Kelly Ward
Four games into the season, the University of Alabama football team had its first defensive pick. It was against Florida, and Jabriel Washington recorded the first interception. Junior safety Landon Collins had the second and a 12-yard return in the 42-21 win.
Against Arkansas, he had what turned out to be the game-saving interception. On Saturday in the 59-0 blowout of Texas A&M, he dropped a sure pick-six. He wasn't the only one. Senior Nick Perry dropped two would-be interceptions.
But the secondary helped keep the Aggies out of the game. The defensive line pressured quarterback Kenny Hill who couldn't get the ball into the hands of his receivers.
"It takes a lot of ease off our back," Collins said. "We don't have to cover for so long. And then our keys and concepts and knowing what the offense is trying to do, you can really just pinpoint what they have to do. Because if you get them in third-and-long or second-and-long, they have to pass the ball, or make a draw to get the yardage back, so I mean it just settles us down."
Against Texas A&M, the defensive backs were able to do their jobs. Perry and junior Geno Smith notched five solo tackles each. Smith also forced a fumble.
The secondary has returned some injured players into the lineup again which has helped it gain consistency.
"Well, you know, we are improving," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "I think it's important we continue to improve. And play with more consistency. Guys are playing together, better. I think for the first time, we have a whole group back playing. Eddie (Jackson) was out for a while, Jarrick (Williams) was out for a while. I think that's helpful to have that kind of continuity and hopefully we can continue to build on that."
Jackson had been in and out of the lineup due to a knee injury sustained in the spring.
He had been battling with true freshman Tony Brown for the open cornerback position. The secondary getting healthier has been fantastic, Collins said.
"Practice-wise, coach Saban has a good organization going on with that," Collins said. "And then we practice fast, we practice safe and we practice quick. If you practice that way, you're going to play like that in the game and come out without any injuries."
https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1695485
Four games into the season, the University of Alabama football team had its first defensive pick. It was against Florida, and Jabriel Washington recorded the first interception. Junior safety Landon Collins had the second and a 12-yard return in the 42-21 win.
Against Arkansas, he had what turned out to be the game-saving interception. On Saturday in the 59-0 blowout of Texas A&M, he dropped a sure pick-six. He wasn't the only one. Senior Nick Perry dropped two would-be interceptions.
But the secondary helped keep the Aggies out of the game. The defensive line pressured quarterback Kenny Hill who couldn't get the ball into the hands of his receivers.
"It takes a lot of ease off our back," Collins said. "We don't have to cover for so long. And then our keys and concepts and knowing what the offense is trying to do, you can really just pinpoint what they have to do. Because if you get them in third-and-long or second-and-long, they have to pass the ball, or make a draw to get the yardage back, so I mean it just settles us down."
Against Texas A&M, the defensive backs were able to do their jobs. Perry and junior Geno Smith notched five solo tackles each. Smith also forced a fumble.
The secondary has returned some injured players into the lineup again which has helped it gain consistency.
"Well, you know, we are improving," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "I think it's important we continue to improve. And play with more consistency. Guys are playing together, better. I think for the first time, we have a whole group back playing. Eddie (Jackson) was out for a while, Jarrick (Williams) was out for a while. I think that's helpful to have that kind of continuity and hopefully we can continue to build on that."
Jackson had been in and out of the lineup due to a knee injury sustained in the spring.
He had been battling with true freshman Tony Brown for the open cornerback position. The secondary getting healthier has been fantastic, Collins said.
"Practice-wise, coach Saban has a good organization going on with that," Collins said. "And then we practice fast, we practice safe and we practice quick. If you practice that way, you're going to play like that in the game and come out without any injuries."
https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1695485
