27 Things I Noticed In Alabama's Rose Bowl Loss to Michigan

Well the game nearly started off perfectly for the Crimson Tide as Caleb Downs almost came up with an interception on the game's first play. Alabama gets off the field with a quick three-and-out anyways to start the momentum into the Tide's favor. 

• Snap 1 - 1&10: The Wolverines come out in 12-personnel but have tight end Colston Loveland split out wide to the left. Sherrone Moore calls a simple play action with a little roll out action to get his game started. Moore clearly wants to start J.J. McCarthy off with an easy completion and help his offensive line in protection by moving the quarterback out right. McCarthy has Roman Wilson open pretty quickly out of the slot but for some reason doesn't fire it in there. Once the window is closed McCarthy knows he's burned the play and tries to throw it away. Caleb Downs and his stinking heel were on the out-of-bounds line,  changing his interception to an incomplete pass. Would this game have been different if Downs's heel were inside the playing surface?
• Snap 2 - 2&10: Michigan calls a little bubble screen and you have to give Kool-Aid McKinstry and Malachi Moore a lot of credit. Both defenders read the play quickly and attack their blocks with force, holding the Wolverines to a minimal gain. Disappointing to see Deontae Lawson taking a huge bite on the play-fake, leaving the defensive backs to fend for themselves.
• Snap 3 - 3&8: Alabama gets into its "Raptor Package" for the first time of the game. McCarthy accurately diagnoses the man-under coverage from Alabama and tightens the splits pre-snap. Helping with timing and release point. In fact, Loveland goes into motion before the snap in an attempt to confuse the Tide and get him a free release off the line. Compliment McKinstry and Downs for passing off their men at the line properly, but watch Loveland body Downs at the top of his route. McCarthy is looking his way and strangely comes off his read. He instead opts to throw underneath to Barner who is blanked by Terrion Arnold. Alabama does get off the field with the incompletion, but I don't love leaving Dallas Turner to spy McCarthy on this third down. Sure, Turner is athletic enough to handle almost any duty on the defensive side, but his calling card is creating havoc in the backfield. 

2. The Michigan defense introduces itself but the Tide takes advantage of a break.

What a strange first possession for Alabama, technically first two possessions given the Michigan muffed punt. First, the Wolverines essentially show their plan to Tommy Rees by bringing heat early in the drive, creating two sacks in the first three plays. Yes, Alabama got the ball back and scored from the turnover, but did the Wolverines gain confidence on this drive that carried them throughout the rest of the game?

