Review: No. 3 Alabama 35, Arkansas 7

In a game that some people were pointing to as Alabama's first real test, the Crimson Tide (4-0, 1-0 SEC) crushed the Arkansas Razorbacks (1-2, 0-2) 35-7, in a game that wasn't even as close as the final score indicated.

Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett, who led the nation in passing efficiency and the SEC in passing yardage coming into the game, was badgered and beaten by 'Bama's defense all day. Mallett, who finished just 12-of-35 for 161 yards, threw his first interception of the season late in the the game, was sacked three times, and seemed out of sync with his receivers most of the day.

Arkansas came into the game with the nation's 2nd-ranked offense, and had scored 41 points the previous weekend in a losing effort at Georgia. But Alabama's defense, ranked 3rd in the country, stifled the Hogs, holding them nearly 200 yards below their average. The Tide dominated with big plays, scoring touchdowns on plays of 52, 50, 80, 14 and 2 yards.

My Seven Points for this game:

1. We're learning more about the kind of team Alabama has. It goes without saying that the system of preseason rankings can be significantly flawed; witness Clemson last year, Alabama in 2000, and any one of a hundred other examples. Two things happened today that served to confirm Alabama's ranking. First, Alabama has been in a position to score additional points late in every game so far this season and has run the clock out instead, not needing additional points to win. It happened again today against a team that was averaging 45 points a game. Second, No. 11 Virginia Tech, who Alabama beat 34-24 to start the season, delivered a crushing 31-7 defeat to No. 9 Miami. Unlike Clemson, who completely fell apart last year after losing to Alabama, Tech has now defeated two ranked teams since losing to the Tide.

2. The most costly play of the game for Alabama came in the first quarter. It was the one that took out Dont'a Hightower. Hightower left the game late in the first quarter with a knee injury, and while there were no official indications of the severity, all observable signs were bad. Hightower is one of the best players on the Alabama defense and the loss of #30 will be significant.

3. Bama's defense is for-real. Not that many people will be surprised with the quality of the Tide defense, but they completely dominated a high-powered, productive offense that was by far the best one that they have faced this season. Even observers who predicted an easy win for Alabama assumed that the Hogs would have a few big plays and score several times. Many pundits expected a shootout like Arkansas's 52-41 loss to Georgia. This defense is much better than Georgia's.

4. Greg McElroy continues to improve. McElroy didn't have a perfect day - there were a few too many missed connections and dropped balls. He did, however, have a career day, passing 24 times and completing 17 of them for 291 yards and 3 touchdowns. Oh, and as a starter, he has never lost a game. McElroy started for his high school team his senior year and won the 5A state championship, finishing 16-0. He is 4-0 as the Alabama signal caller.

5. Julio got his touchdown. A few statisticians with too much time on their hands observed this week that wide receiver Julio Jones had not scored a touchdown in 11 games, dating back to last season. Gary Danielson, the CBS television color analyst, observed this immediately before Alabama executed a gadget play from the "Wildcat" formation, snapping the ball to Mark Ingram, who handed off to Terry Grant, who flipped it back to Greg McElroy, who threw it to a wide open Jones. Julio then completed the 50-yard play by breaking free of a tackle and scoring a touchdown.

6. Trent Richardson is a full-grown man. Richardson's 52-yard touchdown run to start the game was a thing of beauty. He broke through at least four tackles before speeding past the secondary and scoring. For anyone who has watched any of his high school highlights, the run looked awfully familiar. He also took an Arkansas safety head on along the left sideline later in the game and knocked him on his tail with a punishing hit, gaining a few extra yards after the play. It's a pleasure to watch him carry the rock.

7. This team enjoys playing the game. You call tell that these guys are having a good time. Every big play, they are jumping, chest-bumping, and slapping each other on the back. McElroy even had a mini celebration after drawing the Hogs offside facing first-and-ten from nearly his own goal line. After watching teams like Ole Miss, USC, Cal, BYU and Miami fall apart in the last two weeks after reading about how good they were, it's nice to see the Tide playing loose and not letting the pressure of being #3 in the country get to them. Credit for that goes to the Nick Saban and the coaching staff.