Tag: Alabama Crimson Tide

Is Kenyan Drake taking over for Cardinals?

Less than two weeks after being traded from Miami to Arizona, Kenyan Drake is already making waves. Trade: Arizona has reached agreement in principle to trade a conditional 2020 draft pick to Miami for RB Kenyan Drake, league sources tell ESPN. – …

Less than two weeks after being traded from Miami to Arizona, Kenyan Drake is already making waves.

In his first week with the Cardinals, Drake took 15 carries for 110 yards and a lone touchdown. An impressive first outing with his new team.

His Arizona debut came at the right time for him, as David Johnson, their solid back for the last few seasons was inactive.

Johnson has been battling injuries, he spent all of 2018 on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury.

Drake’s second week with the team was a true test, Johnson was back on the field, so it was a true test to see where he would fit into the mix with the incumbent starter.

In the Cardinals’ contest against the Buccaneers, Drake took over as the lead back.

The Alabama product had 10 carries to Johnson five, along with 35 yards to Johnson’s two.

Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury weighed in on Drake’s success with the team.

“We just felt like with Drake, needed to get something going and kept him rolling,” Kingsbury said. “The last couple weeks, practice, games [he] has brought a little pop to the run game, the pass game, and we felt like he was the guy to try and close the game out with.”

There’s still a relatively small sample size when it comes to what he’s capable of with Arizona, but with plenty of time left in the regular season, he will have the ability to show the Dolphins front office what they are missing out on.

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‘Tank for Tua’ Week 10

Week 10 of the NFL regular season not only shook football fans, but the ‘Tank for Tua’ rankings as well. The Dolphins are on a win streak, the Bengals are still winless, the Patriots haven’t won a game in November and the 49ers lost their first game …

Week 10 of the NFL regular season not only shook football fans, but the ‘Tank for Tua’ rankings as well.

The Dolphins are on a win streak, the Bengals are still winless, the Patriots haven’t won a game in November and the 49ers lost their first game of the season.

All of the aforementioned events have changed the overall landscape of the NFL, let’s dive in and see how this crazy week affected the worst of the worst and if their chances of landing Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa have been hindered.

3. New York Jets

Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Jets in Week 10 were able to capture yet another win, this time over their in-state rival, the New York Football Giants.

They are tied for last place in the AFC East, tied with the Miami Dolphins at 2-7, and it seems as if the win column may stay stuck at two for the remainder of the regular season.

The NFL Power Rankings currently has them listed at No. 29, one of the worst teams in the league.

With an inconsistent quarterback, such as Sam Darnold, that ranking may fluctuate higher or lower.

In the Jets’ win over the Giants, Darnold had an impressive outing. He amassed 230 yards, one passing touchdown and a lone rushing touchdown.

While a win must feel nice for the team, it’s still clear a winning culture has not been spread throughout the locker room.

With a team full of talent, there’s only one position on the field to turn to and potentially point the finger. The quarterback.

Whether Darnold is the future of the franchise is still to be determined, but with a lot of elite collegiate talent at the quarterback position in this draft class, it would be hard to believe that the Jets’ front office hasn’t thought about the possibility of bringing in a fresh, and even younger, face, such as Tagovailoa.

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What the CFP Selection Committee Taught Us: Blow teams out

What did we learn from the CFP selection committee’s second rankings? Let’s break down what it all means.

In what is a bit of a first from the CFP selection committee, it actually has a very predictable consistent methodology so far this year. However, it’s not a good methodology, and it’s a trend that’s not a good one. The committee isn’t particularly looking at resumes or strength of schedules. It’s not talking about quality wins or schedule strength. No, this year, the committee only seems to care about how much a team wins by.

Maybe this is a bit of an overreaction based on a small sample size. After all, it’s only the second ranking, and there are potentially somewhat reasonable explanations for all of the rankings. (Well, assuming that “Alabama always gets benefit of the doubt” constitutes a somewhat reasonable explanation.)

Let’s look at it, from bottom to top. SMU–the only team to win but drop out of the rankings–very clearly fell out due to a close win over a bad team. The Mustangs still have a considerably stronger schedule and resume than Appalachian State does. That didn’t seem to matter.

This is the only explanation for both Baylor and Oklahoma being so low. Baylor is one of five undefeated Power 5 teams, and is ranked all the way down at No. 13. Not only is Baylor ranked behind one-loss teams, it’s ranked behind two-loss teams. And, contrary to claims of Baylor having a bad resume (and I’m perfectly fine with the committee punishing Baylor for an atrocious nonconference schedule), the Bears have two ranked wins–more than some of the teams in front of them. Oklahoma also has two ranked wins (and a loss to a ranked team), yet is ranked behind both Utah and Oregon–who combine for zero ranked wins. Rob Mullens did again hint that Baylor was punished for its nonconference schedule, but this message appears clearer.

