SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2012 |
8C
THE TUSCALOOSA NEWS
MICHIGAN 14
ALABAMA 41
WWW.TIDESPORTS.COM
Analysis I-formation a different and very effective look for Tide offense
Stopping the stars
Notebook
Michigan left Cowboys Stadium on Saturday with a 2-2 all-time record against Alabama. Jamie Morris and Tom Brady were the big reasons for the two Michigan wins. The quarterback play, or lack of it, was a big reason for the two loses. Here is how the stars performed against Alabama in their four meetings with the Crimson Tide.
ARLINGTON, T EXAS | University of Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner had a Texas-sized season debut Saturday in a 41-14 win over Michigan. Repeatedly in the first half, Wolverines quarterback Denard Robinson tested Milliner, and each time Milliner was equal to his task. “He did a really good job,” said UA coach Nick Saban. “We flip-flopped corners. He played into the boundary, Deion played into the field. He adjusted to that. He’ll do whatever we need him to do as a team.” The junior fi nished with four tackles, four pass breakups and an interception that was returned for 35 yards. Robinson threw Milliner’s way with quick slants twice in the fi rst quarter, but Milliner broke up the pass each time. “We had seen film where if they were in a certain formation, they liked to throw quick slants to the back side,” Milliner said. “So I was anticipating it and just came up to make the play.” Milliner said he had a few miscues as well, and took full blame for Robinson’s second touchdown pass, a 44-yarder down the right sideline after Milliner had fallen down in coverage. UM receiver Devin Gardner scored as backup safety Nick Perry — who was replacing the injured Robert Lester — arrived from the middle of the field a bit too late to tackle Gardner inside the Alabama 5. “That wasn’t Nick’s fault at all,” Milliner said. “That one was all on me.”
By Chase Goodbread Sports Writer
ARLINGTON, T EX AS | There is no I in the word team, but there is one in win. And there was certainly an I — an I-formation, that is — that punctuated the University of Alabama’s runaway win over Michigan at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday night. Whether the doing of new offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier or not, the prevalence of the ‘I’ was unquestionably the most noticeable difference between last year’s offense under former offensive coordinator Jim McElwain, and the one the Crimson Tide used to open the 2012 season with an emphatic thumping of the nation’s No. 8-ranked team. Overall, the Crimson Tide lined up in its more commonly-used one-back set more often than any formation Saturday, but make no mistake: it was the I-formation that delivered most early and most often. It was the common thread in Alabama’s three fi rst-quarter touchdowns. And it also looked like a very natural fit for freshman running back T.J. Yeldon, who led all rushers with 111 yards on 11 carries. Yeldon scored his fi rst career touchdown lined up in the I-formation behind Jalston Fowler late in the fourth quarter. Alabama lined up in the I-formation seven times in the fi rst quarter, and those seven plays produced 89 yards — an average of nearly 13 yards per snap — and 21 points. It was certainly more ‘I’ than fans could have expected. And judging by the results, it was more than Michigan expected as well. More often than not, it was Fowler handling the fullback role and opening holes in the running game with effective lead blocks. It began after a 19-yard completion from AJ McCarron to Kenny Bell put the ball on the Wolverines’ 29. From there, the Crimson Tide called the power-rushing formation on five consecutive plays and completed the sequence with a touchdown. Fowler delivered a lead block on Michigan’s Thomas Gordon to spring Yeldon for 14 yards on his fi rst career carry and UA’s fi rst snap from the ‘I’. After two more carries by Yeldon, Fowler then led Lacy through a 3-yard hole before a play-action pass from the I-formation burned a stacked Michigan defensive front that was expecting another downhill rush. Wolverines strongside linebacker Jake Ryan bit on the run fake as UA tight end Michael Williams ran by Ryan for a wide-open catch in the corner of the end zone. One series later, UA capitalized on the Iformation again, this time for much quicker score. McCarron found DeAndrew White for a 51yard touchdown pass from the set to cap a three-play, 67-yard drive that required only 45 seconds. On that play, it was tight end Brian Vogler who lined up and fullback and helped protect McCarron in the pocket to allow the throw. After a few second-half snaps with Fowler leading reserve Dee Hart through the hole, the Crimson Tide put the I-formation away like a shiny new toy that it couldn’t wait to play with again soon. It was more I-formation than UA fans saw in 2009, when Roy Upchurch occasionally lined up as a fullback for the Crimson Tide in a national championship season. Indeed, not since Tuscaloosa’s own Le’Ron McClain led Alabama running backs through the hole for former coach Mike Shula’s teams has the set been called as much as it was Saturday night. What remains to be seen is whether the Crimson Tide has intentions of employing the ‘I’ throughout the season, or if it was merely a game-plan wrinkle specific to the Wolverines.
