tk3 takeaways from Alabama’s 24-10 statement SEC win over Ole Miss

Ole Miss was the only team to beat Nick Saban’s Alabama to start Southeastern Conference play (Sept. 19, 2015). It nearly happened again eight years later.

But behind a surging defense and better play from quarterback Jalen Milroe, the No. 13 Crimson Tide (3-1, 1-0 SEC) rallied in the second half. Alabama football defeated No. 15 Ole Miss (3-1, 0-1), 24-10, reasserting its SEC West title hopes and dousing some of the fires lit across the opening month of the season.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban improved to 29-3 against former assistants and 5-0 against Lane Kiffin.

Here’s what we learned in Bryant-Denny Stadium:

Alabama defense emerges as team a strength

A third-quarter play summed up Ole Miss’ offensive effort. Facing third-and-long after a dropped pass, Jaxson Dart was forced out of the pocket. As he scrambled, two Alabama defenders were tackled to the ground, drawing two holding penalties. Yet, Dallas Turner was there to clean up the sack anyway.

Dart was hyped as a dual-threat player leading one of the country’s best offenses coming into Saturday afternoon. But the Tide muddied the Rebels’ quick tempo. For the second straight week, Alabama’s defense gave the offense time to sort itself out.

Dart was second nationally with 12.5 yards per pass attempt and settled for 6.97 against Alabama (244 total passing yards with one touchdown). He also managed just 6 running yards. The Tide defensive line welcomed back Jaheim Oatis (ankle) and controlled the pace of play after Ole Miss scored an early touchdown. The Rebels finished three-for-14 on third downs.

Alabama’s defense produced four sacks and 10 quarterback hurries. Part of that success could be attributed to the secondary, which held up against a pass-happy attack. Terrion Arnold continued to be targeted opposite Kool-Aid McKinstry and performed well. Arnold rotated deep for a second-half interception that helped Alabama gain momentum.

Jalen Milroe wakes up Tide offense

Milroe dropped back, Alabama trailing in the second half, and uncorked a throw to freshman Jalen Hale. The wideout finished the leaping, 33-yard touchdown while attention quickly turned to Milroe, who ate a big hit. After being down for a few moments, Milroe popped up to his feet and the crowd cheered. As Milroe sprinted toward his teammates, he waved his arms around and screamed.

With Milroe now cemented as Alabama’s starting quarterback, the offense looked like it did the opening two weeks of the season, just with fewer turnovers. He finished with 225 passing yards (17-of-21), 26 rushing yards and one score.

All day, Milroe showed patience in the pocket. Most of his runs came on designed keepers and when the pocket collapsed, Alabama utilized eight different offensive linemen, Milroe made the most of it and eventually started to throw the ball away. He also demonstrated touch on a few passes, like a 54-yard floater to Jermaine Burton.

Alabama still held back by self-inflicted errors

The sloppiness was apparent early. UA’s offense struggled to finish drives, settling for three field goals. A fifth touchdown in three weeks — a long run by Jase McClellan — was taken off the board due to a holding penalty on Burton. The offensive line, replacing multiple pieces through the game, yielded four sacks. Will Reichard sent two kickoffs out of play for a pair of penalties.

When the Tide didn’t have a lot of room to operate, it also faltered. Milroe took multiple sacks that set up longer field goal tries for Reichard. Milroe’s first turnover came when he threw a ball into double coverage into the end zone. And when the Tide benefited from a blocked punt by Ja’Corey Brooks and regained the ball at the 1-yard line, a bad snap and pair of sacks wasted a golden opportunity.

Thankfully for Alabama, the defense was dominant, producing a blueprint for the rest of the season.

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at NAlvarez@al.com.