The committee doesn’t tell us much often. But, for now, at least, the committee seems to have determined that the eye test is king.

Making sense of Alabama, Minnesota, and Penn State

Last week, the committee somewhat contradicted itself with how it ranked Alabama, Penn State, and Clemson. Penn State’s “superior resume” supposedly put the Nittany Lions in front of Clemson, though now it seems far more likely that Clemson was just being punished for a close win over North Carolina. Penn State also has several close wins, but those were all against teams worse than North Carolina.

Alabama, meanwhile, seems to be skating through on the fact that it has blown everyone out. Of course, none of the teams Alabama blew out were particularly good. Alabama has no ranked wins–in fact, this is the first time that a one-loss team has been ranked as high as No. 5 this early in the season without a win over a committee-ranked team.

Minnesota is down at No. 8. The Golden Gophers have–other than LSU’s win over Alabama–the best win of any ranked team. The Golden Gophers are also undefeated, and yet behind four teams with a loss. I honestly have no idea how to explain the fact that Minnesota is behind Utah. Maybe this is just a bit of an oversight by the committee?

Other notes

I said yesterday to keep an eye on if the committee shifts things around, or if teams stay static from week to week. That will tell us if the voters are really re-evaluating from scratch each week, or just moving teams up or down based on who loses.

Well, this week, not a single team is in the same position it was in last week. You would think that’s an indicator that the committee is re-evaluating. Unfortunately, it’s not. 14 of the 25 teams that moved moved only one spot, and all of that was due to teams around them jumping or falling. Minnesota jumped eight spots for beating Penn State, so everyone above Minnesota fell a spot. Penn State dropped, so everyone behind Penn State rose. Wake Forest and Kansas State dropped with losses, so the teams behind them moved up.

No one stayed in the same place, but every team that didn’t lose or pick up a major win stayed in the same relative position. The committee didn’t do any re-evaluating this week. It just took what it had last week, other than teams that deserved major shifts.

Lastly, I should note that the committee is continuing a trend it has shown consistently since 2014. A team doesn’t drop for a close loss to a better team. The example this week is Iowa, which only slid three spots for its very close loss against Wisconsin. One of those spots was Texas, which jumped all the way into the rankings at No. 19 for its upset of Kansas State.

Maybe next week the committee will do more re-evaluating from scratch, and it’s really only the top four that matter anyway. Still, the little we have seen and heard from the selection committee so far this season is not encouraging, to say the least.

Alabama ranked No. 5 in latest College Football Playoff Rankings

The Alabama Crimson Tide fell to No. 5 after losing to now, No. 1 LSU, 46-41 at home on Saturday. 

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On Tuesday night, week two of the College Football Playoff Rankings were announced, and the Alabama Crimson Tide fell to No. 5 after losing to now, No. 1 LSU, 46-41 at home on Saturday.

There is still hope for Alabama to make it back into the top 4, especially since No. 12 Auburn hosts No. 4 Georgia on Saturday. If the Tigers beat Georgia, and Alabama has a big road win over Mississippi State on Saturday, the Tide could be back in playoff contention.

Here are the Week 2 Top 25 College Football Playoff Rankings:

1. LSU 9-0
2. Ohio State 9-0
3. Clemson 10-0
4. Georgia 8-1
5. Alabama 8-1
6. Oregon 8-1
7. Utah 8-1
8. Minnesota 9-0
9. Penn State 8-1
10. Oklahoma 8-1
11. Florida 8-2
12. Auburn 7-2
13. Baylor 9-0
14. Wisconsin 7-2
15. Michigan 7-2
16. Notre Dame 7-2
17. Cincinnati 8-1
18. Memphis 9-1
19. Texas 6-3
20. Iowa 6-3
21. Boise State 8-1
22. Oklahoma State 6-3
23. Navy 7-1
24. Kansas State 6-3
25. Appalachian State 8-1

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Where are the Georgia Bulldogs in latest SEC power rankings?

The Georgia Bulldogs have been ranked third in this week’s version of SEC power rankings. Not surprisingly, LSU checks in at number one. Alabama is ranked ahead of UGA as well: Week 12 SEC Power Rankings: pic.twitter.com/anlXNhsCcf – SEC Network …

The Georgia Bulldogs have been ranked third in this week’s version of SEC power rankings. Not surprisingly, LSU checks in at number one. Alabama is ranked ahead of UGA as well:

It remains to be seen where the Bulldogs will be ranked in this week’s version of the CFP Rankings. The rankings release tonight at nine. Georgia versus Alabama will certainly be a topic for debate tonight, but if the Dawgs go on to win the SEC, then they’re a lock for the playoff. If Georgia wins the SEC Championship, and the LSU Tigers’ only loss is to UGA, then both LSU and Georgia get in over the Crimson Tide.