• Snap 1 - 1&10: Alabama comes out and motions Kendrick Law from one side of the formation to the other. Presumably to get a read on the Michigan defense. The Wolverines safeties roll pre-snap from a two-high look into a single-high look. This should be setting alarm bells off in Jalen Milroe's mind that the pre-snap read has changed. Michigan sends five rushers, one out of the secondary,  and drops into a three-deep zone behind it. This shouldn't be complicated, but for some reason the Alabama line blows it. Kadyn Proctor and Tyler Booker clearly aren't on the same page with their responsibilities, Proctor haphazardly blocks Braiden McGregor who cuts inside between Proctor and Booker. Is the freshman left tackle confused by the rusher off the edge? Roydell Williams actually does a nice job in pass protection, but the confusion up front blows up the play and McGregor gets the sack. Watch the All-22 angle and decide for yourself where Milroe should be going with the football? No one is really open by the time McGregor gets into Milroe's lap.
• Snap 2 - 2&23: Michigan got what they wanted on first down and now try to force the Tide into third and long. Post-snap you can see the Wolverines are dropping into what looks like cover four zone. Milroe takes the easy completion to CJ Dippre who runs after the catch to get some of the sack yardage back. Look again at the left side of the line, McGregor cutting inside with a twisting tackle looping begins to collapse the pocket quickly. Is Alabama man enough to handle this front?
• Snap 3 - 3&12: There's literally nothing fancy here from the Wolverines. It's five on the line, a roaming safety playing single-high and man coverage everywhere else. This is disgusting line play. The two interior tackles twist, while another backer blitzes up the middle. Roydell Williams does a good job picking up the blitzer but Proctor does a very poor job dealing with McGregor on the outside. The freshman, who was playing through a foot injury, shoves McGregor but doesn't get him off track enough and isn't quick enough for Milroe to trust. The Alabama quarterback is moved off his spot and the twisting tackles clean up the play. To make matters worse, check out all the receivers no the All-22. Every single one of them is blanketed by a Wolverine, leaving Milroe no options.
• Snap 4- 4&23: Burnip bombs a punt and the Tide is fortunate that Michigan muffed it. Quandarrius Robinson recovered the punt and it brought back memories of his mistake against the Tennessee Volunteers in 2022. Nice to see him add a positive play to his resume.
• Snap 5 - 1&10: Technically this should be called "Snap 1" again, but here Alabama is in plus territory after a mistake. The Tide sends trips to the field side and ends up calling its first running play of the game. There's only six Wolverines in the box and Jase McClellan takes his inside zone handoff for six yards. 
• Snap 6 - 2&6: Here comes an odd one. Alabama has bunch into the boundary but appears to call read-option to the field. Milroe properly pulls the ball after the Michigan defender sits on Williams but what happens next is odd. The play looks blocked fairly well to the wide side but Milroe changes directions after seeing Will Johnson to the outside. He does make a positive gain but it just looks totally discombobulated.
• Snap 7 - 3&1: This play, combined with the two sacks from earlier in the drive end up giving the Wolverines confidence that carries them throughout the rest of the game. Alabama lines up for a "Tush Push" and Milroe does get the first down, but only barely. Michigan submarines the line and wins the point of attack, Milroe's size and strength enables him to get the singular yard.
• Snap 8 - 1&10: Here's a personnel set we love. Bama gets into 12-personnel for the first time in the game bringing on Robbie Ouzts to go with Dippre. What gorgeous blocking on this play from really everyone in a white uniform. JC Latham turns his man out, Jaeden Roberts and Ouzts both seal off the interior linebackers and Seth McLaughlin gets a nice stalemate in the center. McClellan does a great job getting through the obvious hole and gives Mike Sainristil a little shake and breaks off for a touchdown. Michigan had eight-men in the box on this play and Alabama got a hat on a hat and created a crease that they were able to take advantage of.

3. Michigan Marches and Ties the Game.

Alabama should be feeling great after starting the game off with a stop and a score to take a 7-0 lead. One of the most impressive things about Michigan to me in this game was their ability to respond and handle adversity. Sherrone Moore got into his bag and started scheming the Wolverines into great positions and before you know it the game was tied at 7.

