Bryce Young explained why Alabama had success with big plays off scramble situations

No. 6 Alabama blasted Mississippi State over the weekend 30-6, with quarterback Bryce Young getting all day to throw and making the Bulldogs pay several times off scramble situations.

In fact, Alabama’s opening score was the result of a play in which Young had a full 10 seconds to operate behind the line of scrimmage before eventually firing a 31-yard touchdown pass to receiver JoJo Earle after he broke loose from a defender.

“We had a couple of eight-drop looks, so whenever you have that you try to get through your reads,” Young said. “But sometimes when you have eight guys in coverage you only have three rushers. My line did a great job of allowing me to make those plays happen.”

On the touchdown pass to Earle, Young initially dropped back against a three-man rush. He began to move to his right in the pocket, only to cut back all the way across the field to his left.

He gestured toward the middle of the field, then uncorked a bomb to Earle, who was streaking back across the end zone from left to right. Wide open.

“It was another eight-drop look so the line did a great job of giving me time and being able to make me, allow me to create,” Young said. “JoJo broke off his route, was working back with me, scramble drills. He did a great job with that. I’m just trying to buy time to let our receivers get more open. Whenever I do they do a great job with that, so he did a good job breaking off his route and I just found him in the end zone.”

Alabama practices scramble situations routinely

Like many college football teams, Alabama practices its scramble situations pretty regularly. When you’ve got a quarterback who can extend plays like Young can, doing so offers the chance for off-schedule plays.

But it’s all about the connection a quarterback has with his receivers. Few are more in sync than Young and his receiving corps.

“For me it’s just trying to be a passer, make things happen, and the receivers do a great job in scramble drills,” Young explained. “They run their initial route, then they see me move they do a great job of getting open.”

Facing that drop-eight coverage from the Bulldogs, Young poured on 249 yards passing and two touchdowns without an interception as the Crimson Tide cruised, bouncing back from a loss against Tennessee.

Alabama will look to keep the positive mojo going after a bye week. Next up is a trip to No. 18 LSU on Nov. 5.