2008 SEC Championship Preview: Part 3 of 3
December 3, 2008
South Eastern Conference
Championship Game
University of Florida vs University of Alabama
Georgia Dome Atlanta, GA -DEC 06
CBS TV 4:00 EST
Assuming you have read Part 1 and Part 2 of this preview, it makes it easy for me to assume you know what word I’m about to use; once again.
Physical.
Saturday night, when you are switching over to the ABC Network and preparing to watch what certainly seems to be a lackluster Big 12 Championship game, you’ll understand exactly what I mean by physical play. Especially when it comes to defense.
(That said, if you are one of the ones switching to HBO to watch “P.S. I Love You,” hit your back button on your browser now. Saturday’s SEC Championship isn’t made for “date movie” fans)
I’m a fan, so I can talk to you about how physical this Alabama team is going to be come Saturday. Understand, I’m not trying to disparage the level of play the Gator football team has played with this year. But, when people talk of the Gators the term they use is flashy; “Saturday Night Fever” style of football.
Alabama, on the other hand, falls in to your “Road House” movie category as so aptly described in a satire just this past week.
Ex-Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said, “Alabama was the most physical team they had played in years.” Georgia coach Mark Richt was just as complimentary, in Richt’s way of speaking.
But, considering Houston Nutt’s Rebels have the distinction of playing both schools this year, and being the team that handed Florida its only loss, he is the best sounding board for this upcoming Championship game.
Alabama’s Offense vs Florida’s Defense:
If you want an exercise in futility, try to string together a sentence or two about the Alabama offense and make it sound eloquent.
I’ve never been one that considered Houston Nutt the most eloquent speaker in the SEC coaches line up, far better than Miles or Oregon, but his description of Alabama’s offense is succinct, but accurate.
“Alabama is solid. That is the one word to describe them. They can run the ball, because they have an outstanding offensive line,” Nutt said. “They have big, strong, fast guys and they are physical. They will run right at you. They have solid backs in Coffee, Upchurch and Grant, but Coffee is the guy. Wilson doesn’t make mistakes. He is going to throw it to his guys and especially to Julio Jones. And Julio is a difference maker.”
With such a contrast in styles when comparing the two teams and their offense it makes it a difficult task. But, you have to wonder what bearing that has on this game? To do so is lacking one fundamental thing.
There aren’t two offenses on the field at the same time. Seems a waste of time, to me. So, we’ll dispense of that line of reasoning looking at this game.
Let’s get to specifics…
Nutt’s Ole Miss team is one of the most improved teams in the SEC this season. He’s battle tested in the league, and understands the end’s and out’s of offenses and defenses.
If he were asked what individual unit is probably the most improved unit in the SEC this year, he’d likely point to one of the Florida Gators defensive units; their secondary.
The numbers stand alone. 26 interceptions so far this season should make offensive coordinators pause when considering how to attack this Florida defense. It’s an imposing statistic to weigh until we remember what team the Gators are facing.
Alabama.
You’ve heard many analyst talk about where the Alabama passing attack ranks in the NCAA this season. It’s near the bottom of the SEC in yards per game, certainly not even in the same universe as Texas Tech.
But, Alabama hasn’t had to pass the ball.
It’s clearly evident that the Alabama staff has a lot of confidence in John Parker Wilson and his ability to handle the passing game. The best example this year was probably the first play from scrimmage in overtime period versus LSU.
Instead of relying on the running attack, it was a route called to Julio Jones who was stopped just short of the goal line. In overtime, on the road in Baton Rouge, against LSU (and you all know the story) they put the game in John Parker’s hands.
Against Florida and this is as simply put as I can make the statement…
Alabama won’t have to pass the ball.
The one weakness, if there is one that can be pointed to, with Florida’s defense it’s found on their interior defensive line. For a team that looks loaded with talent from top to bottom the one area it hasn’t been able to stock is the tackle positions.
Then, you add the injuries they have sustained this year to the mix and this weakness becomes glaring.
Alabama’s success this Saturday is found there.
Led by All SEC center Antoine Caldwell and one of the best offensive lines in the nation Alabama is going to run the ball straight at the Florida Gators. You can expect Florida to have some success early on holding back the rushing attack at times. But, as this game goes on, you’ll see the advantage lean more and more to Alabama’s side.
By the second half it’s going to seem like Alabama can, and they will, run at leisure.
You put a group like Alabama’s line on the field, couple it with the depth issues Florida faces, and you are going to see a game end like several others have this season for the Crimson Tide.
What’s worked in the past, still works in the present, and will continue to work in the future no matter what “flashy offenses” may entertain fans.
