Some really great quotes in this AP story (read the entire story embedded in this post): Alabama didn’t have a 100-yard rusher or receiver. Mark Ingram didn’t produce the No. 3 Crimson Tide’s biggest run nor Julio Jones its longest pass play.

The Tide continued to spread the wealth in Saturday’s 35-7 win over Arkansas, with even its biggest offensive stars content without super-sized numbers. Quarterback Greg McElroy sees it as the ‘Bama way.

“We’re a team offense,” McElroy said. “Alabama has 12 national championships and no Heisman Trophy winners. That’s the mindset coming in here. This is a team game, and we’re going to win as a team.”

No reason to alter that formula now.

The Tide (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) has been balanced and productive with a mix of old-school pounding and big-play flash. Arkansas (1-2, 0-2) managed to stuff Alabama’s reliable running game, which produced 134 yards on 41 carries. Take away a tackle-breaking 52-yard TD run by freshman Trent Richardson, and the Tide averaged 2 yards on the other 40 rushes.

The Razorbacks bottled up leading rusher Ingram, who had only 50 yards on 17 carries. McElroy responded with his best day, passing for 291 yards and three touchdowns.

Jones broke a 12-game touchdown drought with a 50-yarder on a trick play. His only other catch was a 15-yarder, but it was still his best game in a season limited by a knee injury.

No problem. Marquis Maze caught an 80-yarder from McElroy on the school’s sixth-longest pass play, and Darius Hanks added an acrobatic 32-yard catch. Mike McCoy still has the team’s only 100-yard receiving game this season.

“I don’t mind being a decoy if it frees somebody else up,” Jones said. “Everybody plays for each other. Everybody’s got each other’s back. The sky’s the limit for this team.”
(much more to read in the story embedded in this post)

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