Georgia travels to Jordan-Hare Stadium to face the fifth-ranked team in these power rankings: the Auburn Tigers. This will be a grind-it-out defensive battle that’s expected to be low scoring. It should be the Dawgs’ largest remaining test of the regular season, but Georgia’s College Football Playoff lives are on the line every week.

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Does Minkah Fitzpatrick have a case for DPOY?

Minkah Fitzpatrick has had an interesting welcome into the NFL, but it doesn’t seem to have stopped him from playing his best football yet. After being drafted by the Miami Dolphins with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, it had looked …

Minkah Fitzpatrick has had an interesting welcome into the NFL, but it doesn’t seem to have stopped him from playing his best football yet.

After being drafted by the Miami Dolphins with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, it had looked like Fitzpatrick was poised to be the lead man in the team’s secondary.

Instead, he was bounced around three different positions, and was unable to solidify himself as a large contributor because of this.

When the Alabama product requested a trade early on in the 2019 regular season, the Dolphins granted his wish – it also helped that they were looking to build up draft stock in preparation for the 2020 NFL Draft.

A trade was made with Pittsburgh after Week 2, and thus, the breakout year had begun.

In his seven weeks as a Steeler, it’s been hard to not find Fitzpatrick’s name in a headline.

He’s made flashy plays and crucial plays in the black and yellow, almost as if he wanted to show the Dolphins’ front office ‘what could have been.’

So far in 2019, Fitzpatrick, with both teams, has accumulated five interceptions, two defensive touchdowns, eight pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and 45 total tackles.

This stat line is not only impressive for a second-year player that struggled with his original team, but for any defensive back in the pros.

If he is able to continue making big plays that positively affect his team, and keep his name in the headlines – for positive, on-the-field, reasons – he could enter the 2020 season as the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

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Collin Sexton scores career high 31 points on Sunday against Knicks

Collin Sexton showed up and showed out at Madison Square Garden in New York City as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the New York Knicks, 108-87

On Sunday night, the former Alabama star guard Collin Sexton showed up and showed out at Madison Square Garden in New York City as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the New York Knicks, 108-87.

Sexton, who scored a career high 31 points, also had three assists and two rebounds. It’s Sexton’s 32nd straight game scoring in double digits. Through nine games, Sexton is averaging 18.8 points per game and is hitting 44.3% of his shots, both stats which have gone up from last season.

Sexton has also improved a lot on defense from last season. He’s been able shut down big plays, and has caused several key turnovers for the Cavaliers, something the coaches and fellow players have praised Sexton on.

Collin Sexton, who was drafted in the first round of the 2018 draft, might just be the man Cleveland has been needing as he continues to impress in his second season in the NBA.

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Alabama PG Jahvon Quinerly’s appeal denied by NCAA

Alabama transfer point guard Jahvon Quinerly will not be suiting up for the Crimson Tide’s basketball team this season. On Monday, the former five-star prospect had his appeal for eligibility denied by the NCAA. Michael Casagrande with AL.com shared …

Alabama transfer point guard Jahvon Quinerly will not be suiting up for the Crimson Tide’s basketball team this season. On Monday, the former five-star prospect had his appeal for eligibility denied by the NCAA.

Michael Casagrande with AL.com shared the statement made by the University of Alabama in response while also giving an appropriate rebuttal about the lack of transparency from the NCAA:

In addition, several people, including Quinerly’s mother, took to Twitter to share their displeasure with the NCAA for this decision:

It’s obviously a tough situation for Quinerly, his family and the Alabama basketball program, which was already dealing with multiple season-ending injuries before the season even started.

Quinerly originally signed with Villanova out of high school, but chose to transfer after only one season. He was the nation’s No. 29 overall player, No. 7 point guard and No. 3 player from the state of New Jersey, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

Alabama will play its second game of the season on Monday night against Florida Atlantic, which is set to tip off at 7:00 p.m. CT at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa.

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What to look for in the CFP selection committee’s second rankings

With the College Football Playoff selection committee about to release their second rankings of the year, here’s what to look out for.

Before I look at what we should be focusing on in the committee’s second rankings, let me start with what not to worry about, even though it will be the most-discussed topic by many pundits.

It doesn’t matter whether LSU or Ohio State is No. 1.

One of those two will be the top-ranked team. Each of them has a valid argument. Ohio State is exemplifying dominance in a way that college football hasn’t seen since the 2013 Florida State team. The Buckeyes have historically high advanced metrics. Ohio State is the best team in college football so far this year, without question.

LSU, also without question, has the best resume. Starting with the win over Alabama as a capstone, the Tigers also have wins over Top 10-15 Florida and Auburn, plus a win over a ranked Texas team. Even LSU’s cupcakes, like Georgia Southern and Utah State, aren’t complete pushovers. LSU has an incredible strength of schedule and the most quality wins of anyone in the country.