Nick Saban vs Urban Meyer
When Meyer made his move to the SEC several years ago there were a handful that said the “spread option” attack wouldn’t work because of the speed of the SEC defenses. They followed that with the caveat, “The only way it would work is if he has playmakers at every position.”
He does. Meyer has taken perhaps the truest definition of a spread option attack and added some true playmakers.
CBS announcer, Gary Danielson, described the two offenses on these terms.
“That’s just because they (Crimson Tide) don’t make ESPN highlights as easily. We get fascinated with big plays and football is more than that. I will say this, though: The Alabama sum is better than the parts. There’s no doubt about that. … They definitely play better as a unit than individually. If you look at Florida, their sum is the spread but that only highlights their parts. The spread gives you the parts that kill you. There’s the contrast.”\
What makes this game so interesting is you have the offensive coach versus the defensive coach.
If there was any doubt, and I don’t suspect there was, that Nick Saban couldn’t bring the Alabama team quickly to the top of the rankings in defensive terms those doubts have been pacified.
While Meyer was an uproven commodity, at the SEC level, Saban was a proven. And, as some expected (some feared) he’s done that more quickly than expected.
Will Muschamp made the comment this week that seeing the Alabama defense, “reminds me of the good old days.” Alabama fans feel the same, Coach Muschamp.
But, going back to a Coach that has faced both teams, Nutt describes this defense in these terms,
“Defensively is where they are at another level,” Nutt said of UA. “Nick Saban is best at zeroing in on what you do offensively first and taking that away. He will make you try to play left-handed by taking away your best plays. He will give you some complicated coverages with Johnson at safety. They are so solid defensively they will make you go the long, hard way.”
“He will try to make you play left-handed by taking…”
Ironic. Alabama is going to put this game in Tebow’s hand. His left-one, to be exact.
Just to put that in terms all fans will understand, specifically Florida fans…
SEC Championship Game Prediction:
I’ve been fortunate to see a lot of good defenses in my relatively short life-span at Alabama.
As a child I can recall what I saw in the 1970’s, but not as vividly as I can the defense of the 1992 team.
By no means am I making a comparison between these two defenses (2008-1992) in terms of production, although comparisons can be made.
I’m talking about another factor.
It’s a factor that doesn’t have a coach. It doesn’t have a captain. It has no game plan, no drills to repeat in practices. It’s a factor instilled, developed, and then utilized.
Some call it the “want to” factor. Today, I’m using the “it” factor.
I have never seen, or felt, the kind of mature intensity coming from this Alabama team in 2008 since 1992.
Sure, they hear and realize that the media is all piled on a bandwagon painted orange and blue.
They’ve taken notice.
But, while it does add that extra spark in preparation for the game, business remains as usual. They understand what needs to be done, what has to be done, and where they want to be.
This is a team that is going to come out Saturday and without spoken word, but proven actions, show Florida what has the Crimson Tide playing for the SEC Championship.
Frankly, Danielson hit on the deciding factor in this game without realizing he had.
The spread emphasizes some outstanding parts.
Alabama’s sum, is greater than its parts.
Football is a team game.
Alabama Rolls!
31-24.
2008 SEC Championship Preview: Part 2 of 3
December 2, 2008
South Eastern Conference
Championship Game
University of Alabama vs University of Florida
Georgia Dome Atlanta, GA -DEC 06
CBS TV 4:00 EST
By Terry Pellman (TerryP)
I’m forced, and not by the lack of attempts to get away from the thought, to come back to something I addressed in Part One of this preview. Much like the Florida Gators faced in 1996, they are going to face a physical team like none they’ve faced this year. In fact, I think that is starting to sink in with Florida’s head coach, Urban Meyer, when he commented in his press conference, “… we think this is the most physical offensive line we’ve faced in the last few years. It says a lot, because last year’s LSU team was very physical as well.”
Coach Meyer, we’ve heard a coach make the same statement this season. In fact, we’ve heard it more than once. But, after those games were over we also heard “that was the most physical team we’ve faced in years.”
Thinking that is the case is great. However, knowing that was the case hasn’t been so great for each and every team the Tide has faced this year.
As mentioned in Part One, and just as it has already been mentioned in this installment, you can sit back and be rest assured the word “physical play” is going to be the staple of this preview. If that happens to be a mantra that you’ve tired of already, hit the back button on your browser now. There’s nothing for you to see here; move along.
The Keys to Alabama’s
22nd SEC Championship.
Special Teams:
A lot of what is covered in this preview is going to be things you’ve heard for much of this year. Specifically, in the first breakdown of the Florida team; their Special Teams.
