Alabama Football: Crimson Tide in Perfect Stride, Still Playing Like Champions

Larry Burton (Syndicated Writer)

Replace nine starters on defense? No problem.

Heisman trophy winner on the bench on offense? No problem.

Freshmen special teams specialists all freshmen? No problem.

The Crimson Tide never missed a stride from their winning ways of last season and, except for a couple of good running plays on their first possession and one 40-plus yard reception by San Jose State at about the five-minute mark in the second quarter, it was a first half to remember and one that may help ease the fears of Alabama fans as to team's outlook for this year.

Everything that Alabama fans wanted to see pretty much happened in that first half. Lots of backups were played and they were just as impressive as the starters in most cases.

A.J. McCarron showed everyone why Star Jackson felt the need the leave as backup quarterback as he engineered a winning scoring drive based on two great throws.

All the special teamers did an outstanding job. The punter nailed two great boots and both the short and long range place kickers were perfect in their duties.

Trent Richardson showed that he's only a second team player on this team alone and Julio Jones had more that one highlight moment in just the first half alone.

Josh Chapman stuffed the middle and no one missed Mt. Cody. Dont'a Hightower was calling the defense and directing traffic like an old pro and several hard licks were laid by a defense that didn't appear in rebuilding mode at all.

But for Nick Saban, all he could see were the problems.

Eddie Lacy's fumble on the goal line that could have made the halftime score 38-3 instead of 31-3 didn't make him happy at all. It cost Lacy playing time as Saban fumed.

That fumble, the missed tackles on the running plays and the blown coverage on that single long San Jose reception made up the bulk of Saban's comments as he left the field at halftime.

To see the look and his face and the fire in his voice, you'd think the Tide was behind and not leading 31-3.

And though the Tide would take their foot off the gas in the second half, the game was already over by halftime.

The second half saw the offense go to many subs and Eddie Lacy may have climbed out of the doghouse with his over 100-yard total effort.

The defense settled down and allowed no more scoring and many subs on defense saw valuable playing time.

With the 48-3 final, the Tide more than covered the spread and in a more important thing, exceeded expectations.

The Tide was indeed in stride.