| FTBL Alabama versus Arkansas: Key Matchup.

[TerryP]

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September 17, 2008

“The SEC is going to know him very well by the end of this season.”

If I were to conduct a poll of Alabama fans today I would bet that over 80% of our fan base has made a comment very similar to this when talking about Terrance Cody. I know I have, and I know I’ve seen hundreds make the same comment since reports began coming out of spring camp.

“He’s too big to be able to sustain his level of play.”

If I were to conduct a poll of rival fans I would be that over 80% of them have said the same thing. However, since reports came out about Cody not only finishing drills in summer camp, but making it through the grueling routine of running 26 plus 110’s just as many Bama fans have said, “Wait and see.”

Cody’s ability, and frankly freakish athletic nature, was described very aptly by Western Kentucky coach Dave Elson said, “He’s just a different person. I mean, you’re not supposed to be able to move like he can at that weight. But he does.

You think he maybe won’t be able to come off the ball and make plays on the running back, but he’s very agile, and they do a great job with him.

He just demands a doubleteam, and that’s not even easy to do.’

Right there is one of the crucial match-ups worth paying close attention to when Alabama faces Arkansas this Saturday. It has the makings historical battle. When Terrance Cody has to face off against All-American and Rimington Award winning center Jonathan Luigs those who understand how important battles in the trenches can be in terms of who dominates a game won’t be watching the ball, but the battle.

Read the rest here

 

[252BAMA]

Arky game is going to be like the Clemson game. Cody is going to stuff their OL.

 

[bamafan4ever]

Great write up, Terry. I'm also glad to hear TC say that he will be back for his senior season because he will hard to replace and I don't even want to think about having to do it so soon. He's spoiled me after three games.

 

[Guest]

Great write up, Terry. I'm also glad to hear TC say that he will be back for his senior season because he will hard to replace and I don't even want to think about having to do it so soon. He's spoiled me after three games.

Playing devil's advocate here, but do we really know how good he is? Yes, he shut down Clemson but the verdict is still out on them. The only other opponents have been Tulane and WKU.

Maybe it's more about his moves and what he can do and anticipating he'll do the same throughout the SEC. ??????

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

Great write up, Terry. I'm also glad to hear TC say that he will be back for his senior season because he will hard to replace and I don't even want to think about having to do it so soon. He's spoiled me after three games.

Playing devil's advocate here, but do we really know how good he is? Yes, he shut down Clemson but the verdict is still out on them. The only other opponents have been Tulane and WKU.

Maybe it's more about his moves and what he can do and anticipating he'll do the same throughout the SEC. ??????

I agree w/ the wait & see sentiment, Delta. That is why I think that the Lugis vs Cody matchup is really going to be the indicator as to how special this kid is & is going to be.

I think Mt. Cody will comfortably hold his own.

However, my only fear is concern from keeping 350lbs from snapping a joint, especially considering his speed ability.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

Watching him play reminds me a bit of the high school film of Albert Means playing middle LB at 300+ pounds.

 

[bamafan4ever]

Great write up, Terry. I'm also glad to hear TC say that he will be back for his senior season because he will hard to replace and I don't even want to think about having to do it so soon. He's spoiled me after three games.

Playing devil's advocate here, but do we really know how good he is? Yes, he shut down Clemson but the verdict is still out on them. The only other opponents have been Tulane and WKU.

Maybe it's more about his moves and what he can do and anticipating he'll do the same throughout the SEC. ??????

Absolute anticipation. I think he will be/is THAT good. We'll certainly know more this weekend, I guess, but I cannot think of one other guy I want in that position more than him.....on any team. I guess we'll see.

 

[Roll Tide Rev]

My wife is like, how can he play being so big and not have a heart attack. Then you watch him make a big play and he dances around like he's light on his feet.

I am stoked about him!

 

[aMAZEnFan]

He will definitely play even better!!! He has opened his mouth. Now, he has to back it up!!! He will do just that!!!

 

[AFF]

Rapoport: Let's get ready to rumble <article>

Will Luigs be able to single-team Cody?

"If they do," the transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College said, "it might be a mistake."

"I think the best o-linemen I've ever gone against is Antoine Caldwell," Cody said. "That's made me smarter on the line and quicker off the ball. I'll tell you Saturday if (Luigs) is better."

 

[BAMAFSTBACK]

It's one thing to be big. It's another to be big and athletic. Terrence knows this will be a huge test and I'd imagine he is ready to prove himself against a proven lineman like Luigs. Arkansas has no idea what is literally about to hit them in the face! I think the days of Arkansas playing us tough are over. Ole Miss on the other hand.......

 

[Guest]

He will definitely play even better!!! He has opened his mouth. Now, he has to back it up!!! He will do just that!!!

Yep, I really wish these kids wouldn't talk smack...especially before the game. Just let your play on the field do the talking. I'm really surprised Saban is giving him such a long leash with the media.

 

[eshad]

He will definitely play even better!!! He has opened his mouth. Now, he has to back it up!!! He will do just that!!!

Yep, I really wish these kids wouldn't talk smack...especially before the game. Just let your play on the field do the talking. I'm really surprised Saban is giving him such a long leash with the media.

