By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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The pressure was directly on Alabama’s front five to step up to a generational challenge. The Crimson Tide responded.

Alabama’s offense was the story of the SEC Championship Game, with Bryce Young earning MVP honors with a recording-setting 421 passing yards and four total touchdowns and Jameson Williams catching seven passes for 184 yards and two scores. The Crimson Tide did what no other team had even come close to doing all season: consistently move the football against Georgia’s famed defense. Facing a heralded unit ranked number one nationally in both scoring and total defense, Alabama’s offense had an all-time effort.

It was a performance that started up front.

Many wondered, during game week, how Alabama would block Georgia’s devastating front seven? The Crimson Tide had just allowed seven sacks and eleven tackles for loss in a narrow Iron Bowl win, one with a disappointing offensive performance, at Auburn; the Bulldogs, meanwhile, led by Heisman Trophy candidate Jordan Davis at tackle, entered the matchup tied for fourth nationally with 3.42 sacks per game. Georgia’s defense had, without question, been the nation’s best.

Alabama’s offense was the story of the SEC Championship Game, with Bryce Young earning MVP honors with a recording-setting 421 passing yards and four total touchdowns and Jameson Williams catching seven passes for 184 yards and two scores. The Crimson Tide did what no other team had even come close to doing all season: consistently move the football against Georgia’s famed defense. Facing a heralded unit ranked number one nationally in both scoring and total defense, Alabama’s offense had an all-time effort.

It was a performance that started up front.

Many wondered, during game week, how Alabama would block Georgia’s devastating front seven? The Crimson Tide had just allowed seven sacks and eleven tackles for loss in a narrow Iron Bowl win, one with a disappointing offensive performance, at Auburn; the Bulldogs, meanwhile, led by Heisman Trophy candidate Jordan Davis at tackle, entered the matchup tied for fourth nationally with 3.42 sacks per game. Georgia’s defense had, without question, been the nation’s best.

The pressure was directly on Alabama’s front five to step up to a generational challenge. With it all on the line literally and figuratively, the Crimson Tide responded.

In a contest where Young threw the football 44 times, Alabama did not give up a single sack. Georgia had previously compiled multiple sacks in eleven of 12 games this season, including seven in the season-opening win over Clemson. The Crimson Tide, facing a 3-4 defensive scheme that mixes and matches looks and blitzes from all over the field, stood tall and held strong. Young was given a shocking amount of time to sit in the pocket and read plays, which gave receivers extra steps to get open downfield.

Regardless of the situation, Alabama’s offensive line limited the pressure on Young and allowed college football’s most outstanding player to do what he does best; the end result was Young recording the most passing yards ever in an SEC Championship Game.

Tackles Evan Neal and Chris Owens met and matched athletic edge rushers in space. Guards Javion Cohen and Emil Ekiyor, along with center Seth McLaughlin, new to the starting lineup, limited the impact of Davis, Georgia’s defensive superstar. No matter what the Bulldogs, who had dominated every other quarterback and front they had played, tried, Alabama’s offensive line answered in giving Young all the time he needed. A number of the most important plays of the game came when Young had multiple seconds to scan and deliver.

Simply put, it was an incredible performance from the Crimson Tide at the line of scrimmage. Alabama won where it mattered most.

In a contest where Young threw the football 44 times, Alabama did not give up a single sack. Georgia had previously compiled multiple sacks in eleven of 12 games this season, including seven in the season-opening win over Clemson. The Crimson Tide, facing a 3-4 defensive scheme that mixes and matches looks and blitzes from all over the field, stood tall and held strong. Young was given a shocking amount of time to sit in the pocket and read plays, which gave receivers extra steps to get open downfield.

Regardless of the situation, Alabama’s offensive line limited the pressure on Young and allowed college football’s most outstanding player to do what he does best; the end result was Young recording the most passing yards ever in an SEC Championship Game.

Tackles Evan Neal and Chris Owens met and matched athletic edge rushers in space. Guards Javion Cohen and Emil Ekiyor, along with center Seth McLaughlin, new to the starting lineup, limited the impact of Davis, Georgia’s defensive superstar. No matter what the Bulldogs, who had dominated every other quarterback and front they had played, tried, Alabama’s offensive line answered in giving Young all the time he needed. A number of the most important plays of the game came when Young had multiple seconds to scan and deliver.

Simply put, it was an incredible performance from the Crimson Tide at the line of scrimmage. Alabama won where many thought they couldn’t and won where it mattered most.