Smothered and Covered: ‘Bama Thumps Ole Miss

Alabama fans didn’t see former coach Gene Stallings on the sidelines against
Ole Miss…but they did see his 1992 defense. Thanks to a “brick wall” defensive effort, and key plays on special teams, Alabama defeated the Ole Miss Rebels 22-3 in Oxford, on Saturday.

Jevan Snead and the Ole Miss offense were utterly dreadful in the first half thanks to the Alabama defense. The Ole Miss quarterback was 2 of 12 with 14 yards passing, and two interceptions. The suffocating Alabama defense held Ole Miss to only 19 yards as a team, and the Rebels only garnered a single first down in the first half of action. On the day, Snead completed 11 of 34 passes for only 140 yards and four interceptions, (Justin Woodall, Javier Arenas, Kareem Jackson, and Rolando McClain) which tied a career-high.



In the special teams department Alabama was outstanding. Linebacker Cory Reamer blocked a punt, and also stripped Ole Miss return man Dexter McCluster of the football late in the third period. Both miscues would prove costly for the Rebels as the Crimson Tide were able to covert those turnovers into points.

Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy didn’t have his best game, but that was due to the tough Ole Miss defense. The Crimson Tide had several chances to blow the game wide open but were forced to settle for short field goals thanks to the tough “red-zone” defense applied by the Rebels. Tide placekicker Leigh Tiffin made five field goals against Ole Miss, which was only one shy of the ‘Bama single-game record.

The only touchdown of the game was scored by Alabama running back Mark Ingram. Late in the first half the Crimson Tide were facing a fourth-and-1 when Ingram took the pitch from Greg McElroy and rumbled 36 yards for a touchdown. Ingram (once again), had a monster game. Mark rushed for a career-high 172 yards on 28 carries, and the aforementioned touchdown.

In the second half Ole Miss tried to shows signs of life but Alabama always managed to “pull the rug” out from under the Rebels just in time to stop the Jevan Snead passing attack.

In the fourth period with the Rebels “knocking on the door,” Snead fired a fastball that was intercepted by Alabama defensive back Kareem Jackson, and returned 80 yards to the Ole Miss 20-yard line. Alabama would come away scoreless, but the deep penetration by Ole Miss was turned away by the Jackson "pick" which was Jevan Snead’s third interception of the contest.



The 'Bama offense wasn’t pretty, but the defense was the definition of sexy! The domination of an SEC team with sheer defense alone may have the Tide offensive coaches looking for answers, but it will also have every coach across the
nation…running for cover.

Defense wins championships…right coach Stallings?

With the victory over Ole Miss, Alabama improves to 6-0 on the season, and 3-0 in the SEC. The Crimson Tide gained a spot in the AP Poll, catapulting to No. 2 in the nation behind the Florida Gators. Alabama remains at No. 3 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.

NOTE: Coming soon…Alabama/South Carolina preview.