What happened at Ole Miss? I don't know what all has been written here already and whether I can add anything of substance but you know I am going to try...or I wouldn't be posting!
Ole Miss has been Bama's kryptonite for the past few years early in the season for some reason. Fluke plays, missed calls, turnovers....it seems we have had our worst game of the season against them the past three years for whatever reason. Could it be scheduling, them getting us at the right time and us them at the wrong time? Coach Freeze having coach Saban's number or something? It has been weird for sure!!
The thing about this years Bama team if I was UW and the other two teams in the playoff I would be worried about is that Bama has not even come close to a complete game yet, not even close, and yet are still the only undefeated team.
Pretty much the only area that any team has been able to have any success against our defense is against the secondary. We have been burned there at least a couple times in every game this year so I expect Washington to be able have some success in the passing game against us, everyone else has so....but you better hit us for a score when you do. Between the 20's we can be moved upon through the air but once you get in the red zone, if you get there, it is much tougher sledding. You might as well forget about running against our defense right now! Well with one exception.....If you can run with your QB.
Jalen is prone to a turnover or two so you may possibly have an opportunity to score points that route but he more than makes up for what he gives up with his athleticism and ability he is continually improving on. I don't expect him to digress during the next few weeks either!! Would Kiffin not coaching the playoffs be a problem for him?? I very much doubt it....nothing seems to faze this kid.
The offensive line was a little suspect early in the year but has progressed nicely and made the two best d-lines Bama played all year look pretty average at the end of the regular season. The perimeter players we have surrounding Jalen and the O-Line are second to none in my opinion including depth! Our special teams has had its moments at times but there is not many teams substantially better.
But back to what happened at Ole Miss.....that is a bit of a head scratcher the past three years for me and I think for the team too. It is a mixture of a lot of things and a lot of that was self inflicted. Ole Miss has been the perfect storm for Bama of late but three straight SEC championships and three straight CFP appearances belie the impression that Bama's games with Ole Miss the past three seasons give you.
I am not taking Washington as a gimme and I hope our players don't either because no doubt in my mind Washington is capable of pulling off an Ole Miss if Bama has some of the same problems we have had against Ole Miss happen the past three years.
Of the past three Bama defenses this defense in my opinion is the best of the three though and offensively is right up there with the past three Bama offenses but with more explosiveness at QB. A complete game by Bama will not be beaten in the playoff, but will we finally get that complete game? Looking forward to finding out!!