Alabama Crimson Tide Football: Report Card Grades vs. Florida Gators

The No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide traveled to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville Saturday night to take on the No. 12 Florida Gators in front of a national television audience on CBS. The contest featured SEC superpowers that have won 30 of the 78 all-time SEC titles and have combined to win 10 of the 19 SEC Championships games since the game was instituted in 1992.

When the dust settled on this titanic SEC showdown, which sounded a bit like one of YouTube's animal face-off videos, Elephant versus Alligator, something happened in Gainesville that rarely occurs that far inland in Florida. The Tide washed into the Swamp and all fell quiet except the chirps of crickets and celebrating Alabama fans, as the Crimson Tide wrestled the Gators and pinned them 38-10.

For a team that is normally dominant in the orange-clad confines of Ben Hill Griffin, the Gators lost their eighth game to the Tide in the Swamp. After a slow start, the team from Tuscaloosa walked all over the Gators. Let's assess their performance for the night.

Offense: Thunder Rumbled Steadily Throughout the Game

When comparing the two offenses that faced off in Gainesville Saturday night, it seemed to be a classic contest of speed versus power. The Florida Gator offense featured arguably the fastest backfield in the SEC in "Lightning and Lightning" Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps, against Alabama's "Thunder and Thunder" tandem of powerful backs, Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacey. 

Clearly, Bama's game plan coming in was to loosen the Gator defense up by passing on first down. They maintained that strategy effectively into the second half. In between, however, the Tide cooked and served up their favorite dish, a steady diet of Trent Richardson.

The offense pounded out 177 yards rushing and passing in the first half, enough when combined with Upshaw's interception return, to stake Alabama to a 24-10 halftime lead.

After a lull of conservatism in the third quarter, the Tide offense pounded out a long drive, capped by a Richardson 36 yard romp early in the fourth quarter. Richardson capped off his night with a few carries from the Wildcat for the first time this season before turning things over to his running buddy, Eddie Lacey, who promptly rumbled across the goal line from 20 yards out with 8:45 remaining. 

Alabama finished the night with 366 total yards, 226 of them on the ground and 181 of those belonging to Trent Richardson. The offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and prevented any sacks of AJ McCarron on the night.

The sparingly used passing game picked up key yards at critical times, like Maze's tunnel screen reception in the red zone in the first half and his big toe-dragging sideline grab late in the third quarter. McCarron managed this big road test in front of a hostile Gator crowd like a veteran, remaining cool, calm and collected when the Tide was on the ropes early.

Offensive Grade against the Gators? Considering Florida came into the game No. 4 in the nation in scoring defense and No. 5 in total defense, let's give the Tide an:

 A - 

Defense: Took Their Best Shot, Then Stood Tall

Coming into Saturday evening's SEC soiree in the Swamp, it appeared to be a matchup of the immovable object against the infinitesimally more immovable object, as two of the nations top-rated defenses took the the field.

Both Alabama and Florida ranked in the Top Five in the nation in rushing defense, scoring defense and total defense, and only Florida's No. 8 ranking in passing efficiency prevented both from being Top Five in that category, as well.

For Bama, the game had an unexpected and stunning beginning. John Brantley threw a 65 yard touchdown bomb to Andre Debose, who had gotten behind Dre Kirkpatrick, arguably Bama's best corner, on the first official snap. On its second possession, Florida drove the ball from its own 41 down inside the Tide 5-yard line before stalling and settling for a short Caleb Sturgis field goal.

Lesser teams may not have recovered from such an opening sucker punch. Bama, however, is no such team. The Tide stiffened. They turned up the heat on Brantley, sacking, hurrying and intercepting him, highlighted by Courtney Upshaw's 45 yard pick six early in the second quarter.

Just before halftime a second consecutive sack sent Brantley to the locker room early with an injury. At the half, Alabama had limited the SEC's top rated rushing team to -17 yards.

Freshman quarterback Jeff Driskel had to face the daunting and confusing Tide scheme in the second half when Brantley did not return. He valiantly attempted to pick Florida up off the mat but to no avail. 

Alabama dominated Florida's offense after the Gator's second possession to game's end. On the night, they gave up 10 points and 222 yards, only nine of those coming on the ground. Rainey, Demps, and the rest were hemmed up all night after the first few minutes of the contest.

Of the two top defenses that took the field this night, one proved the real deal while the other was exposed as a pretender in comparison.

Alabama's defensive grade?

