Alabama Football: Defense Continues to Roll, Offense Improves

For Alabama fans watching the game last night, hand-wringing, waiting for an offensive breakout, they may have missed the fact that this was about as dominating a game as could have been played against this team this year.

Consider these stats:

Stat                         Alabama       Mississippi State   When LSU Played Them

First Downs                  20                    9                                21   

Rushing Yds                223                   12                             148  

Passing Yds                163                  119                             213     

Total Yds Offense         386                  131                             361           

Avg. Gain per Play        5.7                   2.2                              5.4

Possession Time        34.50               23.52                           37.50

Red Zone Scoring       3 of 4                1 of 2                          1 of 1

Sacks                     5 for 33 yds         0 for 0                       6 for 37 yds

Total Points Scored       24                     7                               19-6

Also consider LSU played them at full strength while Alabama was missing three offensive tackles, one starting wide receiver and other late-season injured players.

Overall, it was a much more convincing victory for a banged up team on the road than LSU's win over the same team.

Alabama's defense just continued to smother opposing teams. Even kicking game miscues and an interception returned inside the ten resulted in the defense raising their game and simply stopping the Bulldogs cold before finally allowing a touchdown for the first time in two games.

In fact, in their last five games, including the nation's No. 1 team, this Alabama defense has just allowed two touchdowns and continues to lead the nation in almost every key defensive stat.

When the polls come out tonight, you'll see that style points are just something for media members than don't have anything else to talk about. Wins and losses are the key for Alabama from here on out.

If they win the remainder of their games and someone trips up Oklahoma State, then all the style points in the world won't matter.

Alabama will get the rematch they're so eager to get.

Unfortunately for the Tide, that game would almost be a home game for LSU as it would be in New Orleans, La.

While Tide fans should be careful what they wish for, Alabama actually has a better record playing LSU in Louisiana than at home, so perhaps LSU may not wish a rematch.

But whatever fate and opponent the Crimson Tide end up facing in January, it will be war and the excitement of the season won't be felt until after December 3rd, the date Oklahoma and Oklahoma State collide.