ARKANSAS VS. NO. 9 ALABAMA : Alabama can stuff run with the best
Posted on Thursday, September 18, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE — They’re big, they’re bad and they’re back.
The Alabama defense, the backbone of one of the proudest programs in college football, is back on the rise and on display Saturday at 11: 30 a. m. at Reynolds Razorback Stadium against Arkansas.
While Alabama football has slipped and slid through a procession of coaches and NCAA rules issues since its last national championship in 1992, it has fielded a mostly mediocre defense, with a few exceptions.
Now, in the second year under Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide have ridden a brick wall rushing defense to a 3-0 record and No. 9 spot in The Associated Press rankings.
“They’re physical, fast, and right now they look pretty young, but they look really good,” Arkansas tackle Ray Dominguez said.
For a Razorbacks offensive front that has not played up to its preseason expectations, Alabama’s defense — which leads the nation in rush defense (42. 7 yards per game ) and ranks No. 13 in total defense (221. 3 yards per game ) — presents a tremendous challenge.
“It’s a real test for us,” Arkansas tackle Jose Valdez said. “It’s going to show who we are, what we are and what we can do.”
Alabama lists its base defense as a 3-4 with three down linemen and four linebackers, but the Tide also shift to a four-man front, moves its safeties around and brings pressure from a variety of angles and positions.
“We have to do a great job controlling the line of scrimmage,” Arkansas offensive line coach Mike Summers said. “We have to capture the line of scrimmage in the run game, and we have to protect the line of scrimmage in the pass game.”
Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino lamented his team’s over-reliance on the pass in the Hogs’ 2-0 start, which has been fueled by aerial assaults as a part of fourthquarter comebacks.
“I don’t like the run-pass percentage that we’re working right now, simply because we’ve been behind and everything looks like we’re pass happy when, basically, we need to run the ball better,” Petrino said. “We need to run the ball more, be in the game where we have the opportunity to let the run take over a little bit.”
Saying they have to run more and actually making it happen against this Alabama defense could be mutually exclusive events. The Tide have 375-pound blocker-swallowing Terrence Cody at nose guard, and veterans like ends Bobby Greenwood and Brandon Deaderick, middle linebacker Rolando McClain and “jack” linebacker Brandon Fanney surrounding him.
“[Cody ] doesn’t move like a 370-pounder,” Arkansas center Jonathan Luigs said. “He’s pretty agile for his size. I’ll definitely have my hands full.
“ That big plugger up front really can occupy two guys and free up some ’backers. I think that’s his goal. They’ve got ends that come off the ball and really try to close it down and don’t let anything outside.”
The Crimson Tide linebackers and safeties benefit from the work of Cody and their defensive front.
“They’ve just taken up blocks and they’re leaving the linebackers and safeties coming in the box a lot of free room to roam without anybody even blocking them,” Arkansas safety Rashad Johnson said. “That definitely makes it a lot easier to have a good rushing defense when you have guys like that up front that are dominating the opponents ’ front line.”
Still, the Razorbacks are determined to kick their running game into gear.
“We put a big emphasis on making sure we contain their line and get our blocks and get our surges so we can get to the next level, get out in their secondary and make moves,” tailback Michael Smith said. “We’re going to come at them. We know they’re going to be ready, so we’re going to be ready to go also.”
Alabama limited Clemson’s celebrated running game to zero rushing yards, thanks in part to that flexible, physical front.
“What they’re able to do is go from a 3-4 to a four-man front,” Petrino said. “They have D-linemen [Fanney’s jack spot ] who can stand up and play linebacker and play defensive end. The ability to go back and forth is what makes it difficult on offenses.”
The Crimson Tide are allowing 1. 9 yards per rush, the second-best average in the SEC behind Auburn’s 1. 8-yard average.
“They’re big, strong and fast,” Arkansas tight end D. J. Williams said. “They’re an aggressive team, and they switch a whole bunch of stuff on defense. We have to expect to see something we’ve never seen before on Saturday.”
Summers said he hasn’t played up Alabama’s No. 1 rush defense ranking to his unit.
“Right now, we’re more concerned about ourselves, making sure that we execute at a higher level every day,” he said. “If we can take care of that, understand who we’re supposed to block and block with the correct technique, then we just take whatever’s put in front of us.”
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