Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
ATHENS, Ga. -- Alabama senior safety Rashad Johnson said what everybody saw Saturday night at Sanford Stadium.
"We hit 'em in the mouth," Johnson said, "and then we hit 'em again."
And again and again.
Granted, Alabama coach Nick Saban wasn't thrilled with the way his club finished Saturday's 41-30 spanking of No. 3-ranked Georgia.
But the start was such a mismatch, such a physical beatdown that the tone was set for the rest of the game. Alabama shoved it down Georgia's throat in an 80-yard, 11-play touchdown drive to open the game, and before the Bulldogs could blink, they were down 31-0 at the half.
"The way I look at it, we go against the best defensive line in the country every day in practice," Alabama junior left tackle Andre Smith said. "Nothing we see in a game is going to be any better than we see in practice, and I feel like it's the same way when they go against us. We've made each other better.
"We've got that best lines in the country. That's just how I feel."
Here's betting he won't get much argument from the Bulldogs, who only had 86 total yards at the half.
Alabama took Georgia tailback Knowshon Moreno out of the game in the first half, and Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford was throwing off his back foot most of the game because Alabama defenders were either chasing him or hanging onto him.
"We wanted to make a statement early," Alabama middle linebacker Rolando McClain said. "They have a great offensive line and a great back, but we see that every day. It's something we're used to and something we were ready for."
Alabama senior quarterback John Parker Wilson managed the game flawlessly and finished 13-of-16 for 205 yards, including a gorgeous 22-yard touchdown pass to freshman receiver Julio Jones to cap the Tide's first-half onslaught.
The only time anybody from Georgia touched Wilson in the first half was when the Bulldogs were whistled a couple of times for roughing the quarterback.
"When you play behind an offensive line like I've got, it's great. It doesn't get any better" said Wilson, who's only had to throw seven passes in the fourth quarter this season.
Wilson threw three Saturday, completing all three for 66 yards. If you have any doubts about how dominant Alabama has been up front this season, consider these two statistics:
* The Crimson Tide has outscored its first five opponents by a 74-0 margin in the first quarter.
* The Crimson Tide has yet to trail in any game this season.
"We've done that all season, come out and play physical and take control of the game," Alabama left guard Mike Johnson said. "And when you're on the road like this, nothing takes the crowd out of it quicker than taking it down the field that first drive."