• Snap 1 - 1&10: Blake Corum was a dang man in this game and this drive gets it going. Corum takes a handoff and his left guard leads him through the hole for a six-yard gain. Malachi Moore and Caleb Downs appear to communicate in presnap, but something is missing in the run-fit. Moore and Downs both appear to be keyed on Roman Wilson, but that can't be correct. The late recognition is enough to give the Wolverines the advantage.
• Snap 2 - 2&4: Misdirection is the name of the game and this play honestly could have gone for a touchdown. The entire right side of the Michigan line sells the sweep into the boundary, but instead it's a toss to the field. Cornelius Johnson cracks Moore and catches up Deontae Lawson in the trash. If Michigan's left guard could have blocked Jaylen Key it would have likely been a score. Jihaad Campbell and Downs both end up biting on the misdirection of the line and Corum goes for a 20-yard gainer.
• Snap 3 - 1&10: J.J. McCarthy play-fake and roll right, sound familiar to the first play of the game? The routes aren't the same but the idea is just to get McCarthy going on an easy completion. Johnson is wide open on the second level but fortunately Lawson's able to get a hand to the pass for an incompletion. 
• Snap 4 - 2&10: How many teams do you know that run a tight end bubble screen? That's what Moore dials up here for the Maize and Blue and it nearly turned disastrous. Alabama sends its own Moore from the star position and he appears as if he came close to getting a hand to the pass but didn't. McCarthy finally gets his easy completion to get his day started. Give Downs and Lawson a lot of credit for violently arriving at the spot and limiting Loveland to a minimal gain. 
• Snap 5 - 3&8: Michigan lines up in empty and of course the Tide is thinking pass in third and long. So naturally the Wolverines call a QB-sweep to get McCarthy out into space and try to take advantage of the defensive backs on the field. Alabama is out-leveraged on the edge leaving McCarthy one on one with Jaylen Key in the alley. Key does stop the Michigan QB just short of a first down but so far the Michigan offensive coordinator is pressing all the right buttons. 
• Snap 6 - 4&1: Michigan doesn't need to line up under center to go for it. Instead the Wolverines are in the shotgun and Corum takes a handoff right up the gut for an easy first down. Michigan is utilizing very tight splits up front on this play, but there's got to be something wrong schematically here from Alabama's side. Jaheim Oatis appears lined up off the left guards outside shoulder while Tim Keenan is lined up on the right guard's outside shoulder, meaning all three interior lineman for Michigan get free releases and blast right into Lawson and Campbell.
• Snap 7 - 1&10: Justin Eboigbe makes a heck of a play here to tackle Corum for a short gain. Watch the Alabama end recognize that he's being baited upfield and instead finds the pulling guard and blows him up to get in on the running back. 
• Snap 8 - 2&8: Alabama nearly plays this perfectly, but in the College Football Playoff, nearly isn't enough. The back angle shows how well the Alabama defenders match the patterns and really McCarthy has no place to go. He rolls left and Eboigbe is arguably held as he escapes the pocket. Lawson unfortunately slips and falls from a trail position leaving a man wide open and Michigan cashes in for a big play. 
• Snap 9 - 1&10: A quick little end around to Sharrone Moore's fastest player picks up a quick six yards thanks to misdirection and a physical block. First thing is to notice that Michigan is only blocking one player on this play, everyone else is committed to running the misdirection, which looks like it's supposed to be Corum off the left tackle. A.J. Barner gets a physical block on Terrion Arnold and he can't really set the edge, making it tough for Downs to leverage the play and make the tackle. The sad thing for Alabama is nearly everyone was fooled, Lawson has his hands on his knees pre-snap and goes with the fake along with the entire defensive front. The Michigan eye candy is really causing problems on this drive. 
• Snap 10- 2&4: This may be a top five bad defensive snap this season. What a brutal time to have a mixup in coverage? McKinstry is playing straight man but Arnold is not, passing off his reliever once heads to the middle. Does Campbell have Corum out of the backfield? Well he gets completely caught up in the trash and never comes close to Corum but he's not the only option open for a touchdown. McCarthy could have passed it to Johnson as well who would've also walked into the end zone. It's obvious that the secondary was playing two different coverages here. 

4. A Useless Drive Ends in an Awkward Fall

This series looks to me like Alabama is experimenting with what they want to do, but Michigan knows exactly what they're after. The drive only lasts three plays and ends with an awkward Milroe fall. Is this the second slip on The Rose Bowl turf that's cost the Tide in a short amount of time?

• Snap 1 - 1&10: It's always a good idea to leave a Michigan outside backer/nickel man unblocked and that's exactly what happens here. There has to be some confusion with Robbie Ouzts and he appears to looking to come across for a backside cutoff, but realizes he's wrong and tries to correct himself and follow the pulling Tyler Booker. Kendrick Law blocks no one on the play, I'd venture a guess that it's his man here that comes into the backfield and makes the tackle for loss. I wonder how this play works if Law pins Sainristil on the crack block and Outz leads the way off the right hand side.
• Snap 2 - 2&11: Michigan works a simulated pressure here and the offensive line holds up largely well. Jalen Milroe makes honestly a fine decision trying to throw to Law on a short stick route, he's just trying to get the ball out and get moving, but Law is not on the same page and his timing is much slower than Milroe's pass and it falls incomplete. The simulated pressure didn't get near Milroe, but I believe Jesse Minter's continuous changing of the picture for the Alabama offensive line and Milroe kept him sped up throughout the game. 
• Snap 3 - 3&11: Michigan only brings four, but loops a tackle around the left edge as the line once again gets confused. Kadyn Proctor slides to his inside and never picks up the looper causing pressure in Milroe's face. He's able to escape and nearly breaks free for a first down but comes up just short. On the television broadcast the announcers made it seem like Milroe slid on purpose, but to me it looked like he was trying to gather himself and cut right but his footing failed him. 
• Snap 4- 4&3: No, the officials not calling running into the punter didn't cost Alabama the game, but its a call you'd like to see the referees make and it's a big miss here as it would've kept the Alabama offense on the field.

