’s deep-ball drought and gave both he and the offense a much-needed confidence boost.

“Once we hit a big play everyone kind of gets into it,” Coker said. “I just think everyone started getting comfortable and we started playing like we can play.”

Junior running back Derrick Henry broke his 30-yard touchdown, and freshman defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick blocked a punt for another score. The Bulldogs were already on the ropes, and the mood of the fans began to match the dreary weather.  

Thanks to Alabama’s defense forcing its sixth three-and-out in seven possessions, it had first down at the Georgia 45 with 3:55 on the clock.

Coker’s only incompletion had been on the previous play, third down, when Alabama went hurry-up and caught Georgia’s secondary flat-footed. The quarterback put the sideline pass a little behind ArDarius Stewart, but the leaping wide receiver couldn’t hold on for the reception.

Despite that, the quarterback was 6-of-7 despite the wet conditions.  

Ridley was in the slot, and when senior wide receiver Richard Mullaney went in motion, cornerback Aaron Davis switched off to cover the true freshman. The play-action out of the pistol formation actually had two fakes, Mullaney pretending to take a quick pass from Coker, which Alabama had already established, paired with a fake handoff to Kenyan Drake.

Convinced that the play was going to be a pass to Mullaney out of the backfield, safety Dominick Sanders jumped up to help out. That left safety Quincy Mauger as the only deep man, and when he turned, Ridley was already by him.

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Linebacker Jordan Jenkins got past tight end O.J. Howard, but it was too late. Coker let the ball fly and then saw the result from the ground. Ridley caught the pass in stride in the end zone to silence the soggy crowd Sanford Stadium that had the same thought in mind: Ballgame.

“He was pumped, excited,” Henry said about the quarterback he calls “chill, low key,” off the field.

The players definitely fed off it, and not only did Alabama fans start celebrating another blow-the-doors-off win at Georgia, but for the first time this season saw a pass play that reminded them of Amari Cooper.

“It was hard to describe,” Coker said. “That was unbelievable.

“I think the coaches put together a really good game plan.”

Overall, Coker completed 11 of 16 passes for 190 yards and the one touchdown, to go with six carries for 28 yards and ran in a two-yard touchdown. He wasn’t sacked and didn’t have any turnovers.

"Our big thing is to make sure he’s comfortable,” sophomore left tackle Cam Robinson said. “If we give him time and give him some rhythm then he’ll be able to play pitch and catch with our playmakers on the other side."

Brett Davis/Associated Press

If there was one area in the negative that sort of stood out, it was Alabama converting just one of 12 third-down opportunities.

Over the past two weeks, Alabama is 3-of-25 but won the games by a combined score of 72-10.

“We probably just ran the ball on five or six third downs toward the end of that game trying to take the air out of the ball and not necessarily trying to throw it and get first downs and doing the things that you need to do to get first downs,” Saban said. “And actually went for it on fourth down a couple of times just trying to take the air out of it. I do think we need to make some improvements on third down. I think it's a total team thing.

“I think pass protection needs to be better. I think route-runners need to be more consistent. I think the receivers have got to catch the ball. We've had some drops, less than the last game. And the quarterbacks have got to do what the design is to try to get the first down. It's something that we want to continue to focus on.”

Wisconsin	4-11
Midd Tennessee	4-13
Ole Miss	11-20
La.-Monroe	2-13
Georgia	1-12
Totals	22-69

Nevertheless, this was the kind of game that Coker dreamed of as a child and hoped for when he transferred from Florida State. Alabama may be back to its bread-and-butter on offense, being physical and paced by a pounding running game, but the passing game is starting to click as well. 

Consequently, when asked if that was the best he’s played all season, Coker replied: “That was the best we’ve played, I felt like.”

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Christopher Walsh is a lead SEC college football writer. Follow Christopher on Twitter @WritingWalsh.