No big conclusions for Alabama, but a big improvement

ATHENS, Ga. — Finally escaping the rain after high-fiving some fans, Nick Saban was moving with purpose when he was interrupted. Terry Saban bounced toward him — literally, it was an excited, joyous little hop into her husband's arms beneath the south stands at Sanford Stadium.

For just a moment, Alabama's coach smiled. It might just have been the reaction to Ms. Terry's exuberance. Probably it was. After the embrace and a quick kiss, he moved on toward the locker room. A few minutes later, unsolicited, he told reporters,

"I believe in this team."

After the No. 13 Crimson Tide's 38-10 domination of No. 6 Georgia, maybe we should, too.

If the obituaries were written a little too hastily after the Tide's loss to Ole Miss, it's probably a good idea to hold off on the whole "They're Back" narrative, too. Alabama looked like, well, Alabama again, a team that will factor into the College Football Playoff conversation for a long while. But it was just one game — as Saban was quick to note afterward. And Georgia had a little something to do with the results in a steady rain.

No. 13 Alabama wipes out No. 6 Georgia 38-10

Although much was made last week of the Bulldogs' recent embrace of the Alabama approach to program-building, they weren't ready for the actual version. Before kickoff, a large group of Georgia players gathered near the tunnel as Alabama's players entered the field. They bounced and woofed, and the teams had to be separated — angering Saban, because he was concerned his team might be too emotional to execute, as he'd thought they were in the earlier loss.

"That's not who we are," he said. "We're focusing on playing football and doing our job."

That's what they did, with results that impressed even Saban. It's possible Alabama is, well, pretty much the same ol' Alabama.

"I know they've been criticized a lot," he said. "But they played an outstanding game today. Every part of the game. I can't tell you how proud I am."

Georgia couldn't move the ball in the heavy rain, but the Bulldogs' six three-and-outs in the first half were due primarily to Alabama's defense. And although it's worth noting that Georgia's pro-style, run-based, play-action offense is exactly the kind of scheme Saban's defenses are built to stuff, the Tide stuffed the 'Dogs.

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Greyson Lambert had been a neat story, winning the quarterback job after graduating and transferring from Virginia, but suddenly he was inefficient and seemed overwhelmed. Backup Brice Ramsey wasn't any better. And even Nick Chubb needed an 83-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter – when it was already over and most of the fans had headed for a drier environment — to extend his streak of 100-yard rushing games to 13, besting former Georgia great Herschel Walker.

Saban harped several times afterward on that lone Georgia highlight. It gets complicated, but basically a linebacker chose the wrong gap. A safety was assigned elsewhere. Chubb was gone. And Saban had something to correct. As you'd expect, he had little patience for questions about the bigger picture.

"I think we improved," he said. "I think we're getting better. I think it's one game. I think we have to show we play with consistency. I don't think we finished like we needed to."

Alabama played very conservatively, by design.

But don't miss the importance of Jake Coker's play. The game plan was conservative because of the rain, but also because of the uncertainty at quarterback. Coker completed 11 of 16 passes for 190 yards, including a perfect 45-yard strike to freshman receiver Calvin Ridley late in the first half that put the game away. Coker didn't make critical mistakes, except a fumbled snap — and given the conditions, it's amazing there weren't more.

"He managed the game well," Saban said. "He got us in the right plays, changed protection a couple of times, hit a couple really good throws. … Jake played with a lot more confidence. He's getting better every week. I think he's got a better understanding of what he needs to do."

If Coker's performance is indication of an upward trend, so is Alabama's. The Tide could use a familiar formula — dominant defense, a grinding running game and an effective quarterback — to achieve familiar results. At least on Saturday, that's how it went. After the touchdown pass to Ridley, all that was left was another 30-something minutes in a rain that got steadily heavier, in front of fewer and fewer people.

"We got whipped, we all know it, and we've got to do something about it," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "I know our fans are sick about it, and I don't blame them. … But it's a long season."

That last part is the key. On Saturday alone, we saw how radically things change from one week to the next. As one example, see Mississippi's loss at Florida, which put Alabama one step closer to regaining control of the SEC West, like seemingly always. Saban made sure to remind everyone there's "a process," and that might have been a slip, because of course we all know it's "The Process."

The point is, it's still working. And Saturday's results might have been as much about convincing the Tide of that as anybody else. Someone asked Saban about establishing an identity.

"I think it goes a long way," he said. "I think our players showed a competitive character today that I hold in really high esteem, because that's what you want your players to do. … I think it does go a long way to establishing an identity. But that's something you develop, a reputation, over time. So now we need to do it with consistency."

All of that is true. There's no way to know if the Tide – or anyone – can keep it going from one week to the next. So far, there's no obviously dominant team anywhere in college football. What kind of statement did Alabama make? Coker wasn't biting.

"We're gonna come and play hard," Coker said, "and give you our best."

But Saturday showed their best might still be more than good enough.

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