5. Kool-Aid's Tackle Gets Bama Off The Field.

Alabama fans can feel wronged about missing the penalty on the prior drive, but the officials may have give the Tide a break when calling an unnecessary roughness on Max Bredeson. The Crimson Tide defense took advantage of the break by getting off the field thanks to a clutch tackle by Kool-Aid McKinstry. 

• Snap 1- 1&10: The Alabama line stunts to their right and the the Michigan run is going to their right. Coincidence or perfect play calling? Blake Corum takes the handoff and follows three off the right side for a four-yard gain. Deontae Lawson gets to Corum but his pad level is too high and gives up another few yards.
• Snap 2- 2&6: Semaj Morgan against Malachi Moore in the slot is a bad matchup for Alabama. The Tide is pattern matching, and gets the match correct, however Morgan's speed on the out route is too much to handle and McCarthy takes an easy completion. 
• Snap 3 - 1&10: Sharrone Moore is being wild on this play, coming out in 31 personal? Three running backs and they use their best one as a decoy. Jaylen Key misses his run fit and Donavan Edwards runs right into the gap he vacates for eight-yards. 
• Snap 4 - 2&2: Michigan must be feeling pretty good about itself, and why not? Another play led by a pulling guard and tight end as the Wolverines are determined to go downhill at Alabama. Jah-Marien Latham's got to do a better job squeezing the hole and taking on the pulling guard. Justin Eboigbe played it perfectly on the prior drive, but his teammate does not. Kalel Mullings took a handoff for some good hard yards, running through the arm tackle of Damon Payne for a first down. Unfortunately for Michigan it was wiped out by an unnecessary roughness call that was questionable at best. Coaches teach players to block through the whistle and that's exactly what Max Bredeson did. 
• Snap 5 - 2&11: The last time Michigan went empty in a situation they were behind the sticks they called a QB-run (Drive 3 Snap 5). Michigan really has this play blocked nicely but Latham and Payne both battle and win their box combining to make the tackle just as McCarthy was crossing the line of scrimmage. If McCarthy slips through he's likely tackled by Lawson but it would've been a third and short coming up.
• Snap 6 - 3&9: Alabama opens the second quarter with its Raptor package and they send six after McCarthy. Everyone else is playing man-to-man with Jaylen Key playing single-high. Michigan's line holds up and gives McCarthy enough time to pick out his receiver with a great pass. Morgan makes the reception and shakes Terrion Arnold off but Kool-Aid McKinstry had nice awareness to see the play happen and make the tackle before the first down marker.

6. More Pressure on Milroe.

Jesse Minter is just having fun dialing up the blitz against this Alabama offensive line. Minter saw the Southeastern Conference defensive coordinators using a spy on Jalen Milroe and failing all year and decided he was going to unload the clip. Two more sacks and the Tide punts the ball back to Michigan. 

