Ryan Fowler’s Good, Bad, Ugly from Alabama’s 38-14 Win Over Wisconsin

The Good, Bad, and Ugly: Alabama 38, Wisconsin 14

Alabama delivered a statement win on Saturday afternoon, rolling past Wisconsin 38-14 at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The win moves Kalen DeBoer’s team to 2-1 on the season and gave fans plenty to cheer about, while also leaving behind a few areas that still need attention.

The Good

Ty Simpson looked every bit like the leader of this offense, delivering his most complete performance yet as Alabama’s starting quarterback. He went 24-of-30 for 382 yards and four touchdowns, making throws that looked more like a polished veteran than a quarterback making his third collegiate start. The thing that stood out was how often he took what the defense gave him — a trait that has always separated Alabama’s great quarterbacks from the rest.

Sophomore wide receiver Ryan Williams reminded everyone why he’s already being mentioned among the best in the country. Williams hauled in five catches for 165 yards and two touchdowns, including a highlight-reel grab that had the Bryant-Denny crowd buzzing. Pair him with the consistency of Germie Bernard, and you can see why this wide receiver group has a chance to be something special in DeBoer and Ryan Grubb’s system.

Defensively, Kane Wommack’s unit looked far more disruptive than in the first two games. Wisconsin managed just 209 total yards, including only 92 on the ground for a 2.7 yards-per-carry average. Bray Hubbard picked off two passes, and young playmakers London Simmons and Yhonzae Pierre recorded their first career sacks. After two weeks without a sack, the Crimson Tide piled up four against the Badgers.

Maybe the best sign of all was how Alabama controlled the game from start to finish. The Tide scored on their first five drives and built a 21-0 lead by halftime, never giving Wisconsin a chance to make it interesting.

The Bad

Even in a dominant performance, there were a few things that stood out. Alabama had a dropped touchdown in the end zone that stalled a drive and cost them points. In a closer game, that’s the type of mistake that can change the outcome.

Special teams also had a breakdown when Wisconsin’s Vinny Anthony II returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. It didn’t swing the game, but it’s the kind of lapse Alabama can’t afford against SEC opponents.

There was also an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after a scoring play that backed Alabama up 15 yards on the ensuing kickoff. It didn’t impact this result, but discipline like that will be magnified in conference play.

The Ugly

Wisconsin never gave itself much of a chance. Quarterback Danny O’Neil threw two costly interceptions to Bray Hubbard, and the Badgers constantly hurt themselves with mistakes. Falling into a 21-0 hole by halftime made them one-dimensional, and Alabama’s defense took full advantage.

Even when Wisconsin tried to adjust coverages, Simpson and Williams continued to find mismatches. The Badger defense was outmatched all afternoon, and Alabama dictated tempo from start to finish.

From Alabama’s side, the rushing attack was far from dominant. The Tide managed just 72 rushing yards, with 25 of those coming from Simpson. An average of 3.3 yards per carry won’t cut it against better defenses. That’s an area that must improve if Alabama wants a true balance that keeps opponents guessing. Missed tackles were another issue, but with more experience and as players get healthier, that should start to clean up.

Final Thoughts

This was Alabama’s most complete game of the season so far, and it came at the right time. Simpson looked like the quarterback Tide fans have been waiting for, Williams provided the spark everyone expected, and the defense finally found its edge. There’s still work to do in the running game and in cleaning up the details, but the Tide showed flashes of being a team capable of making real noise this fall.

I’ll have much more on this win Monday starting at 2 p.m. on The Game with Ryan Fowler on Tide 100.9 and online at Tide1009.com. As always, I’m looking forward to hearing your takes during our weekly Good, Bad, and Ugly segment, presented by Daniel Moore Art.