Reach Chase Goodbread at chase@tidesports. com or at 205-722-0916.
JAMIE MORRIS 1988
BRIAN GRIESE 1986
TOM BRADY 2000
23
21
34
37
46
287
369
THREE
ONE
FOUR
Morris ran wild on the Crimson Tide and was named Most Valuable Player of the Hall of Fame Bowl in Michigan’s 28-24 victory.
Griese threw a TD pass late to make it a 3-point game, but the Tide recovered the onsides kick and ran out the clock to win the Outback Bowl, 17-14.
Brady rallied Michigan twice against the Crimson Tide and led the Wolverines to an OT win in the Orange Bowl
RUSHING ATTEMPTS
234
RUSHING YARDS
COMPLETIONS
COMPLETIONS
PASS ATTEMPTS
PASS ATTEMPTS
PASSING YARDS
TOUCHDOWNS
PASSING YARDS
TOUCHDOWN
TOUCHDOWNS
Four unable to finish
DENARD ROBINSON 2012
27
RUSHING YARDS
26
PASS ATTEMPTS
11
COMPLETIONS
200
PASSING YARDS
TWO
TOUCHDOWNS - One passing - One rushing Robinson was harassed by the Bama defense and never got into a rhythm. He had bright spots in the second half, but for the most part was ineffective.
Four downs ARLINGTON, T EXAS | A look at four crucial questions the University of Alabama faced in its matchup with the Michigan Wolverines, and how they were answered Saturday at Cowboys Stadium:
CAN ALABAMA CORRAL MICHIGAN’S SPEEDY QB, DENARD ROBINSON? The answer to this was a resounding yes, except for a couple of major lapses. Alabama didn’t allow Robinson to make a major impact as a runner, but did fall asleep on a 71-yard heave to Jeremy Gallon and a 44-yard touchdown pass. The first long pass set up a 6-yard touchdown run by Robinson, which turned out to be one of his longest rushes of the night. His athleticism was evident, but Alabama kept him in check.
WILL SPECIAL TEAMS BE SPECIAL FOR UA IN 2012? It’s too early to tell, but there were positive signs. Punt returner Christion Jones didn’t show game-breaking ability, but made a nice over-theshoulder catch on a 62-yard punt that allowed him to return it for 19 yards. Jeremy Shelley made a short field goal and Cade Foster made a long kick and missed another. Punter Cody Mandell had big boots of 51 and 49 yards on his first two attempts, and also pinned Michigan inside its 10-yard line.
JUST HOW GOOD IS THIS ALABAMA OFFENSIVE LINE? The Crimson Tide’s big bruisers pushed Michigan around and left defensive linemen and linebackers scattered in their wake. Alabama’s edge up front was a big reason rookie T.J. Yeldon was able to have a breakout game, and AJ McCarron was largely untouched in pass protection. Those hailing this as the best-ever UA offensive line might be on to something. Alabama was by far the more physical team in this contest.