• Snap 1 - 1&10: Nice to see Justice Haynes enter the game for the Crimson Tide. Michigan sends five rushers for five blockers but Michael Barrett literally runs into the backfield untouched. It's tough to know who to blame on this one, my guess is the quarterback due to the way the protection was set. Two guys rush up Tyler Booker's gap and really Milroe has no chance. Where is the hot read on this play? Robbie Ouzts sits down on a stick route but Milroe is already in the grasp by the time he turns around. Just brutal.
• Snap 2- 2&18: Once again Michigan's defense isn't running anything too wild, man-to-man on the outside with a free safety over the top. Five rushers for five blockers and again the Wolverines win. Michigan brings a linebacker to occupy Booker and twists a defensive tackle around the backer and he doesn't get passed off properly. Combine it with Seth McLaughlin getting run over, JC Latham's pass set ending in Milroe's lap and Kadyn Proctor barely forcing his man around Milroe and you've got a butt whipping up front.
• Snap 3 - 3&23: What play do you call in the shadow of your own goal line? This looks like a bit of QB-power, which Milroe takes for a decent gain, but Michigan was just playing for the sticks and stopped him well short. Terrible drive from the offensive line's standpoint.

7. J.J. McCarthy's Miss Sends Ball Back to Tide.

The game is starting to feel like a bit of an uphill battle after two consecutive offensive three-and-outs. Alabama takes advantage of a J.J. McCarthy miss and gets off the field to give its offense another go at things.

• Snap 1 - 1&10: For the first time in the game Michigan brings in wildcat quarterback Alex Orji. Orji runs a QB-counter and Alabama actually plays it pretty well, they just struggled in finishing the play. Chris Braswell reads his downblock and wrong arm's the pulling guard to bounce the play to the next gap. Trez Marshall takes on his blocker and keeps contain. Just very strange play from Deontae Lawson as he reads it fairly well, but breaks down in the hole and stops his feet. Lawson instead dives at the smaller quarterback's legs and is drug three more yards.
• Snap 2 - 2&6: J.J McCarthy returns to the game and Michigan gets into 12-personnel leaving two tight to the left and two wide to the right. Alabama rushes three and green-dogs Caleb Downs when he sees Blake Corum staying in to block. I realize McCarthy is a capable runner, but why leave Chris Braswell to spy him? Wouldn't he be more effective collapsing the pocket? The next football game I coach will be my first but it seems like an odd strategy. Michigan holds up in pass protection and gets a one-on-one matchup with Cornelius Johnson on Terrion Arnold. Johnson wins his rep and is open but McCarthy's pass sails too high for him to haul in. 
• Snap 3- 3&6: Michigan moves the pocket again to McCarthy's right to get him on the move and to disrupt any potential pass rush as they try to keep the drive going. The Tide send four, but again, leave Dallas Turner this time just watching at the line of scrimmage. McCarthy tries to pick out Roman Wilson at the sticks but he's denied by strong coverage from Trey Amos and Alabama gets off the field. 

8. Michigan's Front Continues to Win the Line 

Alabama, likely trying to get anything going offensively, called three straight run plays. Michigan stopped them all as unfortunately it was the Maize and Blue, not the Crimson and White establishing its dominance in the game. No rest for the defense as they're right back on the field after just three plays.

• Snap 1 - 1&10: The Crimson Tide hands the ball off to Jase McClellan and initially it seems like there's good push from the offensive line but the Michigan safety fills the running lane nicely and the linebackers fight off their blocks well to stop McClellan for no gain. 
• Snap 2 - 2&7: Tyler Booker throwing a lookout block for McClellan as he allows Jaylen Harrell free access into the backfield. Either Booker is trying to throw Harrell off or there's som pre snap confusion. Regardless the Wolverines aggression keeps Alabama frustrated. 
• Snap 3 - 3&9: This play was never going to work from a leverage standpoint. Tommy Rees calls QB-run on third and long from empty, seemingly trying to use Michigan's trick against them. Problems come up when Isaiah Bond chooses not to block. Instead his assignment comes up and makes the tackle. Very odd from Bond as he ran up to Mike Sainristil to block him but then, just didn't. 

9. Michigan Burns the Tide on a Trick Play and Takes the Lead

The trick plays were littered throughout the Michigan tape all season long. Alabama was so close to being on top of the Wolverines play call but the story of the day was "not quite good enough".

