Tide Tidbits – September 27, 2009

Arkansas Hog Tide by Bama
Alabama’s third-ranked Crimson Tide is figuring out new methods to reach the same results. An array of big offensive plays and waves of defensive pressure propelled Alabama to a 35-7 victory over Arkansas in its Southeastern Conference opener Saturday afternoon at Bryant-Denny Stadium. UA scored on plays of 52, 50 and 80 yards to break free of the Razorbacks, who arrived with the nation’s No. 2 offense and netted only one touchdown. “I was really pleased with the defensive effort out there today,” coach Nick Saban said. “To hold those guys to seven points was really good, and it was a team effort.”

Hightower’s injury could be serious
Alabama’s outlook at linebacker took another hit Saturday during the first quarter against Arkansas. With the Crimson Tide already thin at the position, Will linebacker Dont’a Hightower went down with a left knee injury late in the first quarter. Hightower was helped off the field before being carted off the sideline for further examination before the start of second quarter. Alabama coach Nick Saban didn’t specify what Hightower’s injury could be, but he indicated that it could be serious. “We’re doing an MRI (today). The initial prognosis is not good,” Saban said. “We’re hopeful it won’t be bad, but we’ll know for sure today.

Grind-it-out game plan turns nuclear
“OK, so you hike the ball to me. Then I’m gonna go this way, you go that way and I’ll hand it to you. Then you pitch it to him and he’ll throw it. “And you, Julio, you go long.” And there it was, just like you scratched it out in the backyard dirt. Or, in this instance, that is filed away in Alabama’s playbook under “Wildcat North Sweep Reverse Pass.” The play ended with Julio Jones hauling in the pass, and doing a little high-step like the Grambling drum major into the end zone.

Defense delivers day of woe for Arkansas
History has been staring the Alabama defense down since the season’s opening kickoff. On Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium, gaudy statistics provided it with some company. In facing Arkansas and quarterback Ryan Mallett, the third-ranked Crimson Tide had to prove its worth in the face of both. They passed the test, in large part by not allowing the sophomore to pass with any great success in their 35-7 victory. In every respect, Alabama lived up to the hype and hope of many that this unit could rival the 1992 group, the modern standard-bearer for the program. They chased and harassed. They pushed and pummeled. They had eight hurries on Mallett and three sacks, and they added another five tackles for loss.

Crimson Tide can challenge Gators in SEC
A fourth straight beatdown, this one against an SEC foe that had been averaging almost 45 points per game, means it’s time to start asking some big-picture questions about Alabama. If the Crimson Tide isn’t the most impressive team in the country through the first third of the season, then who is? If Saturday’s 31-point first-quarter outburst against Kentucky is any indication, Florida has not dropped off this season. The Gators may still be a step ahead of everybody else, and that includes Alabama. But the Crimson Tide is the most serious challenger to the Gators’ throne at this point. That’s because Alabama is substantially better in almost every area from a year ago.

Roll Tide!

~ _____________________________________



Have BamaFootball4Life eMailed to You for Free


_____________________________________


Enter your email address:

Other subscription options.

~

______________________________________


Quick Links

______________________________________


FREE Magazines!

Recruiting
mybama.com
Polls/Rankings
Links and More Links...