I just watched the interview with Cody, and it was really just a passing comment. I didn't think he was talking smack at all. But, when it makes the papers like that, you can't tell the difference.

 

[TerryP]

He will definitely play even better!!! He has opened his mouth. Now, he has to back it up!!! He will do just that!!!

Yep, I really wish these kids wouldn't talk smack...especially before the game. Just let your play on the field do the talking. I'm really surprised Saban is giving him such a long leash with the media.

I just watched the interview with Cody, and it was really just a passing comment. I didn't think he was talking smack at all. But, when it makes the papers like that, you can't tell the difference.

Using the term "talking smack" and "Cody" in the same sentence just doesn't fit.

He didn't mean it as talking smack. He meant is for just what it says. He hopes they do try to man up on him.

 

[TerryP]

Great write up, Terry. I'm also glad to hear TC say that he will be back for his senior season because he will hard to replace and I don't even want to think about having to do it so soon. He's spoiled me after three games.

Playing devil's advocate here, but do we really know how good he is? Yes, he shut down Clemson but the verdict is still out on them. The only other opponents have been Tulane and WKU.

Maybe it's more about his moves and what he can do and anticipating he'll do the same throughout the SEC. ??????

If he's facing our offensive line, specifically Antoine Caldwell, and Antoine can handle him man on man that fits the description of being able to do the same against SEC competition.

I'm not trying to diminish what Luigs did on the field or him winning the Rimington award last year for the nations best center. But, common sense tells you that a lot of that attention came from him being the center on a line that blocked for McFadden and Jones.

To add to the first paragraph...

Mike Johnson and Caldwell, the combination of the two, have a little success blocking Cody. Marlon Davis and Caldwell have more success, but they can't double him and keep him from getting a drive. Caldwell has said when they try to push him off the line it's like pushing a concrete wall.

Ask yourself. How many games have both Marlon and Caldwell started against SEC competition? Delta, that qualifies as experience against SEC competition.

We as a staff here (and a good group of our members) have been very high on what Cody was going to be able to do for a long time. You are just beginning to see it come to fruition.

I kid you not when I say this...

We've had former players watch this defensive line and say they have the chance to be one of the best in our programs history before all is said and done.

Last, but not least, you did mention his success against WKU. They were triple teaming Cody and he still made tackles in the backfield.

 

[Guest]

He will definitely play even better!!! He has opened his mouth. Now, he has to back it up!!! He will do just that!!!

Yep, I really wish these kids wouldn't talk smack...especially before the game. Just let your play on the field do the talking. I'm really surprised Saban is giving him such a long leash with the media.

I just watched the interview with Cody, and it was really just a passing comment. I didn't think he was talking smack at all. But, when it makes the papers like that, you can't tell the difference.

Using the term "talking smack" and "Cody" in the same sentence just doesn't fit.

He didn't mean it as talking smack. He meant is for just what it says. He hopes they do try to man up on him.

It is like what Charles Barkley said at the 92 Olympics when asked for comments about the Dream Team's next opponent: "They're in trouble."

As Dizzy Dean once said: "If you can do it, it ain't bragging."

 

[Guest]

I'm just very old school when it comes to talking before a game.

 

[Guest]

We as a staff here (and a good group of our members) have been very high on what Cody was going to be able to do for a long time.

*Raises hand*

Come on BD, I know us Bama fans haven't had much to be optimistic about in the last decade. But sometimes some hope shows, and Cody is just that on defense.

 

[AFF]

I think he will be/is THAT good. We'll certainly know more this weekend, I guess, but I cannot think of one other guy I want in that position more than him.....on any team. I guess we'll see.

Couldn't agree more.

I haven't seen any of the Arkansas games this year. But, I did notice that they've given up 8 sacks and something like 11 tackles-for-loss in two games against questionable opponents. I know Luigs isn't the only one on the line and maybe the rest of the line isn't that good. Whatever the case, they are letting defenders get into their backfield this year.

Yes, Luigs is very, very quick off the ball and is great at run blocking. But Arkansas does a lot more passing than running this year under Petrino. And, when they do pass, Luigs will likely do more backing up and going side to side than pressing forward off the ball like he did under the running attack. Can you imagine trying to keep Cody out of the backfield while backing up? I don't care how good you are - that will be a challenge.

If they go to the ground, they may get more than the 42 yards we've been allowing so far this year. But I don't think they're coming close to 300 like they did last year with Lorenzo Washington on Luigs. Cody has 50 pounds on Luigs and is athletic as all get out.

If they pass, they'd better hope that Luigs can slow Cody down more than a little. If they have to go to the double team on Cody, our linebackers could cause real problems for Arkansas' offense.

 

[TerryP]

I'm just very old school when it comes to talking before a game.

I'd dare say you are just now hearing it more and more. Reminds me of what our team said when Miami was indeed talking smack. Calmly, it was "they haven't played Alabama yet."

Respectful, but challenging comments like Cody's have been going on for years. It's just you read about them the day they happen now instead of a couple of weeks later when the game is over like it was 15-20 years ago.

You may remember this, but may not. In a conversation we had here before the season kicked off I mentioned what one of our coaches said. "IF we get out of Clemson with a win, no telling what this team can do...they are fired up now."