Alabama vs Auburn: Grading The Crimson Tide’s Performance

Blake Sims has been a solid asset to Lane Kiffin's reinvented offense all season long, but a year's worth of good will had quickly been forgotten after three interceptions in the first 32 minutes. It was around the time that Jacob Coker started warming up on the sideline that Sims got into a rhythm. After his third and final interception, Sims went 10-12 for 183 yards and two touchdowns while adding another touchdown on the ground.

Of course, Sims would not have gotten the job done if not for his favorite target Amari Cooper. Cooper's record breaking day included 224 yards on 13 receptions and three touchdowns. The strong performance helped guide Alabama to a second half comeback, but completing passes to different receivers will help get Cooper in more one-on-one situations.

Cooper headlined the strong offensive showing, but the awakening of the Tide's ground attack helped open up the game. A banged up T.J. Yeldon led the team in rushing with 127 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. Derrick Henry added 72 and another touchdown. Kiffin usually finds the most success when he opens up the run in order to later set up the passing game. He should not stray away from the strategy in Atlanta.

Sims' three interceptions is the black eye of this strong offensive showing. He had thrown just four interceptions prior to Saturday. An abundance of turnovers will cost you big time and it almost cost the Tide. His five total touchdowns and improved second half performance prevented disaster. Overall, it is hard to be too judgmental on a team that racked up 55 points and 539 total yards on its most hated rival.

It is not often that you see an Alabama defense receive a "D" on any performance, but you can thank the secondary for this below average grade. Nick Marshall threw for a career high 456 yards with Sammie Coates reeling in 206 of those yards. The receiving duo of Coates and Duke Williams created a mismatch that led to Marshall completing passes of 42, 19, 34, 68, 40, and 53 yards. Saban replaced Eddie Jackson with Bradley Sylve, but the damage had already been done.

The Tide defense did manage to slow down Auburn's excellent ground game. Granted, the success through the air cut down on the usual amount of carries, but Cameron Artis-Payne was held to under 100 yards for only the fourth time this season. Under normal circumstances, the lack of rushing yards would have put a dent in Malzahn's game plan. However, big plays through the air led to a re-designed game plan that helped the Tigers light up the scoreboard.

The 44 points allowed by the Tide's defense is the most ever in a win. This all seems very bad, but Saban can rest easy at night knowing that his defense held Auburn to five field goals on eight red zone trips. Alabama stood strong when it needed to, and that was ultimately the difference in the game.

Apparently special teams is content with a "B" average. Adam Griffith will forever have his name attached to Iron Bowl history, but the kicker saw minimal action in this Iron Bowl. Griffith's lone kickoff attempt was an onside kick that rolled out of bounds for a penalty. The failed onside attempt was one contributing factor to the grade. Freshman walk-on Gunnar Raborn handled extra points for the second week in a row. Raborn had one of his extra point tries blocked, which was the second and final mistake that led to another "B".

JK Scott continued his season long hot streak on both kick offs and punts. Scott's first punt attempt since the Mississippi State game went for a whopping 70 yards. he would only attempt one more punt and finished with 55.5 yard average. Scott is a favorite to win the Ray Guy Award, which is given annually to the nation's best punter.