WHO WILL STEP UP AT WIDEOUT? The Tide receivers stepped up as a committee. AJ McCarron completed eight passes in the first half to six different guys, an indication of UA’s inclination to spread the wealth. DeAndrew White had the big 51-yard reception and Kenny Bell made a 19-yard catch. The fact running back T.J. Yeldon and Christion Jones had nice gainers on screen passes showed diversity in the UA passing game. The big lead in the first half did more to shut down Alabama’s passing game than Michigan did. — Tommy Deas
Looking ahead STAFF PHOTO | ROBERT SUTTON
Alabama running back Jalston Fowler rushed for 67 yards on eight carries. Four Alabama running backs combined for 232 yards. T.J. Yeldon led the way with 111 yards on 10 carries.
ARLINGTON, T EXAS | Alabama’s next opponent, Western Kentucky, routed Austin Peay 49-10 on Saturday as quarterback Kawaun Jakes passed for career highs of 296 yards and four touchdowns. Western Kentucky amassed 596 total yards and got a 70yard punt return for a touchdown from Antonio Andrews. The Hilltoppers defense held Austin Peay to 154 total yards, and Jonathan Dowling — a former Florida Gators safety who transferred to WKU — recorded an interception and seven tackles.
Saban mentioned four injuries, all to defensive players, for the Crimson Tide on Saturday night. Nose guard Jesse Williams sustained a mild concussion, safety Robert Lester had a shoulder stinger, and freshman linebacker Reggie Ragland and sophomore linebacker Trey DePriest sustained ankle sprains. None of the four returned to the game after being removed, and it is unclear how soon they will be able to practice again. ... Right guard Anthony Steen came off the field on the opening drive for reasons that were unclear. He was replaced by Chad Lindsay. Steen returned for UA’s second series and fi nished the game.
Mosley picks another
UA linebacker C.J. Mosley recorded an interception for his second consecutive game, dating back to UA’s national championship win over LSU in January. Mosley essentially put the game out of reach with an interception returned for a 16-yard touchdown for a 31-0 UA lead with less than five minutes remaining in the fi rst half. With the play, Mosley tied Alabama’s record for career interception returns for a touchdown with the third of his career. Former UA cornerback Antonio Langham also had three in his career.
Four in a row
Saturday’s win marked Alabama’s fourth consecutive win over a Big Ten opponent by a combined score of 138-35. UA defeated Penn State 21-3 and 27-11 in 2010 and 2011, respectively, and drummed Michigan State 49-7 in the Capital One Bowl.
Tidebits
Freshman running back T.J. Yeldon’s playing debut came on Alabama’s second series after Eddie Lacy exited under a new rule requiring players to sit out a play for an equipment check if their helmets come off during play. It happened to Lacy again in the second half. ... Alabama substituted running backs liberally Saturday, with four different backs getting first-half action, including the career debuts of Yeldon and redshirt freshman Dee Hart. Saban said all the running backs who played deserved a chance and can play a role this season. Yeldon became the first true freshman running back in UA history to rush for over 100 yards in his career debut. ... Freshman linebacker Dillon Lee made a juggling interception in the fi nal minutes in his career debut. ... Kicker Jeremy Shelley is wearing No. 5 this season. Last year, Shelley wore No. 90. ... Alabama’s honorary captains were former UA coach Gene Stallings and former UA linebacker Lee Roy Jordan. Game captains were center Barrett Jones, defensive back Robert Lester and linebacker Nico Johnson, all seniors. ... Former Alabama H-back Brad Smelley, a Tuscaloosa native, was retained by the Cleveland Browns for its practice squad Saturday. Practice squad players can be activated to the regular roster during the season. ... Former UA quarterback John Parker Wilson, released by the Atlanta Falcons, was picked up as a practice squad player by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Wilson had been with the Falcons for the past three seasons. ... The Alabama-Michigan game was the fourth annual Cowboys Classic. Previous matchups included a BYU upset of Oklahoma, a TCU win over Oregon State and last year’s LSU win over Oregon. Reach Chase Goodbread at chase@tidesports. com or at 205-722-0916.
Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron passed for 199 yards and two touchdowns.
Western Kentucky Sept. 8 Tuscaloosa 2:39 p.m. TV: SEC STAFF PHOTO | ROBERT SUTTON