After seven games, Alabama football may have finally found its offensive identity during a 34-0 victory over No. 21 Missouri at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Alabama offense had struggled in recent weeks, faltering for significant stretches during the win against South Carolina and appearing completely ineffective in last week’s loss in Knoxville. The first half against Missouri continued this trend.
Following a promising opening drive that ended in a field goal, Alabama went three-and-out on consecutive possessions and gained only 14 yards over their next seven plays. They managed another lengthy field goal drive to take a 6-0 lead with just over four minutes left in the half.
A Malachi Moore interception set the stage for a Jalen Milroe touchdown, giving Alabama a 13-0 advantage at halftime and some much-needed breathing room.
In the second half, the Crimson Tide’s running game took charge. Milroe’s 32-yard run on the first drive of the half led to a touchdown, with Milroe scoring from nine yards out to extend the lead to 20-0.
A couple of drives later, Justice Haynes broke free for a 28-yard run, setting up an 11-yard touchdown run by Jam Miller.
In the fourth quarter, Alabama demonstrated its ability to dominate on the ground and seal the game. With a 27-0 lead, Haynes opened the drive with a 10-yard run. Consecutive runs by Miller created a third-and-four situation, where Milroe connected with Ryan Williams for a 26-yard gain. Haynes then capped off the performance with a spectacular 35-yard touchdown run, which included him powering through a Missouri safety in the open field.
Justice Haynes My Goodness
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 26, 2024
Even third-stringer Richard Young joined in, breaking off a 62-yard run that helped Alabama escape its own goal line, allowing the Tide to finish the game with possession and secure the shutout.
Alabama rushed for a total of 271 yards on 37 attempts, averaging 7.3 yards per carry, and scored four touchdowns. This marked their most impressive rushing performance since the season opener against Western Kentucky and was only the second time this season they surpassed 200 rushing yards.
Fans had been eager to see the ground game thrive for weeks, often frustrated by the struggles of an offensive line that seemed capable of dominating on paper. While neither running back had consistently shined, they were also overlooked in the offensive strategy far too often.
Last week against Tennessee, the offensive burden on Milroe became excessive, a recurring issue. Expectations for Milroe to perform at an elite level week after week meant that when he struggled, the entire offense faltered. Complementary football involves not only the offense and defense playing well together but also the running and passing games working in harmony to advance the ball.
In contrast to last week, where Milroe attempted 45 passes compared to just 34 running plays, this week he threw 26 passes to 37 runs, reflecting a much better balance that aligns with the offense’s strengths.
Kalen DeBoer: "Every quarterback needs a good run game, so the weight of everything isn't on one guy's shoulders."
— Blake Byler (@blakebyler45) October 26, 2024
DeBoer’s comments after the game are promising, indicating that the staff spent the week assessing what needed to change to get the offense back on track, and the team executed those adjustments on Saturday.
As much as Milroe aspires to be a traditional pocket passer, and as much as Kalen DeBoer and Nick Sheridan aim to develop him into one, it’s clear he thrives as a dual-threat quarterback. His greatest asset is his mobility, and with two talented running backs supporting him, the Crimson Tide has the potential to be a formidable running team.
Play calling has often strayed from the ground game at the first sign of trouble. Patience is crucial for a play caller; running the football in this league is more of a marathon than a sprint. It’s important to move the ball in small increments—three or four yards at a time—until the offense finds its rhythm, as demonstrated by Haynes’ long touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
This should become the identity of Alabama football going forward. Milroe is an exceptional talent and will have moments where he can lead the team to victory. However, he needs support, and it has been evident for weeks that the weight of the offense was taking a toll on him.
A more balanced running attack will create opportunities for deep shots down the field, forcing safeties to move up and allowing for one-on-one matchups for players like Williams and Germie Bernard.
With a bye week ahead, Alabama can solidify this newly embraced identity. Following the bye, they face their biggest challenge of the year: a road game against LSU. A win could enhance their playoff resume, while a loss could jeopardize their hopes for the College Football Playoff.
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