Tua Tagovailoa had some uncharacteristically ugly stats early in the SEC Championship Game on Saturday, partially due to his play, and also due to some ugly drops from his receivers.
Tagovailoa was 3/8 for 35 yards and an interception over Alabama’s first three possessions. He hurt the team with an interception at the goal line on their first possession. But his receivers also cost him in other possessions.
Look at this long pass that tight end Irv Smith dropped in the first quarter:
Tua Tagovailoa maneuvers beautifully in the pocket and throws to a wide open Irv Smith Jr., who drops it. pic.twitter.com/h5Sya9AttS
— Fed Scivittaro (@MeshPointScout) December 1, 2018
On the team’s next possession, Jerry Jeudy dropped a likely touchdown. The Crimson Tide scored on the possession, but it was another sign that they were not playing their best.
Even on Alabama’s first possession of the second quarter — a 3-and-out — Bama had another drop, although the play likely would not have gone for much yardage. These were just signs of problems the Tide have not experienced all season, ones that could be too much to overcome.
