🏈 Notebook: Southern Miss a challenge for secondary

[BAMANEWSBOT]

Four receivers regularly used by Southern Miss will challenge the Alabama secondary Saturday night.

It doesn’t help that key senior safety Jarrick Williams is out with a fractured foot suffered in the season opener. He’ll miss at least three more games.

While he was a backup safety, Williams played as the nickel back and dime back when opponents used three and four receivers.

He would have played a lot in this game as the Crimson Tide expects to use extra defensive backs most of the time.

“Jarrick is a really good player because he is very physical,” coach Nick Saban said. “He’s hard to block. In this day and age with all the bubble and smoke passes and screens you see on the perimeter, he does a really good job of defeating blockers and setting the edge where the other guys can makes plays.”

Wide receiver Chris Black can attest to how tough it is to face Williams from going against him in practice.

“Once he gets his hands on you, it’s over,” Black said.

Geno Smith replaced Williams last week, but Smith’s strength is coverage.

“Geno isn’t as physical as Jarrick, but he’s a very athletic cover guy and has played a lot of (nickel) for us,” Saban said. “We kind of miss (Williams) in that role as well. So we had to shuffle guys around for that, and we’re doing the same thing this week. It will be good to get him back because he plays so many different roles. When you play these teams that spread you out a lot, having those kinds of guys is really important.”

Receiver reserves

Young receivers ArDarius Stewart, Robert Foster and Cam Sims are getting extra playing time with senior DeAndrew White out at least one more game with a shoulder separation.

Stewart has three catches for 63 yards, while Foster has one catch. Saban hopes to get them more work Saturday and then begin to ease White back next week.

“They’re gaining more confidence,” Saban said of the young receivers. “They’re gaining more knowledge and experience. Some of these young guys are developing nicely but they still have a ways to go. We’re encouraged by their ability to make plays, but we just have to improve their consistency.”

SEC Network visits

The SEC Network’s traveling pregame show, SEC Nation, will visit Tuscaloosa for the first time Sept. 20 when Alabama faces Florida in the SEC opener.

The network will set up at Moore Hall for its two-hour event 9-11 a.m.


Decatur Daily—Continue reading...

 

[252BAMA]

Would UMass (17 point underdog to Vandy, yes VANDY!) be considered a threat to Bama's secondary? Southern Miss is averaging 210 YPG passing. UMass is next at 207 YPG.

http://stats.ncaa.org/rankings/change_sport_year_div

 

[PhillyGirl]

Good. They need a challenge. I don't care who the opponent is, they have to play every game HARD and use it as an opportunity to build on the last game's performance. I wanna these guys ball out tomorrow.

 

[alabama mike]

If the front 3 or 4, depending on the defense gets pressure on the QB, the secondary will take care of itself. We just have to make sure the QB doesn't stand back there and have all day to throw the ball.