Before we delve into the statistics and numbers of Saturday night’s match up with Michigan, it’s important to note that last night’s game was not what I, nor many, were expecting. A quick start and a really stout defense started the Crimson Tide’s season off nicely. I was expecting to reveal how close the stats book really was, but most of it didn’t turn out that way. Therefore, if you are a Michigan fan, these numbers I am about to reveal might sting a little, but facts are facts.

3

That was the number of passes that were thrown by Denard Robinson that got picked off by Alabama. Dee Milliner, Clint Mosley and even freshman Dillon Lee got the opportunity to take the ball away from Michigan’s quarterback. Even Clint Mosley’s INT resulted in a pick-6 to put Alabama up 30-0 in the first half. Speaking of the score…

62

Until Michigan scored late in the second quarter after Mosley’s interception, this was the number points that Alabama had scored unanswered since the 2011 Auburn game. If you subtract any defensive or special teams touchdows by opponents, you have to go back to the Georgia Southern game, and that number increases to ten since an Alabama opponent’s offense scored anything on this defense.

1

The difference in passing yards between Alabama and Michigan. Both QB’s really struggled in this game. AJ McCarron, who was praised as a player with grace and poise, really struggled to get any real momentum. Denard Robinson also looks out of his element. If there were a statistic I could find for the number of overthrown balls, there would be many on both sides.

69

The number of rushing yards by Michigan. Denard is a rushing quarterback, but Alabama’s defensive discipline didn’t provide him many opportunities to run during this game. In fact, he had fewer attempts and yards than running back Vincent Smith. Robinson finished the night with 27.

15-154

The combined penalties and yardage by both Alabama and Michigan. Michigan didn’t ever repeat a penalty twice, but had more costlier ones (10 yards or more lost), with a facemask, hold, block in the back, kick catch interference and pass interference. Alabama had two costly penalties, with a unnecessary roughness and a roughing the passer. Both committed a substitution infraction.

111

The number of yards rushed by true freshman T.J. Yeldon. This kid was phenomenal last night. Stats don’t even do justice to how explosive this kid was last night. He also rushed for the first touchdown in his Alabama career and caught two passes for 26 yards.

5

The number of players that got to rush against Michigan, not including AJ McCarron. All five of these players rushed for a combined 232 yards last night. For what it’s worth, the starter, Eddie Lacy, ranked third in the stat book for number of yards behind Yeldon and Jalston Fowler. We knew Alabama was stacked at running back, but they had a night like no other last night.

Irrelevent Stat of the Night: Over 1000

The number of miles Michigan must travel to get back to Ann Arbor. It’s a long trip for them and they have whole week to prepare for the Air Force game next week, which is not going to be easy.

Compared to Auburn: 528

The number of yards given up by the Auburn defense in the 26-19 loss to the Clemson University Fighting Dabos. Alabama gave up 269 to Michigan.

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