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The Tuscaloosa News
Alabama football survived its SEC test in statement win vs. Georgia
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Alabama football survived its SEC test in statement win vs. Georgia
ATHENS, Ga. — Alabama football survived.
After a three-touchdown first half where the Crimson Tide offense looked clinical, Alabama stood pat. On the road. In SEC play. Against the No. 3 team in the country.
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No. 16 Alabama beat No. 3 Georgia 24-21 on the road in its SEC opener Saturday, Sept. 27, at Sanford Stadium in Athens.
Alabama football will return home for an SEC date with Vanderbilt Oct. 4.
Here's how the Crimson Tide graded out against the Bulldogs.
Alabama football offense: B+
There were moments where Ty Simpson did not look rattled by the road environment, SEC play or really anything. Simpson worked with ease, even when the run game struggled to find its footing or the ample pressure he faced. There were moments where Simpson looked human, like a quarterback in his first SEC start on the road in a hostile environment. Simpson defined the Alabama offense, one that did what it needed to do to survive.
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Alabama defense: B
Alabama's defense bent, and it nearly broke as Georgia broke open the Crimson Tide's run defense, recording 200-plus rushing yards and averaging more than eight yards a carry. Without really any semblance of a pass game, Georgia pushed a run game the Crimson Tide could not stop, until LT Overton and Deontae Lawson absolutely had to. But Alabama did enough to survive, helped by pressure up front and a forced fumble by Bray Hubbard .
Alabama special teams: B
Field position mattered. And Alabama punter Blake Doud was helpful, downing a punt inside the 20-yard line for the first time in his Crimson Tide career and landing another inside the Bulldogs' 5 in the fourth quarter. But a Conor Talty field goal miss looms large, one that missed embarrassingly wide left.
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Alabama coaching: A
Kalen DeBoer and Alabama did not cower under the pressure. Whether it was the wrinkles added by Ryan Grubb on offense, the timely pressure cultivated by a defense that was by no means perfect, or the magic of the black hoodie, Alabama found a way, a way that would have seemed unfeasible just a few short weeks ago.
Alabama football vs. Georgia overall: B+
Alabama did not get run off the field. The Crimson Tide had moments where it looked like it belonged in the upper echelon of the SEC as a whole. That team had enough moments to prevail Saturday night, and that's really all Alabama could ask for in its SEC opener on the road.
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Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football survived its SEC test in statement win vs. Georgia
