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Alabama Football: 3 takeaways from thrilling road loss to Volunteers

By Dante Pryor

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 20: Tennessee Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide on the line of scrimmage during the first half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Alabama won 58-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 20: Tennessee Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide on the line of scrimmage during the first half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Alabama won 58-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Oct 15, 2022; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young (9) warms up before the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2022; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young (9) warms up before the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Takeaways for Alabama

Let’s not bury the lede; Alabama did not play its best game, and that is no slight on how well the Volunteers played. Today was the second game in a row where the Tide got off to a slow offensive start. Much like the Texas game, penalties were an issue for the entire game for Alabama.

One aspect of the game that Alabama needed to go well was the pass rush. Alabama’s secondary is not as good as it has been in years past; the Crimson Tide mustered one sack. All-American Will Anderson was quiet all night, with just two tackles. Anderson hardly got to Hendon Hooker. That meant that the Tennessee passing game had an opportunity to operate.

The offense played well, which is not surprising because the Volunteers’ defense is not very good and the Crimson Tide have arguably the best quarterback in college football.

There was some questionable play calling in Alabama’s last series. Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien did not take advantage of Tennessee’s aggressive defense. When Young got the Crimson Tide in kicker Will Reichard’s range, they had time to run the football and try to get a few more yards to make the kick easier.

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