As you may or may not know, when Urban Meyer was in the beginning of his coaching tenure, at Notre Dame, one of his specific responsibilities was the coordinator of their Special Teams. He’s credited that tenure as the root of his attention to the Special Teams of the Gators.
The attention to that detail is to be commended and it has been evidenced by the play of their special teams groupings this season.
Most battles on the gridiron need to be won. As example, when you look at the offensive line versus another teams’ defensive line, that doesn’t need to be a “wash” but a win.
With this Championship game, the battle between the special teams groupings would be nice to chalk up as a win for the Tide, but a “wash” does just as well.
There was a reason that Coach Saban was so upset when Alabama punter, P.J. Fitzgerald, muffed a punt against Auburn this past weekend. That was a mistake we can not afford to make when we face the Gators.
By using the term “wash,” I’m simply stating that Alabama doesn’t need to win the game with our special teams play, but we can not afford to lose the game via special teams play. We haven’t lost a game this year that falls on our special teams play. We have had breakdowns early on this season with our kick coverage but that special teams groupings has show great improvement as the year has progressed. (That said, there is still a lot of improvement to be made)
There aren’t very many people in the NCAA that come to mind more quickly than Javier Arenas when it comes to outstanding kick returners. However, Florida not only has one, but he’s is arguably as good, if not better, than Javy has been this year.
All in all, even including their kicking teams, Florida comes in to the SEC Championship Game with what seems to be a clear advantage in this area.
Containment. Playing with the discipline to follow your lanes and assigments and that advantage no longer has a bearing on the outcome of this game.
Alabama Defense versus the Florida Offense.
You can expect to see the same Alabama defensive alignment as you’ve seen in several games this year; Clemson and Georgia are probably the best examples.
We’ll play from our traditional three man front, but will use a “nickel package” for our secondary. It is this approach, along with the combinations of a handful of blitz packages (some not seen this year,) which leads me to believe Alabama wins this battle. You’ll also see our JACK linebacker playing on the line of scrimmage quite a bit leaving our two interior linebackers playing most of the game at the linebacker level. (To be honest, it wouldn’t shock me if Cory Reamer didn’t even get to play in this game)
Florida has two tackles on the offensive line with a lot of speed and a good amount of experience. However, while the interior of their line has that speed and talent, they don’t have that experience.
Quite frankly the Florida interior offensive line, specifically the combinations of their two offensive guards and their center, don’t know what to expect from Alabama’s Nose Tackle position on defense. When Florida’s center, Maurkice Pouncey, was questioned about it in this weeks press conference, his answers tell a lot of how this story will end.
Q. Have you played anybody like Cody this year, as wide as he is or as low to the ground as he is?
MAURKICE POUNCEY: Not that I can say, but we play great players every week, though.
Q. On film what do you see? When guys have success against him, what do they do?
MAURKICE POUNCEY: What did you say?
Q. When guys have success against Cody, what do they do?
MAURKICE POUNCEY: I don’t know, just go out there and play hard, get physical with him. He’s a great player, great athlete, and we’ve just got to go out there and play physical.
Coach Meyer, here’s a prime example of a unit “thinking it is a physical group, but not understanding how much of a physical front they are about to face.”
With Cody’s ability, and by no means forgetting Josh Chapman in his secondary role able to do the same, this is going to give our interior linebackers the ability to hit the gaps created with little to no opposition. Florida lacked that presence with a running back last year and used Tebow in situations that presented themselves.
Those situations will not exist very often this Saturday.
While they have shown the ability to successfully run the ball inside this year, and while Tebow has shown once again he can do the same on their Quarterback draws, that success is countered by the Alabama defensive approach.
One of the other options Florida uses to attack defenses is their speed on the outside. Alabama will counter that with the speed and looks we’ll have with our secondary.
Tebow can watch the game film from each game this year, as I’m sure he’s done, and he’s still going to have his difficulty reading what the back seven on our defense is going to do. What seemingly appears as a great call for an offensive play call, the defensive alignment is quickly going to be adjusted to leading to a Florida offense contained.
Teams Alabama has faced this year have been able to get to the edge. They’ve done so with some success at times, but this team and staff have quickly adjusted to take away that threat. I see no reasons, even while specifically and avidly digging for them, to lead me to believe otherwise.
While Florida “thinks they know about a physical game,” Alabama “knows a speed game on the outside.” They’ve faced it before, they had defeated it before. This game, despite all the accolades showered on Florida’s athletes (and they do have some of the best) isn’t something that will shock the Bama secondary.
A question mark lies over the question of whether Percy Harvin will play this Saturday. If he does, that question will change to “is he playing at 100%?” He adds another dimension to this Florida team and if he plays it will make the task that much more difficult for Alabama. But, even if he’s on the field, you can expect Alabama to stop the run and force the game into Tim Tebow’s hands.