• Snap 1 - 1&10: The Crimson Tide sends Deontae Lawson on a blitz but unfortunately the Wolverines are running a play to the other side of the formation. The Michigan line blasts Alabama off the ball and the defensive backs have to scramble to fill and make the tackle. 
• Snap 2 - 2&2: Justin Eboigbe shoots a gap and nearly gets Blake Corum in the backfield but he sidesteps and follows his blockers for a first down. The commitment to run blocking on the outside is impressive for the Michigan offense. 
• Snap 3 - 1&10: This time Eboigbe reads that he's being passed up by the tight end and has to take on the pulling guard. He makes a tackle on Corum after just a two yard gain. The senior lineman can put this rep on tape for his NFL prospects. 
• Snap 4 - 2&8: Michigan is all about some misdirection. Perhaps they saw how undisciplined the Alabama inside backers were throughout the season? J.J. McCarthy fakes a toss to Donovan Edwards and Jihaad Campbell bites on it. This allows Colston Loveland to slip in right behind him for an easy pitch and catch over the middle. 
• Snap 5 - 1&10: The trick play may have netted just 24-yards, but it serves as a microcosm of the game so far. Michigan confidently calls some razzle-dazzle while Alabama is chasing just a step behind. McCarthy tosses to Edwards, who then throws it back to the quarterback for a downfield pass to Roman Wilson. First you must credit McCarthy on his one-handed catch as it was a backwards pass and could've resulted in a turnover. Second you realize just how close the play was to not working as Dallas Turner is all over McCarthy, but why does it work? Kool-Aid McKinstry loses his discipline. The All-22 shows McKinstry abandoning his zone to come up and tackle McCarthy, in doing so leaving Wilson wide open behind him. If McKinstry had trusted Turner, would he have gotten an interception on the wild throw?
• Snap 6 - 1&10: Do you think Caleb Downs studies film? Watch the freshman safety as the Wolverines motion a tight end across the formation, he flies down into the box and makes a tackle for no gain. He's hilariously assisted by Campbell who's weaving his way through traffic but gets pushed in the back by Lawson and that helps him squirt through to the ball carrier. 
• Snap 7 - 2&10: This is a really strong rep from the Alabama defensive line. Eboigbe once again finds himself in the backfield after defeating a blocker. Jaheim Oatis pushes his lineman back into the backfield and Corum really has no place to run, but right into Tim Keenan. 
• Snap 8 - 3&10: This is like stealing candy from a baby. McCarthy finds a crossing wide receiver who's being picked up by Lawson over the middle for an easy completion. The 5-yard pass turns into a 38-yard touchdown because Lawson is outleveraged. Where is his help? Jaylen Key appears to look right at the receiver passing Lawson and does nothing. 

10. Alabama Shows Fight By Mounting a Drive at the End of Half

Alabama's offense really hasn't done too much outside of cashing in a muffed punt. This is an important drive because Jalen Milroe finally finds a little success in the passing game but the shining star of the drive of course is the NCAA all-time leader in points, Will Reichard. 

