JessN: Mercer Game Preview: Bama gets a quality FCS opponent; can Tide keep its focus?

[JessN]

Mercer preview: Bama gets a quality FCS opponent; can Tide keep its focus?

by Jess Nicholas, TideFans.com Editor-In-Chief

The first time in 2024 that Alabama found itself coming off a bye week, the Crimson Tide pulled a stunning upset over Georgia that saw the Crimson Tide race out to a huge first-half lead.

The next week, Alabama lost to Vanderbilt, which at the time was an upset so staggering in scope that many of the same Bama fans that were ready to give Kalen DeBoer a raise the week before were stopping just short of calling for his job.

Mercer preview: Bama gets a quality FCS opponent; can Tide keep its focus?

The first time in 2024 that Alabama found itself coming off a bye week, the Crimson Tide pulled a stunning upset over Georgia that saw the Crimson Tide race out to a huge first-half lead. The next …

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[Slowpoke Catracho]

If Mercer scores 20 pts. I'm going to be disappointed. I'm going with 56 -3. Samford beat them this year.

 

[BamaDMD]

If Mercer scores 20 pts. I'm going to be disappointed. I'm going with 56 -3. South Dakota State beat them 41-0.

I don't think they have played South Dakota State this year. Are you talking about last season?

 

[BamaHoopsBoi]

Gimme 56-0 and I'll be on my merry way.

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

I don't think they have played South Dakota State this year. Are you talking about last season?

True. They lost to Samford this year!

 

[OakMtn4Bama]

We need to worry about us more than them. Keep focused!

 

[CrimSonami]

It won't (shouldn't) be that close. If it is it'll (should) be due to sitting the defensive 1's a large portion of the game and getting much needed rotation (IMO) of Ty and Dylan running with the 1's on offense. I suspect we'll see a shortened and running clock in the 2nd half. If not, then this team truly does suffer from hangover and entitlement syndrome.

 

[Krymsonman]

I just hope we show up, especially after the big win last week. Let's take care of business early in this one.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Is the game not being televised?

 

[CrimSonami]

Is the game not being televised?

SECN+/ESPN+

 

[some_al_fan]

I just want to see Simpson throwing the ball to the WRs in this game. Curious to see if we have a QB for the next year or not.
Pro or anti Milroe, but he is most likely going to NFL and our freshman QB most likely won’t be ready.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I just want to see Simpson throwing the ball to the WRs in this game. Curious to see if we have a QB for the next year or not.
Pro or anti Milroe, but he is most likely going to NFL and our freshman QB most likely won’t be ready.

Assuming Simpson stays, he will be the front runner for the position and we already have a highly rated QB coming to campus in the 2025 class. We also have Austin Mack who transferred from UW when DeBoer took the job. I think we're okay in the QB room for right now.

 

[toliver2]

Yeah, I want to see Ty by halftime.

 

[skrayper77]

If Mercer does better against us than LSU, I definitely do NOT want to be anywhere near Baton Rouge Saturday.

 

[skrayper77]

Assuming Simpson stays, he will be the front runner for the position and we already have a highly rated QB coming to campus in the 2025 class. We also have Austin Mack who transferred from UW when DeBoer took the job. I think we're okay in the QB room for right now.

I'm more worried about WR room. I think it's important that the current WRs develop good chemistry with Simpson so that they are more likely to stay.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I'm more worried about WR room. I think it's important that the current WRs develop good chemistry with Simpson so that they are more likely to stay.

I think we'll be fine. The players already on the team know what they have in Simpson so it's not like they need actually game time with him to know what he can do. So if he's getting it done in practice then they'll be back, unless it is a money issue.

 

[teamplayer]

I don't even bother thinking about next year any more. I used to really look forward to watching guys develop as we would get glimpses of them during blowout wins or hear about them doing good things during practices or helping with the scout team. These days? I'm cheering for this year's version of the Tide and not worrying about anything after that because who knows which guys will be on our team next year. I don't feel nearly as much of a connection to individual players. I may be pulling for some dude who is currently wearing orange or orange and blue by this point next year. It's all a crap shoot.

 

[Professor]

If LSU can't score 20 points, why would one think that Mercer could.

 

[JessN]

If LSU can't score 20 points, why would one think that Mercer could.

Because games don't work that way. Every game is its own entity. How did Vanderbilt score only 17 on Auburn and 7 on South Carolina but yet scored 40 on Bama and was never really stopped?

The number I'm looking at in this matchup isn't Mercer's point total, its ours. I think Mercer will get some stops that we're not expecting. Whether it comes from their DL's ability to beat OL with quickness, or the fact their secondary has been so opportunistic, I think they'll get at least one extra possession and maybe two. If that's the case, their point total will be a function of their offensive execution across a greater number of chances.

I'm more interested in our efficiency. If we're as efficient in this game as we were Missouri and LSU then they're just not going to challenge us, because I don't think their QB game is good enough against our defense, nor is their OL good enough to keep us off their RBs. But if we give away scoring opportunities due to whatever -- lack of focus being the most likely culprit -- that's going to have an effect on the outcome.