By outreach@cw.ua.edu (Elliott Propes)

Last season Alabama saw Heisman winner Derrick Henry make CBS games go by faster than a high school game. Henry grinded out the clock after Alabama secured a lead numerous times in the second half of the season to seal the victory.

This year’s Crimson Tide’s offense will be lucky to get a game under four hours. The team has adopted a much more fast-paced offense with dual-threat quarterback Jalen Hurts, but last Saturday, Alabama spent the last nine minutes of the game chugging away on the ground.

“To take nine minutes off the clock and 61 yards. I think that’s what you want to be able to do so that you minimize the opportunities that the other team gets to be able to come back on you in the game,” coach Nick Saban said. “I think that was an outstanding job by our offense and a very good plan offensively as well to be able to get that done.”

A big catalyst to the last drive was the running back that most mirrors Henry’s frame. Sophomore Bo Scarbrough is listed at 6 feet 2 inches tall and 228 pounds. He looked all of it the last drive with eight of the 15 plays going to him. Scarbrough took those eight touches and moves the offense forward 42 yards.

“We just want to wear down our opponents,” offensive guard Ross Pierschbacher said. “So if we go in and make the corrections in the second half and just try to really get after them, I think we will continue to have more success.”

Pierschbacher, called the drive enjoyable. It was the second longest the team has had all season long. In the fourth quarter of the LSU game, Alabama had a nine minute and 51 seconds drive capped off with the lone touchdown of the game to ice LSU. Both drives looked like a page from the 2015 scrapbook.

“I think the defense has been able to bail us out on a lot of stuff this year, and for us to do that and just kind of repay the favor and just know that you can control the ball, control the line of scrimmage and just keep getting first downs, it feels good,” Pierschbacher said.

Other notes from today:

Left tackle Cam Robinson won the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance against Auburn. Robinson helped Alabama reach 501 yards of total offense including 203 on the ground. It is the first time Robinson has received the award this season.Saban updated the press on cornerback Marlon Humphrey’s leg injury: “We’re going to take it easy with him for a day at least for a little while and see how it goes. We’re hopeful that he’ll be able to practice some later in the week and be OK for the game.”

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Source:: The Crimson White Sports