Which of those two the committee chooses to put at No. 1 will give us a bit of evidence as to whether the voters care more about metrics or resume, but not much. It’s usually some form of synthesis between the two, and with two teams so far ahead of the rest of the pack like Ohio State and LSU, it really doesn’t matter which they pick.

What the committee says about its decision might mean something. If Rob Mullens said the vote wasn’t particularly close, that would give us some real insight into the committee’s thought process and what it values this year. Unless we get that information, though, don’t focus too much into which team is No. 1 and which is No. 2. Each team is a Playoff lock if it wins out, or even if it loses a game but wins the conference. The top seed only matters for geography and matchup purposes, and with Clemson currently a heavy favorite to finish No. 3, it doesn’t look like anyone could be stuck with the nuisance of facing Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. Other than that one, very minor, geographic concern, it really doesn’t matter who is No. 1.

So, what does matter this week? There’s plenty, so let’s break it down.

Poll mentality or not?

The first thing I always focus on in the committee’s rankings is how many teams shift, and by how much. And I don’t mean the teams that win big games or lose games. I mean every team.

The committee claims to start with a blank slate every week. The voters don’t use who they had ranked last week as a starting point. The very best way to tell if this is true or not is by seeing if teams that didn’t do anything noteworthy have their ranking change. Can a team slide up or down after a boring but easy win over a mediocre team? If we’re being honest, that should happen a lot. Every team has played at least eight games by now, so resumes can shift wildly each week.

For example, Ohio State’s previous opponents went a combined 4-2 last week, and Indiana will possibly slide into the rankings during its bye week. That means that, even though a blowout win over Maryland might be meaningless, Ohio State’s resume still improved this past week, and by a decent margin. Now, that’s not going to affect Ohio State’s ranking much because the Buckeyes are obviously either No. 1 or No. 2, but if Ohio State was stuck somewhere in the middle of the rankings, that should lead to new considerations.

The first few years of the selection committee, we actually saw a fair amount of this. Teams would shift on their own, which is a great indicator that resumes were actually being re-judged each week. The past year or two, however, we have not yet really seen much shifting. The committee would make its initial rankings, then stick with a poll mentality unless something changed it. Keep an eye on everyone in this week’s rankings, because it will show if the committee is actually re-evaluating teams.

Next… Where is Alabama

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The Dynasty Isn’t Over – Top Tide Takeaways: Alabama vs LSU

On Saturday, the Alabama Crimson Tide lost to the LSU Tigers for the first time since 2011, 46-41.

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On Saturday, the Alabama Crimson Tide lost to the LSU Tigers for the first time since 2011, 46-41. Coming into this game, a lot was on the line: the SEC West Title, the ability to play in the SEC Championship Game, and a good chance to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff. After Saturday, there’s been a lot of conversation regarding whether Alabama still deserves a shot to be in the CFB Playoff after Saturday’s loss. Regardless, the Crimson Tide not only has a lot to address and work on, but Alabama has a lot to prove to themselves and the CFB Playoff committee that they’re better than they played on Saturday. 

Here are some of the Top Tide Takeaways from Saturday’s matchup.

  1. The second half, especially the third quarter, was Alabama’s game. Not only did they hold LSU to zero points in the third quarter, but they were able to 13 total points in the second half while putting 28 points on the board themselves. Going into halftime down by 20 points, Alabama did what they needed to do to adjust and get ready to fight in the second half. Although they still lost by 5 points, the second half of the game showed a team that had grit, passion, and determination. 
  1. Alabama’s running game showcased the ability and talent we knew they’ve had all season. Najee Harris had an incredible game with 19 carries for 146 yards and a TD. His footwork and field vision gave Alabama the momentum it needed to continue downfield. Not only did he have a rushing touchdown, he also had a HUGE receiving touchdown with the Tide down by 20. 
  1. Although Tua Tagovailoa struggled in the first half, he still finished the game with 418 yards passing, 4 TDs, and 1 INT. Tagovailoa clearly wasn’t 100%, but still played his heart out, one foot and all, and that’s all Bama Nation could ask for. 

Area(s) of Concern

  1. Defensively, Alabama struggled a lot to hold and contain LSU, but that’s not a shock. Alabama’s defense is young, and have had to adjust after losing both Dylan Moses and Labryan Ray defensively. Alabama gave up 559 yards to the Tigers, something uncharacteristic of the Tide in previous years. But with the defense as young as they are, this isn’t surprising. And the defense is full of talent that will continue to improve and develop over time. 

All in all, this was a well fought game on both sides. Although Alabama came up short, the second half proved that this team is capable of winning big games. Not only was Tua Tagovailo not 100%, but the defense is young, both of which will take time. But know this: the dynasty is NOwhere near over.

After all, Alabama has been in this position before with no playing in the SEC Championship Game, but still getting into the CFB Playoff. Only time will tell.