Greg McElroy calls out ‘shaky’ Alabama for ‘sleep walk’ win over Arkansas

Greg McElroy calls out ‘shaky’ Alabama for ‘sleep walk’ win over Arkansas

Alabama coach Nick Saban said after the Crimson Tide’s 24-21 win over Arkansas on Saturday that his team has to learn to play for 60 minutes.

On Sunday, Greg McElroy put it differently, saying the Tide was sleep walking in the second half of their game.

“Alabama a little shaky,” McElroy, the former Alabama quarterback, said on his Always College Football podcast. “A good start to the game, in crusie control early, up 21-6. It felt like Alabama collectively kind of exhaled. Like ‘We got it, on to the next. Tennessee’s next week.’ I felt like they exhaled, and then all of the sudden, Arkansas started to find themselves offensively, got into a little bit of a rhythm, next thing you know you’re in a dog fight. Arkansas has got the ball with the opportunity to go the length of the field to potentially win the game.”

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Finally, he said, Alabama’s defense closed the door. Saban, he said, will address the issue.

“Not a great performance from Alabama, little bit of a sleep walk after what was a good start,” the SEC Network analyst said. “Second half, something that Nick Saban’s not going to be real thrilled with.”

Jalen Milroe passed for two touchdowns and rushed for a third, and No. 11 Alabama survived a second-half Arkansas rally. The Tide blew most of a 24-point third-quarter lead before summoning a big final drive to keep KJ Jefferson and the Razorbacks offense off the field at the end.

The Tide remained the only SEC West team without a league loss, but they’re not coming in dominant fashion. The Razorbacks dropped their fifth straight game but not before putting a scare into the Tide.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.