It's been a little over 24 hours since Alabama concluded its shut out of the Missouri Tigers, 34-0. With a full day to think about the game, what is the good, bad, and ugly from Alabama's victory?

Good

Let’s start by saluting the University of Alabama community with an incredible homecoming weekend. Everything from the parade to the bonfire to the decorations was awesome. The drone show was a new feature that received much positive feedback. Then, the Crimson Tide delivered the finale with a nice homecoming victory over Missouri in a game the Crimson Tide needed to get headed back in the right direction.

We have observed this Tide defensive unit making positive strides each week, even while dealing with some injuries that have limited practice reps. I want to give Kane Womack and his coaching staff a lot of credit for elevating the performance of this defense each week.

Many fans have expressed dissatisfaction with the unit’s play, I understand that frustration. However, Crimson Tide supporters should be pleased with the progress the team has made in recent weeks. They are improving week by week and I’m excited to see these young players in action next year and the year after, especially after gaining valuable experience early in their careers.

You can see how Womack's defense will operate once they reach full strength and have a deeper roster. I believe it will be a fun defense to watch when that happens, especially as Kalen DeBoer’s offense starts to click. Complementary football is a winning combination. While we should be patient, it's clear that the building blocks for something special are being put in place.

Alabama achieved a shutout, marking the first SEC shutout since the Crimson Tide faced Mississippi State during the 2020 season. Additionally, the team is benefiting from creating turnovers, as they are becoming more effective at generating possessions.

Alabama’s rushing attack gained confidence and came alive after the first quarter, finishing the game with 271 yards on 37 carries and scoring four touchdowns. Justice Haynes had several impressive runs, ending the day with 8 carries for 79 yards and one touchdown. His highlight was an incredible 35-yard touchdown run that brought back memories of classic Crimson Tide football. Jam Miller also had a strong performance with 11 carries for 48 yards and two touchdowns. Richard Young added a nice run during the final drive as well.

Notably, Jalen Milroe was not the leading rusher in this game, which I appreciate because it shows that more players are getting involved in the offense. A balanced attack is a winning strategy in football, it could help the Crimson Tide finish the final month of the season with momentum. This approach also allows for extra time on the sidelines for coaching and much-needed rest. Overall, this type of game truly fired me up, as the team totaled 486 yards with a balanced offensive effort.

Bad

The slow start was frustrating during the first quarter, but once the team found its rhythm, we saw what they were capable of achieving. Simple mistakes, like penalties and trying to field a punt inside the 10-yard line, limited our play-calling opportunities. As a result, that drive ended in a three-and-out after Milroe was sacked on third down. Thankfully, James Burnip saved the day with another excellent punt.

It's only a few key plays and mistakes that dictate this offense's performance. Some of this can be attributed to the youth playing crucial roles on the team. Take a moment to breathe deeply and smile when you think about these young players who have stepped up as true freshmen, they show great promise for the future. While growing pains can be difficult to watch, the eventual rewards will be worth it.

Some fans have been overly critical of the coaching staff and players in recent weeks. Any coaching transition is challenging, but replacing the greatest coach in college football history makes it even harder. We should credit Kalen DeBoer for taking on this tough challenge. While there have been some bumps along the way, we’ve also witnessed some great highlights. DeBoer faced growing pains during his first season at the University of Washington; he lost two early games against UCLA and Arizona State in 2022 but then went on to win 20 straight games, not losing again until the National Championship game against Michigan.

Be patient; I believe you will be pleased with the results.

Ugly

I apologize for what I’m about to say, but someone needs to voice this concern again. SEC officials are an embarrassment to the Southeastern Conference. There is a standard for the SEC that is not being met by those wearing stripes. At times, they look lost, and often, they are.

I still can’t understand what happened in the first quarter regarding the delay of the game call and the personal foul on LT Overton. They called a delay of game against the Missouri Tigers and instead of stopping the players from engaging, they let the play continue before penalizing LT Overton for a personal foul. This was not the only instance of confusion throughout the game. The officials frequently appeared bewildered when making crucial decisions.

I spoke with a veteran college official about possible reasons for the current state of officiating in the SEC. He agreed that it is indeed a mess, noting that the SEC has made some changes to their official roster and is facing a shortage of officials. I believe the SEC should consider paying the best officials in college football better and offering substantial travel stipends to attract top talent from other conferences. Perhaps we could create a portal for officials that guarantees competitive salaries.

I know this is an unusual suggestion, but with the increased parity in the SEC, the pressure on officiating is greater than ever. While I recognize that no officiating crew can achieve perfection, I believe a significant improvement is reasonable.

These are just some of my thoughts on the Alabama vs. Missouri game. I'll share more tomorrow at 2 PM on "The Game with Ryan Fowler" on Tide 100.9 and online at Tide1009.com. I'm always eager to hear your opinions and analyses every Monday as we discuss the Good, Bad, and Ugly, sponsored by Daniel Moore Art, which leads to some great conversations. We even give away prizes on Mondays!