Tide Tidbits – September 30, 2009

Unbeaten Alabama gaining attention after impressive start
Less than a month after his first collegiate start, Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy is being asked about the Heisman Trophy. Several national analysts left Bryant-Denny Stadium last weekend proclaiming his team the nation’s best and, heading into Saturday’s 11:21 a.m. game at Kentucky. No one has played the Crimson Tide within single-digits, including a top-10 Virginia Tech team that just hammered red-hot Miami and an Arkansas team that arrived with the nation’s second-rated offense. On paper, Alabama is on a pace vastly superior to the 2008 edition — and pretty much every other Crimson Tide team in recent memory. It carries top-10 national rankings in total offense (eighth), scoring offense (ninth), rushing defense (second) and total defense (second). McElroy, a junior who had waited three years for this opportunity, is now third nationally in pass efficiency rating and averaging 234.5 passing yards per game.

Reamer back to old position
Senior Cory Reamer practiced with the weakside linebackers during individual drills on Tuesday, in place of injured starter Dont’a Hightower, as the University of Alabama prepared for this Saturday’s game at Kentucky. Reamer, who moved to Hightower’s weakside position during the Arkansas game in which the sophomore standout was hurt, normally plays the strongside position. Courtney Upshaw worked at his normal Jack linebacker position Tuesday, while Eryk Anders practiced at the strongside spot. Freshman Nico Johnson worked with the second group during recognition drills.

Method to Arenas’ madness
He’s 40 yards from the nearest friendly face staring down a herd of opponents headed his way. “I hate calling (fair catches) sometimes,” Arenas said chuckling. “That’s why I only wave my hand one time just in case the referee doesn’t see me. I hate doing it, but it’s safe.” Although he said taking the cautious route is rarely a bad decision, Alabama’s star cornerback didn’t pile up the return yards with vigilance. The fast-talker is the active NCAA leader in career punt return yards with 1,544, putting him 165 yards shy of the SEC record and 231 from the national mark held by former Texas Tech star Wes Welker. Half of his six career return touchdowns came last season when Arenas averaged 15.9 yards on his 41 attempts.

McElroy will face new level of difficulty in checking off
Greg McElroy lacks the experience one would normally associate with a quarterback who is comfortable changing plays at the line of scrimmage. After all, the confidence to dump a coach-called play based on the look of the defense, and communicate another to 10 others with a delay-of-game penalty just seconds away, isn’t the stuff of rookies. Throw in a hostile crowd doing its best to complicate matters, and pre-snap defensive shifts that may thwart the new play, and it would be no surprise if the University of Alabama’s first-year starter had neither the authority nor the mettle to check off. McElroy has both. According to UA coach Nick Saban, the fourth-year junior checked the Crimson Tide offense out of a number of plays last Saturday in a 35-7 win over visiting Arkansas.

Wildcats Present a Unique Challenge for the Tide.
As Alabama prepares for their second SEC game of the 2009 season in Lexington, they’ll be facing a team that presents an offensive approach that the Tide hasn’t faced this year. In Atlanta, opening against the Virginia Tech Hokies, it was clear that the Alabama defense would focus on stopping the running attack the Hokies. This past weekend, Arkansas brought a dynamic passing attack to Bryant-Denny Stadium along with a running game that was questionable at best. This weekend, as the Tide plays their first “true” road game of the 2009 season, the trip to the Commonwealth state presents a different challenge. A balanced offense. The Kentucky Wildcats offense isn’t based on just one facet. In fact, its likely the most balanced offense in the SEC to date.

Roll Tide!

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