• Snap 1 - 1&10: Pretty interesting to me that this play looks very, very similar to Michigan's first play from scrimmage. Jalen Milroe play-fakes and rolls right a puts a dot on Isaiah Bond on the sidelines running an out route from the slot. Perhaps the pass was a bit lucky, but its about time the luck went Alabama's way. Easily the Tide's biggest passing play and it gets the drive going. 
• Snap 2 - 1&10: Alabama stays greedy and Milroe launches a pass down the sidelines to Jermaine Burton. Burton is well covered and the pass is out of bounds so it falls incomplete. Tommy Rees is so concerned about the pass rush that this play only ended up putting two men into the pattern and blocking with eight, Bond wasn't really open on the other side either. 
• Snap 3 - 2&10: Milroe makes a quick throw to Burton underneath to ensure it's a third and manageable situation. Interesting that Minter doesn't call any sort of pressure or stunt on the prior two plays, but instead rushes straight up with four. 
• Snap 4 - 3&4: Rees likely called a handoff to Jase McClellan here to keep the clock moving but also to ensure a fourth and short if it came to that as Alabama really needs points on this drive to end the half. The play is blocked fairly well and McClellan gives Alabama a first down. 
• Snap 5 - 1&10: Seth McLaughlin moves the football early resulting in a false start.
• Snap 6 - 1&15: Michigan is still rushing four, a little surprising considering the success they'd had rushing more. Milroe tries to give Kendrick Law an opportunity at a deep ball but the Wolverines are all over him. It may have been the best choice though because there was no one really open on the All-22 angle. 
• Snap 7 - 2&15: Michigan's back to rushing five and this time it looks like there's a spy as well. The interior twist moves Milroe off his spot and he takes off for a first down scramble, beating the spy on the way by him. 
• Snap 8 - 1&10: Amari NiBlack makes his first reception of the game on a short stick route over the middle. Michigan only brought four and Milroe got the ball out quickly.
• Snap 9 - 2&5: Alabama tries to run a tunnel screen for Isaiah Bond, perhaps getting the ball to a playmaker in space will allow him to break free? Bond makes the reception but is brought down by Junior Colson who was never blocked. Tyler Booker did his best to get out there but that's a long way for a big man. 
• Snap 10 - 3&3: Michigan gets home for its fifth sack of the game so far as they bring a simulated pressure. Four come off the right side and it's one too many for JC Latham as he was caught between two defenders. 
• Snap 11- 4&11: Will Reichard drains a 50-yard field goal to send Alabama to the half trailing by just three points. 

11. Does Michigan Simulate the Snap Count?

All the focus of this game has been on Alabama center Seth McLaughlin and his errant snaps. There will be a separate clip at the end examining all the snaps but I'd like to start by asking if the Michigan safety slapped his thigh pads and caused McLaughlin to snap the ball, just sending his day spiraling.

• Snap 1 - 1&10: Alabama opens the second half with a dump off pass to JAM Miller.  He unfortunately can't do enough to get by Junior Colson and it's just a short gain. 
• Snap 2 - 2&8: Justice Haynes gets his first touch of the game and it goes for nine-yards out of 12-personnel. Michigan moves eight men into the box right at the snap but Alabama does a nice job with movement up front, particularly with Seth McLaughlin and Tyler Booker. 
• Snap 3 - 1&10: Another two-man pass pattern and Isaiah Bond breaks open for a moment, but Milroe had his heart set on the deep shot to Burton that was never there. He rolls and rolls right and tries to give Bond a chance on the sideline but it's incomplete. 
• Snap 4 - 2&10: Back in 12-personnel against a light box this time means an easy decision to turn and hand it to Haynes as he rips off an 11-yard gainer. Yes, Michigan was playing a lighter personnel grouping, but still nice to see the Tide get a hat on a hat and move the Wolverines off the line of scrimmage. 
• Snap 5 - 1&10: Tommy Rees went back to a wide receiver bubble screen, trying to get Isaiah Bond the ball in space. Bond gets a nice gain but you'd like to see better blocking on the exterior from both Malik Benson and Robbie Ouzts. 
• Snap 6 - 2&2: More 12-personnel and more rushing success for the Crimson Tide. The Alabama tight ends, Ouzts and Dippre seal the edge and Jase McClellan outruns a defender to the edge for a first down. 
• Snap 7 - 1&10: The Tide has successfully crossed the 50-yard line and seems like things may be falling into place. However, center Seth McLaughlin snaps the football before Milroe is ready for it, resulting in a huge loss. This has been an issue all season long, but watch jersey number 0 for Michigan playing safety. As soon as Mike Sainristil smacks his thigh pads, McLaughlin snaps it. Probably worth risking a five-yard simulation penalty from Sainristil's point of view given the trouble the Tide has had all year long with snapping and timing. 
• Snap 8 - 2&23: From bad to worse in a matter of moments. A low snap from McLaughlin is bobbled by Milroe and the Michigan pass rush is all over him, resulting in a sack. Michigan was rushing six against Alabama's six in protection but when adding in a bobbled snap, and a twist stunt from the opposition, the Tide had no chance.
• Snap 9 - 3&29: What do you call on third and a mile? A halfback draw is about the best thing you can pull out and McClellan gains seven or eight yards, but the Wolverines defense was ready for it and swallowed him up before he could get near the original line of scrimmage. 

