Alabama vs. Mississippi: Grading the Tide's Victory Against the Rebels

Another day, another "A."

With its meeting against fellow Southeastern Conference powerhouse Louisiana State now just three weeks away, Alabama continued its march to another BCS national championship with a 52-7 victory against overmatched Mississippi on Saturday.

The funny thing is, despite winning by 45 points, despite recording 27 first downs to the Rebels' nine, and despite outgaining Mississippi, 615-141, the Crimson Tide can claim they "came from behind" to win this one.

On to the grades...

Offense

Quite simply, Alabama's offense was pretty freakin' awesome against the Rebels.

Tailback Trent Richardson had a Heisman moment, carrying 17 times for 183 yards (10.8 ypc) and four, count 'em four, touchdowns. Backup Jalston Fowler added nine carries for 125 yards (13.9 ypc) and a pair of touchdowns for good measure.

And get this, those two couldn't touch the average yards-a-carry Blake Sims registered. The 212-pound freshman from Gainesville, Ga. carried five times for 74 yards (14.8 ypc).

As a team, Alabama finished with 389 rushing yards on 42 carries, a 9.3 ypc average against an SEC team.

Quarterback A.J. McCarron was very efficient, completing 19-of-24 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown.

Oh, and the Tide didn't have a turnover.

Grade: A+

Defense

The strongest part of Alabama's team, the Crimson Tide defense limited Mississippi to 28 rushing yards on 31 carries (0.9 ypc), allowed a completion percentage of less than 50 percent, collected five sacks, intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble in Saturday's 52-7 victory.

Linebacker Nico Johnson led the way with six tackles (two for-loss). That total included a sack.

Also standing out were defensive back Robert Lester (interception with a 30-yard return) and linebacker Courtney Upshaw (two sacks and a forced fumble).

Once again, a dominant performance.

GRADE: A

Special Teams

Alabama's special teams weren't asked to do a lot, but what it did, it did just fine.

Jeremy Shelley was asked to put points on the board eight times, and eight times he was successful, successfully converting on seven extra point attempts and a 24-yard field goal. Nitpicking, Cade Foster did miss a 53-yard field goal in the second quarter.

Punter Cody Mandell was only called upon once, and he answered with a 44-yard boot.

Alabama's return yardage was nothing special, and the Tide did allow kickoff returns of 44 and 47 yards.

GRADE: B

Coaching

Is there anything to fault here?

The Crimson Tide was effective all around, and downright spectacular on offense, in Saturday's 52-7 victory against Mississippi.

GRADE: A

Overall

One more step on the way to the game of the year and, once again, Alabama looked like it might be the best team in all of college football.

This was one of the Crimson Tide's finest performances in what has been a brilliant season so far.

GRADE: A