Snap Counts and Observations: Game 1 vs. Missouri
Thirty-nine different Alabama players took at least one snap on offense or defense during Saturday's season opener at Missouri. Six of those 39 made their Alabama debuts, and five of them started for the Crimson Tide for the first time.
Below is a breakdown of snap counts for every player, first by offense and defense and then with additional observations by position:
Offense (68 snaps)
Deonte Brown 68
Emil Ekiyor Jr. 68
DeVonta Smith 66
Alex Leatherwood 57
Landon Dickerson 57
Evan Neal 57
Jaylen Waddle 55
Miller Forristall 50
John Metchie III 49
Mac Jones 45
Najee Harris 36
Cameron Latu 24
Kendall Randolph 24
Bryce Young 23
Brian Robinson Jr. 18
Trey Sanders 14
Carl Tucker 14
Jahleel Billingsley 11
Chris Owens 11
Slade Bolden 1
The offense's most common personnel group (39 of 68 snaps) was 11 or "Blue" personnel: three wide receivers, one tight end and one running back. It had two tight ends and two receivers (12 or Silver personnel) on 27 snaps, and it Tan personnel (4 TEs and no WRs) on two snaps.
Defense (73 snaps)
Patrick Surtain II 73
Josh Jobe 73
Jordan Battle 73
Daniel Wright 73
Justin Eboigbe 63
Malachi Moore 62
Dylan Moses 59
Christian Harris 59
Will Anderson 48
LaBryan Ray 39
D.J. Dale 30
Phidarian Mathis 28
Chris Allen 26
Byron Young 24
Drew Sanders 21
Ben Davis 14
Shane Lee 14
Jaylen Moody 13
Demarcco Hellams 11
The defense used nickel formation (5 DBs) on 51 of 73 snaps, most of which had three linemen and one outside linebacker in the front. On third-and-long situations, it often removed the nose tackle, Dale, and added a second OLB. It was in base (four DBs) and dime (6 DBs) on 11 snaps apiece.
QUARTERBACKS
Mac Jones 45
Bryce Young 23
Jones was mistake-free and efficient in his fifth career start, completing 18 of 24 passes for 249 yards and 2 touchdowns. Most of his incompletions were on target, too. Young, the 5-star freshman, played the last third of the game. He went 5 of 8 for 54 yards through the air and lost a fumble.
RUNNING BACKS
Najee Harris 36
Brian Robinson Jr. 18
Trey Sanders 14
Harris had a solid start to his senior season, rushing 17 times for 98 yards and three touchdowns, which tied his career high. Robinson caught 4 passes but dropped one near the goal line that would have been his first career touchdown reception. It was a tough debut for Sanders, the former 5-star recruit who missed all of last season with a foot injury. Coach Nick Saban acknowledged on Monday that Sanders didn't have many opportunities against a strong Missouri front. He had 9 carries for 1 yard. The two freshmen, Roydell Williams and Jase McClellan, only played on special teams.
WIDE RECEIVERS
DeVonta Smith 66
Jaylen Waddle 55
John Metchie III 49
Slade Bolden 1
It was surprising to not see more rotation among the team's wideouts. It seems that the coaches like the depth they have behind the top three, including Bolden, Xavier Williams and the three true freshmen. But only Bolden got in the game, and it was only for one snap. Perhaps the coaches wanted Young to get some experience with the starters. He connected on a couple downfield throws to Smith and one to Waddle, and he showed nice instincts and escapability when the pocket broke down.
TIGHT ENDS
Miller Forristall 50
Cameron Latu 24
Carl Tucker 14
Jahleel Billingsley 11
Kendall Randolph 2
This was an unexpectedly diverse group, with five different tight ends seeing the field on the team's first 18 plays if you count offensive lineman Kendall Randolph. This also doesn't include Major Tennison, who has been dealing with an intestinal issue, according to Saban. UNC grad transfer Carl Tucker started his Alabama debut, providing some good blocks in the running game. The team's first two rushing touchdowns featured four tight ends on the field at the same time.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Left tackle, Alex Leatherwood 57, Evan Neal 11
Left guard: Deonte Brown 68
Center: Landon Dickerson 57, Chris Owens 11
Right guard: Emil Ekiyor Jr. 68
Right tackle: Evan Neal 46, Kendall Randolph 22
All were returning starters except for Ekiyor, who made his first career start. On Alabama's final two drives, Owens and Randolph relieved Dickerson and Neal, and Neal moved to left tackle in place of Alex Leatherwood. The protection and run blocking were noticeably worse without Dickerson and Leatherwood in the game. Dickerson showed his athleticism and his power early in the game.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Justin Eboigbe 63
LaBryan Ray 39
D.J. Dale 30
Phidarian Mathis 28
Byron Young 24
This group only went five deep without Christian Barmore, who was still working back from a knee injury but is in good shape to play this Saturday against Texas A&M. It was a bit surprising to see Eboigbe lead the way by such a large margin. This group controlled the line of scrimmage well, limiting Missouri to an average of 2.0 yards per carry.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
Will Anderson 48
Chris Allen 26
Drew Sanders 21
Ben Davis 14
During fall camp Saban and defensive coordinator Pete Golding alluded to having Allen and Davis as the team's starting outside linebackers with Anderson and Sanders, the athletic freshmen, entering in passing situations. Anderson, though, was not only a starter, but the starter, nearly doubling any other OLB's snaps. He was in the backfield frequently against the Tigers, flashing the speed that made him a 5-star recruit. His top highlight was charging toward the quarterback, tackling the running back and forcing the quarterback to pitch the ball backward. The backward pass, a live ball, was recovered by Alabama. Davis, a fifth-year senior, mostly played on the final drive of the game.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
Dylan Moses 59
Christian Harris 59
Shane Lee 14
Jaylen Moody 13
The Baton Rouge duo, Moses and Harris, handled all but the last drive for the Crimson Tide. Moses looked like his old self after missing last season with a torn ACL, and his presence on the field helped Harris, still in just his second year at the position, to play fast and free. He was used several times as a blitzer on third down, both off the edge and up the middle.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Patrick Surtain II 73
Josh Jobe 73
Jordan Battle 73
Daniel Wright 73
Malachi Moore 62
Demarcco Hellams 11
There was no rotation in the secondary. The two starting corners, Surtain and Jobe, and the safeties, Battle and Wright, were the only four defenders to play every snap. Wright and Moore, the true freshman who plays the Star position, made their first career starts. Moore played every snap in which there were five or more defensive backs on the field. Hellams is the sixth defensive back, or the Money position. He played all 11 snaps in which the team had six DBs on the field.