Alabama Football: Winners and Losers from Crimson Tide's First Month

Since Week 1 of the college football season, the Alabama Crimson Tide has dominated opponent after opponent and still look like an early favorite to winning another national championship.

The Crimson Tide are undefeated, including against three ranked opponents in Penn State, Arkansas and Florida, who fell victim to their dominant play on defense.

This article is intended for picking Alabama’s winners and losers through the first month, but I’m finding it rather difficult to pick. Picking winners from the past five games is difficult because there are so many players who shined, but picking losers is far more difficult.

So far this season, this team has played football the way it was meant to be played. No gimmicks and very little trick plays run by Nick Saban’s club. The Tide just played ground-and-pound football with a suffocating defense.

In the past month, Alabama outscored their opponents 192 points to 42, nearly had 1,000 more rushing yards than their opponent and outgained their opponents on offense 2,190 yards to 958.

The most important stat for 'Bama so far this season is their 5-0 record, and these are the players who have made a tremendous impact and not so great impact for the Tide this season.

Winner: Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy

Every die-hard fan of an SEC school not named Alabama thought the same thing when Mark Ingram was drafted by the New Orleans Saints last year: “Thank God he’s gone.”

It was like chopping one head off of a two-headed monster. Just in case you fans haven’t realized it yet, that head grew back. This time running back Trent Richardson is the featured back getting most of the carries with sophomore running back Eddie Lacy coming in to soften up the defense even more.

Through five games, Richardson leads the team in rushing with 643 yards on 96 attempts with 10 of those resulting in touchdowns.

As for Lacy, well he’s managed to average 8.6 yards per carry and find the end zone five times. Richardson is exactly what everyone thought he would be, and Lacy is exactly what opposing coaches feared he might be.

Whether it’s Richardson breaking tackles or Lacy rumbling over tacklers, defenses will have their hands full trying to stop these two.

Loser: Phillip Sims

Before the season started there was a battle at the quarterback position, but midway through the season, it's not even close to being a quarterback controversy.

A.J. McCarron got the nod from Nick Saban over Phillip Sims after the first week, and since then has completed 62.5 percent of his passes, while throwing for 919 yards with four touchdowns.

Sims, on the other hand, had no touchdowns and two interceptions in the 48-7 victory over Kent State and hasn't seen much playing time since.

Sims went from almost being the starter for one of the best teams in the nation to riding the bench behind McCarron shortly into the season. 

Winner: Marquis Maze

Julio who?

Ok, to say that Alabama fans have already forgotten about Julio Jones after wide receiver Marquis Maze's phenomenal play this season would be absurd, but Maze has definitely made fans feel better about the loss.

So far this season, Maze has 262 yards receiving and a touchdown, but has made his biggest mark in special teams. 

Maze is averaging 15.2 yards in punt returns including a touchdown against Arkansas that took the air out of their sails. He has an average of 36.4 with kick returns.

Many fans worried about the playmakers on the outside this year for the Crimson Tide, and so far this season, Maze has quieted the critics.

Loser: Darius Hanks

He's only played in three games so far this season, but he still has yet to make an impact.

Maze leads the team in receiving, but the Tide's starting running back Richardson and starting tight end Brad Smelley are second and third, respectively, in receiving for Alabama this year. Darius Hanks has only six catches so far this year for 52 yards.

Now granted, the Tide has yet to need that deep threat on the outside because of their dominant defense and grinding rushing attack, but Hanks will need to step up in the future.

I'm sure nobody has forgotten that Nov. 5 matchup against LSU, and when these two defenses meet, Alabama will need every offensive weapon they have.

Until then, expect the Crimson Tide to try to add another dimension to their offense and Hanks to be featured more.

Winner: Defense

Perhaps the biggest winner for the Tide and biggest winner in college football right now is that Alabama defense. This is the most dominant defense in football as offenses average 8.4 points against them.

Sure, you could argue that Richardson is the superstar on the team, but no one will argue with me when I say the real superstars are all on defense.

From linebacker Dont'a Hightower's speed and power to cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick's physical play to linebacker/defensive end Courtney Upshaw getting pressure on the quarterback, this defense is just straight-up nasty.

This group is responsible for five interceptions and four forced fumbles on the year. Hightower leads the team in tackles with 29, and safety Mark Barron is second on the team with 24.

If it’s one thing opponents know heading into a game with Alabama, it’s that they better buckle those chin straps and ready themselves for a physical onslaught of defense.