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Texas A&M Football

SEC Round-Up: Saban searching for perfection from Tide secondary

October 13, 2016
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Alabama coach Nick Saban isn’t pleased.

He’s rankled by the Crimson Tide’s pass defense, which is currently ranked 61st in the nation.

“We’re not pleased with the number of big plays we’ve given up, especially when we get a little bit ahead,” Saban said earlier this week. “We need to play better in the back end. We need to be more consistent and play with more discipline and eye control. We need to get in better position, so we have an opportunity to make plays and not give up plays.

“We have four or five lapses a game that lead to big plays. That’s how things accumulate on you.”

What Saban, a well-known perfectionist, isn’t saying is that Alabama’s secondary has only allowed seven touchdown passes, while claiming six interceptions. Half of those picks were returned for touchdowns, including a 100-yarder by cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick in last week’s 49-30 victory over Arkansas.

The Tide has obviously compensated for any coverage lapses it might have had thus far.

So, the question is whether Alabama’s pass defense is indeed an area of vulnerability.

Tennessee, which faces the Tide on Saturday, can only hope. That might be the Volunteers’ only hope for ending a nine-game losing streak to Alabama.

Quarterback Joshua Dobbs has been a more productive passer this year than he’s been at any time of his career.
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs has been a more productive passer this year than he’s been at any time of his career. In the last three games, he’s passed for 947 yards and eight touchdowns.

If there are holes in the Alabama pass coverage, maybe he can exploit them.

Alas, Tennessee coach Butch Jones maintains there are no such holes.

“I think this is the best secondary that Alabama has had that we’ve faced,” Jones said. “I know there a lot of people saying things out there. I think some of it is for motivation.

“But when I was watching the video, I’m very impressed. They can play man coverage. They get their hands on you. They’re physical.”

Jones may have a point.

Alabama has allowed just seven touchdown passes, which frankly isn’t that many six games into the season.

But there’s more.

Three of the touchdown passes Alabama has allowed came in the final three minutes – games in which the outcome was already assured or the Tide was comfortably ahead.

Still, Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly threw for 421 yards and three touchdowns against Alabama.

Arkansas’ Austin Allen passed for 400 yards and three touchdowns.

Of course, Kelly and Allen are ranked among the SEC’s top five passing quarterbacks.

But then, so is Dobbs. And so is Texas A&M’s Trevor Knight, who Alabama faces next week.
Perhaps that explains why Saban isn’t pleased.

Alabama’s run defense has been on a torrid roll, even by its own lofty standards. The Tide has allowed 82 rushing yards or less in each of the last three games.
Who’s hot: Alabama’s run defense has been on a torrid roll, even by its own lofty standards. The Tide has allowed 82 rushing yards or less in each of the last three games. The most rushing yards Alabama has allowed is 106 to Ole Miss. No individual has accumulated more than 52 rushing yards on the Tide. Alabama gets its greatest test to date on Saturday against Tennessee.

Who’s not: Vanderbilt’s offense is heinous. With the exception of running back Ralph Webb, the Commodores seem comically inept. Vandy has accumulated fewer than 300 yards of total offense in three of its last four games. The Commodores have managed no more than 282 yards in their three SEC games. The 282 came last week against Kentucky.

Vanderbilt is ranked 120th in the nation in scoring offense (19.0 ppg), 126th in total offense (299 ypg), 95th in rushing and 120th in passing. Woof.

Keep an eye on:
Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs is a serious running threat and can be effective in the passing game as A&M witnessed a week ago. However, Dobbs also has a tendency for turnovers. He's thrown eight interceptions and lost two fumbles. That’s ten turnovers.

Coincidentally, Alabama has scored nine non-offensive touchdowns – most of them coming off turnovers. If Dobbs can avoid turnovers, the Volunteers have a legitimate chance of pulling off the upset. If he doesn’t take care of the football, Alabama could win in a blowout.

Best matchup: Tennessee DE Derek Barnett is a force with which to be reckoned. Alabama LT Cameron Robinson is considered one of the best in the country at his position. Both are projected as first round picks – perhaps in the top 10 – in next year’s NFL draft. There won’t be many individual matchups better than this one in the nation this week.

Worst mismatch:
Missouri’s rushing game is ranked 82nd in the nation with an average of 158 yards per game. That’s mediocre at best. It’s also skewed. The Tigers rushed for 268 yards against FCS weakling Delaware State. Omit that, and Missouri is averaging 130.5 rushing yards in four games. Take that a step further, and you see Missouri is averaging just 86 rushing yards per game against SEC opponents (Georgia and LSU).

That does not bode well for facing Florida, which is ranked sixth in the nation in run defense and has had an extra week (due to Hurricane Matthew) to heal some aches and pains along the defensive line. Consider it an upset if Missouri exceeds 80 rushing yards.

This week’s games:

Friday: Mississippi State at BYU

Saturday: Alabama at Tennessee; Ole Miss at Arkansas; Vanderbilt at Georgia; Missouri at Florida; Southern Miss at LSU
Tags: SEC, Football, 2016
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SEC Round-Up: Saban searching for perfection from Tide secondary

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