Not Tebow’s legs. Tebow’s hands.
Over the past two years when Tebow has been forced to throw more, Florida losses more. With the exception of his touchdown to Interception ratio, the numbers Tim Tebow has put up this year aren’t spectacular.
However, this isn’t a game where we need our defensive backs to record two or three interceptions.
It is a game where we need our defensive secondary to severly limit their big play capability.
Enter Rashad Johnson.
No team Florida has faced this year has the “on the field coaching ability and play calling” that Rashad brings to the Georgia Dome. By no means is that meant to discount the leadership and ability Tebow brings to this game as well. What this does mean is the offenses’ quarterback versus the defenses’ quarterback leads to at worst for Bama, a “wash.”
I expect Alabama to give up a big play, maybe as many as two or three. I also expect Alabama to give up yardage to the Florida offense. But, when push comes to shove, I don’t expect Alabama to give up the touchdowns that teams have allowed Florida to score this year.
Many point to the number of touchdowns Florida has scored this year. IF we look at a few of those games…say against common opponents like Georgia and Kentucky (their last two SEC teams we’ve both played,) we see Florida has scored 16 touchdowns, combined, against those two teams.
16 touchdowns!
But then again, you know what they say about defense and championships, right?
Through 12 games this season, the entire season to just repeat myself, Alabama’s defense hasn’t allowed that many to be scored. I could combine special teams just for effect…yes, the number is still smaller for Alabama.
Where do you think, I think, the advantages so for lead?
Coming Wednesday:
- Alabama’s offense vs Florida’s Defense
- Nick Saban vs Urban Meyer
- Predicted 2008 SEC Champion
2008 SEC Championship Preview: Part 1 of 3
December 1, 2008
South Eastern Conference
Championship Game
University of Alabama vs University of Florida
Georgia Dome Atlanta, GA -DEC 06
CBS TV 4:00 EST
By Terry Pellman (TerryP)
Alabama fans find themselves in a familiar place, but in an unexpected setting this Saturday when the Tide face off against the Gators for the 2008 SEC Championship title. It’s something fan base hasn’t enjoyed recently but have special memories from being in this position many times in the past and enjoying winning 21 SEC Titles since the birth of the South Eastern Conference.
Depending on who you speak with, the outcome of this game from one fan to the other can easily be polar opposites. That disparity is even found in the national media, even found within the same studio. While Kirk Herbstreit of ESPN’s Gameday has had Florida as one of the teams he’s expected all year long to compete for the BCS National Championship, ESPN’s Mark Schlabach says, “The Gators won’t beat the Tide.”
The term “classic match-up” seems to be a misnomer. But, if you look back you have had a chance to witness a game that featured an offense that loved to spread the ball around in a quick scoring fashion versus a team that ran the ball predominantly and relied on strong defensive and offensive lines. No, I’m not referring to past SEC Championships games between Florida and Alabama, although I could, but I’m thinking more along the lines of #1 and #2 ranked teams facing each other.
Ironically, that year did feature Florida and Alabama in the top of the national rankings. That year also had these two teams facing each other in Atlanta for the SEC title. But that year, and specifically the game I’m referring to, had a #2 ranked Florida team facing a fundamental Nebraska team in the Fiesta Bowl: 1996 the year.
I’m sure, to a person within the Florida fan base (and a certain coach now in Columbia, South Carolina,) they would rather forget that game.
Forget that game? A feeling shared with another SEC teams’ fan base this week as the Tiger faithful would rather forget running into, and then being run over, by the Crimson Tide this past weekend.
Are the Florida Gators in 2008 the college football version of the “Greatest Show on Turf” the NFL witnessed starting in the 1999 football season? Gator fans probably like the description, but don’t want a thing to do with the Gator team that played in the Georgia Dome in 1999.
Is this Alabama team in 2008 fundamentally like that 1996 Nebraska team as a unit that will win the battle in the trenches, run the ball successfully while playing very disciplined football? Alabama fans probably like the description and wouldn’t mind being a team like that when facing Florida this weekend.
Here on the RollTideBama.com Blog, we’ll break this game down bit by bit over the next two days looking at different aspects of this match up.
Could it be done all at once? Sure. But, do you want to read a book today, or just a few chapters spread out of the next few days.
Coming tomorrow:
* UA’s and UF’s Special Team Preview and Breakdown.
* UA’s Defense vs UF’s Offense.
Coming Wednesday:
* UA’s Offense vs UF’s Defense.
* Projected 2008 SEC Champion.
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