Milroe Teaches the Bulldogs to Behave

"Yea, Alabama, Drown 'Em Tide"

And drown them, Alabama did. The Crimson Tide faced its toughest test of the young Kalen DeBoer era on Saturday night, with the No. 2 team in the country, the Georgia Bulldogs, coming to Tuscaloosa. Alabama had a lot of doubters in this game, but, as Kalen DeBoer mentioned earlier in the week if even one person is doubting Alabama, "it's a part of that LANK mentality."

Alabama let every naysayer in the country know that the Crimson Tide is still one of the best teams in college football, even with a new captain at the helm. Alabama drowned the Georgia Bulldogs 41-34.

"Go Teach the Bulldogs to behave"

Alabama stunned Georgia in the first quarter, jumping out to a 21-0 lead after the first 15 minutes. Milroe was surgical both through the air and on the ground, scoring a passing and a rushing touchdown on the first two drives.

But Georgia stormed back.

Alabama coaches during the bye week last week mentioned the Crimson Tide "not opening the full playbook the first three weeks."

We saw some funky plays from Alabama on Saturday, with a direct snap to Jam Miller, and multiple handoffs to Germie Bernard, one of which he took for a seven-yard touchdown to extend Alabama's lead to 21-0.

Milroe and Alabama picked up right where they left off in the second quarter, with Milroe scoring his third touchdown of the night on a 36-yard sprint down the sideline after picking up a fourth-down conversion.

Georgia did not go quietly into the night, however. The Bulldogs got on the board with a Trevor Etienne seven-yard score.

Alabama forced a penalty thanks to an aggressive move by defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, sending an all-out blitz with Georgia's heels in their own endzone. Beck lofted it to the 40-yard line, where the closest person to the play was Kalen DeBoer on Alabama's sideline. The following intentional grounding penalty resulted in a safety.

Georgia cut into the lead even more, when Carson Beck, who may have played himself out of the Heisman conversation after his Saturday showing, found Arian Smith in the endzone for the 12-yard score. Alabama led 30-15.

After an amazing circle-style catch by Ryan "Hollywood" Williams, Alabama had to settle for three, to push the lead to 33-15.

Defensively, Alabama left some to be desired, with a concern that the Tide could not get pressure without bringing extra blitzes. It didn't matter, though, with Alabama forcing two picks and a fumble by Beck, and should have had at least four. The "Swarm D" still held Georgia in check, with the most dominant performance so far Kane Wommack's likely short-tenure here in Tuscaloosa.

For Bama's Pluck and Grit have Writ her name in Crimson Flame"

Alabama made its statement to the rest of the college football world on Saturday: The Tide is rising, and Alabama is not dead yet. The rest of the college football world is fearful of Alabama once again, with the Crimson Tide proving they still are the Mecca of College Football.

Stat Leaders

Passing: Jalen Milroe - 27/33, 374 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Jalen Milroe - 16 rushes, 117 yards, 2 touchdowns
Receiving: Ryan Williams - 6 catches, 177 yards, 1 touchdown
Defensive: Deontae Lawson - 8 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, one sack, one pass breakup

The potential is high for Alabama to be ranked at least No. 2 in the country when the AP and Coaches Poll is released on Sunday, especially following a victory over Georgia.

Milroe writ his name in Crimson Flame once again for Alabama, while simultaneously taking charge in the Heisman Trophy race.

Freshmen Heroes

Ryan Williams. What else is there to say? The freshman phenom delivered when Alabama needed him most, with six catches for 177 yards and a touchdown. The Deuce was Loose, and another one made the game-sealing play for Alabama: Cornerback Zabien Brown.

Brown picked off Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, Beck's third of the game, with 37 seconds left in the game to give Alabama the final go-ahead.

And once again, Hollywood is the real deal.

What's Next For Bama?

Alabama will hit the road for Kalen DeBoer's first SEC road trip during his Alabama tenure - a trip to Nashville to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at 3:15 p.m. CT on Saturday, October 5.