Lang’s World: Three Things We Learned This Week

1. So what’s the deal with Alabama? They’ve been so dominant, and for so long, that when they get off to a start like they have this season, it’s almost disconcerting. I watched their game against Ole Miss on Saturday and spent most of the day just shaking my head at QB Jalen Milroe, who kept making questionable and/or underwhelming decisions. Alabama made enough plays defensively to keep themselves in the game, and I guess overall you should applaud the Tide for the effort they showed. But it got me thinking about the last time an Alabama under Saban team was as meh as this group, and I think it was probably over a decade ago, when the 2010 Tide finished 11-3 (and that group had Julio Jones and Mark Ingram!). This year’s Alabama team might have to play a similar conservative style to give themselves a chance.

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA – SEPTEMBER 23: Jalen Milroe #4 of the Alabama Crimson Tide is tackled by Ladarius Tennison #13 of the Mississippi Rebels during the second quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 23, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

So, as I asked before, what’s the deal with Alabama? Well, I think it’s partly just a slow start and a lack of leadership, but I also wonder if Alabama is just a microcosm of the SEC at large, where a wide-open transfer portal has allowed players who weren’t getting playing time to leave and look for opportunity elsewhere. All of a sudden, all these “stacked” SEC teams featuring depth up and down the lines are having to play with flattened rosters, like everyone else has had the last few years.

Anyway, I don’t think Nick Saban is done at Alabama, but the days of Bama having a dynamic quarterback who’s allowed to freelance and make plays might be over, at least for the time being.

2. Let’s give some love this week to Missouri, who are coming off back-to-back wins over K-State and Memphis, and riding high with a 4-0 record. I didn’t know what to expect from them this season, other than knowing they were returning a bunch of players and that Coach Eli Drinkwitz was entering his third season, presumably giving them some measure of continuity, a luxury few teams and coaches in the SEC have been afforded of late. 

ST. LOUIS, MO – SEPTEMBER 23: Missouri Tigers wide receiver Luther Burden III (3) slips through the tackle attempt of Memphis Tigers defensive back Simeon Blair (5) during a non conference game between the Memphis Tigers and the Missouri Tigers held on Saturday Sep 23, 2023 at The Dome in St. Louis, MO. (Photo by Rick Ulreich/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

And the Tigers have looked good this season! QB Brady Cook got booed a few weeks ago but he’s been solid, despite battling a bum knee, and WR Luther Burden III is living up to all the hype that surrounded him coming out of high school a few years ago. Missouri was rewarded for all this by hopping up into the Top 25 this week, for the first time since 2019. 

Missouri plays at Vanderbilt this week, and then hosts LSU in two weeks for what should be a great one. 

3. We are probably deep enough into the NFL season to start coming to some real conclusions. What if we divide all the teams into four tiers for a lazy power ranking:

KANSAS CITY, MO – SEPTEMBER 24: Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs with the ball against the Chicago Bears during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on September 24, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

PERHAPS GREAT: Chiefs, Dolphins, Bills, Eagles, Cowboys, 49ers

NOT TERRIBLE: Commanders, Seahawks, Raiders, Chargers, Steelers, Ravens, Browns, Colts, Jaguars, Falcons, Saints, Bucs, Packers, Lions 

NOT GREAT: Vikings, Rams, Cardinals, Titans, Patriots, Jets, Texans, Bengals, Giants

TERRIBLE: Panthers, Bears, Broncos

We’ll circle back in a few weeks for an updated lazy power ranking.


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