A

Special Teams: Didn't Beat the Tide

Assessment of Alabama's special teams performance began with the opening kickoff. Kicker Cade Foster's penchant for the short kickoff is a problem for Alabama, especially when Florida's Chris Rainey is the returner. Foster's stumpy kicks yielded two nice returns in the first quarter that gave Florida great field position. Florida averaged over 26 yards per kick return for the game, but it is tough to blame this on the entire coverage team.

Jeremy Shelley drilled through his only field goal attempt of the evening to get the Tide on the board when they were rocked back on their heels.

Marquis Maze averaged 41 yards per kickoff return, staking the Tide to great field position. By contrast, Maze had no yardage on punt returns.

Punter Cody Mandell averaged just under 40 yards on his six punts, but helped to keep the Gators in poor field position all night long. Only one punt was returned for a 12 yard gain.

All in all, with the exception of the short kickoffs, special teams play was solid but unspectacular. No major mistakes to hurt the Tide's chances of a road victory.

Special teams grade?

B

Coaching: Whatever You Do, Do You 'Cause It Ain't Bad

While doing a nice job of changing things, throwing on first down and then mixing pass and run on Alabama's first drive after the Tide had been torched deep on Florida's first unpenalized play of the game, offensive coordinator Jim McElwain over-coached Bama's initial red zone opportunity. The Tide was forced to settle for a 32 yard Jeremy Shelley field goal.

On the subsequent possession, McElwain came to his senses and began giving the Gators a healthy heaping of Bama bread and butter, Trent Richardson between and off the tackles. Mixed with a well distributed short passing game, the Trent train began to pummel the vaunted Gator rushing defense.

After pondering the match-ups in the first quarter, Kirby Smart and Nick Saban switched from their preferred man coverage to a zone package. The move slowed the Gator onslaught and gave the Tide defenders a chance to regroup. And regroup they did.

In the second half, it appeared that the Tide became a little conservative on both sides of the ball, nursing a two touchdown lead with an injured Brantley in the dressing room and a rookie Gator QB on the field running the show.

Right before the third quarter ended, after a great Marquis Maze catch prevented a three-and-out, it appeared that Saban ordered that the serious infantry attack be renewed. It was just what the doctor ordered, and the blowout was sealed.

All in all, the Tide coaching staff, with the exception of the throw-first strategy early when the game was still in question, stayed the course, remained calm, insisted on execution and kept the Tide doing the things that they do best on both sides of the ball. That's what good coaches do. They teach, they insist on excellence in execution and effort, and they stick to what they do well.

The Crimson Tide were ready for this huge test on the road. They were focused and well-prepared. They did not falter when rocked early on. They persevered—as they were coached to do.

Coaching grade?

A

Overall: Bottom Line? Best Team Won Handily

The game was a huge test with high stakes. The Gators were at home where they almost always win, and while Alabama had a solid and vocal road crowd, the raucous Gator crowd controlled the stage. The Tide had embarrassed the proud Gators in their previous two matchups. All the ingredients for an upset were present.

It was not to be. The best team on the field on this night was the visiting team. After taking the Gators best shot, the Tide calmly fought back, seized control, then dominated the night. Rainey and company were run ragged and were dragging their tongues as they tried to outrace Tide defenders to the corners. But they couldn't. 

As the game unfolded in this marquee contest between two of the SEC's heavyweights, Alabama dominated the night on both sides of the ball and played well enough on special teams to win.

In a big game on the road, the Tide gets an overall grade of?

A

Teacher's Pet No More

Muschamp will be a successful coach at the University of Florida. But his reputation was not to be built at the expense of his mentor. Not today, anyway.

Though the Tide's victory was massive, it provided them no edge in the rugged SEC West. Alabama, undefeated at 5-0, remained tied with LSU, who handily defeated Kentucky 35-0 Saturday afternoon, for the division lead.

In its next three games, Alabama faces an improved Vanderbilt team at home, a struggling Ole Miss squad in Oxford and traditional East foe,Tennessee, back in Bryant-Denny Stadium in three weeks. Both Vandy and Mississippi have open dates before taking on the Tide.

These games are the prelude to Alabama's showdown with LSU in Tuscaloosa on November 5th. During this five week span before they meet, the Tigers must face both Florida and Auburn. Both the Tide and the Tigers have the week off to prepare for each other before they play, and hypothetically, both could be undefeated.

But for now, high Tide has set upon the Swamp. And it is awash with crimson.