Alabama Football: Final report card for Tide’s 2019 season

Overall offense grade: A

The Alabama Crimson Tide finished second to division rival LSU in points per game this season. Despite losing starting quarterback Tua Tagovaolia for the season to a hip injury against Mississippi State, the Tide offense still performed well.

This team was balanced; the running game was solid as well as the passing game. The offense averaged 510.9 yards and 47.2 points per game.

Offensive standouts

Najee Harris: 209 carries, 1,224 yards, 13 touchdowns 5.9 yards per attempt, 27 receptions, 304 yards, seven touchdowns and 11.3 yards per reception. This season Najee Harris fulfilled his promise. This is the type of season you want from a running back in an offensive system like Alabama’s. He’s too dangerous a runner not to account for him, and he’s capable of slipping out of the backfield and catching the football.

Mac Jones: 69 percent completions, 1,503 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, three interceptions, 16 carries 36 yards, one rushing touchdown. So why not Tua? We know Tua is outstanding. What we didn’t know is that Mac Jones isn’t too shabby either. Jones was a rather unheralded three-star coming out of Florida in a class that included Davis Mills of Stanford and Jake Fromm formerly of Georgia.

If there’s anything that came across in the Mississippi State game and the rest of the season is the confidence he has. This is key going into next season with five-star quarterback Bryce Young.

DeVonta Smith: 68 receptions, 1,256 yards, 18.5 yards per reception 14 touchdowns. This was a pick ’em. Any of the stellar wide receivers would have sufficed. It was his move from the slot to the outside that contributed to his break out season. Fellow receiver Jerry Jeudy agreeing to the move also contributed to his own break out season.

Quarterback: A

We all know what Tua can do. He had another outstanding season even with nagging injuries. A hip injury cost him his season, but the Tide offense didn’t suffer like most thought it would without him. Sophomore quarterback Mac Jones stepped in and the offense continued playing well.

Although the sample size is small, the Crimson Tide scored 45 points against Auburn and 35 against Michigan. It was vital to their 11 win season that the quarterback position not fall off with the Tua injury, and Mac Jones owned the offense and played well in his two starts.

Running Back: A

In an offense like this, the run game can often be an afterthought. Running back Najee Harris made sure that didn’t happen. He had a season that proved why he was the top running back coming out of high school in 2017. The Crimson Tide also got contributions from some of their backups as well. Junior running back  Brian Robinson Jr. chipped in five rushing touchdowns and freshman Keilan Robinson ran for 6.5 yards per attempt.

Receivers/Tight End: A

It would have been very nit-picky to downgrade this group because of their lack of production from the tight end position. The Alabama tight ends registered five receptions for 37 yards and one touchdown. This was one of the positions plagued by injury. Major Tennison played in only three games this season and Jahleel Billingsley played in only three games. That mattered little considering how dynamic the Crimson Tide offense was this season.

Due to their lack at tight end, the Tide regularly lined up with three or four wide receivers. We all know what the trio of Henry Ruggs, DeVonta Smith, and Jerry Jeudy did this season.

Offensive Line: A

This veteran group got little of the credit for the season the Crimson Tide had. They finished third in sacks allowed this season. The offensive line, led by All-SEC linemen Alex Leatherwood and Jedrick Willis Jr., paved the way for a solid run game as well. Not only that, freshman guard Evan Neal stood up well in the SEC.