12. Michigan Gets a Little Cute and Throws Themselves Off

Michigan's offense had two long scoring drives in the first half by largely running traditional based offense with J.J. McCarthy. Sharrone Moore gets a little cute by bringing in Alex Orji to run a few plays and it backfires on the Wolverines as they have to punt it back to the Tide.

• Snap 1 - 1&10: Tim Keenan is an absolute stud. He two gaps this play nicely and gets an initial strike on Blake Corum while being blocked. Caleb Downs fills the gap nicely and secures a tackle for no gain.
• Snap 2 - 2&10: It's wild to me how night and day different Deontae Lawson plays from time to time. This is a toss into the boundary and Lawson sees it all the way, tracks it nicely through the traffic and gets a tackle after only gaining a yard. 
• Snap 3 - 3&9: The Crimson Tide are able to get pressure for nearly the first time with just four rushers on the afternoon. J.J. McCarthy escapes the pocket and finds Cornelius Johnson on the sidelines. While initially ruled incomplete, Johnson was in bounds for a top-notch reception. 
• Snap 4 - 1&10: Michigan goes back to Corum for three-yards and a cloud of dust as he bulldozes right into the line. 
• Snap 5 - 2&7: Alex Orji returns to play QB and it does not go very well. Orji fakes a QB run and then appears to throw, but Alabama is sending six and the force him out of the pocket for a sack. 
• Snap 6 - 3&9: Is it a good idea to throw your starting quarterback out of rhythm? On third down McCarthy finds Johnson on a shallow drag route but the ball is a little behind him causing him to stumble. If the pass is on target he could still be running.

13. Another Snap Kills the Tide's Third Down Try.

Things are starting to stack up for the Alabama offense as the snapping issue seems to be subconsciously creeping through the whole team. Jalen Milroe fields a low snap on third down and misses an easy pass. The look of annoyance says it all as he walks off the field after another failed drive. 

• Snap 1 - 1&10: Michigan opens up with a seven man box as a response to the Tide's trips formation to the wide side. This calls for a running play and Jalen Milroe hands it off to Jase McClellan. Look how much of a load Mason Graham is at nose tackle for Michigan. He fights to the play side of Seth McLaughlin and disrupts CJ Dippre going through the hole and gets part of McClellan for the tackle. 
• Snap 2 - 2&8: Six in the box again for Michigan in response to trips to the wide side, do you think they're baiting Alabama to run the ball? McClellan takes the handoff for four yards but Mason Graham once again makes a helluva play, fighting from the backside, he fights through Tyler Booker to get in no the tackle.
• Snap 3 - 3&4: This play is dead from the beginning schematically but a low snap throws Milroe off his timing and he's off target on his pass to JAM Miller. Let's say the pass is accurate, Miller still has to beat Josaiah Stewart and Josh Wallace to the first down marker. 

14.  Sometimes Its Nice To Be a Bit Lucky

Alabama's defense may be benefitting from J.J. McCarthy losing his rhythm a little bit but he was certainly robbed of a third down conversion on this drive. The Crimson Tide's defense seems as if it's finding confidence as the second half evolves.

• Snap 1 - 1&10: Alabama sends five but none really get home before J.J. McCarthy's pass. Instead the QB picks out A.J. Barner over the middle but his pass is a little high and heavily contested by Caleb Downs. 
• Snap 2 - 2&10: There's not enough NIL money in the world for guys like Tim Keenan and Justin Eboigbe. Keenan holds up his blocker and two-gaps the play while Eboigbe reads the down block and fights the pulling lineman to combine on the tackle together. 
• Snap 3 - 3&8: Would this pass to Semaj Morgan have gone for a first down? Pretty likely given the speed and angle of his route, but Terrion Arnold potentially could have closed down. What we know is that Alabama got a bit fortunate with Morgan's drop and a frustrated offense gets another chance to move the ball.

This story will be continued to complete the entire game.