Great Win for Alabama: Stutter, Stop, and Go

Find the newspapers and read the headlines. From Tuscaloosa to Fayetteville, none of the sports writers really got it right.

Marquis Maze said it during his postgame interview. In three words, he summed up what happened to the Alabama offense on this rain soaked Saturday.

Stutter, Stop, and Go

That was the description of the route playmaker Marquis Maze ran, resulting in a 41 yard completion and 39 yard run after catch. A play that deflated all hopes that the Razorbacks would mount an attack that would catch the slow to start pachyderm offense.

The play resulted in a touchdown only 20 seconds after the Razorbacks marched down the field against the otherwise stubborn Alabama defense. The Hogs had closed the 14-point Alabama halftime lead to one score.

First Quarter: The Stutter 

Sputter would be a better term, but staying with the theme, the Alabama offense was anemic in the first frame, the first drive stutter set the tone.  Two dropped passes and a five yard run was all the Tide could muster against the porous Arkansas defense.

In the first quarter, on three possessions, Alabama had a total of eight yards rushing and 16 yards passing. Five dropped passes occurred during those possessions, one would have been for six points, if the receiver could have held on.

After the initial stutter, the Alabama offense struck quickly on two plays from scrimmage. Taking over on their own 14-yard line, after a 50-yard punt, the Tide offense put together an eight yard drive that ended in a 52-yard explosion by Trent Richardson.

On the first play of the ensuing Alabama possession, McElroy connected with Julio Jones on a 50-yard pass for the second score of the game.

The score came on a wildcat version of the flea flicker. Ingram, taking the snap from center, handed the ball to Terry Grant on what seemed to be an end around rush. Grant pitched the ball back to McElroy who looked down field to find Julio Jones standing all alone about 12 yards from the end zone.

McElroy admitted in the postgame interview: "I was a little nervous when I saw how wide open Julio was, I was afraid I was going to miss him. I guess I'll get credit for a touchdown, not an under thrown ball."

In a matter of 20 seconds and two big plays, the offense stumbled to a 14-point lead.

The Stop

In Alabama's next two possessions of the half, the offense generated a paltry 25 yards on eight plays. Time of possession in the first half was in favor of the Razorbacks by almost three minutes.

Though Alabama was ahead by 14 points at the break, the Alabama crowd was uneasy with the two touchdown lead.

The 15 minute stop of play at halftime allowed for fans to mix and mingle. Bama fans expressed concerns for the young offense, looking too much like the offenses of past years, unable to generate steam against a defense that looked so pathetic in the matchup against Georgia just one week earlier.

Arkansas fans were encouraged that their team had shown glimpses of success against the highly touted, so called best defense in the country.

Hog fans were even more encouraged after the break, when their defense once again held the Alabama offense to three and out.

Then, on the first Razorback possession of the second half, starting from their own 45 yard line, QB Ryan Mallett drove his team 55 yards in just five plays to put the Hogs right back in contention.

The touchdown came on a perfectly thrown fade to Greg Childs, who caught the ball over the flailing hands of Kareem Jackson. On that particular drive, the Razorbacks looked like a team that had found their "moxie" and were ready to stop the No. 3 team in the land.

The Go

The followup possession by the Men in Crimson was like nothing else that Alabama fans have witnessed since times of old. The Tide offense walked onto the field with a palpable air of confidence.

In one Go, and one perfectly executed play, the electrifying Marquis Maze caught a 41 yard heave by quarterback Greg McElroy and turned on the afterburners, jetting 39 yards to the end zone, completing of an 80-yard play that would break the spirit of the Razorback Nation.

Though Head Coach Bobby Petrino has yet to admit it, in fact he is still in denial, that one route, the stutter, stop, and go, put and end to their hopes and aspirations for a chance of upsetting the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Look back at the photo headlining this article. Standing behind Maze, the play right before him. Petrino knew it too, the look on his face says, "S#%*!T, not again, we practiced that all week!"

On the following Arkansas possession, the Hogs got no further than their own 35 yard line before lining up to punt. The Arkansas kicker attempted a rugby style punt that was block by Lorenzo Washington.

Using only two minutes and 28 seconds, McElroy ended a five-play 35-yard drive by hitting Mark Ingram on a 14-yard catch and run that put Alabama up 28-7.

The next Razorback possession lasted only 1:13, but the punt by the Razorback special teams backed Alabama up to their own one yard line. On this go-round, Alabama drove the ball 99 yards, eating up 6:28 minutes of clock and taking the game into the fourth quarter.

A drive that took 13 plays showed all that is beautiful about the Alabama offensive effort and defines the 2009 version of the Crimson Tide; Power of the running game (eight rushes) and diversity of the passing game (five passes, five different receivers).

QB Greg McElroy and offensive coordinator, Jim McElwain have arrived, together. They are making their mark on the Alabama tradition of excellence. Saban has the opportunity to make a second run at the BCS title in his short tenure at the Capstone.

The 35-7 Alabama victory doesn't add a trophy to the championship case in the Bryant Museum but it sends a message of reward to the faithful fans that their patience and support have been worth the time and investment.

Sit back and enjoy this season, Alabama fans. Adversity may lie ahead, but the Men in Crimson have hit their stride. Roll Tide, RollTide.