3 takeaways from Alabama's thrilling win vs. Florida State
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It was not always pretty and it featured two hours of lightning delays, but Alabama picked up a 50-36 win over Florida State on Saturday as the Tide avenged their season opening loss to FSU from a year ago.
While it might not have been the game some imagined, it was an important win for Alabama as they continue to try and build momentum before a long and tough stretch of SEC games coming up.
While there were many things to take away from an up-and-down performance from Alabama, here are my three main takeaways from the game as Alabama improved to 3-0 on the young season.
Keelon Russell shines
Alabama's young starting quarterback had probably his best performance of the young season on Saturday. Russell has had a couple learning moments in his first three starts, but he is already emerging as one of the bright young quarterbacks in not just the SEC, but nationally.
On Saturday, Keelon Russell completed 23-of-30 (76.7%) of his passes for 320 passing yards. He also rushed for 56 yards and scored four total touchdowns (three passing, one rushing). Russell looked every bit of his consensus five-star recruit billing on Saturday, and Alabama needed it.
Another slow start for Alabama
For the second-straight game, Alabama was slow getting out of the gates. After a roughly 90 minute lightning delay before the game started, Alabama did not exactly come out hot. Florida State jumped out to a 21-6 lead midway through the second quarter, and Alabama was having trouble getting much going on either side of the ball. The final three minutes of the first half, which featured another lightning delay, was big for Alabama as they scored three touchdowns right before the half.
Alabama showed resolve in how they responded to the slow start (as they did last week when they dominated Kentucky 32-0 in the 2nd half after trailing 17-13 at the break), as they rattled off a 37-7 run, but Alabama cannot keep putting themselves in a hole like they have the last two weeks.
Alabama run game continues to emerge
One of the biggest talking points heading into this season for Alabama was their lack of a run game last season, and whether it was going to be fixed or not this season. Early returns are that Alabama is improved on the ground. It was a bit of a slow start on the ground, Alabama's running backs had just three yards on their first six carries, but eventually Daniel Hill (11 carries, 59 yards) got going. Then, the freshmen pair of Trae'shawn Brown (12 carries, 86 yards, 1 TD) and EJ Crowell (7 carries, 51 yards, 1 TD) got going in the second half to help Alabama see out the game. Keelon Russell even got in on the action on the ground with an impressive 57-yard rushing touchdown.
Something that has to make Alabama fans feel good was the work the run game did on Alabama's final drive to see out the game. After Florida State scored to cut the Tide's lead to 43-36 midway through the fourth quarter, Alabama went on a nine-play, 90-yard touchdown drive to put the game away. Eight of the nine plays were run plays (they accounted for 80 yards). That type of drive is one that Alabama fans have been looking for. Overall, Alabama ended up rushing for 247 yards in the game (6.9 yards per carry), bringing their season average to 209.7 rush yards per game.
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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: 3 takeaways from Alabama's thrilling win vs. Florida State
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