ROGERS COLUMN: Alabama has work to do during bye week

TUSCALOOSA — The list of things Alabama must improve for the Crimson Tide to compete for a national championship is longer today than before the Tennessee game.

The Vols completed more passes (21), threw for more yards (265) and held the ball longer (32:18 overall, 20:53 in the second half) than any team has against the Tide this season. UT receiver Gerald Jones’ seven completions, which included an 11-yard touchdown with 1:19 remaining, were the most by an individual against Alabama through eight games.

No other team held Alabama without a touchdown. In fact, Alabama’s last game without a touchdown came in a loss at Mississippi State in 2007. Only one opponent this season, Arkansas, gave up fewer rushing yards than the 136 the Tide gained against the Vols. Nobody else was able to wear down the Alabama defense.

Those areas can and will be improved. With an open date, Alabama has a chance to work on its fundamentals, improve on its tackling and get back to some basics on offense. It looked from here like Tennessee broke more tackles or at least fell forward for an extra yard or two more than any other opponent had this season. And the week off should sharpen Alabama’s mental focus, too.

But something the game’s hero, Terrence Cody, said in the bedlam that followed his blocked field goal as time expired has me more concerned than any flaws Alabama displayed on Saturday.

It may have been a heat-of-the-moment line, or the senior nose tackle may not have meant it.

“If they would have made that field goal, the game would have been over and the season would have been over,” he said.

Cody’s partially right. The game would have been over. Alabama would have lost. But the season would not, by a long shot, have been over.

A loss would have cost Alabama in the polls, sure. The shaky win cost the Tide the No. 1 ranking in the AP poll. Florida went back to the top Sunday.

But there is one-third of the season remaining. One loss is costly, but not devastating — particularly when you play in the Southeastern Conference. Especially when LSU, Mississippi State, Chattanooga and Auburn are still in front of you.

Had Alabama lost Saturday, it still absolutely controlled its fate. It would have to win the SEC West, beat Florida in the SEC Championship Game and see how things fall in the BCS race to see if it plays for a national championship.

Certainly, the guesswork is removed if Alabama stays undefeated. But if a one-loss Alabama does win the West and does beat top-ranked Florida, I don’t believe the Tide would get shut out of the national championship game.

Which brings me back to Cody’s statement. If he and his teammates think a loss ends the season, it really is over.

The past two seasons are glaring examples of what happens when Nick Saban’s team goes all-out and loses. In 2007, Alabama was 6-2 and put everything it had into the LSU game. It played courageously before losing a heartbreaker — and lost its final three games of the regular season.

Last season, Alabama played a tremendous game in the SEC Championship before Florida rallied to win in the fourth quarter. An unfocused and short-handed Crimson Tide team got whipped by Utah in the Sugar Bowl.

The Tide has two weeks before the LSU game. Nick Saban said improvement is the key this week. LSU can wait.

Alabama will rest and rehab some aches and pains.

The LSU game is huge, but I’m not sure the season is riding on it. The Bayou Bengals have already lost to Florida. They have tough games against Ole Miss and Arkansas after Alabama.

For Alabama fans, of course, it’s better to stay undefeated. But there’s a lot to play for regardless of the outcome.

Alabama players need to realize that.

Tide picks up another commitment
Alabama got a verbal commitment from junior college cornerback Mike Harris this weekend.

Harris is a 5-11, 195-pound prospect at El Camino Community College in California. He visited Tuscaloosa for the Tennessee game.

Harris told the Web site Crimson Confidential, “I love Alabama, the coaches, the fans, the players, the program itself is all amazing. I want to be able to come in and make this team better from the jump. I think that I can really make a difference in the secondary and I can’t wait to get here to show it. I still plan on getting onto campus in January.”

Harris was widely recruited, picking Alabama over Oklahoma State, Arizona State, Tennessee, Michigan and others. The Tide also has commitments from 21 high school players for the 2010 recruiting class.