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Alabama holds fast in defending its own territory
Ben Jones | Editor
Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster (10) moves in to tackle Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald (7) during the first half of a game against Mississippi State at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016.
Erin Nelson | The Tuscaloosa News
Mississippi State spent plenty of time on the University of Alabama's front yard at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Beyond that? Not in Alabama's house. Not with the Crimson Time defense in control.
The Bulldogs reached Alabama territory nine times on Saturday. They scored just once in a 51-3 loss. A 47-yard field goal was all they would muster.
"Everybody is hungry," linebacker Reuben Foster said. "Everybody is stingy. We come together as a team and play lights-out. We're ball hogs. See ball, get ball."
That makes just three points surrendered by the defense in the last two games after shutting out LSU last week. Mississippi State had a chance at another 47-yard field goal in the first quarter, but missed the kick.
Beyond that, the Bulldogs had three punts in Alabama territory, one interception, and turned the ball over on downs three times. Alabama's defense didn't give up a fourth-down conversion on four attempts. Sophomore cornerback Marlon Humphrey said the defense is as comfortable as it has been all season.
"The offense controlled the tempo of the game and the defense was able to get stops when it needed to," head coach Nick Saban said. "There were a couple bad field positions early in the game, the turnover and a kickoff return. The defense went out and got a stop, which was a real key to the game."
That happened twice in the first half, before Alabama had built a bulletproof lead that brought on the backups in the fourth quarter. Mississippi State got the ball on the Alabama 38 after an interception in the first quarter and managed just two yards before missing a field goal. The Bulldogs returned a kickoff to the 45 and marched past midfield, only to turn the ball over on downs.
There was no singular effort that led to Alabama's dominant defense against Mississippi State. No player got more than six tackles or one sack. It took more than just 11 players; the second-team defense also got a stop against Mississippi State in the fourth quarter after it advanced the ball into Alabama territory.
"We're not big on singling out people when I feel like there were a lot of people that did a really good job today," Saban said.
The defense halted the Bulldogs' Nick Fitzgerald, who completed 10 of 33 passes for 145 yards with one interception. He also had just 15 net rushing yards despite averaging over 93 per game entering the day.
Most of Mississippi State's drives stopped well short of threatening to score. The drive that ended with a field goal was the only time the Bulldogs even made it to the front porch against Alabama, squeaking into the red zone on the 19 yard line. Fitzgerald was promptly sacked for a 10-yard loss on the next play.
"It was amazing to see everybody playing together, with one accord, one heartbeat," Foster said. "We just have to keep going and don't get complacent. Finish."
Alabama's defense has a little streak going in recent weeks. LSU got into Alabama territory three times without scoring a touchdown last week. It's been 2:27:54 of game time since an opponent scored a touchdown against Alabama, dating back to Oct. 22 against Texas A&M.
Another streak is still on the mind of Alabama's defenders.
"We've got to get back in the end zone," Humphrey said. "I feel like we had some chances today with some interceptions we dropped. We've got to get back in the end zone, for sure."
TideSports.com - Alabama holds fast in defending its own territory
Ben Jones | Editor
Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster (10) moves in to tackle Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald (7) during the first half of a game against Mississippi State at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016.
Erin Nelson | The Tuscaloosa News
Mississippi State spent plenty of time on the University of Alabama's front yard at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Beyond that? Not in Alabama's house. Not with the Crimson Time defense in control.
The Bulldogs reached Alabama territory nine times on Saturday. They scored just once in a 51-3 loss. A 47-yard field goal was all they would muster.
"Everybody is hungry," linebacker Reuben Foster said. "Everybody is stingy. We come together as a team and play lights-out. We're ball hogs. See ball, get ball."
That makes just three points surrendered by the defense in the last two games after shutting out LSU last week. Mississippi State had a chance at another 47-yard field goal in the first quarter, but missed the kick.
Beyond that, the Bulldogs had three punts in Alabama territory, one interception, and turned the ball over on downs three times. Alabama's defense didn't give up a fourth-down conversion on four attempts. Sophomore cornerback Marlon Humphrey said the defense is as comfortable as it has been all season.
"The offense controlled the tempo of the game and the defense was able to get stops when it needed to," head coach Nick Saban said. "There were a couple bad field positions early in the game, the turnover and a kickoff return. The defense went out and got a stop, which was a real key to the game."
That happened twice in the first half, before Alabama had built a bulletproof lead that brought on the backups in the fourth quarter. Mississippi State got the ball on the Alabama 38 after an interception in the first quarter and managed just two yards before missing a field goal. The Bulldogs returned a kickoff to the 45 and marched past midfield, only to turn the ball over on downs.
There was no singular effort that led to Alabama's dominant defense against Mississippi State. No player got more than six tackles or one sack. It took more than just 11 players; the second-team defense also got a stop against Mississippi State in the fourth quarter after it advanced the ball into Alabama territory.
"We're not big on singling out people when I feel like there were a lot of people that did a really good job today," Saban said.
The defense halted the Bulldogs' Nick Fitzgerald, who completed 10 of 33 passes for 145 yards with one interception. He also had just 15 net rushing yards despite averaging over 93 per game entering the day.
Most of Mississippi State's drives stopped well short of threatening to score. The drive that ended with a field goal was the only time the Bulldogs even made it to the front porch against Alabama, squeaking into the red zone on the 19 yard line. Fitzgerald was promptly sacked for a 10-yard loss on the next play.
"It was amazing to see everybody playing together, with one accord, one heartbeat," Foster said. "We just have to keep going and don't get complacent. Finish."
Alabama's defense has a little streak going in recent weeks. LSU got into Alabama territory three times without scoring a touchdown last week. It's been 2:27:54 of game time since an opponent scored a touchdown against Alabama, dating back to Oct. 22 against Texas A&M.
Another streak is still on the mind of Alabama's defenders.
"We've got to get back in the end zone," Humphrey said. "I feel like we had some chances today with some interceptions we dropped. We've got to get back in the end zone, for sure."
TideSports.com - Alabama holds fast in defending its own territory
