Texas A&M vs. Alabama: Game Grades, Analysis for Tide

Alabama improved to 8-0 Saturday night with a 33-14 win over Texas A&M in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide got another strong performance from their rushing attack, but the defense was once again the story of the day.

Alabama's Jonathan Allen returned a fumble 30 yards for a touchdown to give the Tide a 26-14 lead at the end of the third quarter. It was the 10th consecutive game that Alabama had scored a non-offensive touchdown. Alabama's defense finished with five sacks and forced two turnovers.

Pass Offense

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Alabama did not get much production from the passing game, but it did enough to open up the ground game. Quarterback Jalen Hurts missed a handful of open receivers and could not seem to find the deep ball all night.

He did hit O.J. Howard for eight completions that went for 69 yards and a touchdown. The freshman also threw a touchdown pass to Calvin Ridley in the third quarter, which gave the Tide the lead for good.

Hurts completed 60 percent of his passes but threw two interceptions (albeit one was meaningless) and connected with just four different receivers. He averaged 6.6 yards per pass attempt, which is his third-lowest average of the season. 

Grade: C+

Rush Offense

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Damien Harris helped the Crimson Tide's rushing attack get off to a strong start, running for 55 yards on his first four carries. The sophomore running back finished with 125 yards on just 18 carries, leading the team with a 6.9 yards-per-carry average.

The Tide had seven rushing plays that went for 15 or more yards, with Harris and Hurts each contributing three. Hurts finished the night with 93 rushing yards on 21 carries and scored the game's final touchdown on a 37-yard run. The Crimson Tide recovered the only fumble that they put on the ground and showed strong ball security throughout the game.

The team finished with 287 rushing yards on 57 carries. 

Grade: A

Pass Defense

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The Crimson Tide were constantly in the face of Trevor Knight, but the Aggies planned well. Knight was prepared to throw quick passes but even then was unsuccessful against Alabama. The hosts finished the night with five sacks, including two from Tim Williams and a flying sack (pictured above) by Jonathan Allen. Da'Shawn Hand and Dalvin Tomlinson each added a sack apiece.

Knight finished with just 164 passing yards and completed only 45 percent of his pass attempts. Marlon Humphrey had an interception in the second quarter, helping to swing the momentum back in the Tide's favor after Hurts had thrown an interception of his own. Humphrey and Hootie Jones also recorded pass breakups in the secondary.

Grade: A+

Rush Defense

Associated Press

Alabama's rush defense may not have been at their best, but the Tide still did not allow the SEC's top rushing team to get started on Saturday. They allowed a season-high 114 rushing yards but held the Aggies to just three yards per carry. Texas A&M picked up its yards in big chunks, finishing with eight carries for 10 yards or more.

Alabama offset many of those big plays with tackles in the backfield. The Tide held the visitors for no gain or negative yards on nine rushes, not including their five sacks. Ryan Anderson led the team with three tackles for a loss.

Grade: B

Special Teams

Associated Press

Alabama fans have the right to be angry with the special teams. Eddie Jackson fractured his leg on a punt return in the fourth quarter, likely ending his Alabama career. The 17-yard return set up the Tide's final touchdown, but everyone would trade it for Jackson's health.

Adam Griffith missed a 29-yard field goal, but that now seems less important.

On the good side of things, Griffith made his first two field-goal attempts in the opening quarter. J.K. Scott averaged 52.5 net yards on his punts, helping the Tide swing field position on two occasions. Mack Wilson also laid out two big hits on Texas A&M's kick returners, helping the crowd get into the game.

Grade: B+

Coaching

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Some fans might have been frustrated with the play-calling early on, but Lane Kiffin's early deep shots helped set up the running game for the rest of the contest. The coaching staff once again locked the team down and did not panic when the Aggies took the lead early in the second half.

The non-offensive touchdown streak extended to 10 games, and the coaching staff should get a lot of credit for that. Many defenses have talent, but this team shows the discipline needed to locate the ball and immediately know what to do with it.

Alabama finished with seven penalties for just 44 yards, but five of those came in the fourth quarter. Two late offside calls against Alabama helped the Aggies get first downs to extend their final drive. Alabama enters the bye week still undefeated, and Nick Saban will certainly be a little happy about that.

Caleb Turrentine is a contributor at Bleacher Report. He also works as a columnist and contributor at Touchdown Alabama Magazine. Follow him on Twitter, @CalebTurrentine.