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Happy Monday, everyone. We are still basking in the glow of a hard-fought victory in Baton Rouge that once again demonstrated the resolve of this Crimson Tide team.
There are plenty of takeaways, but if there is one thing we've learned this season, it's that Ryan Anderson is hilarious:
When you trynna find out who serve the best gumbo in town pic.twitter.com/kJWItvuZk1
— 22Reasons (@Anderson_365) November 6, 2016
Mr. Anderson seems to have all kinds of fun at the big boys' expense. Moving on to the game notes:
Alabama football: Tide defense honored after big night | Alabama | annistonstar.com
No. 1 Alabama’s defense was too dominating to single out one player in its 10-0 win over No. 13 Saturday night in Baton Rouge. Instead, the entire Crimson Tide defense earned national recognition, earning the Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week as a collective unit on Sunday.
For only the second time in its history, the Walter Camp Foundation awarded an entire unit with its Defensive Player of the Week. Based on that performance, it is certainly understandable.
Alabama DB Minkah Fitzpatrick stars in first game at safety in LSU win
"He did a good job. He's a very instinctive player," Saban said. "That was a critical move for us that worked."
Fitzpatrick ended up making one of the biggest plays of the game on Saturday. Alabama's offense marched down the field on a 12-play, 90-yard drive capped by a 21-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jalen Hurts to take a 7-0 lead.
Less than a minute later, Fitzpatrick intercepted a pass from LSU quarterback Danny Etling. It was Fitzpatrick's fourth interception of the season.
That takeaway led to a 25-yard field goal from Alabama kicker Adam Griffith to ice the game.
"I knew I had bobbled it a little bit, but I knew I had my arm underneath the ball so I knew it was going to be a complete pass," Fitzpatrick said of the play being reviewed. "I was a little nervous at first, but I knew it would be a complete pass."
Minkah seemed to do well back there, but it's obviously tough to tell when Etling didn't have the time to push the ball downfield. As mentioned last week, his skill-set fits the role perfectly.
How 2 trick plays led to Alabama's latest iconic moment at LSU | AL.com
Second-and-15 from the 5-yard line and a blood-thirsty Tiger Stadium bearing down. So Lane Kiffin tricked the Tigers with a little misdirection. With Hurts dropping back to throw from his own end zone, the fake was to ArDarius Stewart on a screen pass. That froze safety Dwayne Thomas (the Tiger who said they'd dominate Alabama's offense) who was covering freshman tight end Miller Forristall. So the blocker with one catch all season found himself wide open for a 22-yard first down. The second-longest pass play of the game rescued Alabama from risky field position and bailed out the bad opening play.
This was indeed a huge play in the game. Another Alabama punt from deep in its own territory would have simply provided one more opportunity for LSU to come up with a single big play that could have changed the game. Fortunately it was Jalen Hurts who got loose and broke the ice.
Alabama Crimson Tide prevail over LSU Tigers in old-school battle
"People are always saying they want old-school football," LSU's Ed Orgeron said as he looked over a one-sheet box score that had just been handed to him, mere moments after being handed his first loss in four games as interim coach. "That was as old-school a game as I can remember in a while. I'm sure some will say it was ugly, but that's probably because it was just different than what they're used to these days."
Fournette didn't stick around after the game to address what happened against Alabama on Saturday. His teammates and head coach, Ed Orgeron, were left to do the talking. And judging by what they said, they firmly believe that they messed up and that was only reason why LSU's offense functioned like an old jalopy. Sticking to their script, they did their best to avoid crediting Alabama's defense for crushing the Tigers.
"It was all about LSU tonight," Orgeron said. "It wasn't about anybody else. It was about execution."
Really?
No objective observer thought that. In fact, the Walter Camp Foundation gave its national defensive player of the week award to Alabama's entire 11-man unit. It was the second time the organization did so. LSU can continue to delude itself. But Alabama — not LSU — stopped the Tigers. If LSU needs a reality check, all it needs to do is look at the box score and find the stat line attached to Fournette, Leonard.
Many opposing fans have ribbed LSU folks about Orgeron, sarcastically begging them to hire him. Count me among those who legitimately think he could be quite successful if given the opportunity. This quote just proves that he is dialed in to the mindset of that fan base. No matter what happened on the field, he is not going to give Tide fans the satisfaction of an LSU coach conceding that Alabama is better, and that's how it should be. The guy can recruit like crazy and he fits well with the locals. All that's left is surrounding himself with top assistants - he already has one in Dave Aranda - and he could be well on his way.
Alabama football: Scarbrough showing the benefit of patience
Like many that have come before him — including defending Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry, with whom he is most often compared to given their physical similarities — Scarbrough is once again proving Saban’s "process" works. And to hear Scarbrough tell it, biding his time wasn’t as difficult as many might suspect. "When you focus on the team and you focus on what you have to do — your job — it’s pretty easy," Scarbrough said. After struggling through the first five weeks of the season, when he averaged less than 3.5 per rush while seeing fewer carries than fellow underclassmen tailbacks Damien Harris and Josh Jacobs, Scarbrough has steadily experienced increased production, and that’s resulted in increased opportunities.
Bo was huge in this game. He is a great compliment to the slashing styles of Damien Harris and Joshua Jacobs. If holes aren't open, just bring in big Bo to run over a couple of linemen.
Alabama football's ArDarius Stewart is still waiting for the spotlight
Other than a three- or four-day stint on defense in the spring following his redshirt year, Stewart camped in the wide receiver room. It was loaded with talent. Amari Cooper, Kevin Norwood, Kenny Bell, Christion Jones. Baby Assassin wasn't fazed. "I just felt like I belonged there," Stewart said. "I thought I could make things happen." It takes a certain level of self-confidence to thrust oneself into Alabama’s group of long-limbed freaks on the outside, but Stewart’s never lacked for it. You need self-assurance to be an axe-wielder or even to rock the pink and black tiger socks he occasionally did in high school. It’s why Stewart wears the traditionally unlucky No. 13 – he wants to make something of the number.
Saban gave Stewart his choice of position groups in which to compete, and he chose perhaps the most loaded one on the roster. Kudos to him for having some gumption and then beating out a lot of those players to get on the field as a redshirt freshman. Hopefully he sticks around for one more year.
Alabama-LSU predicts winner of presidential election | SI.com
AL.com has found a third indicator—the Alabama-LSU game. In every election since 1984, the Republican has won when LSU wins and the Democratic nominee has won in years that Alabama wins. Bama won Saturday’s matchup, in a game that was a million times less exciting than this election cycle. This year, all three cases indicate a Hillary Clinton win—that’s 100% percent of the data. Take that, FiveThirtyEight.
A Redskins home win meant the incumbent party stays, the NL winning means a Democrat wins, and then this. If you believe the sports indicators (you shouldn't, of course, but it's still fun) then Mrs. Clinton is going to win in a landslide.
Alabama opens as big favorite over Mississippi State | AL.com
Mississippi State was responsible for the most surprising result of the weekend, an upset of No. 4 Texas A&M. But Vegas oddsmakers apparently don't see the Bulldogs being competitive against Alabama. The No. 1 Tide plays Mississippi State on Saturday in Tuscaloosa. Alabama has opened as a 29-point favorite, according to Vegas Insider.
Just an incredible spread against a conference opponent coming off a big upset. It's probably pretty close, though. They will be lucky to score.
That's about it for today. Have a great week.
Roll Tide.