9/27 Arkansas Game
Alabama opened their SEC season on Saturday with a surprisingly (to me) dominant win over the Arkansas Razorbacks. Yes, we have bigger rivalries than Arkansas, but no game sets the tone for the season more than the Arkansas game, and on Saturday, we played with the intensity that this game deserved. When all was said and done, we came away with a 38-14 win, and we cleared a huge hurdle in the race for the SEC West.
I’ll admit that I was concerned about this game for a number of reasons. First, as much as I hate to admit it, I have very little faith in our offense. I won’t go into details, but I very firmly believe that our offensive production lags far behind our offensive talent. Against Arkansas, I was fairly certain that they were going to put some points on the board, and we were going to have to outscore them to win the game. As a matter of fact, my prediction was that we would win 28-27. The game started somewhat according to script. We moved the ball to the Arkansas 37, and then lined up for a ridiculous 54-yard field goal. However, we shifted out of the field goal formation and McCarron hit Michael Williams on a wheel route (kind of) for a touchdown. That play was huge, because it allowed us to withstand Arkansas’s first sortie without falling behind.
Alabama’s defense started fast, and even though they were giving ground, they were challenging every play. However, our starting Will linebacker CJ Mosley went down with a dislocated elbow, and suddenly we were in trouble. Trey DePriest came in to take Mosley’s place (why it wasn’t Nico I have no idea), and he was completely lost out there. The Razorbacks exploited the intermediate zone occupied by DePriest over and over again, until finally they tied the score at 7-7. It was still early, but I was very concerned at that point. I wasn’t sure how many more points we would be able to score since it took a trick play to score the first time, and with DePriest floundering, I thought they might be putting big points on the board.
But then things started to turn in our favor. First, we drove the ball deep into Razorback territory, actually getting a first and goal inside the one. However, thanks to questionable play calling and our weak offensive line, we were forced to kick a field goal. Arkansas got the ball back down 10-7 brimming with confidence, but that’s when the turning point of the game occurred. On a 3rd and short, the Arkansas receiver stopped short on a crossing route. Tyler Wilson made good throw, but because the receiver cut off his route, the ball went through to our cornerback DeQuan Menzie. Menzie didn’t react to the ball; it actually bounced off of his hand into the air, and then Menzie was able to track it down, intercept it, and return it for a TD making the score 17-7. We took that lead into halftime, but Arkansas was getting the ball first in the second half, so I was far from comfortable.
The second half started with a bang. After Arkansas moved the ball close to midfield, the defense stiffened, forcing a punt. Marquis Maze fielded the punt at the 17-yard line, and then made one of the most scintillating punt returns I’ve ever seen (and from a Bama fan that lived through the David Palmer and Javier Arenas years, that’s saying something), increasing our lead to 24-7. After a 60+ yard screen pass touchdown to Trent Richardson soon after, our lead was 31-7, and the game was for all intents and purposes over.
Here are a couple of general thoughts on the game. First, I was extremely impressed with our defense. After the Trey DePriest drive (and don’t misunderstand me, I think Trey will be a great one here, but he’s just not ready yet), they started playing Nico Johnson at the Will and they also brought Jerrell Harris in to further solidify the middle. I thought that lineup was extremely effective, and even though I hate losing Mosley, I was really glad to see Nico and Jerrell in the game. Dre Kirkpatrick played the most physical game I’ve ever seen him play, and our pass rush consistently punished Tyler Wilson, eventually knocking him out of the game, forcing Arkansas to waive the white flag.
As for our offense, I don’t want to be a downer after such a big win, but the 38 points that we scored was a huge aberration. We scored one TD on a trick play after shifting out of field goal formation, we scored on an interception return, we scored on a punt return, and we scored on a 61-yard screen pass. Maybe I’m just seeing the glass half-empty, but for us to accomplish our goals this year, we’re going to need much more consistency from our offense, and as of now, I’m not sure that our offense can do it.
As tough as this week was, next week is going to be even tougher, because next week we travel into the most hostile of territories, the dreaded Swamp, where we have to face the resurgent Florida Gators. Florida is clicking on all cylinders right now. Their new pro-style offense fits their QB to a tee, and it is being coordinated by the legendary Charlie Weiss. They have more speed on offense than any other team in the nation. In addition, they have the best defensive front in the nation, so moving the ball is going to be a monumental challenge. Overall, this is the scariest game of the year, even more so than LSU who has recently become the nation’s Number 1 team (deservedly so). We can recover if we lose, but if we win, it sets the stage for us to have a special year.
But for now, we’re 4-0, and are coming off a huge win over Arkansas Razorbacks. This win was huge, and should be savored. We just can’t savor it for too long! As always, feel free to send me any questions or comments. Until next time, Roll Tide!
Kenny